# US 2021/0289707 A1 · Detasseler and control system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0289707 A1 - Document ID: US20210289707A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/205,920 - Filed: 2021-03-18 - Published: 2021-09-23 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-19 - Assignees: Oxbo International Corporation - Applicants: Oxbo International Corporation - Inventors: Christopher M. Schloesser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210289707A1 ## CPC - A01D 47/00: Headers {for topping of plants, e.g. stalks with ears} - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - A01B 79/005: {Precision agriculture} - A01D 34/008: {for automated or remotely controlled operation} - A01D 34/54: Cutting-height adjustment - A01D 41/141: {Automatic header control} - A01D 45/00: Harvesting of standing crops (A01D44/00 takes precedence; threshing machines adapted for special crops, threshing devices for combines adapted for special crops A01F11/00; harvesting of mushrooms A01G18/70) - A01D 45/021: {Cornheaders} - A01D 91/02: Products growing in the soil - A01H 1/02: Methods or apparatus for hybridisation; Artificial pollination {; Fertility} - G01B 11/043: {for measuring length} - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) - A01H: NEW PLANTS OR {NON-TRANSGENIC} PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS ## Abstract A detasseling apparatus includes a chassis having a head mounted to the chassis. The head supports a plurality of row units, each of the row units having an independently adjustable vertical position. Each row unit is independently vertically adjustable. Each row unit includes a puller or cutter, a height adjustment assembly for independently adjusting vertical position of the detasseling assembly to maintain the puller or cutter at a predetermined height relative to seed corn plants being engaged, and an optical sensing assembly. The optical sensing assembly includes a first photoelectric sensor at a first sensor height and a second photoelectric sensor at a second sensor height, the first sensor height being above the second sensor height. A processor receives and stores detasseling data related to detasseling including corn height, depth of cut, height after cutting. The information may be shown on displays to the operator, stored on board the detasseler and/or transmitted to a central control center. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A corn detasseling apparatus, comprising: a chassis; a head, the head supporting a plurality of row units, each of the row units comprising: a puller or cutter; a height adjustment assembly for independently adjusting vertical position of the row unit to maintain the puller or cutter at a predetermined height relative to corn plants being engaged; an optical sensing assembly for sensing a top of corn plants; the optical sensing assembly comprising: a first photoelectric sensor sensing presence of a corn plant; a second photoelectric sensor sensing presence of a corn plant, a height of the first sensor height being above a height of the second sensor; a processor for receiving and storing detasseling data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the row units comprises two pullers or cutters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the row units comprises an opposed aligned sender and receiver pair of the first photoelectric sensors and an opposed aligned sender and receiver pair of the second photoelectric sensors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opposed aligned pair of the first photoelectric sensors and the opposed aligned pair of the second photoelectric sensors include a first sensor spaced laterally outward from a first side of the row unit and a second sensor spaced laterally outward from a second side of the row unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising guides spaced forward of the puller or cutter along a direction of travel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the puller and the cutter are interchangeably mountable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the puller comprises a pair of opposed rotating wheels configured for severing a corn plant as the corn plant passes between the rotating wheels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head includes a first height adjustment for raising and lowering the head. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The detasseling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the row units comprises a second height adjustment for raising and lowering the row unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a support assembly and a plurality of sensors for controlling position of the head and the row unit and acquiring data on the position of the head and row unit, comprising: a linkage changing elevation of the head and a position sensor determining height of the head; a row unit linear actuator and a row unit position sensor determining a height of the row unit relative to the head. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cab and operator interactive controls and displays. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The corn detasseling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor comprises storage, display and/or transmission of the following information for each cutting assembly for data selected from the group consisting of: crop height prior to cutting; overall crop height after cutting; cut depth; crop height during pulling; location. ### Claim 13 A method for controlling, recording and displaying corn detasseling operations with a detasseling apparatus comprising a chassis, head and a plurality of pulling or cutting assemblies, a sensor for each of the cutting assemblies, a location instrument; the method comprising; setting an initial height of the head; entering a field and traveling along rows of corn; sensing a height of corn with the sensor for each of the cutting assemblies, each of the pulling or cutting assemblies raising or lowering in response to a sensed height of corn from the associated sensor to maintain the pulling or cutting assembly at a height to remove tassels and minimize leaf removal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, further comprising collecting data from the detasseling operation and saving the data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, further comprising transmitting the data to a central control. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, comprising displaying real time information to the operator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method according to claim 16, further comprising using the information collected and making real time adjustments to the detasseling operations. ### Claim 18 A method for managing operations for seed corn with a detasseling apparatus comprising a chassis, a head and a plurality of pulling or cutting assemblies, a sensor for each of the cutting assemblies, a location instrument; the method comprising; determining a location of the corn plant; sensing a height of the corn plant with the sensor for each of the cutting assemblies; cutting a portion of a top of the corn plant using the height sensed to produce a cut corn plant; determining the height of the cut corn plant; collecting and storing information related to the corn plant and the cut corn plant during cutting for managing detasseling operations and other agricultural operations on the seed corn. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, further comprising performing tassel pulling with a detasseler, the tassel pulling comprising: sensing a height of the cut corn plant; collecting and storing information related to the cut corn plant during pulling for managing detasseling operations and other agricultural operations on the seed corn. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, further comprising transmitting data from a plurality of distinct detasseling operations to a central control. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, further comprising using the information collected and making real time adjustments to the detasseling operations based on the information collected. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, wherein information collected is used for managing at least one operation selected from the group consisting of: fertilization; application of herbicides; application of pesticides; irrigation; harvest.