U.S. patent application number 12/545530 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-11 for small scale tomato harvester.
This patent application is currently assigned to WESTSIDE EQUIPMENT CO.. Invention is credited to David Meester.
Application Number | 20100031621 12/545530 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36032365 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100031621 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meester; David |
February 11, 2010 |
Small Scale Tomato Harvester
Abstract
The present invention is a compact fruit-vine harvester and
separation system in which the harvested fruit travels along a
vertical plane inside the harvester during processing, followed by
a single turn for output. The system includes a machine and related
methods for harvesting vine-borne crops. The machine is relatively
compact, and provides for vine borne crops to be severed,
separated, cleaned and machine-sorted along a longitudinal axis
before making a single turn prior to exit. Harvested fruit passing
through the machine drops by as much as 18 inches less than in
other harvesters, thereby reducing the potential for fruit damage.
The machine incorporates a combination blower and suction system
for efficient removal of unwanted dirt, vegetation and debris, and
an optional roller to prevent clogging of the suction system.
Inventors: |
Meester; David; (Fresno,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARK D MILLER;KIMBLE, MACMICHAEL & UPTON
5260 NORTH PALM AVENUE, SUITE 221
FRESNO
CA
93704
US
|
Assignee: |
WESTSIDE EQUIPMENT CO.
Crows Landing
CA
|
Family ID: |
36032365 |
Appl. No.: |
12/545530 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10942078 |
Sep 14, 2004 |
7581375 |
|
|
12545530 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
56/327.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 45/006
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
56/327.1 |
International
Class: |
A01D 45/00 20060101
A01D045/00 |
Claims
1-23. (canceled)
24. A method for harvesting vine-borne crops comprising the
following steps that are performed along a single vertical plane:
a. depositing crop-laden vines that have been severed from the
earth into a shaker; b. shaking said crop-laden vines to dislodge
the crop therefrom; c. conveying said shaken vines along said plane
away from said shaker; d. collecting and conveying said dislodged
crop along said plane away from said shaker; e. separating unwanted
materials from said crop as it travels along said plane by
directing said crop across an upwardly blowing volume of air; and
f. sorting said crop as it travels along said plane.
25. The method of claim 24 comprising the additional steps of: a.
severing crop-laden vines from the earth; b. conveying said
crop-laden vines upward along said path and depositing them into
said shaker.
26. The method of claim 24 comprising the additional steps of: a.
directing said shaken vines not separated by said shaker to a
recovery conveyor along said plane for further separation of crop
from vines; and b. retrieving dislodged crop from the recovery
conveyor and directing it along said plane for separation of
unwanted materials.
27. A method for harvesting above-ground vine-borne crops,
comprising the steps of: a. collecting crops and vines onto a main
frame; b. directing the crops and vines along a vertical plane to a
shaker brush having a plurality of tines; c. inducing a shaking
action in the vines, causing a separation of at least some of the
crops from the vines; d. retrieving dislodged crops fallen from the
shaker brush with a conveyor located along said vertical plane
below the shaker brush; e. directing crops separated from the vines
through a cleaner located along said vertical plane to remove
unwanted materials; and f. directing said cleaned crops into a
sorter located along said vertical plane.
28. A method for harvesting vine-borne crops along a path on a
vertical plane extending from front to rear inside a machine
comprising the steps of: a. conveying crop-laden vines upward along
a vertical plane and depositing them into a shaker; b. shaking said
crop-laden vines to dislodge crop therefrom; c. conveying said
shaken vines away from said shaker along said plane; d. collecting
and conveying said dislodged crop along said vertical plane away
from said shaker; e. cleaning said dislodged crop as it travels
along said vertical plane to separate unwanted materials from said
crop; f. conveying said cleaned crop along said plane to a sorter;
and g. sorting said crop.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein said cleaning step further
comprises directing said crop across an upwardly directed
adjustable high volume of air located along said plane.
30. The method of claim 28 wherein said cleaning step further
comprises directing said crop underneath an adjustable overhead
high-volume air suction located along said plane.
31. The method of claim 29 wherein said cleaning step further
comprises directing said crop underneath an adjustable overhead
high-volume air suction located along said plane.
