Deleafer apparatus and method

A deleafer apparatus for removing leaves from a plant, the deleafer apparatus comprising:

• a drum having a plurality of openings located at a circumference of the drum, the drum defining a central volume;
• an air circulating device mounted beneath the central volume of the drum;
• a rotating blade assembly mounted in relation to the drum;
• a housing defining a housing opening, the housing being arranged to wrap around a majority of the circumference of the drum so that a flow of air generated by the air circulation device is directed through the housing opening of the housing and through an exposed number of the openings in the drum;
• wherein the rotating blade assembly strips leaves that are drawn into the central volume of the drum by the flow of air.

A deleafer apparatus for removing leaves from plants, the deleafer apparatus comprising:

• a frame including a housing having a housing opening;
• a drum rotatably mounted to the frame, the drum having a sidewall that defines a plurality of openings, the sidewall including a face that contacts plants during operation;
• a blade assembly having blades that remove leaves from the plants;
• and
• an air circulation device located relative to the drum to draw the leaves of the plants through the openings in the sidewall of the drum;
• wherein the housing opening of the frame defines the face of the sidewall that contacts the plants during operation, the housing surrounding a majority of the sidewall of the drum so that air flow generated by the air circulation device is directed primarily through the housing opening, and wherein the drum rotates during operation such that the face of the drum sidewall is substantially stationary relative to a point of engagement with the plants as the deleafer apparatus travels relative to the plants.

A deleafer apparatus for removing leaves from a plant, the deleafer apparatus comprising:

• a drum having a circumference and a central volume, the drum including a plurality of openings located at the circumference of the drum;
• an air circulating device mounted beneath the central volume of the drum;
• a blade assembly mounted in relation to the drum;
• and
• a housing defining a housing opening, the housing being arranged to wrap around a majority of the circumference of the drum so that a flow of air generated by the air circulation device is directed through the housing opening of the housing and through an exposed number of the openings in the drum;
• wherein the air circulating device expels leaves removed by the blade assembly through a bottom of the drum.

A deleafer apparatus for removing leaves from plants, the deleafer apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a drum rotatably mounted to the frame, the drum having a sidewall that defines a plurality of openings, the sidewall including a face that contacts plants during operation;
• a blade assembly having spaced apart moving blades that remove leaves from the plants, and a motor that actuates the spaced apart blades;
• and
• an air circulation device located relative to the drum to draw the leaves of the plants through the openings in the sidewall of the drum;
• wherein the drum rotates during operation such that the face of the drum sidewall is substantially stationary relative to a point of engagement with the plants as the deleafer apparatus travels relative to the plants.