US 5,799,474 A · Baby greens harvester

Abstract

A baby greens harvester (10) for the harvesting of small salad vegetables known as baby greens (55). The baby greens harvester (10) has a chassis (12) with a packaging bed (18) thereon. A cutter/conveyor assembly (30) is affixed to the chassis such that the cutter/conveyor assembly (30) can rotate somewhat, relative to the chassis (12) about a longitudinal pivoting axis (102) and a generally horizontal cutter/conveyor assembly pivoting axis (62). The cutter/conveyor assembly (30) has a bottom belt (34) and an opposing, spaced, generally parallel top belt (36). The special top belt (36), called a Hula belt, has a plurality of highly flexible fingers (130) for gathering the baby greens (55) as they are cut by a cutting bar (32) and further for gently holding the baby greens (55) on the bottom belt (34) as they are conveyed rearwardly and upwardly for delivery through a chute (63) into a produce box (64). The front of the cutter/conveyor assembly (30) rides on a gauge roller (56) such that the cutting bar (32) is maintained a preselected close distance (0-4 inches in 1/4-inch increments) above a bed surface (54) whereon the baby greens (55) are grown. The speed of both belts are coordinated to each other within about .+-.5% so they travel in step upwardly from the cutter bar to the delivery chute. In turn, the belts are driven off the harvester drive wheels, and the belt travel rate (foot per minute) is matched to the forward motion of the harvester within the range of .+-.15% so the cutter bar does not mangle or mulch baby greens by multiply cutting them. The Hula belt travel path is designed to permit the fingers to descent into the growing greens from above, gently position them for cutting, and hold the cut greens on the lower transport conveyor belt without bruising them, and then disengage just before delivery via the chute.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A harvester for harvesting greens, comprising:

(a) a reciprocating blade type cutter bar mounted in a position which cuts the greens above the ground surface during harvesting;
(b) a first, bottom belt for conveying cut greens upwardly from said cutter bar to an elevated packaging station;
(c) a second, top belt generally opposed to said bottom belt, said top belt includes means for guiding uncut greens to said cutter bar and thereafter to guide cut greens onto said bottom belt and to loosely hold said cut greens on said bottom belt during a portion of its conveying of said cut greens upwardly toward said packaging station;
and
(d) said cutter bar is disposed between a forward most portion of said bottom belt and said top belt.

2 more elements

A cutter/conveyor assembly for a greens harvester comprising in operative combination:

(a) a frame having side rails disposed in a generally vertical plane, said side rails being spaced apart a width sufficient to substantially span the width of a greens bed;
(b) a plurality of rollers being journalled in said side rails, said rollers being adapted to retain a first, bottom conveyor belt and a second top retainer belt;
(c) said assembly having a forward end and a rearward end;
(d) a cutter bar mounted adjacent said forward end of said assembly in a position which cuts greens above around during harvesting;
(e) said first, bottom belt is a cut greens conveyor belt mounted on and driven about said rollers from a lower forward position to an elevated rearward position, said rearward position comprising a discharge end of said belt and said cutter bar is mounted forward of the forwardmost end of said bottom belt;
(f) said second top belt is a greens retaining belt mounted on and driven about a second plurality of said rollers, a forwardmost portion of said second top belt being positioned forward of said cutter bar;
(g) said conveyor belt and said retaining belt are mounted generally in parallel along a path of transport of cut greens upwardly from said cutter bar to a point medial of a discharge end of said first bottom conveyor belt;
and
(h) motive power means for driving at least one roller for each of said belts.

6 more elements

A greens harvester comprising in operative combination:

(a) a chassis including drive wheels and steerable wheels;
(b) an engine mounted on said chassis for powering said drive wheels;
(c) a cutter/conveyor assembly pivotally mounted on said chassis to extend with weight cantilevered forward of said drive wheels, which cutter/conveyor assembly includes:
(i) a reciprocating blade type cutter bar mounted in a position which cuts above round during harvesting and is disposed adjacent the forward end of said cutter/conveyor assembly;
(ii) a first conveyor belt mounted just rearwardly of said cutter bar to receive greens cut by said cutter bar;
(iii) endless conveying means having flexible members for retaining cut greens on said first conveyor belt during a portion of the transport of said cut greens on said first conveyor belt upwardly and rearwardly to a discharge end of said conveyor belt;
(iv) a roller mounted to said assembly forward of said drive wheels and rearwardly of the forward end of said first conveyor belt to support at least a portion of said cantilevered weight of said cutter/conveyor assembly by movement over the top of said bed;
and
(v) means for adjusting the height of said cutter bar above the top of said bed in which said greens are growing, which adjustment means is connected to said roller.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Baby greens harvester

Life of this patent

Baby greens harvester

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32