The basic subject matter of this class is limited to machines
and methods for removing an object from a position immediately below
the surface of the earth or from a position in which it extends
partially through the earth"s crust by either (1) selectively
engaging and the picking or pulling said object in such manner that
it is removed from the earth (either with or without any substantial
disturbance of the soil) or (2) by excavating said object and portions
of the surrounding earth in such manner that said object is separated
from said earth portions either during the excavation or subsequent
thereto, or, in the case of shallow rooted plants or small stones projecting
through the earth"s surface, by directly engaging and thrusting,
impelling or pushing against said plants or small stones to force
them out of the ground. The object must be completely recovered
at some instant substantially free of earth, but otherwise in its original
condition except that, in the case of plants, portions thereof may
have been previously severed from the root. For example, machines
which dig root plants are included if the root is recovered substantially
intact regardless of whether the plant foliage or tap root is removed
or whether the foliage and/or root are retained, subsequently
destroyed, or returned to the earth.
Included in this class are railroad ballast cleaners which remove
or excavate the ballast from the railroad bed, separate the fine
foreign matter from the coarse stone aggregates and which may return
the latter to the railroad bed.
The scope of this class also includes (1) combinations of the
basic subject matter with other features where said combination
is not provided for elsewhere such as (a) an additional treatment
of the object as, e.g., sorting, cleaning or severing said object
into parts, and (b) combinations of said basic subject matter with
an accompanying soil treating operation, and (2) subcombinations
of said basic subject matter not provided for elsewhere.
SECTION II - NOTES TO THE CLASS DEFINITION
(1)
Note. The unearthed object is normally (1) a weed or plant
root with the vine, stem, or top portion of said plant either connected
to the root or severed therefrom, (2) a stone or small rock capable
of being handled in a manner consistent with the basic subject matter
of this class as set forth in definition A supra, or (3) a foreign
object recovered from sand removed from a beach.
(2)
Note. Subject matter relating to merely turning a furrow or
digging a ditch to invert the earth in such fashion that some or
all of a series of earth embedded objects are placed on top of the
removed earth is excluded and forms subject matter for the appropriate
soil handling Classes 37 or 172.
(3)
Note. Implements which are hand supported and have no driven
digging or earth separation parts are excluded and are to be found
in the appropriate implement classes noted below.
(4)
Note. Stump and boulder extractors are excluded. See Lines
With Other Classes, below.
(5)
Note. Subject matter relating to pulling up plant by grasping
the stalk or foliage is included (1) where there is a disclosure
that the plant root is removed from the ground even where it is
not clear from the disclosure whether the plant stalk or foliage
is severed or whether the stalk or foliage is capable of pulling
the plant root from the ground.
(6)
Note. Subject matter relating to partial unearthing of plants
or buried objects in the manner provided for by this class has been included
because of its similarity to corresponding means which completes
the unearthing.
(7)
Note. Included in this class are structures and methods disclosed
as adapted for the purpose of moving small stones along the surface
of the ground to gather or windrow the stones. See (4) Note to subclass
63.
SECTION III - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
Stump and boulder extractors are classified in appropriate
subclasses in Class 254 and Class 37 as noted below.
Subject matter relating to recovering objects buried in soil
located beneath a body of water has been excluded and will be found
in appropriate subclasses of Class 37 or in Class 299, subclasses
8 and 9 if objects are separated from the soil subsequent to excavation.
Subject matter relating to recovering objects buried in the
surfaces of tunnels, shafts or vertical soil faces or recovering
a valuable mineral constituent has been excluded and will be found
in appropriate subclasses of Class 299.
Excavating,
subclasses 302 and 303 for boulder or tree stump-type excavators,
subclasses 304+ for self-loading vehicles which excavate snow
or earth material, elevate it, and dump it into the vehicle, subclasses
307+ for devices excavating beneath a body of water and
which may excavate bottom material containing desired objects, and
subclass 316 for fork- or rake-type scoops.
Harvesters, appropriate subclasses, for machines for severing portions
of plants while the plant is connected to an earth embedded root,
and
subclasses 328.1+ for machines which harvest fruit or nuts which
may be lying upon the ground.
