Tomato harvester with improved devices for feeding cut plants to the shaker

Abstract: The invention relates to a tomato harvester which includes: loading systems (2) designed to receive the cut plants and direct them into the harvester shaker devices (3) constituted by a number of sets of rods fitted radially on a common rotating support which are subject to the action of systems designed to make them vibrate a feed belt (5) designed to receive the plants from the said loading systems and convey them to the said shaker, following the route of the said shaker rods perimetrically a number of support elements constituted by hoses (12) or the like made of flexible material, guided by rings (11) fitted to the ends of a set of arms integral with the said conveyor belt which are fitted in staggered positions in relation to shaker rods so as to form a grid that supports the plants at a certain distance from the said feed belt systems designed to receive and discharge (4) the plants stripped of fruit.

Description: This invention relates to a tomato harvester of the type comprising systems designed to cut the plants at ground level, systems designed to introduce the cut plants into the harvester, shaker systems designed to detach the tomatoes from the plants, and systems designed to discharge the plants after separation of the tomatoes, which said harvester also includes improved devices for feeding the plants to the shaker. In particular, the harvester in accordance with the invention is fitted with a conveyor belt which receives the plants from the loading devices and accompanies them along the entire section of the route in which they are subjected to the action of the shaker; the route of the belt follows the contour of the shaker, which includes systems designed to keep the plants slightly raised above the said belt to allow more effective treatment by the shaker. In modem tomato harvesters the plants are cut near ground level by a header fitted to the front of the harvester and fall onto a loading belt that conveys them into the harvester, which contains shakers that separate the tomatoes from the plant, which is then discharged onto the ground. The shakers usually consist of a number of discs fitted to a common shaft, a set of rods being fitted radially to the said discs. The discs are made to rotate around their own axis, while the rods are made to vibrate so that they shake the plants, causing the tomatoes to be detached. The ends of the rods therefore follow a circular route, and the belt that transports the plants follows the same route for a certain distance so that the plants can be engaged by the shaker rods. The efficacy of these devices is sometimes limited, however, because the shaking action of the rods is performed less strongly on the tomatoes that rest directly on the conveyor belt, which are therefore not always detached from the plant. The action of the rods is far stronger if the plants are kept slightly raised above the belt so that they can be engaged more easily by the shaker rods. Some of the more recent harvesters are equipped with a grid consisting of a number of parallel metal bars fitted above the belt that feeds the plants to the shaker, which are inserted between the various sets of rods to keep the plants raised above the conveyor belt, thus improving the efficiency of the shakers. However, although this system has improved the prior state of the art, it is still not wholly effective, involves some complications in manufacture and higher costs, and constitutes an area in which mud and débris accumulate when working on wet ground. US-A-5.846.129 discloses an apparatus for separating produce, e.g. tomatoes, from the plants, which comprises a shaker with a plurality of rotating tines, and a conveyor assembly for moving the plants along an arcuate path in the same direction of the tines. In a first embodiment, the conveyor of US 5,846,129 is made of a series of rods 41. In another embodiment of the machine, the conveyor comprises a series of discs 51 (figgs. 3, 4), that maintain the plants raised, but limit the shaking action of the tines. US-A-4.335.570 discloses a direct-loading crop harvester, having a shaker head capable of being rotatively oscillated about its axis and having tines adapted to engage the vines of the crop to be harvested. A support conveyor is provided to support the vines while the tines of the shaker head shake the fruit therefrom. A collector conveyor is provided to collect the fruit as it falls from the vines and to transport the fruit for further processing. EP-A-0.986.945 relates to a tomato harvester comprising: loading systems designed to introduce the cut plants into the harvester; a shaker designed to shake the plants received from the said loading devices in order to detach the tomatoes; a number of parallel bars situated below the said loading belt, which are oriented towards shaker; a conveyor designed to pull the plants from the said loading area towards the said shaker and, at the exit from the said shaker, towards a discharge area, wherein the route of the said conveyor comprises at least one section which leads from the said discharge area to the said shakers. The problem described above is now solved by this invention, which relates to a tomato harvester in which the belt that conveys the tomatoes to the shakers consists of a grid belt with a number of supports fitted to its rods, each of which supports is fitted with a ring through which a hose passes. The set of hoses constitutes a kind of supporting grid that follows the route of the belt at a distance from it, keeping the plants raised above the belt when they pass the shaker to increase its efficacy. This invention will now be described in detail, by way of example but not of limitation, by reference to the annexed figures in which: figure 1 schematically illustrates the side view of a tomato harvester in accordance with the invention figure 2 is an enlarged detail of figure 1, showing the devices that feed the plants to the shaker figure 3 is a view of a shaker with the plant feed devices figures 4 and 5 illustrate a detail of a different form of embodiment of the invention. By reference to figure 1, a tomato harvester in accordance with the invention is fitted at the front with a header assembly indicated as 1, which cuts the plants and directs them onto a loading belt 2, which in turn discharges them at shakers 3. Here the tomatoes are separated from the plants; the tomatoes are collected and automatically conveyed to final containers, while the plants are discharged onto the ground by a belt 4. The structure of the harvester is already known, and a detailed description of it is therefore not required here. In accordance with the invention (see figure 2), a feed belt 5 is fitted immediately downstream of loading belt 2; feed belt 5 receives the plants from belt 2 and conveys them to the shaker, follows the circular route described by the ends of the shaker rods for a certain distance, and then discharges the plants onto ejector belt 4. Feed belt 5 basically consists of a conveyor belt with wide mesh 6, fitted to a drive roller 7 and a number of guide rollers and stop rollers 8. A set of supports or arms 10 are fitted to rods 9 (see figure 3) which constitute the structure of feed belt 5; the said supports project from the belt, and a ring or the like 11 is fitted to their upper end. Arms 10 are fitted to rods 9 in such a way that they are staggered in relation to shaker rods 19. A number of hoses 12 are fitted to belt 6; the said hoses are inserted through rings 11 and therefore follow the route of belt 5, but remain at a distance from belt 5 equal to the height of arms 10. Loading belt 2 is fitted with several rows of fingers 13 which project outwards and engage the cut plants to prevent them from sliding backwards along the inclined belt when they are loaded into the harvester. A roller 14, which turns in the immediate vicinity of feed belt 5, is fitted to the top end of loading belt 2. In this way, arms 10 with rings 11 and hoses 12 are inserted between fingers 14 of the loading belt, thus preventing some of the plants from being dragged backwards by belt 2 when its route is reversed. During the operation of the harvester the plants are cut by the header and fall onto loading belt 2, which raises them and directs them into the harvester. There, at the exit from belt 2, the plants fall onto feed belt 5 which conveys them to the shakers. In this part of the route the plants are kept raised above belt 5, resting on hoses 11 which follow the route of the belt; the set of hoses constitutes a kind of grid which follows the route of the feed belt and keeps the plants raised above it. In this section of the route the plants are subjected to energetic action by the shakers which causes the tomatoes to be detached from the plants and fall through the mesh of the belt onto the collector systems below. At the exit from the shaking area, the plants are discharged from belt 5 onto belt 4 which moves at a faster speed, with the result that the plants are immediately carried away from belt 5 with no risk of their returning to the processing cycle. Various forms of embodiment are possible in the ambit of the same concept. For example, arms 10 with hoses 12 could be replaced by a set of rigid supports such as metal bars bent into an arch shape, semicircular plates or the like, integral with rods 9, as shown in figures 4 and 5 and indicated by number 20. An expert in the field could devise numerous modifications and variations, all of which should be deemed to fall within the scope of this invention.