32. The method of claim 28 wherein the conveying shaken vines, the
cleaning of dislodged crop, and the conveying said cleaned crop all
intersect an axis along said vertical plane.
Description
[0001] This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/942,078 filed on Sep. 14, 2004, which is incorporated herein in
its entirety by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to machines and methods for
harvesting food crops, and more particularly, to an improved
small-scale machine and related methods for separating larger
volumes of vine-borne crops from their vines while effectively
removing unwanted dirt, vegetation and debris, minimizing damage to
the fruit itself, and promoting better sorting of fruit.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Vine-borne crops have traditionally been harvested and
processed by hand. However, such manual harvesting and processing
was often tedious, time-consuming and expensive. Various machines,
such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,305, have been
developed over the years to automate part, or all, of this process.
These machines are able to harvest vine-borne crops from the ground
at much faster speeds than humans. However, these machines were
often inefficient in other aspects of the harvesting process. Early
harvesting machines severed entire plants and dropped them upon the
ground, with the desired crops remaining affixed to the plants.
Then, collection devices would retrieve the mixture of vegetation,
dirt and debris for processing. Human sorters would then be
required to sort through the mixture to separate the crops from the
rest, and extract the former. The human sorters had to quickly
process these mixtures to prevent a backlog. As a result, some
suitable crops were lost because they were too far entangled within
the plants, or simply overlooked by the human sorters.
[0006] Various devices have been developed over the years to
improve the mechanized harvesting process, and to minimize the need
for human sorters. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,257,218,
4,335,570, and 6,257,978 all disclose harvesting machines utilizing
at least one form of agitating device (such as vibrating shaker
heads or conveyor belts) to dislodge tomatoes from the vines.
Several harvesting machines, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 6,257,978 and 6,033,305, also utilize forced air pressure
systems to further remove dirt and debris.
[0007] Unfortunately, larger is not always better. While wider and
larger machines are generally capable of harvesting and processing
a higher volume of vine-borne crops, many road and/or field
situations make it impossible or impractical to use or bring these
large machines in to perform the desired harvesting. Such machines
are also more difficult to maneuver. Such limited maneuverability
may require the machine operator to spend additional time
repositioning the machines to process each row of crops, or cause
the machines to inadvertently trample one or more rows. In
addition, larger machines tend to weigh more, and the added weight
not only affects maneuverability (e.g. turning), it also makes the
larger, heavier machines unusable in moist or muddy fields where
they tend to bog down. It is therefore desirable to provide a
smaller scale machine that is capable of harvesting larger volumes
of vine-borne crops.
[0008] In addition, the design of many existing large and
small-scale machines may cause damage to the fruit by imparting
numerous drops and/or turns during processing. Many machines
require the fruit to drop a distance of several feet over the
course of processing through the machine, and to make several turns
during the process. Each drop and each turn provides another point
where the fruit may be damaged, so it is desirable to minimize the
number and/distance that the fruit drops through the machine, and
to minimize the number of turns the fruit makes as it travels
through the machine.
[0009] Effective separating and sorting of harvested fruit is also
important. More efficient removal of dirt, vegetation, trash and
debris as well as more accurate sorting of fruit is possible when
the harvested materials are widely dispersed, and not bunched
together. Another unfortunate side effect of machines in which the
fruit makes multiple turns is that the fruit and associated trash
and debris tends to bunch together. Rather than the fruits being
evenly spaced upon the conveyors (so that they may be easily
examined and processed), these corners cause the fruits to become
crowded as they are transported onto an intersecting conveyor
sometimes forming windrows, making them more difficult to inspect
and sort. This bunching makes removal of the trash and debris more
difficult, and once removed, the bunching of the harvested fruit
makes sorting more difficult as well. Furthermore, each turn
involves a drop from one conveyor to another, risking additional
damage to the fruit, and requiring more maintenance and cleanup
from breakage. Transverse turns also tend to increase the overall
width and size of the harvester machine. All of these consequences
make it even more desirable to minimize the number of turns the
fruit makes as it travels through the machine.
[0010] It is therefore desirable to provide a small-scale
vine-borne crop harvesting machine capable of processing a large
volume of crops that is usable in a wide variety of field
situations where larger machines cannot be used. It is further
desirable that the harvesting machine effectively process
vine-borne crops with minimum potential damage to the fruit. It is
further desirable that the machine provide a minimum number of
drops and turns so that the fruit is less susceptible to damage, so
that trash and debris may be more effectively removed, and so that
the fruit itself may be more efficiently sorted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention provides a compact fruit-vine
harvester and separation system in which the harvested fruit makes
only one ninety-degree turn (for exit) following processing. The
system includes a machine and related methods for harvesting
vine-borne crops. The machine is relatively compact, having a frame
that is dimensioned such that its width is substantially the same
as the wheel or track base so that it may travel on narrow roads,
and be used in narrow field conditions. The machine provides for
vine borne crops to be severed, separated, cleaned and
machine-sorted along a longitudinal axis (straight line) before
making a single turn just prior to exit. Harvested fruit passing
through the machine drops by as much as 18 inches less than drops
called for in existing machines. The machine incorporates a
combination blower and suction system for efficient removal of
unwanted dirt, vegetation and debris.
[0012] In particular, a severing device is provided at the forward
end of the machine for severing fruit-laden vines from the ground.
A first conveyor is provided that brings the severed fruit-laden
vines to an upper position in the machine. The severed fruit-laden
vines cross an adjustable gap and are delivered onto a second
conveyor, the gap allowing loose dirt and debris to fall through
the machine to a dirt cross conveyor. The material on this conveyor
is passed through a vision system which ejects the red fruit back
onto the machine as the dirt and debris pass through to the ground.
The fruit-laden vines are then introduced into a rotating shaker
having tines that engage and loosen the vines, causing the fruit to
be dislodged as it shakes. The dislodged fruit drops onto a second
conveyor below the shaker, and the vines are deposited onto a third
conveyor. While traveling along the third conveyor, which is
provided with large slots or as a wider pitch belted chain so that
fruit can pass through, additional agitation may be imparted to the
vines to dislodge any remaining fruit which falls through and is
returned to the second conveyor. All of the conveyors are set up
relatively close to each other so as to minimize the dropping
distance of the fruit. These conveyors are all lined up along the
same longitudinal axis, so that the fruit and related materials are
not turned and remain widely dispersed across the width of the
conveyors.
[0013] Some dirt, debris, and vegetation may be deposited on the
second conveyor along with the dislodged fruit. To remove this
remaining trash, the second conveyor delivers the fruit and trash
across an adjustable gap in which a strong upward air flow is
provided through a nozzle attached to a blower below. The nozzle
extends along the width of the second conveyor so that all fruit
and trash is affected thereby. The airflow may be adjusted so that
it is strong enough to blow away all loose dirt, debris and
vegetation without blowing away the fruit itself. The airflow also
tends to remove trash and vegetation that may have become adhered
to the second conveyor because of moisture or the like. An intake
opening for a variable speed suction unit is provided above the gap
and blower nozzle to receive and remove all of the trash that is
blown free by the lower nozzle. A continuously rotating roller is
provided adjacent to the upper intake opening to dislodge any large
pieces of vegetation or trash so that the upper opening does not
become clogged. The roller itself is preferably smooth so that it
does not become entangled with the vegetation or trash, but it may
be provided with teeth, lagging, textured covering or tines to
engage such materials if so desired. The roller may rotate in
either direction, so long as it keeps the vegetation and trash from
clogging the intake opening of the upper suction unit.
[0014] The cleaned fruit that passes through the blower/suction gap
is then deposited onto a fourth conveyor that is also in line with
the three previous conveyors. The fourth conveyor takes the fruit
to an automatic sorting unit which kicks out unwanted fruit
according to its programmed instructions. Since the fruit has not
traveled through any turns up to this point, it remains evenly
separated on the fourth conveyor thereby improving the sorting
process. Then, finally, the fruit makes its one and only turn where
it is deposited onto a transversally oriented conveyor. Here, hand
sorting is performed, followed by deposit of the fruit onto a final
conveyor which takes it up, out and deposits it into a waiting
hopper alongside the machine. In an alternative embodiment, the
transversally oriented conveyor and the final conveyor are one and
the same, making the fruit available for sorting and then elevating
it out of the machine to the hopper waiting alongside.
