US3743024A — Plant harvesting machine

Claim 1

Independent Claim 131 words

Apparatus for mechanically harvesting plants and depositing the same in an upright parallel disposition in a container comprising means for loosening the soil around the roots of the plants and for cutting the roots at a predetermined depth, means for lifting the plants from the loosened soil, said means for lifting the plants comprising conveyor means having a forward end and a discharge end with the conveyor means conveying the plants from the forward end to the discharge end in an upright parallel disposition, means for removing the residual soil from the roots of the plants, and means to support a container in a position aligned with and surrounding the discharge end of said conveyor whereby said plants are delivered into and retained in said container in an upright parallel disposition.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 131 words

Apparatus for mechanically harvesting plants and depositing the same in an upright parallel disposition in a container comprising means for loosening the soil around the roots of the plants and for cutting the roots at a predetermined depth, means for lifting the plants from the loosened soil, said means for lifting the plants comprising conveyor means having a forward end and a discharge end with the conveyor means conveying the plants from the forward end to the discharge end in an upright parallel disposition, means for removing the residual soil from the roots of the plants, and means to support a container in a position aligned with and surrounding the discharge end of said conveyor whereby said plants are delivered into and retained in said container in an upright parallel disposition.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 154 words

Apparatus for mechanically harvesting plants comprising a vehicle adapted for movement across a field of plants, said vehicle including a frame spaced above the ground a distance sufficient to clear the plants, said vehicle being adapted to travel through parallel rows of plants in a direction parallel with said rows, means supported by said vehicle frame for loosening the soil around the plant roots and for cutting the roots at a predetermined depth, conveyor means for lifting the plants upwardly from the loosened soil, means associated with said conveyor means for removing residual soil from the roots of the plants, means for supporting a container in aligned surrounding relation to the discharge end of said conveyor means to permit the discharge of the plants into the container in an upright parallel disposition, said container supporting means permitting telescoping movement of the container with respect to the conveyor as the plants accumulate within the container.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 154 words

Apparatus for mechanically harvesting plants comprising a vehicle adapted for movement across a field of plants, said vehicle including a frame spaced above the ground a distance sufficient to clear the plants, said vehicle being adapted to travel through parallel rows of plants in a direction parallel with said rows, means supported by said vehicle frame for loosening the soil around the plant roots and for cutting the roots at a predetermined depth, conveyor means for lifting the plants upwardly from the loosened soil, means associated with said conveyor means for removing residual soil from the roots of the plants, means for supporting a container in aligned surrounding relation to the discharge end of said conveyor means to permit the discharge of the plants into the container in an upright parallel disposition, said container supporting means permitting telescoping movement of the container with respect to the conveyor as the plants accumulate within the container.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for lifting the plants comprises a conveyor assembly including a pair of juxtaposed conveyor belts adapted to grip the plants therebetween, said conveyor assembly being supported by said frame at an angle to the ground, and means for selectively controlling the speed of said conveyor belts to correspond to the speed of said vehicle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The invention as claimed in claim 3 including means for selectively adjusting the height of said conveyor assembly above the ground.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The invention as claimed in claim 3 including means for selectively separating said conveyor belts to clear obstructions therefrom.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The invention as claimed in claim 3 including means associated with the discharge end of said conveyor assembly selectively operable for accumulating plants delivered by said conveyor belts during the changing of the container.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 91 words

The invention as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for removing residual soil from the plant roots comprises a rotary beater adjacent said conveyor assembly, said beater including a wheel having a plurality of elongated readily deformable resilient vanes, means for supporting and continuously rotating said wheel in the plane of movement of the roots of the plants passing along said conveyor assembly, said wheel being positioned to provide engagement of the outer ends of said wheel vanes with the plant roots as said plants pass along said conveyor assembly.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 158 words

Apparatus for mechanically harvesting plants comprising a self-propelled vehicle having a frame assembly, means on said frame assembly adapted for selective engagement with the ground to loosen the soil around the roots of the plants and to cut the roots at a predetermined depth, a conveyor assembly on said frame for lifting the plants from the loosened soil, said conveyor assembly including a pair of juxtaposed conveyor belts adapted to grip the plants therebetween, means for selectively controlling the speed of said conveyor belts to correspond to the speed of said vehicle, means for removing the residual soil from the roots of the plants as they pass along said conveyor assembly, means for advancing the plants into a container at the discharge end of said conveyor assembly in an upright parallel disposition, and means associated with the discharge end of said conveyor assembly selectively operable for accumulating plants delivered by said conveyor belts during changing of the container.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 158 words

Apparatus for mechanically harvesting plants comprising a self-propelled vehicle having a frame assembly, means on said frame assembly adapted for selective engagement with the ground to loosen the soil around the roots of the plants and to cut the roots at a predetermined depth, a conveyor assembly on said frame for lifting the plants from the loosened soil, said conveyor assembly including a pair of juxtaposed conveyor belts adapted to grip the plants therebetween, means for selectively controlling the speed of said conveyor belts to correspond to the speed of said vehicle, means for removing the residual soil from the roots of the plants as they pass along said conveyor assembly, means for advancing the plants into a container at the discharge end of said conveyor assembly in an upright parallel disposition, and means associated with the discharge end of said conveyor assembly selectively operable for accumulating plants delivered by said conveyor belts during changing of the container.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

The invention as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for loosening the soil around the roots of the plants and for cutting the roots at a predetermined depth comprises a plurality of spear-like tool elements, and means for selectively adjusting the height of said tool elements.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said latter means comprises a tool bar mounted on said vehicle for supporting said tool elements, and hydraulic cylinder means for selectively raising and lowering said tool bar.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 48 words

