Mechanical produce harvester with gathering belts

• US 9,861,037 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bud Antle, Inc. (Dole Plc)
• Original Assignee: Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc (Dole Plc)
• Inventors: Jens, Stephen C., Albarran, Serafin, Bascou, Richard, Castillo, Dennis J., Davis, Frank Edward, Figueroa, Ignacio Rodriguez, Machuca, Raul, Nash, Kevin, Roman, Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US14/865,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20160143223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 563271
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/001 with arrangements for transport of personnel
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/023 Gathering chains of belts
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/26 of cabbage or lettuce
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/263 of lettuce
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 61/02 Endless belts

Abstract

A mechanical harvester for harvesting a produce with a stem/core planted in a field includes a chassis, and a cutting device and a transport assembly connected to the chassis. The cutting device is configured to cut the stem/core of the produce. The transport assembly is configured to transport the produce using a movable first belt with a first set of produce grippers and a movable second belt with a second set of produce grippers. When the produce is held between the first set and second set of produce grippers, a portion of the first set of produce grippers opposes a portion of the second set of produce grippers. The opposing produce grippers are configured to compress and exert a force on the produce to hold the produce between the movable first and second belts.

Claims

1. A mechanical harvester for harvesting a produce planted in a field, the produce having a stem/core, the mechanical harvester comprising:

a chassis;

a cutting device, connected to the chassis, configured to cut the stem/core of the produce; and

a transport assembly, connected to the chassis, configured to transport the produce cut by the cutting device, wherein the transport assembly comprises;

a movable first belt, wherein the movable first belt includes a first set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable first belt has a peak; and

a movable second belt, wherein the movable second belt includes a second set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable second belt has a peak,

wherein, when a cut produce is held between the movable first and second belts, the cut produce is held between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt, and

wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt are configured to compress and exert a force on the produce to hold the produce between the movable first and second belts.

2. The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt are configured to each exert a force of between approximately 100 percent and 200 percent of the weight of the produce to hold the produce.

3. The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt each exert a force that is approximately the same as the weight of the produce to hold the cut produce.

4. The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the movable first and second belts are positioned at an incline from a front end to a rear end of the transport assembly, wherein the front end is proximate to the cutting device.

5. The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of deformable protrusions are formed of a pliable material.

6. The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the movable first belt and the movable second belt are conveyor belts.

7. The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the transport assembly further comprises:

a movable third belt and a movable fourth belt, connected to the chassis, configured to hold and transport another produce between the third and fourth movable belts, wherein the movable third belt and the movable fourth belt are disposed adjacent to the movable first belt and the movable second belt.

19. The mechanical harvester of claim 1, wherein the cut produce is held below or at about the midline of the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt.

20. The mechanical harvester of claim 19, wherein the cut produce is held below the midline of the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt.

21. The mechanical harvester of claim 20, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt are configured to each exert a force of between approximately the same as the weight of the produce to hold the cut produce.

22. The mechanical harvester of claim 19, wherein the cut produce is held at about the midline of the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt.

23. The mechanical harvester of claim 22, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt each exert a force that is approximately 200 percent of the weight of the produce to hold the produce.

8. A mechanical method of harvesting a produce planted in a field using a mechanical harvester, the plant having a stem/core, the method comprising:

cutting the stem/core of the produce with a cutting device connected to a chassis of the mechanical harvester;

moving a transport assembly, connected to the chassis, to the cut produce, wherein the transport assembly comprises;

a movable first belt; and

a movable second belt,

wherein the movable first belt includes a first set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable first belt has a peak, and

wherein the movable second belt includes a second set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable second belt has a peak;

holding the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the first movable belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the second movable belt, wherein the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt directly opposes the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt, and wherein the deformable protrusion of the first movable belt and the deformable protrusion of the second movable belt are configured to each compress and exert a force on the produce to hold the produce between the movable first and second belt.

9. The mechanical method of claim 8, further comprising:

transporting, by the transport assembly, the cut produce held between the deformable protrusion of the first movable belt and the deformable protrusion of the second movable belt to a processing platform connected to the rear of the mechanical harvester.

10. The mechanical method of claim 8, further comprising:

lifting the cut produce from the ground using the deformable protrusion of the first movable belt and the deformable protrusion of the second movable belt.

11. The mechanical method of claim 8, wherein the deformable protrusion of the first movable belt and the deformable protrusion of the second movable belt are configured in a peak-to-peak configuration to each compress and exert a force on the produce to hold the produce between the movable first and second belts.

24. The mechanical method of claim 8, wherein the cut produce is held below or at about the midline of the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt.

25. The mechanical method of claim 24, wherein the cut produce is held below the midline of the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt.

26. The mechanical method of claim 25, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt are configured to each exert a force of between approximately the same as the weight of the produce to hold the cut produce.

27. The mechanical method of claim 24, wherein the cut produce is held at about the midline of the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt.

28. The mechanical method of claim 27, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt each exert a force that is approximately 200 percent of the weight of the produce to hold the produce.

12. A mechanical harvester for harvesting produce planted in a field, the produce having a stem/core, the mechanical harvester comprising:

a chassis;

a cutting device, connected to the chassis, configured to cut the stem/core of the produce; and

a transport assembly, connected to the chassis, configured to transport the produce cut by the cutting device, wherein the transport assembly comprises;

a movable first belt, wherein the movable first belt includes a first set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable first belt has a peak; and

a movable second belt, wherein the movable second belt includes a second set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable second belt has a peak,

wherein, when a cut produce is held between the movable first and second belts, the cut produce is held between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt, and

wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt are configured in a peak-to-peak configuration to compress and exert a force on the produce to hold the produce between the movable first and second belts.

13. The mechanical harvester of claim 12, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt are configured to each exert a force of between approximately 100 percent and 200 percent of the weight of the produce to hold the produce.

14. The mechanical harvester of claim 12, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt each exert a force that is approximately the same as the weight of the produce to hold the cut produce.

15. The mechanical harvester of claim 12, wherein the movable first and second belts are positioned at an incline from a front end to a rear end of the transport assembly, wherein the front end is proximate to the cutting device.

16. The mechanical harvester of claim 12, wherein the first and second sets of deformable protrusions are formed of a pliable material.

17. The mechanical harvester of claim 12, wherein the movable first belt and the movable second belt are conveyor belts.

18. The mechanical harvester of claim 12, wherein the transport assembly further comprises:

a movable third belt and a movable fourth belt, connected to the chassis, configured to hold and transport another produce between the third and fourth movable belts, wherein the movable third belt and the movable fourth belt are disposed adjacent to the movable first belt and the movable second belt.

29. The mechanical harvester of claim 12, wherein the cut produce is held below or at about the midline of the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt.

30. The mechanical harvester of claim 29, wherein the cut produce is held below the midline of the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt.

31. The mechanical harvester of claim 30, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt are configured to each exert a force of between approximately the same as the weight of the produce to hold the cut produce.

32. The mechanical harvester of claim 29, wherein the cut produce is held at about the midline of the cut produce between a peak of only one deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable first belt and a peak of only one directly opposing deformable protrusion, and not two or more deformable protrusions, of the movable second belt.

33. The mechanical harvester of claim 32, wherein the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt each exert a force that is approximately 200 percent of the weight of the produce to hold the produce.