[0015] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a machine for harvesting vine-borne crops in which the
harvested fruit travels along a straight path within the machine as
the fruit is separated from the vines, cleaned and sorted, prior to
making a single turn followed by exit.
[0016] It is also an important object of the invention to provide a
machine for harvesting vine-borne crops in which the harvested
fruit travels a minimal distance from the uppermost to the
lowermost point during processing, reducing the overall distance
the fruit drops through the machine in order to reduce the
potential for damage to the fruit.
[0017] It is also an important object of the invention to provide a
machine for harvesting vine-borne crops in which the harvested
fruit is widely dispersed as it is conveyed through the machine to
facilitate better removal of unwanted trash and debris, and to
facilitate better sorting of fruit.
[0018] It is also an important object of the invention to provide a
machine for harvesting vine-borne crops in which unwanted dirt,
vegetation and debris is removed through the dual action of an
adjustable lower blower device and an adjustable upper suction
device that are provided adjacent to each other along the path of
travel through the machine.
[0019] It is also an important object of the invention to provide a
small-scale machine for harvesting large volumes of vine-borne
crops that may be deployed in vineyards and fields where larger
machines cannot be efficiently used.
[0020] It is also an important object of the invention to provide
improved methods for harvesting and processing vine-borne
crops.
[0021] Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from
the detailed descriptions and the claims herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present
invention along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of the present
invention along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a cut away side view along line 4-4 of FIG. 1
illustrating major operative elements of flow paths through the
invention.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a detailed cut away side view along line 5-5 of
FIG. 1 of an exemplary air blower, air suction device and
mechanical fruit sorter of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a side view of the mechanical fruit sorter of an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 7 is a top view of a suction device of an embodiment of
the present invention along line 7-7 of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals
designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,
and referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is seen that the
illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention is an apparatus
and method for harvesting above-ground food plants grown in rows
upon elongated planting ridges. The exterior components of the
apparatus generally comprise a self-propelled vehicle body 10
having a driving compartment 1l, an adjustable arm 12 with a pickup
device 14 and conveyor 15, a separator 20, a sorting platform 16,
and a discharging chute 17.
[0030] As indicated in FIG. 2, the adjustable arm 12 is affixed to
the front end of the vehicle body 10. The adjustable arm 12 may be
any number of commercially available devices that allow the
operator to adjust the position of the arm 12 relative to the
ground, said position depending upon the characteristics of the
particular crop harvested or its environment. A gage wheel 13 for
height adjustment is mounted at the front end of the adjustable arm
12. The pickup device 14 may be any commercially available device
capable of severing tomato vines V at or near ground level, such as
a cutting disc or plurality of opposing blades, and a lift for
placing the severed vines onto conveyor 15. The pickup conveyor 15
is an endless longitudinal conveyor belt traveling in a rearward
direction into the separator 20. The sorting platform 16 is affixed
to the rear end of the vehicle body 10. Platform 16 allows one or
more humans to examine and hand sort the tomatoes T on conveyor 26
before they are passed along to the discharging chute 17. Chute 17
is depicted in the rear view of FIG. 3 in its retracted position,
with phantom lines showing its extended position over a receiving
hopper in an adjacent row.
[0031] FIG. 4 depicts the internal operation of the separator 20
viewed from the right side. An endless motor-driven longitudinal
receiving conveyor 19 is adapted to receive the tomato vines V from
the exterior pickup conveyor 15. Said receiving conveyor 19 travels
toward the rear end of the vehicle body 10. An adjustable gap 18 is
provided between the pickup conveyor 15 and receiving conveyor 19,
said gap 18 allowing loose tomatoes T, dirt clods and other debris
to drop from the vines V while said vines travel between the two
conveyors 15 and 19. It is to be appreciated that the width of gap
18 may be varied to account for different sizes of vines V,
tomatoes T, dirt clods and debris. For example, gap 18 may be set
at a sufficiently small size that only the smaller dirt clods and
debris fall through, or at a sufficiently large size that larger
objects including small loose tomatoes T may also fall through.
