The invention comprising a counter-rotating cutting device used for harvesting plant material in a field setting. Said cutting device having two overlayed cutting elements. Said device being attachable to a moving tractor device. The invention further providing individual shears attachable to each of said two cutting elements wherein each individual shear protrudes outward and capable of flexibly bending upward and downward in along the vertical plane.

A cutting apparatus for a header of an agricultural harvester includes a first wheel and a second wheel. A drive source is configured to selectively drive the first wheel in a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction. A knife carrier, including a loop having a running side and a knife-carrying side, is tensioned around the first and second wheels for transmitting torque from the drive source to rotate the wheels and the knife carrier. A plurality of knives cut crop mounted to the knife-carrying surface of the knife carrier. A sensor monitors operation of the knives.

The cutting system includes knives attached to a continuously moving belt-type carrier. The carrier motion moves the knives past stationary counterknife fingers. Each knife is pivotably connected to the platform portion of a support bracket having also a wall portion that is fixed to the belt-type carrier. The knife is furthermore coupled to the bracket by a reversible force coupling that maintains the knife in a forwardly oriented operational position when the knife is subjected to lateral forces which exert a torque on the knife that remains below a predefined limit, encountered when the knife is cutting stalks or meeting small obstructions. When the knife is subjected to lateral forces resulting in a torque above the predefined limit, the force coupling is configured to be disengaged in a reversible manner, enabling the knife to pivot about a rotation axis towards a non-operational position.

An apparatus for weed removal includes a chassis and at least two end effectors mechanically coupled to the chassis, each end effectors including a rotary axle, each rotary axle coupled to a drive unit for receiving a mechanical force to cause the rotary axle to rotate. The rotary axles, along with weed abrasion members coupled thereto, are at least partially covered by a deflector. A front end effector is configured to dislodge a crown and/or stem portion of unwanted plant material from the ground, while another end effector is configured to convert the unwanted plant material that has been dislodged from the ground into mulch.

An apparatus for weed removal includes a chassis and at least two end effectors mechanically coupled to the chassis, each end effectors including a rotary axle, each rotary axle coupled to a drive unit for receiving a mechanical force to cause the rotary axle to rotate. The rotary axles, along with weed abrasion members coupled thereto, are at least partially covered by a deflector. A front end effector is configured to dislodge a crown and/or stem portion of unwanted plant material from the ground, while another end effector is configured to convert the unwanted plant material that has been dislodged from the ground into mulch.

Vegetation cutting apparatuses may include a wheeled apparatus frame. A cutting assembly may be carried by the wheeled apparatus frame. The cutting assembly may include an elongated chain support member having a chain support member edge. An elongated debris removal slot may extend into the chain support member from the chain support member edge. A cutting chain may be configured to traverse the chain support member edge of the chain support member. An engine may drivingly engage the cutting chain.

A lawn mower includes a mower deck supporting a mower belt with cutting elements thereon to produce a cutting action when the belt is driven by a motor to rotate in an endless loop relative to the mower deck. A handle is supported on the mower deck to be movable between different orientations. The mower belt extends along multiple sides of the mower deck which are different in configuration from one another to vary the cutting configuration of the mower as the handle is displaced between different orientations. In a preferred embodiment, the mower deck is triangular in shape and guard members protrude outward from the sides of the deck over the cutting elements with transverse slots therein.

Vegetation cutting apparatuses may include a wheeled apparatus frame. A cutting assembly may be carried by the wheeled apparatus frame. The cutting assembly may include an elongated chain support member having a chain support member edge. An elongated debris removal slot may extend into the chain support member from the chain support member edge. A cutting chain may be configured to traverse the chain support member edge of the chain support member. An engine may drivingly engage the cutting chain.

Vegetation cutting apparatuses may include a wheeled apparatus frame. A cutting assembly may be carried by the wheeled apparatus frame. The cutting assembly may include an elongated chain support member having a chain support member edge. A cutting chain may be configured to traverse the chain support member edge of the chain support member. An engine may drivingly engage the cutting chain.

A header for an agricultural harvester including a continuous loop knife and a sensor for sensing conditions of a plurality of knives of the continuous loop knife in increments comprising non-adjacent groups of one or more knives, whereby substantially all of the plurality of knives is sensed after a plurality of cycles of the continuous knife past the sensor. With the header so equipped, a timely determination of wear or damage to the knives in a loop knife cutting system can be made, so that damaged knives may be replaced before significant deterioration of the cutting performance occurs.