Harvesting apparatus

Claim 2

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriage to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, coacting conveyor roller means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on said conveying means to said cutter means, means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said conveyor roller stem grasping means, and movable aligning means above said conveyor roller stem grasping means and said cutter means for receiving and holding a head in a predetermined position for cutting the stem at a desired angle, said aligning means being spaced rearwardly from said head orienting means so that a head and stem ride a distance on said coacting conveyor roller means to permit further orientation and seating of the head on and by said coacting conveyor roller means.

Claim 3

A machine as defined in claim 1 which further includes nipper rolls disposed beneath said cutter means for forcibly ejecting severed stems to prevent jamming.

Claim 4

A machine as defined in claim 1 which further includes means for adjusting the height of said cutter means above said grasping means to permit selective removal of stems only and stems along with outer leaves.

Claim 5

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on said conveying means to said cutter means, and movable means separate from said stem grasping and head-conveying means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem-grasping means including coacting lifter conveyor rollers having forward portions supported in spaced relationship on each side of said row to be advanced beneath a head portion.

Claim 6

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on said conveying means to said cutter means, and movable means separate from said stem grasping and head-conveying means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem-grasping means including coacting lifter conveyor rollers having forward portions supported in spaced relationship on each side of said row to be advanced beneath a head portion.

Claim 7

A machine as defined in claim 4 in which said lifting conveyor rollers have rear portions which converge toward each other to feed a stem and head to said stem-grasping means.

Claim 8

A machine as defined in claim 5 which includes means for driving said lifting conveyor rollers at a conveying rate in excess of carriage speed to permit centering of the head and stem by both rollers at the convergence thereof before engagement by said stem-grasping means.

Claim 9

A machine as defined in claim 4 in which said lifter conveyor rollers carry spiral ribs thereon to assist in the lifting and conveying action thereof.

Claim 10

A machine as defined in claim 4 which further includes a housing for supporting each said lifter conveyor roller and guard means extending over said lifter conveyor rollers disposed to prevent debris lifted by said rollers from lodging between said housing and a respective roller.

Claim 11

A machine as defined in claim 8 in which said guard means extends past the forward portions of said rollers to initially nudge heads back toward the center of a row.

Claim 12

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriAge adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on said conveying means to said cutter means, and movable means separate from said stem grasping and head conveying means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem-grasping means including endless gathering conveyors having substantially vertically disposed and rearwardly moving runs supported in spaced opposing relationship on each side of said row to contact an center said heads.

Claim 13

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriAge adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on said conveying means to said cutter means, and movable means separate from said stem grasping and head conveying means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem-grasping means including endless gathering conveyors having substantially vertically disposed and rearwardly moving runs supported in spaced opposing relationship on each side of said row to contact an center said heads.

Claim 14

A machine as defined in claim 10 in which rear portions of the opposing runs of said gathering conveyors converge toward each other.

Claim 15

A machine as defined in claim 10 which further includes means for yieldingly biasing said opposed runs in a predetermined spaced relationship comprising at least two resilient means connected at spaced locations along the lengths of said runs.

Claim 16

A machine as defined in claim 9 which further includes biasing means yieldingly connecting said gathering conveyors intermediate the length of the opposing runs.

Claim 17

A machine as defined in claim 12 in which further includes second biasing means yieldingly connecting said gathering conveyors at the rear portions of said opposing runs.

Claim 18

A machine as defined in claim 10 which includes means for driving said opposing runs at a conveying rate faster than ground movement of said carriage to permit gathering and centering of a head before said grasping means arrives at the stem thereof.

Claim 19

A machine as defined in claim 10 in which each run carries means for positively engaging a head with the run.

Claim 20

A machine as defined in claim 10 in which the opposing runs of said gathering conveyors are arched toward each other to permit rapid initial coarse centering of a head, the rearward portions of said converging arches permitting coaction by the opposing runs for vernier-centering adjustments.

Claim 21

A machine as defined in claim 10 in which each gathering conveyor includes end shafts journally supported in a frame means, said frame means including a telescoping section and means for yieldingly biasing said telescoping section to maintain a predetermined tension on the run of said conveyor.

