Method and means for harvesting strawberries or the like

Abstract

Abstract A MACHINE FOR HARVESTING STRAWBERRIES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A TRACTOR MOUNTED FRAME MEANS HAVING REARWARD AND FORWARD ENDS. A ROTARY CUTTING BLADE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FORWARD END OF THE FRAME MEANS FOR REMOVING THE LEAVES FROM THE STRAWBERRY PLANTS. THE FRAME MEANS INCLINED PLATFORM MEANS EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM THE ROTARY CUTTING BLADE MEANS WHICH IS ADAPTED TO RAISE PREVIOUSLY POSITIONED FLEXIBLE NETTING FROM THE GROUND AND TO CAUSE THE NETTING TO MOVE OVER THE TOP OF THE PLATFORM. THE PLATFORM ALSO INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOTS FORMED THEREIN TO PERMIT ENTRANCE OF THE PLANT PEDICELS AS THE PLANTS ARE MOVED REARWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO THE PLATFORM. A SICKLE BLADE IS POSITIONED ON THE FRAME MEANS BELOW THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE PLATFORM AND IS ADAPTED TO CUT THE PLANT PEDICELS BELOW THE NETTING. THE BERRIES ARE CONVEYED REARWARDLY ON THE NETTING TO A CONVEYOR MEANS WITH THE DEBRIS BEING SEPARATED THEREFROM BY A BLOWER MEANS. THE FRAME MEANS ALSO INCLUDES A POWERED NET TAKE-UP MEANS AT THE REARWARD END THEREOF FOR WINDING THE NETTING THEREON. A METHOD FOR HARVESTING THE STRAWBERRIES OR THE LIKE IS ALSO DISCLOSED WHEREIN FLEXIBLE NETTING IS PLACED OVER THE STRAWBERRY PLANTS PRIOR TO THE SAME EMERGING FROM THE GROUND. THE NETTING AND THE MACHINE DISCLOSED HEREIN PERMITS THE STRAWBERRIES TO BE HARVESTED FOR FRESH USE.

Inventors

• 👤 Elden J Stang
• 👤 Ervin L Denisen

Bibliographic Details