Patent ID: 8136336
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. An asparagus harvester, comprising: a sensing device configured to detect individual asparagus spears that satisfy one or more asparagus related parameters; at least one set of cutter arm assemblies configured to rotate independently of one another in a common plane and around a common axis to harvest individual detected asparagus spears that satisfy the one or more asparagus related parameters; and, a clutch assembly configured to control individual cutter arm assemblies based upon signals received from the sensing device, wherein the clutch assembly is configured to accelerate the cutter arm assemblies of the at least one set of cutter arm assemblies from a ready position upon receipt of a first signal from the sensing device and then to decelerate the cutter arm assemblies of the at least one set except a leading rotatable cutter arm of the at least one set of cutter arm assemblies lacking a second signal from the sensing device.