Harvesting machine for cabbage, or the like

Claim 2

A machine for harvesting a crop item having a head located above ground and a stem connected to said head and merging into an elongated root located below ground comprising a frame, lifting means on said frame located in contiguous relationship to the ground for lifting said crop item from the ground, conveyor means positioned in underlying relationship to said lifted head with an entry portion proximate said lifting means for engaging said stem and conveying said crop item away from said lifting means with said head positioned above said conveyor means, stabilizing means located below said conveyor means for engaging said root to stabilize said crop item while it is being conveyed by said conveyor means, and head-supporting means located above said conveyor means for supporting said head as it travels along said conveyor means.

Claim 3

A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means comprise a pair of elongated rail means for receiving said elongated root therebetween.

Claim 4

A machine as set forth in claim 2 including means for biasing said elongated rail means toward each other.

Claim 5

A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said conveyor means comprise elongated substantially parallel screw means of opposite pitch for engaging said stem.

Claim 6

A machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said parallel screw means and said elongated rail means extend substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 7

A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head-supporting means comprise a pair of spaced elongated rail means for engaging the underside of said head.

Claim 8

A machine as set forth in claim 6 including means for driving said screw means in opposite directions so as to pull said head downwardly on said spaced elongated rail means.

Claim 9

A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said stabilizing means comprise a second pair of spaced elongated rail means.

Claim 10

A machine for harvesting a crop item having a head located above ground and a stem connected to said head and merging into an elongated root, comprising a frame, lifting means located in contiguous relationship to the ground for lifting said crop item from the ground, elongated conveyor means for conveying said crop item away from said lifting means, head-engaging means located above said conveyor means and extending substantially throughout the length of said conveyor means for engaging said head and guiding said head during its travel with said conveyor means, said head-engaging means comprising a pair of spaced elongated rod-like rail means for engaging the underside of said head, said elongated conveyor means comprising screw means of opposite pitch including thread means extending outwardly from base means, and means for rotating said screw means in opposite directions so as to cause adjacent portions of said base means to engage opposite sides of said stem and pull said head downwardly on said spaced elongated rail means, said screw means and said rail means extending substantially parallel to each other, and said rail means being laterally outwardly spaced from said adjacent portions of said base means of said screw means which are in actual engagement with said stem.

Claim 11

A machine for harvesting a crop item having a head located above ground and a stem connected to said head and merging into an elongated root, comprising a frame, lifting means located in contiguous relationship to the ground for lifting said crop item from the ground, elongated conveyor means for conveying said crop item away from said lifting means, head-engaging means located above said conveyor means and extending substantially throughout the length of said conveyor means for engaging said head and guiding said head during its travel with said conveyor means, said head-engaging means comprising a pair of spaced elongated rod-like rail means for engaging the underside of said head, said elongated conveyor means comprising screw means of opposite pitch including thread means extending outwardly from base means, and means for rotating said screw means in opposite directions so as to cause adjacent portions of said base means to engage opposite sides of said stem and pull said head downwardly on said spaced elongated rail means, said screw means and said rail means extending substantially parallel to each other, and said rail means being laterally outwardly spaced from said adjacent portions of said base means of said screw means which are in actual engagement with said stem.