Earth Working, appropriate subclasses for earth working implements
which merely form a furrow or disturb the earth without separating an
object from the surrounding earth. Such earth working implements
may indiscriminately cut roots or other plant material as they proceed
along the ground and turn a furrow but they do not act to separate
the object from the surrounding turned earth. Class 172 may take that
subcombination of a Class 171 apparatus which merely cuts and lifts
earth to direct it towards a separating device which separates the
desired objects from the earth. Many of the Class 172 devices disclose
teeth, blades or other means which are inherently useful to selectively
dig buried objects from the ground while allowing the soil to fall
back in place. Where the disclosure of this type of device relates
solely to earth working, the patent is placed in Class 172, where
the invention is disclosed as useful both to work the earth and
to unearth plants or buried objects the patent is placed in Class
171, since unearthing is always accompanied by soil disturbance.
Tool Driving or Impacting, appropriate subclass for subject matter directed to driving
or impacting a tool, when such subject matter includes features
peculiar to tool driving, but which does not include features limiting
the subject matter to a specific tool art, such as specific shape
of the work contacting portion of a tool, related tools, or an opposed
work support, and see particularly
subclasses 184+ for driving or impacting means mounted on a wheeled
vehicle. Class 171 has not been cleared as to subject matter in
conflict with this line.
Conveyors: Power-Driven,
subclasses 300+ and 506+ for portable conveyors having
means to feed material from a stock or pile onto the conveyor, and
see the notes thereto.
Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids,
subclasses 233+ for apparatus for separating objects from finer
or coarser accompanying material, and subclasses 509+ for
apparatus for separating different objects in accordance with their
particle size or other physical characteristics. Class 209 takes
the claimed subcombination of a specific sorting and/or
separation means, whether or not combined with a feeding or discharge
conveyor means even when disclosed in a plant or buried object unearthing organization.
Implements or Apparatus for Applying Pushing or
Pulling Force,
subclasses 131+ for lever-like implements adapted to lift a plant
or other object from the ground.
Handling: Hand and Hoist-Line Implements, appropriate subclasses, especially
subclasses 50.6+ and 86.4+ for hand or hoist-line implements
which may be used to lift a plant or other object from the ground.
Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material, appropriate subclass for a process or apparatus for recovering
valuable mineral material from the earth and breaking up hard, solid material
in situ, and particularly
subclasses 7+ for mining or excavating combined with separation
of the material into constituent parts.
Material or Article Handling,
subclass 439 and 440 for draft motion responsive handlers and transporters
adapted to pick up surface objects such as bales, shock or golf
balls which are not normally disposed below the ground.
Crop Threshing or Separating, appropriate subclasses, for apparatus for removing
portions of a harvested plant by threshing.
SECTION V - GLOSSARY
DIGGERS
Devices which are forced into a mass of earth and are then
raised to lift an object disposed in said earth and/or to
lift portions of the earth itself with objects embedded therein.
EXTRACTORS
Devices which comprise means to engage a portion of a buried
or partially buried object and to temporarily fasten itself to said
object in order to hold onto the object while it is lifted out of
the ground.
IMPALING OR SNAGGING
The act of removing or unearthing an object at least
partially imbedded in the ground by an extractor which penetrates
through the surface of the object or which passes through or around
a reentrant or restricted portion of the object to form a temporary
connection between said object and the extractor.
OPEN SEPARATOR
A device which is provided with spaced portions having openings
therebetween in which the spaced portions are adapted to retain
all objects above a predetermined particle size while finer material
passes through the openings.
RECOVERED OBJECTS
Articles or plants which were formerly at least partially surrounded
by a mass of earth and which have been separated from said mass
of earth as distinct objects, substantially free from said earth
and available at some identifiable time for any desired purpose
which may involve either use or destruction thereof.
SEPARATING DIGGERS
Diggers as defined above which comb through the earth and
which are provided with interstices through which the earth sifts
while the desired objects rest on the digger and are thus moved
through the earth and separated from said earth.
SEPARATOR ELEMENTS
Spaced portions of a separator which support objects larger
than a certain size while smaller particles or objects pass through
the spaces therebetween.
STONE GATHERING
Moving of small stones and rocks resting on the surface of
the earth into piles, rows or collection receptacles.
UNDESIRED OBJECTS
Trash, previously cut tops or foliage or other nonearth material
accompanying the objects disclosed as intended to be removed from
the earth and recovered.
UNEARTHING
This is the generic term for any of the various organizations
for removing an object imbedded in the earth, at or near the ground
surface as by digging or picking the object and separating it free
from any substantial accumulation of earth, the separation being
accomplished either simultaneously with or subsequent to the removal of
the object from its position in situ in the ground.
