Patent Abstract:
A mechanical harvester for harvesting, topping and sacking bulb crops, such as onions. The harvester extracts the onions from the ground and transports them rearward to a cutting assembly by conveyor systems that drop out small onions, dirt, rocks and debris. The cutting assembly comprises a set of elongated cutting blades positioned to cooperatively accept and sever the leaves and roots from the bulb. The offal drops away from the harvester to the ground by manner of gravity. After cutting, the onions are transported through an inspection assembly for inspection, sorting, grading and further distribution. The onions are then transported rearward to a sacking assembly for placing the onions into sacks, to a chute device returning the onions to the ground or to a conveyor system transferring the onions to an adjacent vehicle. Platforms on the sides and ends of the harvester facilitate the above operations.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The field of the present invention relates generally to mechanical harvesters for use in harvesting crops. More specifically, the present invention relates to such harvesters that may be moved along the ground and which are particularly suitable for harvesting bulb crops such as onions, beets, radishes, turnips, garlic and the like. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to such mechanical harvesters that are able to separate the useful crop from its associated plant material, such as roots and tops, and place the processed crop into bags or sacks.  
           [0003]    2. Background  
           [0004]    As is well known, the harvesting of bulb crops such as onions, beets, radishes, turnips, garlic and the like (also collectively referred to herein as “onions”) present particular problems that make harvesting of such crops more difficult and expensive than many other types of crops. Typically, the useful bulb portion of these crops grow in the soil with roots growing down from the useful portion and top plant material growing upward above the soil. To harvest the crops, the entire plant must first be extracted from the ground and then the roots and tops must be cut off. Harvesting these crops by hand is a very expensive, labor intensive process requiring a significant number of laborers to extract the crops and then separate the bulb from the roots and tops. As a result, mechanical harvesters for harvesting these crops have been in use for a number of years. Unfortunately, many of the mechanical harvesters have had problems with nicking, cutting or bruising of the bulb or failing to cut-off the roots and tops in the proper location relative to the bulb (in those machines which are even configured to cut-off both roots and tops).  
           [0005]    In regards to the previous onion field harvesting machines that are configured to extract onions and remove the tops and roots therefrom, U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,589 to Hagiz on Feb. 15,1983, U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,296 to Kruithoff on Jun. 28,1988, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,549 to Shuff on Mar. 30, 1993, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,634 to Saito on Nov. 15, 1994, and others disclose various methods of air flow generation and direction to orient the onion tops and roots in a manner such that they may be severed from the onion bulb. In the inventions listed above the onions are removed from the soil by a conveyor apparatus and then positioned by various means of air flow generation and direction so as to direct the tops and roots into severing devices that shear or cut the onion appendages by mechanisms having rotating or reciprocating blades. These prior mechanical harvesters have achieved some degree of success. However, because onions do not grow uniformly and typically vary in size, shape and bulb diameter, mechanical harvesters that utilize air flow generators to orientate the bulb for cutting generally are only partially effective at cutting tops and roots at uniform lengths. Often the onions harvested by these machines require the onions to be topped by use of an additional device prior to the harvesting operation, require the tops of the onions be significantly dried out prior to harvest, or require additional manual trimming and clipping prior to the curing and/or grading processes.  
