Apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from agricultural crops

An apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from stalks of agricultural crops, comprising

• (a) a base frame having a first longitudinal member, said first longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, and a second longitudinal member in a parallel spaced-relationship with said first longitudinal member;
• (b) a plurality of cross members arranged perpendicularly along at least said first longitudinal member, each of said plurality of cross members having a lower stripping member for receiving the stalk of an agricultural crop;
• (c) a plurality of upper stripping members, each upper stripping member positionable to cooperate with a corresponding lower stripping member to substantially encircle the stalk;
• and
• (d) means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus in a direction from said first end to said second end of said first longitudinal member;
• wherein each upper stripping member and the corresponding lower stripping member cooperate to strip the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus, and wherein said means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus comprises a stalk gripping assembly disposed near said second end of said first longitudinal member, said stalk gripping assembly including cooperative first and second drive belts disposed in a side-by-side relationship to form a v-configuration.

A method for stripping and sorting leaves from stalks of agricultural crops, the method comprising:

• (a) placing a stalk upon a plurality of lower stripping members of an apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from the stalks of agricultural crops;
• (b) positioning a plurality of upper stripping members so as to cooperate with a corresponding lower stripping member to substantially encircle the stalk;
• (c) engaging and conveying the stalk longitudinally along the apparatus;
• (d) stripping the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus;
• and
• (e) sorting the leaves by position along the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus,
• wherein the apparatus includes (i) a base frame having a first longitudinal member, the first longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, and a second longitudinal member in a parallel spaced-relationship with the first longitudinal member;
• (ii) a plurality of cross members arranged perpendicularly along at least the first longitudinal member, each of the plurality of cross members having one of the plurality of lower stripping members;
• (iii) the plurality of upper stripping members;
• (iv) means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus in a direction from the first end to the second end of the first longitudinal member;
• and (v) a pivotable frame, the pivotable frame having the plurality of upper stripping members affixed thereto;
• wherein each upper stripping member and the corresponding lower stripping member cooperate to strip the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus, and wherein the means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus includes a stalk gripping assembly disposed near the second end of the first longitudinal member.

A method for stripping and sorting leaves from stalks of agricultural crops, the method comprising:

• (a) placing a stalk upon a plurality of lower stripping members of an apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from the stalks of agricultural crops;
• (b) positioning a plurality of upper stripping members so as to cooperate with a corresponding lower stripping member to substantially encircle the stalk;
• (c) engaging and conveying the stalk longitudinally along the apparatus;
• (d) stripping the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus;
• and
• (e) sorting the leaves by position along the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus,
• wherein the apparatus includes (i) a base frame having a first longitudinal member, the first longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, and a second longitudinal member in a parallel spaced-relationship with the first longitudinal member;
• (ii) a plurality of cross members arranged perpendicularly along at least the first longitudinal member, each of the plurality of cross members having one of the plurality of lower stripping members;
• (iii) the plurality of upper stripping members;
• and (iv) means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus in a direction from the first end to the second end of the first longitudinal member;
• wherein each upper stripping member and the corresponding lower stripping member cooperate to strip the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus, and wherein the means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus includes a stalk gripping assembly disposed near the second end of the first longitudinal member, the stalk gripping assembly including cooperative first and second drive belts disposed in a side-by-side relationship to form a v-configuration.