Today in 1950, US Patent 2496858 A was issued, an invention of Millard E. Crowley, for his “Hop-Picking Machine.” there’s no Abstract, but according to the description, the “invention relates to hop-picking machines or the like, and more particularly to improvements in the construction and mode of operation of the same.” But it’s a complicated apparatus, best read the application to get the full picture of how the machine works.