Claim 22

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on the conveying means to said cutter means, means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem-grasping means, and movable aligning means spaced from said orienting means along said stem-grasping conveying means to permit further orientation of said head on said stem-grasping means before reaching said aligning means comprising endless aligning conveyors having substantially vertically disposed and rearwardly moving runs supported in spaced opposing relationship above said stem-grasping means and said cutting means to hold a head in a predetermined position for cutting the stem at a desired angle.

Claim 23

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on the conveying means to said cutter means, means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem-grasping means, and movable aligning means spaced from said orienting means along said stem-grasping conveying means to permit further orientation of said head on said stem-grasping means before reaching said aligning means comprising endless aligning conveyors having substantially vertically disposed and rearwardly moving runs supported in spaced opposing relationship above said stem-grasping means and said cutting means to hold a head in a predetermined position for cutting the stem at a desired angle.

Claim 24

A machine as defined in claim 19 in which the opposing runs of said aligning conveyors are arched toward each other to insure a positive grip on the head directly above said cutting means.

Claim 25

A machine as defined in claim 19 which further includes means for yieldingly biasing said opposed runs of said aligning conveyors in said spaced relationship to insure a sufficient separation to permit entry of a head therebetween and the adJustment of the spacing along the runs to accommodate different size heads.

Claim 26

A machine as defined in claim 19 in which said aligning conveyors carry a severed head to a collecting station.

Claim 27

A machine as defined in claim 22 which further includes a surface to the rear of said cutting means and below said aligning conveyors to prevent a small head disposed between two larger heads from escaping from the control of said aligning conveyors before reaching a collecting station.

Claim 28

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on the conveying means to said cutter means, movable means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem grasping means and a collecting station for receiving a severed head comprising a collecting conveyor and diverting means spaced above said collecting conveyor for pushing a head from the collecting conveyor while permitting loose leaves to be carried on.

Claim 29

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on the conveying means to said cutter means, movable means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem grasping means and a collecting station for receiving a severed head comprising a collecting conveyor and diverting means spaced above said collecting conveyor for pushing a head from the collecting conveyor while permitting loose leaves to be carried on.

Claim 30

A machine as defined in claim 24 which further includes a collecting bin for receiving heads from said collecting conveyor and a bin conveyor means comprising a plurality of spaced tubular conveyor rollers which convey the heads while permitting loose leaves to fall between the rollers.

Claim 31

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on said conveying means to said cutter means, and means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem-grasping means including coacting lifting conveyor rollers having forward portions supported in spaced relationship on each side of said row to be advanced beneath a head and endless gathering conveyors having substantially vertically disposed and rearwardly moving runs supported in spaced opposing relationship on each side of said row to contact and centerheads.

Claim 32

A machine for harvesting vegetables having an edible head portion to be separated from a stem portion comprising a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of vegetables, cutter means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads, means on said carriage extending from a position adjacent the ground back to and below said cutter means for grasping and pulling down on a stem while conveying the stem and the head resting on said conveying means to said cutter means, and means for orienting the head of a vegetable in said row to present the stem for engagement by said stem-grasping means including coacting lifting conveyor rollers having forward portions supported in spaced relationship on each side of said row to be advanced beneath a head and endless gathering conveyors having substantially vertically disposed and rearwardly moving runs supported in spaced opposing relationship on each side of said row to contact and centerheads.

Claim 33

A machine as defined in claim 26 which further includes second conveying means comprising endless aligning conveyors having substantially vertically disposed and rearwardly moving runs supported in spaced opposing relationship above said grasping means and cutting means to hold a head in a predetermined position for cutting the stem at a desired angle.

Claim 34

A machine as defined in claim 12 which further includes means for yieldingly biasing said opposing runs of each of said gathering and aligning conveyors in a predetermined spaced relationship, said biasing means including accordion-type positioners and spring means for urging said accordion positioners to a predetermined extended position.

Claim 35

A machine as defined in claim 28 which further includes means for retaining the center of said accordion positioner in alignment with a centerline between said opposing runs of said gathering conveyors.

Claim 36

A machine as defined in claim 26 in which the stem-grasping means comprises coacting grasping conveyor rollers and means for rotating said grasping rollers to pull a stem down and between the same, and in which the front portions of said grasping conveyor rollers are spaced sufficiently far apart and converge together toward said cutter means so that a grasping force is not suddenly applied to a stem entering between said grasping rollers but rather said force is gradually applied Thereto as said grasping rollers converge.