[0032] An endless transversely oriented motor-driven debris
conveyor 21, having one end underneath gap 18 and the opposite end
extending outside the vehicle body 10, is positioned to receive the
loose tomatoes T, dirt clods and debris falling through gap 18. A
commercially available sorting mechanism (not depicted) may be
mounted in close proximity to the debris conveyor 21 to recognize
loose tomatoes T thereon, and place them onto the endless
motor-driven longitudinal first processing conveyor 22, while the
remaining dirt clods and debris are transported outside the vehicle
body 10. Alternatively, if gap 18 is set at a sufficient size to
allow only dirt clods and debris to fall through, the debris
conveyor 21 may transport all objects falling through the gap 18 to
the outside of the vehicle body 10. Processing conveyor 22 is made
up of segments which provide a plurality of openings or slots that
are of sufficient size to support tomatoes T, but allow small
pieces of dirt, vegetation and debris to fall through. Larger
pieces are removed by blower 40 and suction device 60 described
below.
[0033] A shaker brush 30 is positioned for receiving tomatoes and
vines from first processing conveyor 19. Said shaker brush 30 may
be any commercially available brush comprising a plurality of tines
31 and an agitating mechanism (not depicted) for concurrently
rotating and vibrating the shaker brush 30, such as an eccentric
weight assembly or vibrating motor. It is rotatable along a central
axis in a downward direction, causing the vines V to be pulled
underneath the shaker brush 30 toward the rear end of the vehicle
body 10. The vibratory force of the shaker brush 30 is sufficient
to dislodge the majority of the tomatoes T from their vines V,
along with most remaining dirt clods and debris, without
excessively damaging the tomatoes T. The dislodged tomatoes T, dirt
clods and debris are dropped onto the first processing conveyor 22,
while the vines V (along with any tomatoes T still lodged therein)
are deposited upon the recovery conveyor 23.
[0034] The recovery conveyor 23 is an endless motor-driven
longitudinal conveyor traveling toward the rear end of vehicle body
10. Conveyor 23 is made up of segments which provide a plurality of
openings or slots that are of sufficient size to allow tomatoes to
fall through. An agitating mechanism (not depicted) may be provided
in communication with the recovery conveyor 23. Said agitating
mechanism may be any commercially available device for agitating
the tomatoes and vines on the recovery conveyor 23. The agitator
should be capable of providing loosening vibratory motions to
further separate the tomatoes T that remain entangled with the
vines V at this stage. A recovery shelf track 24 is positioned
underneath the return segment of the recovery conveyor 23 to
capture the tomatoes T falling through the slots of the recovery
conveyor 23, and, in conjunction with the return movement of the
recovery conveyor 23, transport the tomatoes T to the first
processing conveyor 22.
[0035] The second processing conveyor 25 is an endless motor-driven
longitudinal conveyor belt traveling toward the rear end of vehicle
body 10. Conveyor 25 is positioned near the rear end of first
processing conveyor 22. There is an adjustable gap 28 between the
first processing conveyor 22 and the second processing conveyor 25.
An air blower 40 is mounted below the front end of the second
processing conveyor 25, with the nozzle directed toward the gap 28
between the two conveyors, so that the forced air pressure emitted
from the nozzle 42 contacts the tomatoes T, vegetation, dirt and
debris falling from the first processing conveyor 22 onto the
second processing conveyor 25. Such forced air pressure may be
varied so that it is of sufficient strength to separate vegetation,
dirt and debris from the tomatoes T, and force said materials
upward without blowing the tomatoes themselves away. An air suction
device 60, such as a fan or vacuum, is positioned above the gap 28,
so that its opening is opposite the nozzle of the air blower 40.
The size and shape of this opening may be varied, as discussed
below, to assure that equal air suction (vacuum) is provided across
the entire path (width) of conveyor 25 and gap 28. The vacuum
imparted by this suction device 60 may be varied so that it is of
sufficient strength to capture the dirt, vegetation and debris
forced upward by the air pressure emitted from the blower 40.
[0036] FIG. 5 provides a detailed side view of the air blower 40
and air suction device 60 of the present invention. As shown
therein, the nozzle 42 of the air blower 40 is positioned in close
proximity to and across the width of gap 28 between the first
processing conveyor 22 and second processing conveyer 25, so that
the forced air pressure emitted through nozzle 42 contacts the
tomatoes T, dirt clods and debris falling from the first conveyor
22 to the second 25. The suction device 60 is positioned above the
gap 28 with its opening 63 directly across from the nozzle 42, so
that the forced air pressure emitted from the nozzle 42 (and the
dirt, vegetation and debris carried by such pressure) is directly
received by the opening 63 of the suction device 60. Blower 40 also
provides the additional function of dislodging vegetation or debris
that may have become adhered to conveyor 22 through moisture or the
like, thereby improving the efficiency and operational
functionality of conveyor 22.
[0037] A roller 45 is provided adjacent to and below the opening 63
of suction device 60, and extends across the width of said opening
63. Roller 45 may have a smooth surface, or it may be provided with
teeth, lagging or tines of appropriate length to engage the
vegetation and other debris traveling into opening 63. The purpose
of roller 45 is to rotate while the suction device 60 is operating
so as to make contact with and dislodge any excessive vegetation or
other debris in order to prevent opening 63 from being clogged. As
shown in FIG. 5, roller 45 may be rotated in a clockwise direction
so as to continuously be causing vegetation and debris to be pushed
out and away from opening 63. However, this may cause such
vegetation and debris to be deposited with the relatively clean
tomatoes T on conveyor 25. Thus, in many circumstances, it may be
more beneficial for roller 45 to rotate counter-clockwise so as to
force the vegetation and debris into opening 63 so that it may be
carried away. Among other things, the size and moisture content of
the vegetation and debris may dictate whether roller 45 operates in
a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
[0038] A side view of suction device 60 is shown in FIG. 5, and a
top view is shown in FIG. 7. Suction device 60 includes a variable
speed fan or blower unit 61 attached to a channel 62 that is
attached, in turn, to a duct 64 leading to opening 63. Because of
the change in direction of airflow through channel 62 and duct 64,
the size and shape of opening 63 may be varied so as to provide a
uniform level of suction across the entire path of conveyor 25 and
gap 28. By way of example and without limitation, opening 63 may
not be provided in a rectangular form, but the left side of opening
63 may be more narrow than the right side so as to assure level
airflow across its length.
[0039] It is to be appreciated that all of conveyors 15, 19, 22, 23
and 25 are provided along the same longitudinal axis, and are
operatively positioned above and/or below each other. In this way,
the tomatoes T removed from the vines travel along a straight path,
moving from the front toward the rear of the machine, being
directed only by the conveyors and by gravity. This configuration
avoids any left or right turns in the path that the tomatoes T
travel through the machine, resulting in better distribution of the
tomatoes across conveyor 25 when they reach the sorting stage. Left
and right turns in the paths of other machine cause the tomatoes to
roll together into windrows that are more difficult to separate and
sort.
[0040] An endless motor-driven transversely oriented output
conveyor 26 is positioned near the rear end of the second
processing conveyor 25. A small gap is provided between the second
processing conveyor 25 and the output conveyor 26. An
optical/mechanical fruit sorter 50 is mounted in close proximity to
this gap. The optical/mechanical fruit sorter 50 may be any
commercially device capable of selecting or rejecting tomatoes T
based upon certain predetermined criteria, such as color. It should
also comprise means of sorting tomatoes T based upon their
satisfaction of the predetermined criteria, such as a mechanical
arm or pivoting gates. It is to be understood that the mechanical
fruit sorter 50 may be replaced by, or supplemented with, human
sorters who can manually examine the tomatoes on conveyor 26 as
they stand on platform 16.
[0041] Regardless of the particular examination method utilized,
tomatoes T satisfying the predetermined criteria are transported to
output conveyor 26, while rejected tomatoes are removed therefrom,
either by the mechanical sorter 50 or human sorters. The output
conveyor 26 is in communication with the discharging chute 17,
which transports the satisfactory tomatoes from the present
invention onto any number of commercially available hoppers, such
as a trailer or truck bed 70.
[0042] FIG. 6 depicts the mechanical fruit sorter 50 of the present
invention. It is seen that the mechanical fruit sorter 50 comprises
a sensor 51 and pivoting gate 52. The sensor 51 may be any
commercially available device capable of determining whether the
tomato T satisfies the predetermined criteria inputted by the
operator. Tomatoes T satisfying such criteria are permitted to fall
toward output conveyor 26. As to tomatoes T.sub.1 failing such
criteria, the fruit sorter 50 causes the gate 52 to pivot outward,
causing the failing tomatoes T.sub.1 to miss the output conveyor 26
and fall outside the vehicle body 10.
