Systems and methods for harvesting and processing leafy vegetables
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for harvesting and processing leafy vegetables, the apparatus comprising:
- a body;
a plurality of supports coupled to the body for movement relative thereto and configured for supporting heads of leafy vegetables, wherein each support is configured to fit inside a leafy vegetable head and hold the head thereon;
plurality of cutters coupled to the body and arranged serially; and
a transport system for moving the supports past the cutters; and
a collector for collecting leaves cut from the vegetable heads.
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Abstract
An apparatus that moves through fields of leafy vegetables and trims harvested heads of leafy vegetables. The apparatus includes a body and a plurality of supports coupled to the body for movement relative thereto. The supports are configured for supporting pieces of leafy vegetables. The apparatus further includes a plurality of cutters coupled to the body that are arranged serially and a transport system for moving the supports past the cutters. A collector is included for collecting leaves cut from the vegetables.
27 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for harvesting and processing leafy vegetables, the apparatus comprising:
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a body; a plurality of supports coupled to the body for movement relative thereto and configured for supporting heads of leafy vegetables, wherein each support is configured to fit inside a leafy vegetable head and hold the head thereon; plurality of cutters coupled to the body and arranged serially; and a transport system for moving the supports past the cutters; and a collector for collecting leaves cut from the vegetable heads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of harvesting and processing leafy vegetables with a harvesting apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing heads of leafy vegetables; supporting the heads of leafy vegetables on supports, wherein each support is configured to fit inside a leafy vegetable head and hold the head thereon; moving the supports past a series of cutters; cutting the heads of leafy vegetables with the cutters to thereby remove leaves from the heads of leafy vegetables; and collecting the leaves with a collector. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for harvesting and processing leafy vegetables, the apparatus comprising:
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a body; a plurality of supports coupled to the body for movement relative thereto and configured for supporting pieces of leafy vegetables; a plurality of cutters coupled to the body and arranged serially, wherein the cutters are staggered in a descending manner such that a first cutter at a first end of the apparatus is at a first height and a last cutter at a second end of the apparatus is at a second height, the second height being lower than the first height and cutters in between the first and last cutters being at a lower height than an adjacent cutter relative to the first end, and wherein adjacent cutters are staggered vertically with respect to one another in a range of ¼
inch to 1¾
inches; anda transport system for moving the supports past the cutters; and a collector for collecting leaves cut from the vegetables
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29. A method of harvesting and processing leafy vegetables with a harvesting apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing pieces of leafy vegetables; supporting the pieces of leafy vegetables on supports; moving the supports past a series of cutters, wherein the cutters are staggered in a descending manner such that a first cutter at a first end of the apparatus is at a first height and a last cutter at a second end of the apparatus is at a second height, the second height being lower than the first height and cutters in between the first and last cutters being at a lower height than an adjacent cutter relative to the first end, and wherein adjacent cutters are staggered vertically with respect to one another in a range of ¼
inch to 1¾
inches;cutting the pieces of leafy vegetables with the cutters to thereby remove leaves from the pieces of leafy vegetables; and collecting the leaves with a collector.
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30. A method of harvesting and processing leafy vegetables with a harvesting apparatus, the method comprising:
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providing heads of leafy vegetables on supports, each support configured to fit inside a leafy vegetable head and hold the head thereon; moving the supports past a series of cutters; cutting the heads of leafy vegetables with the cutters to thereby remove leaves from the heads of leafy vegetables; and collecting the leaves with a collector. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification