Vegetable harvesting system

A vegetable harvesting device for harvesting a harvest portion from a plant having a harvest portion supported at the end of a stem, such as okra and the like, said device comprising:

• a conduit member including a passageway having receiving and discharge ports therein;
• said passageway being adapted to allow passage therethrough of a desired harvest portion and to receive a portion of the stem adjacent the harvest portion;
• the perimeter of said receiving port being defined by a peripheral lip located at a surface of said conduit member having at least a functional portion lying within a plane;
• severing means, in operational connection with said functional portion of said peripheral lip and selectively responsive to an operator, for harvesting the harvest portion by severing the stem while a section of the stem is received within said passageway of said conduit member;
• and
• flexible barrier means, disposed within said receiving port an operational distance from said peripheral lip, for allowing entrance of the harvest portion into said passageway when said harvest portion is supported by the stem and for preventing the harvest portion from exiting said passageway under the force of gravity through said receiving port after the harvest portion has been harvested from the plant by severing the stem, said barrier means being operationally deflectable by a harvest portion supported on a stem, and wherein said barrier member is not operationally deflectable by the weight of a harvest portion.

A vegetable harvesting device for harvesting a harvest portion from a plant having a harvest portion supported at the end of a stem, such as okra and the like, said device comprising:

• a conduit member including a passageway having receiving and discharge ports therein;
• said passageway being adapted to allow passage therethrough of a desired harvest portion and to receive a portion of the stem adjacent the harvest portion;
• the perimeter of said receiving port being defined by a peripheral lip located at a surface of said conduit member having at least a functional portion lying within a plane;
• severing means, in operational connection with said functional portion of said peripheral lip and selectively responsive to an operator, for harvesting the harvest portion by severing the stem while a section of the stem is received within said passageway of said conduit member;
• and
• flexible barrier means, comprising brush bristles, disposed within said receiving port an operational distance from said peripheral lip, for allowing entrance of the harvest portion into said passageway when said harvest portion is supported by the stem and for preventing the harvest portion from exiting said passageway under the force of gravity through said receiving port after the harvest portion has been harvested from the plant by severing the stem.

A method of harvesting a harvest portion from a plant having a harvest portion supported at the end of a stein, such as okra and the like, comprising the following steps:

• a) inserting a conduit member, which has at a proximal part an entrance port with flexible entry cover means operationally deflectable by a harvest portion supported on a stem but not operationally deflectable by the weight of a harvest portion, generally directed in a downward direction over the harvest portion with the harvest portion going through the entrance port and using the harvest portion to push aside the flexible entry cover means until at least a substantial amount of the harvest portion is within the conduit member;
• b) actuating a laterally moveable knife to move across the width of the entrance port severing the stem below the harvest portion, severing the harvest portion from the stem, and using the flexible entry cover means to prevent the severed harvest portion from falling back out through the entrance port;
• c) flipping the previously downwardly directed conduit member up and back, causing the severed harvest portion to be ejected out the distal part of the conduit member;
• and
• d) allowing the severed harvest portion to move through the conduit means to a distal part to be collected for removal of the severed harvest portion from the field.

A method of harvesting a harvest portion from a plant having a harvest portion supported at the end of a stem, such as okra and the like, comprising the following steps:

• a) inserting a conduit member, which has at a proximal part an entrance port with flexible entry cover means, over the harvest portion with the harvest portion going through the entrance port using the harvest portion to push aside the flexible entry cover means until at least a substantial amount of the harvest portion is within the conduit member;
• b) actuating a laterally moveable knife to move across the width of the entrance port severing the stem below the harvest portion, severing the harvest portion from the stem, and using the flexible entry cover means to prevent the severed harvest portion from falling back out through the entrance port;
• c) flipping the conduit member up and back, causing the severed harvest portion to be ejected out the distal part of the conduit member;
• and
• d) allowing the severed harvest portion to move through the conduit means to a distal part to be collected for removal of the severed harvest portion from the field.