Corn detasseler head

Claim 1

An improved corn detasseler device comprising at least one head unit means for mounting said head unit above ground level substantially at the height of tassels on a corn stalk, said detasseler being operated by being drawn over a row of cornstalks having tassels thereon so that said head unit cuts said tassels, said head unit including an open-bottomed horizontal conduit with an open front end and an open back end and extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction the device is pulled during operation for partially bending and aligning cornstalks with tassels thereon as said head unit is drawn over said stalk, cutter means disposed at said back end of said conduit, said cutter means disposed substantially transversely to said conduit and operable to cut said bent stalk with a vertical cut to remove said tassel from said stalk, and means for preventing leaves on said cornstalk from being cut by said cutter means, said means being attached to said conduit and including guide means substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and along said open bottom of said conduit to guide said tassel toward said cutter means.