Method and apparatus for harvesting lettuce
First Claim
1. A lettuce harvester for harvesting one or more spaced apart rows of lettuce, comprising;
- a) a frame that can travel along the rows of lettuce;
b) a ground engaging track support that travels between the rows of lettuce during use;
c) a plurality of paddles movably supported upon the frame;
d) a powered linkage for moving the paddles;
e) the linkage including an actuator that moves the paddles at time intervals; and
f) wherein the paddles move at a speed sufficient to thrust each harvested head of lettuce upwardly a distance of at least fifteen inches.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lettuce harvester and an improved method of harvesting lettuce provide a frame having ground engaging members (eg. wheels, skids, tracks) that enable the frame to move along the rows of lettuce to be harvested. Powered paddles separate each head of lettuce from its stem and root system, thrusting it through the air to a conveyor. A timing arrangement coordinates the paddle actuation with the speed at which each head of lettuce is encountered. As the head is thrust upward, a spray mist emerges from the tip of one paddle and engulfs the cavity that remains after separation from the stem and root. The spray mist can be a liquid and air mixture that contains a desired chemical to prevent discoloration in the area of the “wound” resulting from being torn from the stem and root system.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A lettuce harvester for harvesting one or more spaced apart rows of lettuce, comprising;
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a) a frame that can travel along the rows of lettuce;
b) a ground engaging track support that travels between the rows of lettuce during use;
c) a plurality of paddles movably supported upon the frame;
d) a powered linkage for moving the paddles;
e) the linkage including an actuator that moves the paddles at time intervals; and
f) wherein the paddles move at a speed sufficient to thrust each harvested head of lettuce upwardly a distance of at least fifteen inches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A lettuce harvester for harvesting one or more spaced apart rows of lettuce, comprising;
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a) a frame that can travel along the rows of lettuce;
b) a ground engaging track support that travels between the rows of lettuce during use;
c) a plurality of paddles movably supported upon the frame;
d) a powered linkage for moving the paddles;
e) the linkage including an actuator that moves the paddles at time intervals;
f) wherein the paddles move at a speed sufficient to separate each head of lettuce from the stem and root system and thrust each harvested head of lettuce upwardly; and
g) a moving, deflecting sensor that engages and is deflected by each head of lettuce, the sensor initiating a timing sequence of the powered linkage that actuates the linkage and paddles at time intervals, each timing sequence being defined by the time interval between contact of the sensor and the next head of lettuce. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A lettuce harvester for harvesting one or more spaced apart rows of lettuce, comprising;
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a) a frame that can travel along the rows of lettuce;
b) a plurality of ground engaging members that support the frame during use, including supports that are on opposing sides of the two rows of lettuce, and at least one support that travels between the rows of lettuce;
c) a plurality of paddles movably supported upon the frame;
d) a powered linkage for moving the paddles;
e) the linkage including an actuator that moves the paddles at time intervals; and
f) wherein the paddles move at a speed sufficient to separate each head of lettuce from its stem and root system and thrust each harvested head of lettuce upwardly into the air a distance above the soil in which it is planted. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification