Leaf harvester system
OwnerDavid Offerdahl, Jordan Eganinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A leaf harvester includes a mobile vehicle, configured for moving on ground, having a leaf cutter at a front thereof, a first conveyor, and a laminar flow air conveyor, disposed between the leaf cutter and the first conveyor. The laminar flow air conveyor has a sloped upper surface, and is configured to rearwardly discharge a laminar flow of air over the upper surface to propel leaves cut by the leaf cutter to the first conveyor.
Claims20
A leaf harvester, comprising:
- a mobile vehicle, configured for moving on ground, having a leaf cutter at a front thereof;
- a first conveyor, having a lower forward end with a forward roller;
- and
- a laminar flow air conveyor, disposed between the leaf cutter and the forward roller of the first conveyor, having a rear wall defining a gap between the air conveyor and the lower forward end, the air conveyor having a sloped upper surface, configured to rearwardly discharge a laminar flow of air over the upper surface to propel leaves cut by the leaf cutter across the gap to the lower forward end of the first conveyor.
A pick-up system for a leaf harvester having a front and a first conveyor, comprising:
- a lower forward end of the first conveyor, having a forward roller;
- a leaf cutter, disposed at the front, configured to cut leaves as the harvester moves forwardly;
- an air conveyor, disposed between the leaf cutter and the lower forward end of the first conveyor, having
- a rear wall defining a gap between the air conveyor and the lower forward end;
- a rearwardly sloped upper surface;
- and
- a forward air outlet, configured to discharge a laminar flow of air rearwardly over the upper surface, whereby cut leaves landing upon the upper surface are propelled across the gap toward the lower forward end of the first conveyor.
An air conveyor system for a leaf harvester having a leaf cutter at a forward end thereof, and a conveyor disposed rearwardly of the leaf cutter, the conveyor having a lower forward end with a forward roller, comprising:
- an air pump;
- a plenum, disposed between the leaf cutter and the conveyor, in fluid communication with the air pump, and having
- a rear wall defining a gap between the air conveyor and the lower forward end;
- a rearwardly sloped upper surface;
- and
- an air outlet, disposed at a font edge of the upper surface, configured to rearwardly discharge a laminar flow of air over the upper surface, whereby cut leaves landing upon the plenum are propelled rearwardly across the gap onto the lower forward end of the conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.