The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tool elements and said conveyor assembly are so aligned that said tool elements pass between the plant rows and said conveyor assembly passes along the plant row to lift the plants therefrom as said vehicle progresses across a field.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The invention as claimed in claim 8 wherein said vehicle includes a trailer draw bar extending rearwardly therefrom, and a hydraulic cylinder connected with said draw bar for selectively varying the rearward extent of said draw bar.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 102 words

The invention as claimed in claim 8 wherein said conveyor assembly comprises a pair of elongated spaced parallel conveyor frame members, a drive sheave journalled at one end of each of said frame members and idler sheave journalled at the opposite end of each of said frame members, one of said conveyor belts passing around said drive sheave and said idler sheave of each frame member, the outer surface of said conveyor belts comprising a soft resilient sponge-rubber-like material, said means for selectively controlling the speed of said conveyor belts comprising motors adapted to rotate said drive sheaves at a uniform speed.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The invention as claimed in claim 13 including means on each said conveyor frame member for tensioning the conveyor belt carried thereby.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

The invention claimed in claim 13 including means for selectively separating said conveyor frame members aNd hence said conveyor belts to free obstructions caught therebetween.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 62 words

The invention as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for accumulating plants comprises an accumulator rod slidably disposed beneath each conveyor frame member adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor, and means selectively operable for simultaneously extending the accumulator rods of the frame members beyond the discharge end of the conveyor assembly in parallel spaced relation for accumulating the plants therebetween.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 65 words

The invention as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for removing residual soil from the plant roots comprises a rotary beater adjacent said conveyor assembly, said beater including a wheel having a plurality of resilient vanes, means for rotating said wheels, said wheels being positioned to provide engagement of said wheel vanes with the plant roots as said plants pass along said conveyor assembly.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

The invention as claimed in claim 17 including a beater adjacent each side of the conveyed plants, the resilient vanes of said beaters extending in overlapping relation, and means for rotating said beaters in the same direction whereby the overlapping vanes thereof engage the plant roots from opposite directions.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 158 words

A plant conveyor assembly for a plant harvesting machine comprising a pair of elongated spaced parallel conveyor frame members, a drive sheave journalled at one end of each of said frame members, an idler sheave journalled at the opposite end of each of said frame members, a conveyor belt on each said frame members passing around the drive sheave and idler sheave thereof, the outer faces of said conveyor belt being in juxtaposed relation between said conveyor frame members, the outer surface of said conveyor belts comprising a soft resilient sponge rubber-like material, means for rotating said drive sheaves at a uniform speed to effect a uniform travel of the juxtaposed conveyor belts, means adjacent a discharge end of said conveyor assembly for supporting a shipping carton into which the plants are discharged from the conveyor, and means on said conveyor assembly selectively operable for accumulating plants delivered by said conveyor belts during the changing of the carton.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 158 words

A plant conveyor assembly for a plant harvesting machine comprising a pair of elongated spaced parallel conveyor frame members, a drive sheave journalled at one end of each of said frame members, an idler sheave journalled at the opposite end of each of said frame members, a conveyor belt on each said frame members passing around the drive sheave and idler sheave thereof, the outer faces of said conveyor belt being in juxtaposed relation between said conveyor frame members, the outer surface of said conveyor belts comprising a soft resilient sponge rubber-like material, means for rotating said drive sheaves at a uniform speed to effect a uniform travel of the juxtaposed conveyor belts, means adjacent a discharge end of said conveyor assembly for supporting a shipping carton into which the plants are discharged from the conveyor, and means on said conveyor assembly selectively operable for accumulating plants delivered by said conveyor belts during the changing of the carton.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 62 words

The invention as claimed in claim 19 wherein said means for accumulating plants comprises an accumulator rod slidably disposed beneath each conveyor frame member adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor, and means selectively operable for simultaneously extending the accumulator rods of the frame members beyond the discharge end of the conveyor assembly in parallel spaced relation for accumulating the plants therebetween.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 41 words

The invention as claimed in claim 20 wherein said means for extending each said accumulator rod comprises a hydraulic cylinder on each said frame member, and control means for said hydraulic cylinders positioned adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor assembly.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 109 words

Apparatus for mechanically harvesting plants comprising means for loosening the soil around the roots of the plants and for cutting the roots at a predetermined depth, conveyor means for lifting the plants upwardly from the loosened soil, means associated with said conveyor means for removing the residual soil from the roots of the plants, means for supporting a container in aligned surrounding relation to the discharge end of said conveyor means to permit the discharge of the plants into the container in an upright parallel disposition, and said container supporting means permitting telescoping movement of the container with respect to the conveyor as the plants accumulate within the container.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 109 words

Apparatus for mechanically harvesting plants comprising means for loosening the soil around the roots of the plants and for cutting the roots at a predetermined depth, conveyor means for lifting the plants upwardly from the loosened soil, means associated with said conveyor means for removing the residual soil from the roots of the plants, means for supporting a container in aligned surrounding relation to the discharge end of said conveyor means to permit the discharge of the plants into the container in an upright parallel disposition, and said container supporting means permitting telescoping movement of the container with respect to the conveyor as the plants accumulate within the container.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 90 words

The invention as claimed in claim 22 wherein said means for removing the residual soil from the roots of the plants comprises a rotary beater adjacent said conveyor means, said beater including a wheel having a plurality of elongated readily deformable resilient vanes, means for supporting and continuously rotating said wheel in the plane of movement of the roots of the planTs passing along said conveyor means, said wheel being positioned to provide engagement of said wheel vanes with the plant roots as said plants pass along said conveyor assembly.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-07-02	1977-01-01	1977-07-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-07-02	1981-01-01	1981-07-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-07-02	1985-01-01	1985-07-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Plant harvesting machine

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