           [0006]    Other bulb or root crop harvesting machines use gathering mounts and lifting frame assemblies to convey the crops by their leafy appendages to various cutting devices that separate the leafy materials and the roots from the useful crop. U.S. Pat. No. 4,173,257 to Mortensen and Browning on Nov. 6, 1979, as well as many earlier patents, disclose such root crop harvesters of this nature. These devices rely on the lifter assemblies to convey the vegetables up through the severing devices in order to accomplish the leafy material separation. The patent to Spiegel, U.S. Pat. No. 2,368,895 dated Feb. 6, 1945, discloses a carrot and onion harvester. As is typical with the Mortensen and Browning root crop harvester the topping bar assemblies are well known in the art and are widely described as to form and function. Although the topping bar assemblies are very successful at removing the tops by a crimping or pinching action, these devices typically result in a less than clean severed cut at the ends of the leaves and the top of the root crop. Such cuts are typically less desirable or not acceptable for fresh market onions due to the unfinished appearance of the onion bulb.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,589 to Hagiz on Feb. 15, 1983, U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,909 to Lauridsen on Aug. 10, 1971, and others disclose machines for harvesting onions and the like having various lifting and cutting mechanisms that also utilize bagging or sacking devices for placing the finished product directly in the bag or sack for market. These bagging or sacking devices typically employ delivery devices consisting of upright chutes or collection bins that collect topped onions for later placement into sacks or bags. By design, these chutes and bins are used to direct the onions. As a result, they provide numerous opportunities for damage to occur to the onion from onion to onion and onion to machine contact. Mechanical damage or excessive bruising is not acceptable for fresh market onions and can be a market or cosmetic defect that lowers the price and reduces the marketability of the onions, thereby causing economic loss to either or both the harvester and grower. In addition, the mechanical damage is often a pathway for pathogens to enter the bulb of the onion.  
           [0008]    It can be appreciated, therefore, that what is needed is a mechanical harvester for harvesting bulb crops, particularly onions, that effectively and efficiently harvests the onions from the field and provides for improved culling and cutting of the onions, particularly the removal of the tops and roots. The desirable harvester would reduce the amount time and labor necessary to harvest onions and be suitable for harvesting onions when the tops are still green (requiring less field drying time). To accomplish this, the desired harvester should not rely on blown air to orientate the onion for cutting.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The mechanical harvester for harvesting onions of the present invention solves the problems and provides the benefits identified above. That is to say, the present invention provides a harvester for harvesting onions that results in improved extraction of the onions from the field, improved removal of the unwanted root and top portions from the onion and placement of the cut onions in bags or sacks, while substantially reducing the amount of time and labor necessary to harvest the onions.  
           [0010]    In the primary embodiment of the present invention, the harvester of the present invention primarily comprises a harvester frame, comprised of a plurality of frame members, having a top portion and a pair of opposing sides. The harvester is suitable for being towed behind a tractor or other apparatus or for being modified to be self-propelled. At the front end of the harvester is a crop extracting mechanism comprising a lifting bar for extracting the onions from the field and flapper wheel for coaxing the onions into a one or more conveyor assemblies. In the preferred embodiment, the flapper wheel first assists in the placement of onions on a lifting conveyor assembly and then on an inclined elevator assembly, each of which has a conveyor system that allows small, unmarketable onions and any debris to fall through the conveyor onto the ground below the harvester. The lifting conveyor assembly is hydraulically connected to the frame so that the operator of the unit can raise or lower the lifting assembly so as to transport the harvester between fields and/or to place the lifting bar on the upper portion of the soil when harvesting. The conveyor systems deliver the onion plants to a cutting assembly which removes the roots and tops from the onion bulb. After cutting, the onions are transported rearward to an inspection assembly for final culling of unmarketable onions and debris and then to a sacking assembly where the onion bulbs are placed in burlap or like sacks.  
           [0011]    The cutting assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of roller bar cutters connected at opposing ends to an upper bearing block assembly and a lower bearing block assembly. A hydraulic motor powers the cutting assembly to rotate the roller bar cutters. In the preferred embodiment, the roller bar cutters are grouped in sets, each set having at least a pair of roller bar cutters that rotate in opposite directions to each other. Preferably, the roller bar cutters rotate in a generally flat elliptical path to provide a more even upper compound surface to minimize the surface damage to the onions. The roller bars have a leading edge which is shaped and configured to a sharp angle to further facilitate cutting the onions without harming the onions. The cutting assembly of the preferred embodiment also includes a topping length limiting device that extends the entire length of the roller bar cutters to limit how short the top leafage is cut relative to the top of the onion. Channeling and deflecting devices are utilized to funnel the onions to the optimum location for cutting and to deflect the cut waste materials away from the harvester and the onions to the rear of the harvester for inspection and sacking.  
           [0012]    To further facilitate the inspection , culling of onion plants and debris and sacking operations, the harvester has one or more platforms attached to the sides or back end for workers to stand on while the harvester is pulled or driven through the field. In the preferred embodiment, the harvester has three sets of platforms, two along both sides and one along the back end. The side platforms are utilized for removing debris and inspecting the cut onions and for assisting the cutting of the onions. The rear platform is utilized for the sacking operation. For ease of use, the rear platform can raise or lower by use of a hydraulic ram assembly.  
           [0013]    Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a mechanical harvester for harvesting onions having the features generally described above and more specifically described below in the detailed description.  
           [0014]    It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical harvester that effectively and efficiently harvests onions from the field, cuts the tops and roots off of the onions and places the onions into bags or sacks.  
           [0015]    It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical harvester that extracts onions from the field, cuts the roots and tops off the onions, provides for culling and inspection of the onions and has the ability to place the cut onions in a sack.  
           [0016]    It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical harvester where the length of the residual top of the onion is controlled in reference to the shoulder of each bulb, where the length of residual top is the same for each bulb, and where the tops may be trimmed to a desirably short length without damaging the bulbs.  
           [0017]    Yet another important objective of the present invention is to provide a mechanical harvester that utilizes a plurality of roller bar cutters that rotate in a generally elliptical path so as to cut the tops off of onions without damaging the onions.  
           [0018]    The above and other objectives of the present invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of parts presently described and understood by the claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    In the drawings which illustrate the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a first side elevation view of the harvesting apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the harvesting apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a first side elevation view of the front portion of the harvesting apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a first side elevation view of the cutting assembly area of the harvesting apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a first side elevation view of the middle portion of the harvesting apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of one-half of a set of the roller bar cutting assembly for use with the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of two adjacent sets of the roller bar cutting assembly for use with the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the opposing bars of the cutting bar mechanism for use with the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of one of the cutting bar mechanisms with distribution apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10 is a first side elevation view of the rear portion of the harvesting apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred roller bar cutter for use in the harvester of the present invention; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 12 is a schematic of the hydraulic flow diagram for use with the harvester of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]    With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the present invention, and particularly with reference to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the referenced figures, the preferred embodiments of the present invention is set forth below. As shown in FIG. 1, the mechanical harvester, designated generally as  10 , for use in harvesting one or more beds of bulb crops, such as onions  12 , grown in an agricultural field  14  is configured to extract the onions  12  from field  14  and prepare the onions  12  for sale by removing the roots  16  and tops  18  from the bulbs  20  and placing the prepared onions  20  in a bag or sack  21  (best shown in FIG. 10) for market. Although the present discussion primarily refers to the harvesting of onions utilizing harvester  10  of the present invention, the invention is not so limited. In fact, harvester  10  is also useful for the harvesting of a number of other bulb crops including, but not limited to, turnips, beets, garlic, radishes and like crops that require extraction from the field  14  and removal of roots  16  and/or tops  18  from the bulb crop  20 . The mechanical harvester  10  constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is designed to harvest, allow for inspection, and sack the harvested onions  12  while harvester  10  is in motion.  
         [0033]    The preferred embodiment of the mechanical harvester  10  of the present invention, shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises harvester frame  22  made up of a plurality of frame members  24  configured together to form a top portion  26 , first side  28  and opposing second side  30 . On the lower portion  32  of frame  22  is an axle assembly  34  having one or more wheels  36  rotatably attached thereto to facilitate movement of harvester  10  across the ground, including field  14 . Preferably, axle assembly  34  is positioned generally in the middle of frame  22  between front end  38  and back end  40  of harvester  10 . However, axle assembly  34  can be positioned under frame  22  as necessary to assist with balance of harvester  10 . In addition, harvester  10  can comprise one or more axle assemblies  34  under frame  22 , as desired, and/or the axle assembly  34  can be moveable or rotatable, as is known in the art, to provide for the extension and contraction or rotation of the vehicle&#39;s wheel base to allow for a smaller turning radius when operating in field  14 .  
         [0034]    The mechanical harvester  10  of the present invention can be configured to harvest one or more beds of onions  12  at the same time, with each onion bed having multiple rows of onions. In the embodiment shown in the referenced figures, the harvester  10  is configured to harvest two beds of onions  12  at the same time. As is more fully set forth in the text below, the components and set-up of harvester  10  is a mirror image as taken down the longitudinal axis of the harvester  10  (as best illustrated by FIG. 2). Although the text set forth herein refers to the two-bed harvester  10 , the present invention is not so limited. In fact, harvester  10  may be made with the capability to harvest one or more beds at the same time. The limiting factor for the number of beds which can be harvested at the same time may be the maximum width allowed for vehicles to safely travel the roads between fields. In addition, with more than two beds being harvested at the same time, inspection of the moving onions  12  by field workers as the onions  12  are harvested would likely be more difficult.  
         [0035]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the harvester  10  of the present invention can be configured to be towed behind a tractor, as is typical, or other field-use vehicles (not shown) to harvest the onions  12  from field  14 . In this configuration, harvester  10  connects to the tractor by tongue  42  and power take-off shaft  44 . Power take-off shaft  44  is connected to a support bearing  46 , an RPM step-up device  48  and hydraulic pump  50  on harvester  10 . The RPM step-up device  48 , such as a planetary gear increaser, increases the RPM of the power take-off shaft  44  (i.e., from 1000 to 2000 RPM) for use to operate pump  50 , which could be a gear pump or a piston pump or equivalent pumps. In the configuration shown in the attached figures, the engine/motor of the tractor drives hydraulic pump  50 , which is in fluid communication with the various hydraulically driven devices on harvester  10 , as described in more detail below. Although the tongue  42  is shown as being connected to the front end  38  of harvester  10 , those skilled in the art will recognize that tongue  42  and power take-off shaft  44  can connect at axle assembly  34  or elsewhere on harvester  1   0 . In fact, connecting to the axle assembly  34  may be preferred to relocated pump  50  and eliminate excessive operating angles of the PTO shaft  44 . Alternatively, the harvester  10  can be configured to include a self-contained motor to drive pump  50  so as to eliminate the need to take power from the tractor and, as a result, PTO shaft  44 . As an alternative to being configured as a towed-behind harvester, harvester  10  can be a self-propelled vehicle that includes accommodations for an operator to control the movement of the harvester  10  in the field  14  and on the highways and roads between fields  14 . For such a configuration, a motor (not shown), such as a diesel engine, can be used to provide the power to move harvester  10 . As known to those skilled in the art, a variety of power sources can be efficiently and effectively utilized for the motor. Any motor should be sized and configured to be able to move harvester  10  through a field under a variety of ground conditions, including dirt or muddy fields, and to drive pump  50 . The tongue  44  and PTO shaft  44  would not be needed for the self-propelled configuration.  
         [0036]    Harvester  10  has a lifting assembly  52  to extract onion plants  12  from field  14  and initiate the harvesting process. Lifting assembly  52  comprises a rotating lifting bar  54 , lifting adjustment mechanism  56 , flapper assembly  58  and lifting conveyor assembly  60 , as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Lifting bar  54  is sized and configured to extract onion plants  12  along one or more beds in field  14  by rotating slightly below the crop, breaking up the soil to loosen and uproot the onions  12 . As is known in the art, lifting bar  54  can be a rotating one inch square bar that undercuts, shakes and promotes lifting of onions  12  onto the lifting conveyor assembly  60 . To allow harvester  10  to be towed or driven over areas not having onions  12 , such as roads and between beds, lifting adjustment mechanism  56  raises and lowers lifting assembly  52 , and consequently lifting conveyor assembly  60 , as is needed to safely pass over non-harvesting areas (i.e., typically twelve to eighteen inches) and to properly place lifting bar  54  under the onions  12 . Lifting assembly  52  has a hydraulic ram  62  driven by pump  50  and a linkage assembly  64  having one or more pivot connections interconnecting lifting conveyor assembly  60  and frame  22 . As is known in the art, lifting adjustment mechanism  56  can be configured in a number of different ways to accomplish its objective of raising and lowering lifting conveyor assembly  60 .  
