Mechanical produce harvester with gathering belts
First Claim
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, andwherein 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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A mechanical harvester for harvesting a produce planted in a field, the produce having a stem/core, the mechanical harvester comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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12. A mechanical harvester for harvesting produce planted in a field, the produce having a stem/core, the mechanical harvester comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification