# US 2009/0260337 A1 · Mechanized Harvester > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260337 A1 - Document ID: US20090260337A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/492,969 - Filed: 2009-06-26 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-20 - Assignees: Santa Fe Ingredients - Inventors: Henry Rodriguez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260337A1 ## CPC - A01D 46/00: Picking of fruits, vegetables, hops, or the like; Devices for shaking trees or shrubs - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING ## Abstract A harvesting device for mechanical harvesting of vegetables and the like. A pair of circular supports rotates on an axle disposed and are disposed in a housing. The circular supports are positioned on opposite sides of a picking path defined by a void in the housing and through which the vegetables pass as the harvester moves. Each circular support having at least one picking element extended into the picking path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mechanical harvesting device comprising: a housing and central axle rotatable in relation thereto and substantially disposed therein; the housing having a front opening and a rear opening and a void therebetween corresponding to a picking path, the longitudinal axis of the picking path being perpendicular to the axle; at least one circular support positioned perpendicular to the axle and affixed thereto such that the circular support and axle are concurrently rotatable; the circular support further comprising an inner hub and an outer circular arm with at least one picking element disposed therebetween; the at least one picking element having a curvilinear shape and extending from a plane defined by the circular support into a plane defined by the picking path, the picking element having a length longer than the radius of the circular support from which it extends; a gatherer positioned at the front opening, the gather having a first end, a curved portion, and a second end, the first end in communication with the housing adjacent the front opening and extending outward from the housing and downward below the housing, the curved portion of the gatherer curving back towards the housing and extending into the picking path, the second end positioned in the picking path substantially adjacent the at least one picking element; wherein as the mechanical harvester moves forward branches below the housing are engaged by the gatherer and travel along the gather to be engaged by the at least one picking element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mechanical harvester of claim 1, further comprising a trough substantially adjacent each of the at least one circular supports and the trough having an edge parallel with the normal direction of motion of the tractor and defining one side of the picking path and the trough in communication with a transportation system associated with the tractor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mechanical harvester of claim 1, further comprising guards positioned along the picking path, the guards comprising a shock absorbing material to minimize damage to the plants from contact with the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the picking elements have a first curved end and a second curved end both curved in the same lateral direction and further wherein the picking elements have a middle curved portion between the first and second curved ends, the middle curved portion curved in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The mechanical harvester of claim 4, wherein the picking elements have length of at least ¾ the diameter of the circular supports ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mechanical harvester of claim 1, comprising at least one set of paired circular supports, the set of paired circular supports positioned opposite the other across the picking path such that their respective picking elements extend towards the other circular support and into the picking path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the picking element is hingedly connected to the inner hub and the outer hub and wherein a shock absorber is further disposed between the picking element and the circular support. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the picking element has a shape of a oblate ellipsoid and wherein the polar radius of the ellipsoid is greater than that of the equatorial radius. ### Claim 9 A mechanized harvester for use with a tractor, the harvester comprising: a housing and central axle rotatable in relation thereto and substantially disposed therein, the axle positioned transversely of the normal direction of movement of the tractor; the housing having at least one pair of front and rear openings with a void in the bottom portion of the housing therebetween defining a picking path, the longitudinal axis of the picking path being parallel to the normal direction of movement of the tractor; at least two paired circular supports positioned perpendicular to the axle and affixed thereto such that the circular support and axle are concurrently rotatable; each of the circular supports further comprising an inner hub and an outer circular arm with at least one picking element disposed therebetween; the at least one picking element having a curvilinear shape and extending from a plane defined by the circular support into a plane defined by the picking path; and a trough substantially adjacent each of the at least one circular supports and the trough having an edge parallel with the normal direction of motion of the tractor and defining one side of the picking path and the trough in communication with a transportation system associated with the tractor; wherein each circular support of the paired circular supports are positioned opposite of each other across a cutting path such that their respective at least one picking elements extend into the cutting paths in a staggered manner and their associated troughs define the longitudinal edges of the cutting path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The harvester of claim 9, further comprising a gatherer positioned at the front opening, the gatherer having a first end a curved portion and a second end, the first end in communication with the housing adjacent the front opening and extending outward from the housing and downward below the housing, the gatherer curving back towards the housing and extending into the picking path, the second end positioned in the picking path substantially adjacent the at least one picking element; ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The harvester of claim 9, further comprising guards positioned along the picking path, the guards comprising a shock absorbing material to minimize damage to the plants from contact with the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The harvester of claim 9, wherein the picking elements have a first curved end and a second curved end both curved in the same lateral direction and further wherein the picking elements have a middle curved portion between the first and second curved ends, the middle curved portion curved in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The harvester of claim 12, wherein the picking elements have length of at least ¾ the diameter of the circular supports ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The harvester of claim 9, comprising at least one set of paired circular supports, the set of paired circular supports positioned opposite the other across the picking path such that their respective picking elements extend towards the other circular support and into the picking path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The harvester of claim 9, wherein the picking element is hingedly connected to the inner hub and the outer hub and wherein a shock absorber is further disposed between the picking element and the circular support. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The harvester of claim 9, wherein the picking element has a shape of a oblate ellipsoid ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The harvester of claim 16, wherein the polar radius of the ellipsoid is greater than that of the equatorial radius. ### Claim 18 A method of picking product from a plant with a mechanized harvester, the method comprising; providing relative motion between the harvester and the plant in a direction of travel of the harvester raising low-hanging branches of the plant by interaction with a gatherer that leads to the picking elements; rotating at least one picking element in the direction of travel; sweeping the picking element through the plant in an arcuate path as the harvester passes the plant; engaging the product with the picking elements as the picking elements sweep upward through the plant; guiding the product along the picking element such that the product is removed from the plant and deposited in a storage drove adjacent the picking element. wherein as the mechanical harvester moves forward such that branches below the housing are engaged by the gatherer and travel along the gatherer to be engaged by the at least one picking element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising transporting the product along a transportation system to a storage bin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising plowing the surface soil with the gatherer to engage branches laying on the ground as part of the raising step.