Method and apparatus for harvesting lettuce

• US 8,272,200 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Versacore International, LLC
• Original Assignee: Versacore International, LLC
• Inventors: Ottaway, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Mai
• Application Number:
  US12/792,188
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 56 143- 145, 56/166, 56/173, 561/214, 561/214.1, 561/214.2, 561/214.6, 562/33, 562/37, 563/271, 563/281, 563/35, 56D/IG.2, 56D/IG.8, 56D/IG.20, 171/38, 171/61, 171/41
• US Class Current: 56/327.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/263 of lettuce

Abstract

A method and apparatus for harvesting lettuce provides one or more harvesting heads that move between harvesting and discharge positions of the harvester. Each harvesting head separates a head of lettuce from its stem and core. Each harvesting head has specially configured fingers that secure the head during harvesting. The fingers move between open and closed positions.

Claims

1. A lettuce harvester for harvesting one or more spaced apart rows of lettuce heads, comprising:

a) a harvester chassis that can travel along the rows of lettuce;

b) one or more harvester modules that are supported upon the chassis, each module having a blade movably supported for movement between an open and a closed cutting position;

c) the module having a lower end portion with a de-leafing member that pushes outer lettuce leaves away from the lettuce head;

d) a powered linkage for moving the blade;

e) the linkage including an actuator that moves the blade between the open and closed positions;

f) wherein the blade is positioned to extend under a head of lettuce to be harvested when in the closed position; and

g) wherein an actuator lifts the blade and a head of lettuce while in the closed position;

h) wherein the actuator includes a sliding member and links that join the blade to the sliding member;

i) wherein the sliding member moves the blade between inner and outer positions; and

j) wherein the harvesting head has multiple fingers, at least a plurality of carrying blades, wherein the sliding member moves to the outer position, the fingers are moved to the open position.

2. The harvester of claim 1 wherein when the sliding member moves to the inner position, the fingers are moved to the closed position.

3. The harvester of claim 1 wherein there are at least three fingers.

4. The harvester of claim 1 wherein there are at least four fingers.

5. The harvester of claim 1 wherein there are at least six fingers.

6. The harvester of claim 1 wherein the fingers pivot when moving between open and closed positions.

7. The harvester of claim 1 wherein each finger has a proximal end pivotally attached to the frame and a distal end having a flange.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said modules has a ground engaging ring that displaces some of the lettuce leaves downwardly.

9. The lettuce harvester of claim 1 wherein the harvester modules are circumferentially spaced on the chassis.