Today in 1895, US Patent 541431 A was issued, an invention of Charlon E. Easton, for his “Hop-Picker.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to machines for picking hops-that is, a machine for picking each strobile or oatkin from the vine,and the object of the invention is to produce a machine that will remove the catkins from the vine or stem thoroughly, rapidly, and without injury.