UNEARTHING UNIT
An entity which includes all of the apparatus necessary to
completely unearth a buried or partially buried object in its path
regardless of the presence or absence of additional, similar entities
in the same organization.
Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material,
subclasses 7+ for a process of excavating or breaking up hard
material in situ and separating valuable constituents thereof.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus which includes a plurality of unearthing units,
each of which is capable of operating in the manner contemplated
by the class definition as a complete entity and in which any one
of the units may be used alone and then replaced by another in response
to a manual control or in response to the occurrence of a given
condition.
(1)
Note. Mere plural exhuming units which are capable of separate
vertical or lateral adjustment so that either or both may be in
operation at one time, and plural successive units which, in turn,
each pass over the same area to be harvested have been excluded
and have been classified elsewhere in this schedule on the basis
of pertinent details of the individual unit.
Earth Working,
subclass 136 for diverse earth working tools useable alternately
only, and subclasses 204+ for earth working tools alternately useable
for right or left hand operation.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which the unearthing apparatus is provided
with a ground penetrating means of substantially flat shape lying
generally in or parallel to a vertical plane extending in the direction
of draft for the disclosed function of constraining the movement
of the apparatus over the earth to a desired path.
(1)
Note. This subclass includes those stabilizing fins or colters
which are inclined relative to the direction of draft at such an
angle with respect to an associated angularly disposed unearthing
apparatus as to thereby counteract the side draft caused by such
angularly disposed apparatus and thus maintain the same in a straight
line in the direction of draft.
Earth Working,
subclass 144 for an earth-working implement comprising a colter,
jointer and plow, subclasses 165+ for diverse earth working
tools including a colter, and subclasses 190+ for diverse
earth working tools including a vertical longitudinal blade (e.g.,
a stabilizer).
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus which includes a means for recovering a plant
or buried object and a generally cylindrical member or axially elongated surface
of revolution engaging the ground and adapted to (1) press against
the ground to break up clods and/or to flatten the earth"s
surface or (2) to engage a plant to press a part thereof against
or into the ground.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which a severing means is disposed in a plane
perpendicular to the earth"s surface in order to sever
portions of a standing or growing plant.
(1)
Note. The usual purpose of such vertical cutters is to sever
laterally extending vine or top portions which would otherwise wrap
around parts of the apparatus.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus which includes, in addition to a means to unearth
a desired buried object, either (1) a means to scratch a reference
line on the earth"s surface; or (2) means trailing an unearthing
implement to prepare the surface of the earth for the reception
of the desired unearthed object, or to otherwise work the earth.
(1)
Note. The additional earth disturbance is usually for the
purpose of (1) removing undesired weeds (2) scratching, plowing or
cultivating the earth or otherwise breaking it up to prepare for
a subsequent crop (3) scraping the surface of the earth with a blade
to provide a smooth surface after recovery of the desired object
or (4) plowing a strip of earth adjacent the strip from which buried objects
are to be recovered.
Earth Working,
subclasses 126+ for an earth-working device combined with an earth-marking
means and subclasses 133+ for apparatus comprising diverse
earth working tools.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus which includes a means to recover a plant or buried
object from the ground and a collector which receives the recovered
object or portions thereof from said means, said collector being
emptied in response to (1) a predetermined travel of the apparatus,
or (2) a predetermined weight or quantity of collected objects.
Harvesters,
subclasses 346+ and 361 for intermittent discharge raking and loading
devices and subclasses 474+ for sheaf or bundle discharging
carriers.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus having a means to unearth a plant or buried object
and including a sensing means actuated by said plant or object either before
or after it is unearthed and a means which is responsive to actuation
of said plant or object sensing means to drive a portion of said apparatus.
SUPPORT OVERLOAD RELEASE AND RESET; DRIVE OVERLOAD RELIEF; OR
AUTOMATIC CONTROL:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which means is provided (1) which includes
a frangible, frictional or resilient member or connection in the
mounting of the recovery device, or a portion thereof, said member
normally holding the recovery device, or a portion thereof in its
normal working position until an abnormal condition arises, which
overloads the device or said portion thereof and breaks the frangible
element or overcomes the frictional or resilient force, thereby
permitting the device or said portion thereof to move to a nonoverloaded
position and there remain until manually reset, (2) in the power
transmission for the device, or portions thereof, including a resilient,
frictional or frangible member or connection adapted to yield or break
when the device, or a portion thereof, is subjected to an abnormal
operating condition whereby the drive to the recovering device is momentarily
interrupted or positively disengaged; or (3) to sense a condition
which may or not may occur and respond to such condition by causing
an operation of the recovery device to occur only when said condition
exists.
