Watermelon harvesting machine

Claim 2

A mobile machine for use in the field harvesting of produce, the machine comprising: a chassis, means mounting said chassis for movement over the ground, conveyor means mounted on said chassis for transporting the produce from an outwardly spaced position to said chassis, said conveyor means including first and second elongated frame sections, means mounting one end of said first frame section on said chassis for rotation about a first generally horizontal axis, between a lowered position extending transversely of said chassis and a raised position, means mounting one end of said second frame section for swinging movement on the opposite end of said first frame section about a second, generally horizontal axis, between a raised position in substantial longitudinal alignment with said first frame section, and a lowered position generally parallel to said first frame section, means for progressively raising the opposite end of said second section while said first and second frame sections remain in substantially longitudinal alignment and lowering said second frame section relative to said first section by swinging about said second axis while raising said first section by swinging about said first axis, whereby said conveyor sections are adjusted vertically and folded against said chassis, a first movable cable attached to said first frame section, said first cable being slack while said first and second frame sections remain substantially in longitudinal alignment, and a second movable cable attached to said second frame section for supporting the load of said conveyor means while said first and second frame sections remain substantially in longitudinal alignment.

Claim 3

A harvesting machine for use in the field harvesting of produce, the machine comprising: a chassis, means mounting said chassis for movement over the ground, conveyor means mounted on said chassis for transporting the produce from an outwardly spaced position to said chassis, said conveyor means including first and second elongated frame sections, means mounting one end of said first frame section on said chassis for rotation about a first generally horizontal axis, between a lowered position extending transversely of said chassis and a raised position, means mounting one end of said second frame section for swinging movement on the opposite end of said first frame section about a second, generally horizontal axis, between a raised position in substantial longitudinal alignment with said first frame section, and a lowered position generally parallel to said first frame section, means for progressively raising the opposite end of said second section while said first and second frame sections remain in substantially longitudinal alignment and lowering said second frame section relative to said first section by swinging about said second axis while raising said first section by swinging about said first axis, whereby said conveyor sections are adjusted vertically and folded against said chassis, a first movable cable attached to said first frame section, said first cable being slack while said first and second frame sections remain substantially in longitudinal alignment, and a second movable cable attached to said second frame section for supporting the load of said conveyor means while said first and second frame sections remain substantially in longitudinal alignment, said raising means including means for moving said first and second cables comprising a cylinder and piston unit having a movable piston rod, and a pulley assembly mounted on said piston rod, said first and second cables passing over said pulley assembly.

Claim 4

A harvesting machine for use in the field harvesting of produce, the machine comprising: a chassis, means mounting said chassis for movement over the ground, conveyor means mounted on said chassis for transporting the produce from an outwardly spaced position to said chassis, said conveyor means including first and second elongated frame sections, means mounting one end of said first frame section on said chassis for rotation about a first generally horizontal axis, between a lowered position extending transversely of said chassis and a raised position, means mounting one end of said second frame section for swinging movement on the opposite end of said first frame section about a second, generally horizontal axis, between a raised position in substantial longitudinal alignment with said first frame section, and a lowered position generally parallel to said first frame section, means for progressively raising the opposite end of said second section while said first and second frame sections remain in substantially longitudinal alignment and lowering said second frame section relative to said first section by swinging about said second axis while raising said first section by swinging about said first axis, whereby said conveyor sections are adjusted vertically and folded against said chassis, a first movable cable attached to said first frame section, said first cable being slack while said first and second frame sections remain substantially in longitudinal alignment, and a second movable cable attached to said second frame section for supporting the load of said conveyor means while said first and second frame sections remain substantially in longitudinal alignment, said raising means including means for moving said first and second cables comprising a cylinder and piston unit having a movable piston rod, and a pulley assembly mounted on said piston rod, said first and second cables passing over said pulley assembly.

Claim 5

A harvesting machine according to claim 2 including: a third cable having one end attached to said second frame and the other end fixed to said chassis, an elongated leg attached to said second frame section and extending upwardly therefrom, said third cable passing over said leg and supporting said second frame section during movement between its raised and lowered positions, means for moving said second cable at a first rate of speed, and means for moving said first cable at a second rate of speed greater than said first rate of speed.

Claim 6

A mobile machine for use in the field harvesting of produce, the machine comprising: a chassis, means mounting said chassis for movement over the ground, conveyor means for transporting the produce from an outwardly spaced position to said chassis, said conveyor means including a first frame having first and second elongated frame sections, means pivotally mounting one end of said first frame section on said chassis for rotation about a first axis, between a first position extending generally transversely of said chassis and a second position folded adjacent said chassis, means pivotally mounting one end of said second frame section for swinging movement on the opposite end of said first frame section about a second axis, between a first position extending transversely from said chassis in substantial longitudinal alignment with said first frame section and a folded second position adjacent said chassis and generally parallel to said first frame section, and a cable and pulley system for supporting said frame with said first and second frame sections in substantial longitudinal alignment a second cable and pulley system for rotating said first and second frame sections about said first and second axes to folded positions adjacent said chassis, and power means acting in one direction to move the second cable and continuing in the same direction to move the first cable.

