Lettuce harvesting method and apparatus to perform the same
First Claim
1. A method for the harvesting of headed produce, said produce including a stem, a root, and a head having leaves, the method comprising the steps of:
- collapsing the outer leaves of said produce;
gripping said stem above said outer leaves;
removing said head from said stem, while leaving said outer leaves behind and said root in the ground; and
conveying said head to a collection point.
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Abstract
Method for the automated harvesting of headed row crops, including lettuce, optionally leaving at least the crop root in the ground, and an apparatus to practice the method. The present invention provides a methodology to locate crop stems, separate the outer leaves from the head, grip the stem and harvest the head. Gripping the stem is accomplished with at least one pneumatic gripping bladder. Substantially simultaneous to gripping the head, the head is separated from the core and stem. One method to accomplish this separation is by means of a pair of differential pneumatic bladders which frees the head from the core at the center of the head, leaving the core and the outer leaves attached to the stem and root. Alternatively, a second separation method taught herein is the application of a downward force applied to the top of the head by a pneumatic bladder. The two separation schemes may be used conjointly or in the alternative. As a further alternative, the present invention teaches a harvesting method which cuts the stem at the core, leaving the core within the head and the outer leaves attached to the stem and root. Any combination of these harvesting methods may be implemented on a produce harvester constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The operator can switch at will to either harvesting method. After harvesting, a conveyor means removes the produce to a bin or other receptacle.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for the harvesting of headed produce, said produce including a stem, a root, and a head having leaves, the method comprising the steps of:
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collapsing the outer leaves of said produce; gripping said stem above said outer leaves; removing said head from said stem, while leaving said outer leaves behind and said root in the ground; and
conveying said head to a collection point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for the automated harvesting of lettuce, said lettuce including a head having leaves, a stem, a portion of said stem forming a core within said head, and a root, the method comprising the steps of:
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collapsing the outer leaves of said lettuce away from said head; locating said stem; gripping said stem above said outer leaves; applying an unequal force to the underside of said head, thereby harvesting said head from said stem, while leaving said stem, core, outer leaves and root intact, and said root in the ground; and conveying said head to a collection bin. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for the automated harvesting of lettuce, said lettuce including a head having leaves, a stem, a portion of said stem forming a core within said head, and a root, the method comprising:
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separating said outer leaves from said head by means of a blast of air; and pressing said outer leaves with at least one wheel; urging each of a pair of tapered, sloping shoes on either side of said stem; and overriding said outer leaves with said shoes and holding said outer leaves substantially against the ground and away from said stem; positioning at least one first pneumatically inflatable bladder adjacent to said stem; inflating said first pneumatically inflatable bladder; positioning a first and second pneumatically differential inflatable bladder adjacent to said stem, and under said head; inflating said first and second pneumatically differential inflatable bladders, thereby harvesting said head from said stem, while leaving said stem, core, outer leaves and root intact, and said root in the ground; and conveying said head to a collection bin.
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13. Apparatus for the harvesting of headed produce, said produce including a head having leaves, a stem, and a root, the apparatus comprising:
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a body; collapsing means disposed upon said body for collapsing the outer leaves of said produce; gripper means, further disposed upon said body, for gripping said stem above said outer leaves; harvester means, further disposed upon said body and in operative combination with said gripper means, for removing said head from said stem, while leaving said outer leaves behind and said root in the ground; and conveyor means, operatively associated with said harvester means, for conveying said head to a collection point. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for the automated harvesting of lettuce, said lettuce including a head having leaves, a stem, a portion of said stem forming a core within said head, and a root, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame; leaf collapsing means, disposed upon said frame, for collapsing the outer leaves of said lettuce away from said head; stem locating means, further disposed upon said frame, for locating said stem; stem gripping means, operatively associated with said stem locating means, for gripping said stem above said outer leaves; forcing means, operatively associated with said stem gripping means, for applying an unequal force to the underside of said head, thereby harvesting said head from said stem, while leaving said stem, core, outer leaves and root intact, and said root in the ground; and conveyor means, in operative combination with said frame, for conveying said head to a collection bin. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for the automated harvesting of lettuce, said lettuce including a head having leaves, a stem, a portion of said stem forming a core within said head, and a root, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame; an air plenum, disposed upon said frame, for separating said outer leaves from said head by means of a blast of air; a pair of tapered, sloping shoes, further disposed upon said frame, for locating said stem, for overriding said outer leaves, and for holding said outer leaves substantially against the ground and away from said stem; at least one first pneumatically inflatable bladder, disposed upon at least one of said shoes, and positionable adjacent to said stem for gripping said stem and precluding it'"'"'s removal from the earth; first and second pneumatically differential inflatable bladders, positionable adjacent to said stem and under said head for applying an unequal upward force to the underside of said head, thereby harvesting said head from said stem, while leaving said stem, core, outer leaves and root intact, and said root in the ground; compressed air means for providing compressed air to said air plenum, said first pneumatically inflatable bladder and said first and second pneumatically differential inflatable bladders; and conveyor for conveying said head to a collection bin. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for the automated harvesting of lettuce, the lettuce including a head having leaves, a stem, a portion of the stem forming a core within the head, and a root, the method comprising:
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separating the outer leaves from the head by means of a blast of air; and pressing the outer leaves with at least one wheel; urging each of a pair of tapered, sloping shoes on either side of the stem; and overriding the outer leaves with the shoes and holding the outer leaves substantially against the ground and away from the stem; positioning at least one first pneumatically inflatable bladder adjacent to the stem; inflating the first pneumatically inflatable bladder; positioning a second pneumatically inflatable bladder adjacent to the top of the head; inflating the second pneumatically inflatable bladder, thereby harvesting the head from the stem, while leaving the stem, core, outer leaves and root intact, and the root in the ground; and conveying the head to a collection bin.
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28. Apparatus for the automated harvesting of lettuce, the lettuce including a head having leaves, a stem, a portion of the stem forming a core within the head, and a root, the apparatus comprising:
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a frame; an air plenum, disposed upon the frame, for separating the outer leaves from the head by means of a blast of air; a pair of tapered, sloping shoes, further disposed upon the frame, for locating the stem, for overriding the outer leaves, and for holding the outer leaves substantially against the ground and away from the stem; at least one first pneumatically inflatable bladder, disposed upon at least one of the shoes, and positionable adjacent to the stem for gripping the stem and precluding it'"'"'s removal from the earth; at least one second pneumatically inflatable bladder, positionable adjacent to the top of the head and for applying a rapid downward force to the top of the head, thereby harvesting the head from the stem, while leaving the stem, core, outer leaves and root intact, and the root in the ground; compressed air means for providing compressed air to the air plenum and the first and second pneumatically inflatable bladders; and conveyor means for conveying the head to a collection bin. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification