An apparatus for controlling weeds, which includes a tine formation adapted to remove or disrupt targeted weeds, and a tine support assembly adapted to support the tine for movement about a first control axis in a generally vertical direction between an engaged position wherein the tine formation in use contacts a ground surface for removal or disruption of targeted weeds and a disengaged position wherein the tine formation is substantially retracted from the ground surface. The tine support assembly is further adapted to support the tine for movement about a second control axis in a generally horizontal direction. The tine support assembly further includes a first actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the first control axis, and a second actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the second control axis. The apparatus also includes a sensing system for sensing aspects of an environment and generating data indicative thereof, and a classification system for identifying target weeds within the environment on the basis of the data from the sensing system. A control system is adapted to activate the first and second actuation mechanisms of the tine support assembly in accordance with a predetermined control logic thereby sequentially to position the tine for disruptive contact with the targeted weeds.

Some crops, such as soybeans, grow close to the ground, having a low canopy relative to that of weeds growing interspersed in the crop. A farm implement removes weed growth above the crop canopy. The implement has a chassis with at least three wheels connected to the chassis, a cutting mechanism, mounted at a front end of the chassis, a means for collecting weed growth cut by the cutting mechanism, mounted on the chassis, means for generating and selectively applying rotational torque to at least one of the at least three wheels and means for a user to guide the chassis down the rows in which the crop is grown.

An apparatus for applying a desired amount of mechanical abrasion to plants and selective cutting of undesirable plant material. The apparatus includes a base, a brush and an elevation device for maintaining the base at desirable height. The base has a first longitudinal axis and a plurality of grooves, the grooves being oriented approximately perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. The brush has a second longitudinal axis and a plurality of bristles and/or blades extending outwardly from the second longitudinal axis. The brush is attached to the apparatus such that the second longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis and the brush is rotatable about the second longitudinal axis. The brush is spaced from the base such that the plurality of bristles engage the plurality of grooves. The base is adjustable enabling the operator to move the base closer or further from the rotating brush/blades.

An apparatus for applying a desired amount of mechanical abrasion to plants and selective cutting of undesirable plant material. The apparatus includes a base, a brush and an elevation device for maintaining the base at desirable height. The base has a first longitudinal axis and a plurality of grooves, the grooves being oriented approximately perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. The brush has a second longitudinal axis and a plurality of bristles and/or blades extending outwardly from the second longitudinal axis. The brush is attached to the apparatus such that the second longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis and the brush is rotatable about the second longitudinal axis. The brush is spaced from the base such that the plurality of bristles engage the plurality of grooves. The base is adjustable enabling the operator to move the base closer or further from the rotating brush/blades.

The present invention relates to an equipment for eliminating grass seeds in farmland, comprising a self-propelled device, a power system connected to the self-propelled device for driving the self-propelled device to walk along a fixed path in a farmland, a rack connected to the self-propelled device, and plural focusing lenses disposed in the rack.

A method for remediating developmentally delayed plants within a field of crops using at least one work vehicle during a field operation. The method comprises identifying delayed plants within the field with a sensor on the work vehicle and generating, with a processor, location data associated with the location of the delayed plant with the field. Upon arriving at the location of the delayed plant with the work vehicle, the delayed plant is remediated.

A method for remediating developmentally delayed plants within a field of crops using at least one work vehicle during a field operation. The method comprises identifying delayed plants within the field with a sensor on the work vehicle and generating, with a processor, location data associated with the location of the delayed plant with the field. Upon arriving at the location of the delayed plant with the work vehicle, the delayed plant is remediated.

Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The seeds are carried axially of the rotor by a controlled airstream so that they move to an axial discharge location where a discharge fan is mounted. The angle of the discharge around the rotor axis can be changed to direct the seeds to the side of the combine away from a straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper.

An apparatus for controlling weeds, which includes a tine formation adapted to remove or disrupt targeted weeds, and a tine support assembly adapted to support the tine for movement about a first control axis in a generally vertical direction between an engaged position wherein the tine formation in use contacts a ground surface for removal or disruption of targeted weeds and a disengaged position wherein the tine formation is substantially retracted from the ground surface. The tine support assembly is further adapted to support the tine for movement about a second control axis in a generally horizontal direction. The tine support assembly further includes a first actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the first control axis, and a second actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the second control axis. The apparatus also includes a sensing system for sensing aspects of an environment and generating data indicative thereof, and a classification system for identifying target weeds within the environment on the basis of the data from the sensing system. A control system is adapted to activate the first and second actuation mechanisms of the tine support assembly in accordance with a predetermined control logic thereby sequentially to position the tine for disruptive contact with the targeted weeds.

An apparatus for controlling weeds, which includes a tine formation adapted to remove or disrupt targeted weeds, and a tine support assembly adapted to support the tine for movement about a first control axis in a generally vertical direction between an engaged position wherein the tine formation in use contacts a ground surface for removal or disruption of targeted weeds and a disengaged position wherein the tine formation is substantially retracted from the ground surface. The tine support assembly is further adapted to support the tine for movement about a second control axis in a generally horizontal direction. The tine support assembly further includes a first actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the first control axis, and a second actuation mechanism adapted to effect movement of the tine about the second control axis. The apparatus also includes a sensing system for sensing aspects of an environment and generating data indicative thereof, and a classification system for identifying target weeds within the environment on the basis of the data from the sensing system. A control system is adapted to activate the first and second actuation mechanisms of the tine support assembly in accordance with a predetermined control logic thereby sequentially to position the tine for disruptive contact with the targeted weeds.