Claim 7

A mobile machine for use in the field harvesting of produce, the machine comprising: a chassis, means mounting said chassis for movement over the ground, conveyor means for transporting the produce from an outwardly spaced position to said chassis, said conveyor means including a first frame having first and second elongated frame sections, means pivotally mounting one end of said first frame section on said chassis for rotation about a first axis, between a first position extending generally transversely of said chassis and a second position folded adjacent said chassis, means pivotally mounting one end of said second frame section for swinging movement on the opposite end of said first frame section about a second axis, between a first position extending transversely from said chassis in substantial longitudinal alignment with said first frame section and a folded second position adjacent said chassis and generally parallel to said first frame section, and a cable and pulley system for supporting said frame with said first and second frame sections in substantial longitudinal alignment a second cable and pulley system for rotating said first and second frame sections about said first and second axes to folded positions adjacent said chassis, and power means acting in one direction to move the second cable and continuing in the same direction to move the first cable.

Claim 8

A harvesting machine according to claim 4 wherein: said first axis and said second axis are generally horizontal.

Claim 9

A harvesting machine according to claim 4 wherein: said conveyor means includes a single conveyor belt extending about said first frame section and said second frame secton.

Claim 10

A harvesting machine according to claim 4 wherein: said cable and pulley system includes a cylinder and piston unit having a piston rod, and the pulley for the respective cables being mounted at spaced points on said piston rod and having the respective cables passing over the spaced pulleys.

Claim 11

A harvesting machine according to claim 4 wherein: said conveyor means includes a second frame having first and second elongated frame sections, means pivotally mounting one end of said first frame section of said second frame on said chassis, for rotation about a first axis between a first position extending transversely from said chassis and a second position folded adjacent said chassis, means pivotally mounting one end of said second frame section of said second frame of swinging movement on the opposite end of said first frame section about a second axis, between a first position extending transversely from said chassis in substantial longitudinal alignment with said first frame section, and a second position adjacent said chassis and generally parallel to said first frame section of said second frame, and a second cable and pulley system for supporting said second frame and for rotating said first and second frame sections thereof to folded positions adjacent said chassis, said second cable and pulley supporting system being operable independently of said first cable and pulley supporting system, said first-mentioned frame and said second frame being mounted on opposite sides of said chassis.

Claim 12

A harvesting machine according to claim 4 wherein: each of said cable and pulley systems includes a first cable attached to one of said first frame sections, a second cable attached to one of said second frame sections, means for moving said first and second cables to rotate said first and second frame sections, and spaced pulley means for causing said first cable to move at a faster rate than said second cable.

Claim 13

A harvesting machine according to claim 4 wherein: each of said first cables is slack when the first frame section to which it is attached is in its transversely extended position.

Claim 14

A harvesting machine according to claim 4 wherein: each of said cable and pulley systems includes a conveyor frame folding cable having one end fixed to one of said second frame sections and the other end fixed to said chassis, said folding cable supporting said one second frame section during at least part of its movement to its folded position.

Claim 15

A harvesting machine for use in the field harvesting of produce, the machine comprising: a chaSsis, means mounting said chassis for movement over the ground, conveyor means for transporting the produce from an outwardly spaced position to said chassis, said conveyor means including a first frame having first and second elongated frame sections, means pivotally mounting one end of said first frame section on said chassis for rotation about a first axis, between a first position extending generally transversely of said chassis and a second position folded adjacent said chassis, means pivotally mounting one end of said second frame section for swinging movement on the opposite end of said first frame section about a second axis, between a first position extending transversely from said chassis in substantial longitudinal alignment with said first frame section and a folded second position adjacent said chassis and generally parallel to said first frame section, and a cable and pulley system for supporting said frame with said first and second frame sections in substantial longitudinal alignment, and for rotating said first and second frame section about said first and second axes to folded position adjacent said chassis, said first axis and said second axis being generally horizontal; said conveyor means including a single conveyor belt extending about said first frame section and said second frame section, an inclined conveyor for transporting produce from said single conveyor belt to a loading position, an extent of said inclined conveyor passing beneath said single conveyor belt, and a plurality of rollers mounted across the path of said single conveyor, the centerlines of said rollers defining a gradual curve to deflect the produce from said single conveyor belt to said inclined conveyor.

Claim 16

A harvesting machine for use in the field harvesting of produce, the machine comprising: a chaSsis, means mounting said chassis for movement over the ground, conveyor means for transporting the produce from an outwardly spaced position to said chassis, said conveyor means including a first frame having first and second elongated frame sections, means pivotally mounting one end of said first frame section on said chassis for rotation about a first axis, between a first position extending generally transversely of said chassis and a second position folded adjacent said chassis, means pivotally mounting one end of said second frame section for swinging movement on the opposite end of said first frame section about a second axis, between a first position extending transversely from said chassis in substantial longitudinal alignment with said first frame section and a folded second position adjacent said chassis and generally parallel to said first frame section, and a cable and pulley system for supporting said frame with said first and second frame sections in substantial longitudinal alignment, and for rotating said first and second frame section about said first and second axes to folded position adjacent said chassis, said first axis and said second axis being generally horizontal; said conveyor means including a single conveyor belt extending about said first frame section and said second frame section, an inclined conveyor for transporting produce from said single conveyor belt to a loading position, an extent of said inclined conveyor passing beneath said single conveyor belt, and a plurality of rollers mounted across the path of said single conveyor, the centerlines of said rollers defining a gradual curve to deflect the produce from said single conveyor belt to said inclined conveyor.

Claim 17

A harvesting machine according to claim 12 wherein: said conveyor means includes idle rollers on the underneath side of said first and second frame sections, said conveyor belt passing between said idle rollers and said frame sections.