WO2004021764A1

WO2004021764A1 - Fruit and vegetable harvester

Info

Publication number: WO2004021764A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2003/000198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stuart Graeme Mawley
Original assignee: Te Mata Holdings (Nz) Limited
Priority date: 2002-09-05
Filing date: 2003-09-04
Publication date: 2004-03-18
Also published as: AU2003265017A1

Abstract

A self-propelled tomato harvester has severing means (S) to simultaneously cut tomato vines of two rows of plants. The severed plants then ascend conveyor chains (1, 22) to separator (14) where rotary tines and a shaker cylinder detach tomatoes from their stalks. Detached tomatoes drop onto cross chains and are then conveyed by belts (15, 7, 9) past colour sorting devices. Tomatoes are finally discharged onto cross feed belts (25) which convey them to unload elevator (26). Elevator (26) is pivotally mounted so it may swing through 180° to enable discharge to either side of the harvester.

Description

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE HARVESTER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to fruit and vegetable harvesting machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine for harvesting fruits and vegetables that grow on vines above the surface of the ground such as, for example, tomatoes.

BACKGROUND

The commercial cropping of tomatoes grown in the field is usually characterised by the individual tomato plants being grown in long straight rows on a slightly raised mound or bed. Adjacent rows are spaced apart so as to permit a harvesting machine to straddle an individual row and travel between the adjacent rows for harvesting purposes.

The harvesting machines themselves have been known for many years and typically comprise an elongated vehicle supported by wheels and/or tracks having means at the forward or front end to sever the tomato plants at ground level, conveying means to convey the severed tomato plants to a mechanism to separate the tomatoes therefrom, and further conveying means to discharge, respectively, waste foliage, soil and stalks to a discharge point usually behind or along side the machine, and the separated tomatoes to a collection bin. These machines are quite complex and usually additionally contain one or more stations for operators to assist with the above and perform initial grading of the fruit; and may additionally be provided with optical sorters to separate green from red tomatoes.

To date, harvesting machines of this type are only able to process one row of tomatoes at a time. Clearly, it would be an advantage if a harvesting machine could process two or more adjacent rows of tomatoes in a single pass. The present invention provides such a machine.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

According to a broad aspect, the invention provides a fruit and vegetable harvester comprising:

a) a main elongated frame supported by wheels/and or tracks; b) two or more severing means situated at one end of said frame and adjacently spaced apart for severing plants substantially at ground level; c) conveying means for conveying the severed plants to a fruit/vegetable separating mechanism; d) further conveying means for conveying the separated fruit/vegetables to a discharge means situated at the other end of said chassis; e) wherein said discharge means is mounted on the frame for pivotal movement between two positions such that it can discharge separated fruit/vegetables to a collection receptacle located either side of the harvester.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

In further describing the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: -

Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view;

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view; and

Figure 3 is a schematic front end elevational view.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a tomato harvester is shown including three/four sorter/operator stations and a driver. In this particular embodiment, the machine comprises a main frame 11 which is supported by rubber tracks 24. Alternatively, the machine could be supported by wheels such as agricultural tyres. The engine is not shown but is mounted in a pod 16 substantially centrally on the frame together with the other requisites necessary to provide propulsion in a conventional manner. A driver's cab 10 is located at the front end of the frame with access thereto provided by a ladder 21. A canopy 3 affords some protection against the weather and sun to the processing portion of the harvester.

Referring now to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a pair of severing means S assemblies are mounted at the front end of the frame parallel to each other. Each severing means S is pivotally mounted to the frame and supported by two gauge wheels 19. Accordingly, the whole assembly is free to pivot on the frame to accommodate the terrain. Each assembly includes a transverse rotary cutting bar 27 disposed substantially at ground level. Each assembly includes a first conveying chain 1 which conveys the severed plants to a second conveying chain 22. An assist chain 20 is provided to ensure that any plants which might be heavily laden with fruit or attached soil are able to be aligned cut and lifted.

It will be appreciated that further processing is essentially identical for either side of the machine from this point onward.

Disposed immediately below the outlet of the first conveying chain 1 is a soil sorting mechanisms 12 including a pair of belts 2 A and 2B which convey soil and other debris transversely to discharge on the respective side of the machine.

The second conveying chain 22 discharges the plants to a separating mechanism 14. The separating mechanism comprises a series of parallel tines or wire rods 4 and a shaker cylinder or wheel which is essentially an eccentrically mounted rotatable device that imparts intense vibration to the plant causing the tomatoes to detach from their holding stalks. The detached tomatoes drop between the tines 4 and the remaining stalks and foliage are conveyed to a third conveyor 8 for eventual discharge to the respective side of the harvester. A return floor 18 is provided to gravity feed any tomatoes accidentally discharged to this side to be returned to the pre-sort belt 15 (see below).

The detached tomatoes drop between the tines 4 onto a pair of cross chains 5 which convey the tomatoes to pre-sort belts 15 located on either side of the harvester. An sorter/operator may be located on a platform 23 adjacent the pre-sort belts 15.

The pre-sort belts 15 convey the tomatoes under a leaf suction fan 6 which removes and discharges any foliage that may have been missed by the earlier procedures. The pre-sort belts 15 discharge the tomatoes onto a colour sorting belt 7 which feeds the tomatoes into a colour sorting device 17 which essentially comprises an electronic colour discriminating machine which separates green from red tomatoes. Any green tomatoes are discharged to the respective side of the harvester.

The tomatoes are then discharged to an after sorting belt 9 which includes a further sorter/operator station. The tomatoes are finally discharged onto cross feed belts 25 which convey the tomatoes to the unload elevator 26 for eventual discharge into a waiting vehicle such as a truck. Elevator 26 may comprise an endless belt or chain or other device suitable to convey fruit from a loading point to a discharge point. The unload elevator 26 is pivotally mounted to the frame in order that it may be swung through 180 degrees to enable it to discharge to either side of the harvester. The unload elevator 26 includes an elongated support frame mounting an endless conveying belt or chain. The frame may also be collapsible or partly collapsible for storage and transport purposes. In the partially collapsed state, the frame may be folded back on itself at least once, but more preferably twice (fully collapsed) as shown in figure 3 of the drawings and stored in position behind the machine.

It will be appreciated that the above description is by way of example only. An actual harvesting machine would include many other non-essential components which are not described or essential to the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A fruit and vegetable harvester comprising:

(a) a main elongated frame supported by wheels/and or tracks;

(b) two or more severing means situated at one end of said frame and adjacently spaced apart for severing plants substantially at ground level;

(c) conveying means for conveying the severed plants to a fruit/vegetable separating mechanism;

(d) further conveying means for conveying the separated fruit/vegetables to a discharge means situated at the other end of said chassis;

(e) wherein said discharge means is mounted on the frame for pivotal movement between two positions such that it can discharge separated fruit/vegetables to a collection receptacle located either side of the harvester.

2. A fruit and vegetable harvester according to claim 1 wherein the discharge means further comprises an elongate frame situated at the rear of the harvester, said frame mounting an endless conveying belt or chain, and wherein the elongate frame may be laterally pivoted through substantially 180 degrees.

3. A fruit and vegetable harvester as claimed in claim 2 wherein the elongate frame may be folded back on itself at least once, but more preferably twice to reduce its length for storage/transport purposes.

4. A fruit and vegetable harvester according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the severing means each comprise an assembly which is pivotally mounted to the main frame and further comprise two spaced apart gauge wheels, a substantially ground level transverse rotary cutting bar, and a conveying belt or chain.

5. A fruit and vegetable harvester according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the separating mechanism further comprises an eccentrically mounted rotatable cylinder having a series of parallel tines or wire rods protruding from the surface thereof.

6. A fruit and vegetable harvester according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the harvester includes a manual sorting station. A fruit and vegetable harvester according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the harvester includes an apparatus for electronically sorting fruit by colour.

A fruit and vegetable harvester according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the harvester includes a leaf suction fan post the separating mechanism.