(1)
Note. Automatic devices are those which will, for example,
set the recovery device, or a portion thereof, in operation when
a desired plant or object is encountered, and cause such operation
to cease when the plant or object has been worked upon.
(2)
Note. Overload-relief means are those means interposed in
the drive or support for the unit, or a part thereof, which will, for
example, permit the drive of the recovery device, or a portion thereof,
to cease upon encountering an obstruction; or to move to a position
where it will pass an obstruction or an unyielding object.
for recovery devices or parts thereof which are
resiliently mounted on a supporting frame to move from a normal
position to an abnormal position and to be returned to said normal
position by a resilient means.
Earth Working,
subclasses 2+ for earth-working apparatus with automatic power
controlled means, subclasses 103+ for a driven earth-working
tool or cleaner with an overload-relief means or clutch in the drive
train, and subclasses 261+ for an earth-working tool with
an overload shifting means.
WITH PRELIMINARY REMOVAL OR UNDESIRED EARTH MATERIAL:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus having an unearthing unit adapted to traverse
an area including a zone of earth which has desired plants or buried
objects embedded therein in order to remove and separate said plants
or objects from the earth and including a ground-working means outside
(but adjacent) said zone and adapted to move undesired material
in a direction away from said zone in order to decrease the amount
of undesired material handled by said unearthing unit without substantially
decreasing the quantity of unearthed product.
(1)
Note. The ground-working means may be a plow or scraper disposed
either laterally of or above the desired object containing zone
to either scrape or cut off the undesired earth or vegetation above said
zone and/or laterally thereof.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which means are provided (1) to divert recovered
objects from one receptacle to another when said one is full, or
(2) to removably suspend or clamp a receptacle for recovered objects
in such fashion that it may be replaced.
WITH APPARATUS CLEANER IN NONRECOVERY ZONE OF UNEARTHING UNIT:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which means is provided to remove accumulated
dirt, recovered objects, or portions of said recovered objects from
parts of said apparatus which means is located outside the normal
path of flow of dirt and/or objects through said apparatus.
90, 101, and 114+, for strippers which are
interposed in the path of objects moving through the apparatus and which
constitute the normal means to intercept and divert said objects
from one portion of the device and onto another portion thereof.
WITH TOOTHED MOVING STRIPPER OR PICK-OFF FOR UNDESIRED OBJECT:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus which includes a pronged member whose position
is continually changing and which is disclosed as being specifically adapted
to selectively snag or comb vines, tops, weeds trash or other material
accompanying desired unearthed objects and to move said material
away from the normal path of the desired objects through the apparatus
to separate said material from the desired objects.
for moving strippers which engage a separating conveyor
and removed buried objects or plants such as quack grass which it
is desired to separate from the soil.
RECOVERED OBJECT PASSES THROUGH SEPARATOR INTERSTICES:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus having a means to remove and/or separate
from the earth a plant or buried object which is desired to be retained
and which includes, in addition, an apertured, interstitial or perforated
barrier adapted to permit said desired plant or object to pass therethrough
but which will retain larger objects and thus segregate said desired
objects from the larger objects.
(1)
Note. The larger objects may consist of (1) trash, vines or
rocks or (2) larger objects of the same kind as the smaller object
and are ordinarily delivered to a different location than the smaller objects.
(2)
Note. The barrier usually comprises an apertured surface disposed
along the path of the recovered objects to be separated.
for apertured surfaces in the form of a moving comb
which rakes off vines and similar material while allowing desired
objects to pass between the tines or teeth of the comb.
This subclass is indented under subclass 14. Apparatus which includes means to segregate like objects
which differ only in their dimensions into different groups according
to size subsequent to the separation of the object from the earth.
RAILROAD BALLAST REMOVAL AND ASSORTING OR SEPARATING:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which a means is provided for excavating or
picking up the aggregate-type ballast of a railroad bed and (1)
classifying said aggregate into different groups according to size,
shape, weight or other physical characteristics, and/or
(2) dividing from said aggregate undesirable matter such as weeds,
dirt, trash or like debris.
(1)
Note. Included are devices which may or may not return the
ballast to the road bed.
Excavating, appropriate subclasses, especially
subclass 104 , for similar devices wherein the claims are limited to
ballast excavating or road grading means, per se.
Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material,
subclasses 7+ for subject matter relating to excavating or breaking
up hard material in situ and separating valuable constituents thereof.
SEPARATION OR ORIENTATION BY FLUID CURRENT OR SUSPENSION:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which object or portions thereof are (1) separated
into different groups according to their different densities or
shapes, or (2) oriented into a desired position because of the difference
in shape or density between parts of said objects by means of (a)
a stream of liquid or gas, or (b) a body of liquid or fluent material
into which the objects or portion thereof are introduced.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus having means to remove buried objects from the
earth and including means to separate desired objects from accompanying material
or objects by means of any device not provided for above which acts
in response to the difference between the physical properties or
attributes of (a) the desired objects and (b) the accompanying object
or materials to be separated therefrom.
(1)
Note. Apparatus which separates objects from other objects
or material in response to a mere difference in size is excluded.
(2)
Note. For example, the objects may be separated in response
to differences in their weight, shape, density, coefficient of friction,
elasticity, electroconductivity or magnetic properties.
(3)
Note. Included, for example, are yieldable means which are
selectively deformable by either one of (a) the desired objects
or (b) the accompanying material or objects in order to separate the
two.
Classifying, Separating, and Assorting Solids,
subclasses 599 and 699 for apparatus for separating objects in accordance
with the degree of compressibility, and subclasses 598 and 941 for
apparatus for separating objects in accordance with the shape or
contour of the objects regardless of the relative sizes thereof.
WITH RAKE OR LATERAL DEFLECTOR FOR GROUND CONTACTING RECOVERED
OBJECTS:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus which include, subsequent to a means for unearthing
plants or buried objects which leaves said plants or objects on
the surface of the earth, a member which extends from a point spaced
above the ground to a point on or near the ground, said member being disposed
either (1) transversely to the line of draft in such fashion that
it piles up said objects, plants, or parts of said plants ahead
of it on the ground to collect them in piles, or (2) at an inclination
to the line of draft such that said objects, plants or parts of
said plants are biased laterally along the ground to a delivery point
along a line parallel to said line of draft.
(1)
Note. Rake-like devices which penetrate the ground and thus
dig up objects are excluded.
WITH MANUAL OPERATION STATION (E.G., TOPPING, SEPARATION
INSPECTION):
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which there is provision to support or accommodate
a human operator who is necessary (1) to the handling of the recovered
object to carry it through a portion of its travel through the apparatus
or (2) to perform some manipulative step on said recovered object
such as inspecting the object or severing a portion thereof.
(1)
Note. Mere stepping platforms which an operator uses from
time to time to gain access to a portion of the apparatus or which
support the operator near a portion of the device which requires
adjusting or unloading are excluded and have been considered frame
features.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus which includes a means mounted for motion relative
to a supporting frame to engage an above-ground portion of a plant
whose roots are disposed in situ in the ground and hold said portion
in a desired location and attitude relative to the earth"s
surface while said portion is severed from the plant root.
(1)
Note. These devices usually consist of cooperating moving
holding members which move rearwardly at the same velocity as the
forward speed of traverse of the apparatus to hold the plant in
a desired position while it is severed from the plant root.
This subclass is indented under subclass 21. Apparatus in which separate, vertically spaced means are
provided to sever portions of a plant while it is held in a fixed
position.
(1)
Note. Usually one of the severing means is disposed at a position
spaced above ground to top the plant while another severing means
is located at or below the ground level to sever roots.
WITH SELECTIVE DELIVERY TO ALTERNATE LOCATIONS (E.G., BY-PASS):
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which means is provided anywhere in the apparatus
to shift at the will of an operator the flow of recovered objects
or portions thereof from one continuous course through said apparatus
to another.
(1)
Note. The usual purpose of such shifting is (1) to select
one of a plurality of locations for a windrow of recovered objects or
cut toppings, (2) to discharge to a common windrow from different,
adjacent plant rows, for example, by employing a shiftable or reversible
outlet conveyor or (3) to switch the flow or recovered objects or
portions thereof from one path to another through the apparatus
in order to use different sections of said apparatus alternately
or selectively or to selectively bypass certain of said sections.
WITH COMMINUTING OR MULTIPLE CUTTING OF RECOVERED PLANT PART:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which an object or some portion thereof which
has been previously unearthed is pulverized into discrete particles or
reduced to a series of pieces as by severing at a number of spaced
points.
