Seed Harvester and Related Methods
AssigneeBridgestone Corporation
InventorsRussell E. Prock, David A. Dierig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of harvesting a seed from a rooted plant utilizing a seed harvester. The method includes dislodging the seed from the rooted plant via a seed dislodging system on the seed harvester by contacting the rooted plant with at least one of a plurality of dislodging members of the seed dislodging system. The method also includes collecting the seed via a seed collection system on the seed harvester. The method further includes transporting the seed via a seed transport system on the seed harvester from the seed collection system to a seed isolation system on the seed harvester. The method also includes isolating the seed from a waste material via the seed isolation system. A seed harvester is also included.
Claims20
A method of harvesting a seed from a living and rooted plant utilizing a seed harvester, the method comprising:
- contacting the living and rooted plant with a dislodging member of a seed dislodging system on the seed harvester and thereby dislodging the seed from the living and rooted plant such that the plant remains living and rooted;
- collecting the seed via a seed collection system on the seed harvester while the plant remains living and rooted;
- transporting the seed via a seed transport system on the seed harvester from the seed collection system to a seed isolation system on the seed harvester while the plant remains living and rooted;
- and,
- isolating the seed from a waste material via the seed isolation system.
A seed harvesting header for a seed harvester, the seed harvesting header operable to harvest associated seeds from an associated living and rooted plant with the associated plant remaining living and rooted after harvesting, the seed harvesting header comprising:
- a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall such that a pass-through opening is at least partially defined therebetween;
- a first dislodging member supported along the first sidewall and extending into the pass-through opening from along the first sidewall such that motion of the first dislodging member is operative to dislodge associated seeds from the associated living and rooted plant with the associated plant remaining living and rooted as the associated living and rooted plant exits the pass-through opening;
- a second dislodging member supported along the second sidewall and extend into the pass-through opening from along the second sidewall such that motion of the second dislodging member is operative to dislodge associated seeds from the associated living and rooted plant with the associated plant remaining living and rooted as the associated living and rooted plant exits the pass-through opening;
- a collection reservoir beneath at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall.
A seed harvester comprising:
- a plurality of headers coupled to the seed harvester with at least one of the plurality of headers including:
- a seed dislodging system including a pass-through opening dimensioned to receive an associated living and rooted plant, the seed dislodging system configured to dislodge associated seeds from the associated living and plant as the associated living and rooted plant passes through and exits the pass-through opening;
- and,
- a seed collection system disposed in communication with the seed dislodging system, the seed collection system configured to collect the associated seeds dislodged from the associated living and rooted plant via the seed dislodging system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.