Patent ID: 6257978
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A harvester for harvesting and separating above-ground food from vines comprising:a main frame;a shaker brush having a plurality of tines, and mounted on the main frame for rotation about an axis, the shaker brush being adjacent to a feed point;a plurality of feeder rods mounted to the main frame, extending from locations below the feed point to locations within the shaker brush;a shaker conveyor for conveying food and vines away from the feeder rods;a cross conveyor below the shaker brush for removing dislodged food from the harvester,a recovery shaker conveyor located beneath the end of the shaker conveyor for further separation of food from vines which have Men off the end of the shaker conveyor;a recovery cross conveyor surrounded by said recovery shaker conveyor and in communication with both the shaker conveyor and the recovery shaker conveyor for removing additional dislodged food from the harvester;an electronic sorter at one end of the recovery cross conveyor for further inspection of food fallen onto the recovery cross conveyor; anda discharge conveyor for removing food from the harvester.