Method and Apparatus for Harvesting Standing Vegetable Crops
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Abstract
Apparatus for harvesting broccoli or other standing vegetable plants comprising a mobile frame (11) adapted to be advanced along a row of plants to be harvested, a harvesting head (15) for gripping the stems of respective plants in turn as the mobile frame is advanced along the row and for conveying the gripped stems of plants rearwardly relative to the direction of movement of the mobile frame, a stem severing mechanism (19) for severing the stems of plants from plant rootstock and a plant trimming mechanism (20) adjacent the trailing end of the conveying means for trimming the plants.
31 Citations
46 Claims
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1-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. Apparatus for harvesting broccoli or other standing vegetable plants, said apparatus comprising:
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a mobile frame adapted to be advanced along a row of plants to be harvested; a plant gathering and transporting mechanism supported to the leading end of said mobile frame, said mechanism including conveying and gripping means for gripping the stems of respective said plants in turn as said mobile frame is advanced along said row and for conveying the gripped stems of said plants rearwardly relative to the direction of movement of said mobile frame, a stem severing mechanism adjacent a leading end of said conveying and gripping means and adapted to sever the stems of said plants from plant rootstock to free said plants from the ground whilst being gripped by said conveying and gripping means; and a plant trimming mechanism adjacent a trailing end of said conveying and gripping means for trimming said plants. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification