A method for performing pre-picking, picking, and pre-raking operations comprising:
- a) providing a picking rake made up of a first rake unit and a second rake unit,
- wherein the first rake unit has a first rake head and a first rake handle,
- wherein the second rake unit has a second rake head and a second rake handle,
- wherein the first rake handle is an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, a lower end and an upper end,
- wherein the second rake handle is an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, a lower end and an upper end,
- wherein each of the first and second rake heads has a face having a bottom edge and a top,
- wherein the lower end of the first rake handle is attached to the top of the first rake head,
- wherein the lower end of the second rake handle is attached to the top of the second rake head,
- wherein the first and second rake units are connected proximal to each other at a section along the length of the first and second rake handles, and
- wherein the bottom edge of the first rake head is aligned with and adjacent to the bottom edge of the second rake head effecting one combined raking span,
- wherein the connected section along the length of the first and second rake handles comprises a multi-axial pivotal connection having multi-axial pivotal means for allowing the first and second rake handles to flex independently of each other substantially about their respective longitudinal axes and for allowing one of the first and second rake heads to swing away and towards the other of the first and second rake heads when the face of the first rake head is substantially facing the face of the second rake head, and
- b) performing a pre-picking operation taken from the viewpoint of a user facing the picking rake comprising at least one of the following:
- i. flexing the first rake handle independently of the second rake handle in a counterclockwise direction substantially about the longitudinal axis of said first rake handle until the face of the first rake head is at least substantially facing the face of the second rake head, and wherein the rake handles remain connected together at the section along the length of the first and second rake handles, and
- ii. flexing the second rake handle independently of the first rake handle in a clockwise direction substantially about the longitudinal axis of said second rake handle until the face of the second rake head is at least substantially facing the face of the first rake head, and wherein the rake handles remain connected together at the section along the length of the first and second rake handles,
- c) performing a picking operation comprising,
- swinging at least one of the first and second rake heads outwardly away from the other rake head, grasping a material between the faces of the rake heads by swinging at least one of the first and second rake heads inwardly towards the other rake head, and
- swinging at least one of the first and second rake heads outwardly away from the other rake head to release the grasped material,
- wherein the rake handles remain connected together at the section along the length of the first and second rake handles, the connected section abutting and leveraging the rake units against each other during the picking operation,
- d) performing a pre-raking operation comprising at least one of the following:
- i. flexing the first rake handle independently of the second rake handle in a clockwise direction substantially about the longitudinal axis of said first rake handle until the bottom edge of the first rake head is aligned and adjacent with the bottom edge of the second rake head effecting one combined raking span, and wherein the rake handles remain connected together at the section along the length of the first and second rake handles, and
- ii. flexing the second rake handle independently of the first rake handle in a counterclockwise direction substantially about the longitudinal axis of said second rake handle until the bottom edge of the second rake head is aligned and adjacent with the bottom edge of the first rake head effecting one combined raking span, and wherein the rake handles remain connected together at the section along the length of the first and second rake handles.