US 5,193,331 A · Legume harvester

Abstract

A mechanical harvester is specifically designed for mechanically picking "gourmet-type" leguminous crops with hand-picked quality. The picking tools are a plurality of elongate resilient fingers which are disposed on an endless moving belt for gently combing the crop from the plants. The harvester is adapted to be placed behind a towing vechicle such as a tractor, with the crop pick-up point in vertical alignment with the main tractor axis for assuring proper positioning of the pick-up point relative to the surface and for assuring good operator visibility. A universal crop transfer system is adapted to receive a removable collection chamber and a removable and readily replaceable harvesting implement, whereby the harvester may be quickly modified for harvesting any one of a predetermined variety of leguminous crops. The harvester implement, collection chamber and transfer conveyor mechanism are all adapted to be mounted on a standard three-point hitch.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A crop harvester of the type adapted to be releasably secured to and powered by a motive vehicle such as a tractor for machine harvesting crops, the harvester comprising:

a. a universal collector and transfer mechanism including means for collecting the harvested crop, means for separating trash therefrom and means for conveying the collected, separated crop to a remote receiving station, the universal collector and transfer mechanism adapted to be releasably secured to the vehicle;
and
b. a harvesting implement releasably mounted on the universal collector and transfer mechanism and adapted for harvesting a predetermined crop from a plant and including means for delivering the crop to the collector and transfer mechanism.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Legume harvester

Life of this patent

Legume harvester

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29