[0043] The use of a particular embodiment of the present invention
will now be described. The operator inputs a series of
predetermined criteria into the mechanical fruit sorter 50, which
defines the parameters for the `acceptable` tomatoes harvested. The
size of gap 18 is selected and set. The initial airflow for blower
40 and suction 60 is also selected, although these may be changed
during processing to provide appropriate removal of debris. The
present invention is then positioned before a row of tomato vines
V. The adjustable arm 12 is placed in such a manner that the
cutting device 14 will sever the tomato vines V at or near ground
level. As the present invention proceeds along the row of tomato
vines V, cutting device 14 severs the tomato vines V. The pickup
mechanism receives the severed tomato vines V (along with loose
tomatoes T, dirt clods and debris), and places them onto the pickup
conveyor 15. The pickup conveyor 15 then transports the vines V
rearward into separator 20.
[0044] Inside the separator 20, the tomato vines V are transported
over the gap 18 between the pickup conveyor 15 and receiving
conveyor 19. As they cross the gap, loose tomatoes T, dirt clods
and debris smaller than the width of the gap fall through, and onto
the debris conveyor 21. The debris conveyor 21 passes the mixture
through a sorting mechanism. Tomatoes T within the mixture are
diverted to the first processing conveyor 22, while the dirt clods
and debris continue along the debris conveyor 21 to be discarded
outside the vehicle body 10.
[0045] The tomato vines V upon the receiving conveyor 19 contact
the shaker brush 30. As the downward rotation of the shaker brush
30 pulls the tomato vines V underneath the brush, the vibration of
the brush tines 31 dislodges the majority of the tomatoes T from
the vines V, along with the remaining dirt clods and debris. The
dislodged tomatoes T, dirt clods and debris fall onto the first
processing conveyor 22, while the vines V (along with any tomatoes
T still lodged therein) are deposited by the shaker brush 30 upon
the recovery conveyor 23.
[0046] As the recovery conveyor 23 transports the vines V toward
the rear of the vehicle body 10, it is vibrated by an agitating
mechanism. The vibrating motion of said mechanism is sufficient to
dislodge the remaining tomatoes T from the vines V. These tomatoes
T fall through the slots of the recovery conveyor 23 onto the
recovery shelf track 24. The vines continue rearward until they are
ejected from the rear end of the vehicle body 10. The return
direction of the recovery conveyor 23 receives the tomatoes T and
deposits them upon the first processing conveyor 22, along with the
tomatoes T dislodged by the shaker brush 30.
[0047] The first processing conveyor 22 continues to transport the
tomatoes T (and remaining dirt clods and debris) toward the rear
end of the vehicle body 10. When the mixture reaches the rear end
of the first processing conveyor 22, it falls to the second
processing conveyor 25. During the fall, the mixture is struck by
air pressure from the air blower 40 mounted underneath the second
processing conveyor 25. The air should be of sufficient volume to
cause the tomatoes to "dance," that is, to be moved slightly so
that the debris and vegetation around them is removed, while the
tomatoes themselves are not. Such air pressure causes the dirt and
debris to separate from the tomatoes T and fly upward, where they
are captured by suction pressure from the air suction device 60.
The suction device 60 ejects the dirt clods and debris from the
rear end of the vehicle body 10, while the tomatoes T continue
along the second processing conveyor 25.
[0048] As the tomatoes T reach the rear end of the second
processing conveyor 25, they are analyzed by a mechanical fruit
sorter 50. Tomatoes T satisfying the particular criteria previously
inputted by the operator are transported onto output conveyor 26,
while unacceptable tomatoes are discarded out the bottom of the
vehicle body 10. The output conveyor 26 transports the acceptable
tomatoes T past manual sorters standing on platform 16, and then to
the discharging chute 17, where the tomatoes T are placed into
storage hoppers 70.
[0049] It is to be understood that variations and modifications of
the present invention may be made without departing from the scope
thereof. It is also to be understood that the present invention is
not to be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but
only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of
the foregoing specification.
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