Abstract:
An apparatus that moves through fields of leafy vegetables and trims harvested heads of leafy vegetables. The apparatus includes a body and a plurality of supports coupled to the body for movement relative thereto. The supports are configured for supporting pieces of leafy vegetables. The apparatus further includes a plurality of cutters coupled to the body that are arranged serially and a transport system for moving the supports past the cutters. A collector is included for collecting leaves cut from the vegetables.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a non-provisional application and claims the benefit of Application No. 60,598,199, filed Jul. 30, 2004, entitled “Systems and Methods for Harvesting Leafy Vegetables” and Application No. 60/645,993, filed Jan. 21, 2005, entitled “Systems and Methods for Harvesting Leafy Vegetables Using Atmospheric Clamps”, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to systems and methods for harvesting and processing leafy vegetables, and more particularly, to systems and methods for harvesting and processing leafy vegetables wherein the leaves are fairly loose, such as, for example, red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, frizee, oriental kale, etc. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The demand for leafy vegetables has greatly increased over the years. Salads are now often in high demand for meals, whether as an entree, a side dish or an appetizer. Thus, leafy vegetables are generally grown and harvested year-round in various parts of the United States. 
   There are numerous ways for harvesting and processing various types of leafy vegetables such as lettuce. Often, the methods include manually cutting heads of lettuce from the ground and then manually trimming the leaves from the core. This is time consuming and can lead to a fair amount of waste. Additionally, it is desirable to avoid damage to the ribs and leaves of the lettuce, which can happen during harvesting. 
   Furthermore, while the harvesting takes place in the fields, the processing usually takes place away from the fields, generally in large buildings or warehouses. This means that the vegetables must be harvested, temporarily packaged, unpackaged, transported, unpackaged, processed and then repackaged. The processing generally involves cutting and coring the leafy vegetables, usually manually, then washing and substantially drying the leaves and placing them in appropriate packaging. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an apparatus for harvesting and processing leafy vegetables wherein the apparatus includes a body and a plurality of supports coupled to the body for movement relative thereto. The supports are configured for supporting pieces of leafy vegetables. The apparatus further includes a plurality of cutters coupled to the body that are arranged serially and a transport system for moving the supports past the cutters. A collector is included for collecting leaves cut from the vegetables. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the supports are coupled to a vacuum source. Each support includes a vacuum head for supporting the pieces of leafy vegetables. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes blowers adjacent each cutter. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the collector is a conveyor belt that moves relative to the body. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the apparatus is a self-propelled vehicle that may be operated in the field where the leafy vegetables are harvested. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the apparatus is a trailer that may be operated in the field where the leafy vegetables are harvested. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the cutters are staggered vertically with respect to one another. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the cutters are staggered in a descending manner such that a first cutter at a first end of the apparatus is at a first height and a last cutter at a second end of the apparatus is at a second height, the second height being lower than the first height, with cutters in-between the first and last cutters being at a lower height than an adjacent cutter relative to the first end. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, adjacent cutters are staggered vertically in a range of one-quarter inch to one and three quarter inches. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, adjacent cutters are staggered vertically one quarter inch. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the cutters comprise rotary blades. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the cutters comprise water jets. 
   In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the cutters comprise straight blades. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the leafy vegetables are one of a group comprising red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, frieze and oriental kale. 
   The present invention also provides a method of harvesting leafy vegetables with a harvesting apparatus where the method comprises providing pieces of leafy vegetables and supporting the pieces of leafy vegetables on supports. The method also includes moving the supports past a series of cutters and cutting the pieces of leafy vegetables with the cutters to thereby remove leaves from the pieces of leafy vegetables. The leaves are collected with a collector. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in view of the following detailed description of preferred exemplary embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a self-propelled leafy vegetables harvester and processor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a type of support for use with the leafy vegetables harvester illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of a leafy vegetables harvester and processor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a back elevational view of a leafy vegetables harvester and processor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view a portion of the leafy vegetables harvester and processor in accordance with the present invention in operation; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the leafy vegetables harvester and processor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating processing of a head of leafy vegetable with a harvester and processor in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   FIGS.  1  and  3 - 4  illustrate an apparatus  10  for harvesting and processing leafy vegetables such as, for example, red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, frizee, oriental kale, etc. As may be seen in  FIGS. 3-4 , the apparatus includes a body  11  that has a plurality of support arrangements  12  coupled thereto. The support arrangements are coupled to the apparatus preferably via a belt or chain-type drive  13  in such a way that they may be moved through the apparatus. A collector  14 , preferably in the form of a conveyor belt, is also provided. Collection conveyors  15   a, b  is preferably provided at both ends of the apparatus and include conveyor belts  15   c ,  15   d . A set of rinse nozzles  16   a, b  is preferably also provided. A vacuum chamber  17  is provided that is coupled to a vacuum source (not shown) via conduit  18 . A blower chamber  19  is preferably provided that is coupled to a blower source (not shown) via conduit  19   a.    
   With regard to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , it may be seen that the support arrangements preferably include a body  20 , a support  21  and a vacuum head  22  that includes a plurality of holes  23 . Preferably, each support is hollow and each body engages the vacuum chamber to provide a vacuum at the plurality of holes to hold harvested pieces or heads of leafy vegetables thereon. Thus, the supports and vacuum heads serve as atmospheric clamps. As may be seen in  FIG. 6 , vacuum chamber  17  provides a vacuum through support  21  and vacuum head  22  thereby creating suction at holes  23 . The bodies are preferably coupled to conveyor  13  with pins  25   a  through openings  26   a . Motor  27  is provided to move conveyor  13 . The bodies are coupled to a guide  28  with pins  25   b  through openings  26   b.    
   As may be seen in  FIG. 5 , support arrangements  12  are moved through apparatus  10  in order to move the heads of leafy vegetables  39  past a plurality of cutters  40  that are arranged serially and are driven by motors  41 . As heads of leafy vegetables move past a cutter, leaves  42  are cut from the head. These leaves fall to conveyor  14  below, which moves the cut leaves to the end of the apparatus where they are gathered and packed. Blower nozzles  50 , coupled to blower chamber  19 , are preferably provided adjacent to the cutters to help blow cut leaves onto the conveyor. Additionally, nozzles  51  are preferably provided to spray a liquid such as water onto the blades to help keep them clean. The nozzles also help keep the heads and cut leaves wet. 
   Each of the cutters is preferably offset a certain height with respect to the other cutters since as the leaves are cut, the blade needs to be at a different height and position in order to cut through the shortened heads of leafy vegetables. The other cutters may be adjusted height-wise depending upon the size of the heads of leafy vegetables. The size and tightness of the heads of vegetables generally vary over the course of a season. Preferably, approximately a quarter inch offset is provided between each cutter. In one example of the present invention, eight cutters are provided, although the number of cutters may range from one to twelve as desired. Examples of variances in the cutter height are in a range of ¼ inch to 3 inches. Additionally, cutters may be removed or positioned so as not to be in use if desired. 
   In a preferred embodiment, cutters  40  are rotary blades. Alternatively, water cutters or straight blades may be used if desired. Those skilled in the art will understand that even other types of cutters may be employed as desired. 
   Preferably a guide or “lead”  60  is provided adjacent each rotary blade. Pieces of cut core  61  from the heads of leafy vegetables fall onto the blade and are then spun against the guide and move, preferably through a shoot-type guide  62 , out to a basket-like screen or container (not shown), or simply fall to the ground. This helps prevent the pieces of core from ending up on the conveyor with the desired cut leaves. Additionally, nozzles  51  are preferably provided to help keep the cutters clean and the heads and cut leaves wet. 
   Preferably, the cutters, motors and guides may pivot about arm  63  with protective screens  52  for servicing or other maintenance functions. 
   Accordingly, as may be seen in  FIG. 5 , in operation, a piece of leafy vegetable  39  in the form of a head is harvested from the ground. The harvested head is placed in an inverted position on a support arrangement  12  with the leaves spread open so that the vacuum head goes centrally up inside of the harvested head and the core is supported by vacuum head. The support arrangement then moves through the apparatus by chain or conveyor-type drive  13 . As the support arrangement moves through the apparatus, the vacuum head hold the harvested head in place. The support arrangement moves past the series of cutters  40  and leaves  42  are cut from the harvested head by the various cutters. 
   More particularly,  FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a head of leafy vegetable  39  supported on vacuum head  22  and support  21  being processed by series of cutters  40 . Dashed lines  63  illustrate how the head of leafy vegetables are successively cut by the series of cutters  40 . Each cutter  40  cuts through core  61  and leaves  42  as the head moves past the cutter to thereby cut the leaves from the head of leafy vegetable. 
   Apparatus  10  is preferably configured to move through fields of leafy vegetables as a self-propelled motor vehicle with its own motor and controls. An example is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The motor vehicle preferably includes a motor  70  and a liquid supply  71  for supplying nozzles  16   a,b  and  51  with a liquid, preferably water. Housing  72  is preferably provided for housing a vacuum source (not shown) and a blower source (not shown). Alternatively, apparatus  10  may be configured as a trailer to be moved by a tractor or other type of motor vehicle (not shown). Additionally, those skilled in the art will realize that apparatus  10  may also be set-up as a stationary unit in a field or other location. 
   As may be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , apparatus  10  preferably includes two collection conveyors  15   a, b . This allows for apparatus  10  to be moved back and forth within a field without the need to reverse the positioning of a separate vehicle (not shown) that is receiving cut leaves from the collection conveyors. Thus, this separate vehicle may move and remain within the portion of the field that has already been harvested. Thus, conveyor  13  is also reversible to allow for the reversal of the movement of support arrangements  12 . Likewise, collector  14  is also reversible. Since cutters  40  are adjustable height-wise, this also allows for reversibility of apparatus  10 . 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.