Harvesters – Motorized harvester – Including plural operating units and drive
Patent
1996-08-07
1998-09-01
Shackelford, Heather
Harvesters
Motorized harvester
Including plural operating units and drive
56 171, 56119, 563271, A01D 3404
Patent
active
057994749
ABSTRACT:
A baby greens harvester (10) for the harvesting of small salad vegetables known as baby greens (55). The baby greens harvester (10) has a chassis (12) with a packaging bed (18) thereon. A cutter/conveyor assembly (30) is affixed to the chassis such that the cutter/conveyor assembly (30) can rotate somewhat, relative to the chassis (12) about a longitudinal pivoting axis (102) and a generally horizontal cutter/conveyor assembly pivoting axis (62). The cutter/conveyor assembly (30) has a bottom belt (34) and an opposing, spaced, generally parallel top belt (36). The special top belt (36), called a Hula belt, has a plurality of highly flexible fingers (130) for gathering the baby greens (55) as they are cut by a cutting bar (32) and further for gently holding the baby greens (55) on the bottom belt (34) as they are conveyed rearwardly and upwardly for delivery through a chute (63) into a produce box (64). The front of the cutter/conveyor assembly (30) rides on a gauge roller (56) such that the cutting bar (32) is maintained a preselected close distance (0-4 inches in 1/4-inch increments) above a bed surface (54) whereon the baby greens (55) are grown. The speed of both belts are coordinated to each other within about .+-.5% so they travel in step upwardly from the cutter bar to the delivery chute. In turn, the belts are driven off the harvester drive wheels, and the belt travel rate (foot per minute) is matched to the forward motion of the harvester within the range of .+-.15% so the cutter bar does not mangle or mulch baby greens by multiply cutting them. The Hula belt travel path is designed to permit the fingers to descent into the growing greens from above, gently position them for cutting, and hold the cut greens on the lower transport conveyor belt without bruising them, and then disengage just before delivery via the chute.
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Dulin, Esq Jacques M.
Shackelford Heather
Tanimura & Antle, Inc.
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