Apparatus and method for harvesting agricultural produce

An apparatus for use in harvesting a field of agricultural produce to temporarily store and to selectively transfer the harvested produce into a transport carrier for removal from the field, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) wheels supporting said frame for movement about the field;
• c) an elongated, low profile bin mounted above and extending substantially the full length of said frame, said bin having input and output ends and a floor and being capable of movement between a receiving position in which the harvested produce is loaded into said bin at the input end thereof and an unloading position in which harvested produce in said bin is transferred from said output end of said bin to the transport carrier, movement of said bin from said receiving position to said unloading position comprising movement of said bin in a generally longitudinal direction from said input to said output end thereof in combination with upward movement of said output end of said bin, to position said output end of said bin beyond said frame and above the transport carrier when the transport carrier is located adjacent said frame at said output end of said bin;
• d) a hydraulic ram mounted between said bin and said frame, said hydraulic ram being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position to drive said bin between said receiving and unloading positions, respectively;
• e) a rigid support member pivotally attached at opposite ends thereof between said frame and a portion of said bin located intermediate said input and output ends thereof;
• f) a support roller upholding said input end of said bin above said frame and permitting rolling longitudinal movement therebetween;
• g) an unloading extension located at the output end of said bin, said unloading extension having a produce discharge opening at the end thereof remote from said bin and being capable of pivoted downward movement from a retaining position to an unloading position;
• and
• h) a conveyor belt longitudinally disposed in said floor of said bin and said unloading extension, and operable to shift harvested produce from said input end of said floor of said bin to said produce discharge opening and from said produce discharge opening to said input end.

A harvester for agricultural produce, said harvester comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) processing means mounted on said frame for harvesting and cleaning the produce to produce harvested produce, said processing means advancing the produce along a processing pathway;
• and
• c) storage means for accepting the harvested produce, storing the harvested produce with the center of gravity thereof substantially centered over said frame, and for selectively transferring the harvested produce to a transport carrier, said storage means comprising:
• 1) an elongated, low profile bin mounted above and extending substantially the full length of said frame, said bin having input and output ends and a floor and being capable of movement between a receiving position in which the harvested produce is loaded into said bin at the input end thereof and an unloading position in which harvested produce in said bin is transferred from said output end of said bin to the transport carrier, movement of said bin from said receiving position to said unloading position comprising movement of said bin in a generally longitudinal direction from said input to said output end thereof in combination with upward movement of said output end of said bin, to position said output end of said bin beyond said frame and above the transport carrier when the transport carrier is located adjacent said frame at said output end of said bin;
• 2) support means for movably upholding said bin above said frame in said receiving and unloading positions and during any movement of said bin therebetween;
• 3) motive means for driving said bin between said receiving and said unloading positions thereof;
• and
• 4) a selectively operable conveyor belt longitudinally disposed int eh floor of said bin operable to shift produce from said input end to said output end of said bin and from said output end to said input end of said bin.

A harvester for agricultural produce, said harvester comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) processing means mounted on said frame for harvesting and cleaning the produce to produce harvested produce said processing means advancing the produce along a processing pathway;
• c) an elongated, low profile bin mounted above and extending substantially the full length of said frame, said bin having input and output ends and a floor and being capable of movement between a receiving position in which the harvested produce is loaded into said bin at the input end thereof and an unloading position in which harvested produce in said bin is transferred from said output end of said bin to the transport carrier, movement of said bin from said receiving position to said unloading position comprising movement of said bin in a generally longitudinal direction from said input to said output end thereof in combination with upward movement of said output end of said bin, to position said output end of said bin beyond said frame and above the transport carrier when the transport carrier is located adjacent said frame at said output end of said bin;
• d) a hydraulic ram mounted between said bin and said frame, said hydraulic ram being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position to drive said bin between said receiving and unloading positions, respectively;
• e) discharge means for shifting harvested produce in said bin from said input end toward said output end thereof and for transferring harvested produce from said output end of said bin in said unloading position of said bin;
• and
• f) coupling means for enabling a towing vehicle to pull said harvester while travelling ahead of said harvester at a selectively adjustable distance to the side of the center thereof.

A harvester for agricultural produce, comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) steerable wheels supporting said frame;
• c) processing means mounted on said frame for harvesting and cleaning the produce to produce harvested produce said processing means advancing the produce along a processing pathway;
• d) an elongated, low profile bin mounted above and extending substantially the full length of said frame, said bin having input and output ends and a floor and being capable of movement between a receiving position in which the harvested produce is loaded into said bin at the input end thereof and an unloading position in which harvested produce in said bin is transferred from said output end of said bin to the transport carrier, movement of said bin from said receiving position to said unloading position comprising movement of said bin in a generally longitudinal direction from said input to said output end thereof in combination with upward movement of said output end of said bin, to position said output end of said bin beyond said frame and above the transport carrier when the transport carrier is located adjacent said frame at said output end of said bin;
• e) a hydraulic ram mounted between said bin and said frame, said hydraulic ram being moveable between a retracted position and an extended position to drive said bin between said receiving and unloading positions, respectively;
• f) a rigid support member pivotally attached at opposite ends thereof between said frame and a portion of said bin located intermediate said input and output ends thereof;
• g) a support roller upholding said input end of said bin above said frame and permitting rolling movement therebetween;
• h) an unloading extension located at the output end of said bin, said unloading extension having a produce discharge opening at the end thereof remote from said bin and being capable of pivoted downward movement from a retaining position to an unloading position;
• i) a door at said discharge opening, said door being pivotable between a closed position and position in which said door is spaced apart outward from the floor of said unloading extension as the unloading extension pivots between said retaining position and said unloading position thereof;
• j) a flexible drop chute attached between the door and said unloading extension for reducing the rate of descent of the harvested produce being unloaded from said unloading extension;
• k) scissored side walls are positioned between said output end of said bin and said unloading extension retain harvested produce in said bin when said unloading extension is pivoted into said unloading position thereof;
• l) a selectively operable conveyor belt longitudinally disposed in the floor of said bin operable to shift produce from said input end to said output end of said bin and from said output end to said input end;
• m) a tongue pivotally attached at one end thereof to said frame and securable at the opposite end thereof to a towing vehicle for said harvester;
• and
• n) a hydraulically extendable brace pivotally attached between said frame and said tongue.

A method for use in a field of agricultural produce to harvest, temporary store, and selectively transfer the produce to a transport carrier for removal from the field, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) separating the agricultural produce from associated waste materials to produce harvested produce utilizing a frame towed through the field;
• b) loading the harvested produce into an elongated, low profile bin mounted above and extending substantially the full length of said frame, said bin having input and output ends and a floor and being capable of movement between a receiving position in which the harvested produce is loaded into said bin at the input end thereof and an unloading position in which harvested produce in said bin is transferred from said output end of said bin to the transport carrier, movement of said bin from said receiving position to said unloading position comprising movement of said bin in a generally longitudinal direction from said input to said output end thereof in combination with upward movement of said output end of said bin, to position said output end of said bin beyond said frame and above the transport carrier when the transport carrier is located adjacent said frame at said output end of said bin;
• c) driving said bin containing the agricultural produce from said receiving position into said unloading position;
• and
• d) transferring the agricultural produce from said output end of said bin to the transport carrier.