Earth Working,
subclasses 39+ for a driven earth working tool or cleaner comprising
a cleaner or comminutor spaced from the ground surface, and subclasses
63+ for a nondriven earth working tool combined with a
driven comminuting means. In these devices the earth and any objects
contained therein are comminuted without separating the objects
and the earth.
WITH CLEANING OF RECOVERED OBJECT BY BRUSHING OR WIPING:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus which include in addition to a means to unearth
a plant or buried object from the soil, a member having a soft or
flexible portion or portions adapted to contact the plant or object
after it has been freed from any substantial accumulation of accompaning
earth inorder to frictionally engage or impinge upon the surface
of said plant or object for the disclosed purpose of removing adhering
surface dirt or other foreign matter.
WITH ABOVE-GROUND MEANS FOR DETACHMENT OF PLANT PART:
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Apparatus in which the object recovered or extracted from
the ground is a plant and portions of said plant are removed therefrom
by means located at a point above the earth"s surface before,
after or during unearthing of said plant.
(1)
Note. Included herein are devices which remove foilage from
a useful root portion or which separate the stalks or vine from
a goober, tuber, fruit, berry or vegetable.
Harvesters, appropriate subclasses, for cutting devices for standing
or growing plants, especially
subclasses 121.4+ for plant topping means, per se, with gauges wherein
the topped plants are permitted to remain in the ground.
Earth Working, especially
subclasses 699+ for earth-working apparatus which cuts through
the earth and may be used to sever, by a means located below ground,
a root portion from the remainder of the plant.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Apparatus in which the plant parts are separated by (1)
means which engages different portions of the plant and moves said
portions in different lineal or torsional directions, (2) means
which impacts or violently agitates the plant to jar portions therefrom,
or (3) means to compress the plants in such fashion that sections
connecting said portions are distorted until broken to allow said
part to separate.
This subclass is indented under subclass 27. Apparatus including at least a pair of adjacent oppositely
rotating members between which certain portions of a plant are engaged
and fed until such portions are pinched or pulled apart from other
portions of said plant.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Apparatus in which the part of a plant which is normally
disposed above the ground is progressively severed at different
positions spaced along the path traversed by the plant recovering means.
(1)
Note. The plant may be either in its natural position in the
earth or it may have been removed from the earth when either or
both of the severing positions are reached.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Apparatus in which portions are severed from the plant by
a sharpened member which is mounted to be freely rotatable by contact
with the ground or the plant.
(1)
Note. The plant parts may be severed either before, during
or after recovery of the plant from the earth.
This subclass is indented under subclass 26. Apparatus in which a means is provided to remove and separate
a plant from the earth and then sever a portion therefrom at a particular position
which apparatus includes a means to move the plant either to said
position or away from said position.
This subclass is indented under subclass 31. Apparatus in which the sharpened cutting instrument disposed
in the path of recovered plants is shiftable by contacting the plant
by a sensing device operatively secured to the instrument in order
to sever the plant portions at a desired location.
(1)
Note. The gage may move the cutter in a manner to remove a
plant top at a constant location regardless of the position of the
plant, or the location of the cut may be varied in accordance with
the size or shape of the plant.
This subclass is indented under subclass 31. Apparatus having means to carry unearthed plants into engagement
with a sharpened cutting implement and including positively driven abutment
or feed means, said apparatus being adapted to move said plant in
the direction of its length until an enlarged portion of the plant engages
said abutment or feed means in order to locate said plant relative
to said cutting implement.
This subclass is indented under subclass 31. Apparatus in which plants which have been recovered from
the ground engage a locating device to shift said plants relative
to a sharpened cutting instrument in order to remove a portion of
each plant at a desired location.
(1)
Note. The locating device may be either a fixed guide or a
moving positioning member.
(2)
Note. The locating device may shift the recovered article
relative to a conveyor means carrying said article to the cutting instrument
and this shifting may occur either before or after the article is engaged
by the conveyor means.
This subclass is indented under subclass 34. Apparatus which includes means to turn an unearthed plant
laterally relative to the direction of draft into a generally recumbent
position in which a portion of said plant is severed.
This subclass is indented under subclass 31. Apparatus in which the means to move the plant to or from
a position where a portion thereof is severed, is adapted to grip
the plant during the cutting operation.
![[Search a list of Patent Appplications for class 171]](../as.gif)
CLASS 171,![[List of Patents for class 171 subclass 1]](../ps.gif)
1