Claims: Tomato harvester of the type comprising systems designed to pick up the cut plants and introduce them into the harvester, shaker systems designed to detach the tomatoes from the plants, systems designed to receive the plants at the exit from the said shaker and discharge them onto the ground, a feed conveyor belt which receives the plants and conveys them to the shaker following part of the route of the said shaker to accompany the plants, the said feed belt comprising a number of plant support elements which move with the conveyor in the same direction of advance maintaining the plants at a distance from the belt, while they are subject to the action of the shaker, characterised by the fact that the said plant support elements are constituted by ropes, cables, hoses or the like made of flexible material, each fitted at a distance from the belt on a set of arms fixed to the feed belt and arranged parallel to its direction of advance. Tomato harvester as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said arms are fitted at one end with a ring which constitutes a seating into which the said hose is inserted, and thus maintained at a distance from the belt by the said arms. Tomato harvester as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the said flexible support elements are staggered in relation to the shaker rods so that they pass between them to accompany the plants and keep them raised above the conveyor belt. Tomato harvester as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that a loading belt fitted with projecting fingers, installed upstream of the said feed belt, directs the cut plants towards the said feed belt, the said loading belt being mounted at one end on a roller situated near the said feed belt so that the said projecting fingers pass between the said flexible support elements which move with the said feed belt. Tomato harvester as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the said systems designed to discharge the plants stripped of fruit are constituted by a conveyor belt which receives the plants from the said feed belt and advances at a faster speed than the latter.

Inventors: SANDEI LUIGI, SANDEI, LUIGI
Applicants: FMC TECHNOLOGIES ITALIA S P A, FMC TECHNOLOGIES ITALIA S.P.A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A01D45
IPC codes: A01D45