         [0037]    Flapper assembly  58 , comprising a hydraulically powered flapper wheel  66 , collects the onion plants  12  from lifting bar  54  and coaxes them onto lifting conveyor assembly  60 . Flapper wheel  66  is preferably made out of rubber or flexible rubber-like material, to avoid damaging onion plants  12  as they are extracted from field  14 , that extends the width of lifting conveyor assembly  60 . As flapper wheel  66  rotates around its central axle, the paddle-like members push the onion plants  12  rearward toward the lifting conveyor assembly  60 . In the preferred embodiment, lifting conveyor assembly  60  is comprised of a hydraulically-driven lifting conveyor  68 , first lifting sprocket  70 , second lifting sprocket  72 , rollers  74 , hydraulic motor (not shown) in fluid connection with pump  50 , and protective sidewalls  76 . Lifting conveyor  68  interconnects first lifting sprocket  70 , which can be a cone-shaped roller, and second lifting sprocket  72 , and is operatively supported by rollers  74 . In the preferred embodiment, lifting conveyor  68  is a hook chain type of conveyor (such as those available from Acme Manufacturing Company out of Filer, Id.). Although other types of conveyors could be suitable for lifting conveyor  68 , most such conveyors may not be able to withstand any contact with the ground and could be easily damaged. In the preferred embodiment, one out of every fifth or sixth bar is raised to support the onions  12  as they are transported up lifting conveyor  68 . The use of raised bars is preferred over standard flights due to the tendency of such flights to break off as they hit the ground when used with the lifting conveyor  68 . The pitch of the hook chain lifting conveyor  68  should be sized so as to retain properly sized onions  12 , but be able to drop out small rocks or other debris (i.e., an opening of 1-½″ to 1-⅞″). The lifting conveyor assembly  60  is driven by hydraulic motor (not shown) at second sprocket  72 . Sidewalls  76  prevent onions  12  from falling off the side of lifting conveyor  68  so as to facilitate conveying onion plants  12  rearward and upward to the inclined elevator assembly  78 .  
         [0038]    Inclined elevator assembly  78  is comprised of an inclined conveyor  80 , first elevator roller  82 , elevator sprocket  84 , a plurality of rollers  86 , sidewalls  88  and hydraulic motor (not shown). The rearward end of the lifting assembly  52  pivotally connects to the front end of the fixed inclined elevator assembly  78  by connecting pins  90  through the overlapping lifting assembly sidewalls  76  and inclined elevator assembly sidewalls  88  so that the adjustable lifting assembly  52  may be raised or lowered by lifting adjustment mechanism  56 . In the preferred embodiment, inclined conveyor  80  is of the belted bar-chain type (such as those available from Acme Manufacturing Company) that are suitable for interconnecting first elevator roller  82  and second elevator sprocket  84 , and convey onions  12  from the lifting assembly  52  to the cutting assembly  92  (described in detail below). As is known in the art, belted bar-chain conveyors  80  comprises a plurality of spaced apart bars linked together by two parallel belts. The spacing between the bars, referred to as the pitch, should be such that the conveyor  80  will retain onions  12  of saleable size, based on the diameter of the onion bulb  20 , yet sufficient to allow small, undersized onions  12 , stones, soil and other unwanted debris (i.e., some of which has potential to damage cutting assembly  92 ) to fall through the belted bar-chain conveyor  80  on to the ground below harvester  10 . In the preferred embodiment, inclined conveyor  80  includes a plurality of flights  94  thereon to assist in holding onions  12  on inclined conveyor  80  as they are conveyed rearward and upward. Inclined conveyor  80  is supported by rollers  86  and driven by the hydraulic motor (not shown), which is in fluid communication with hydraulic pump  50 . Sidewalls  88  prevent onions  12  from falling off the side of the inclined elevator assembly  78  so as to facilitate conveying onions  12  rearward and upward (as best shown in FIG. 3) to the cutting assembly  92 .  
         [0039]    Cutting assembly  92 , shown best in FIGS. 2 and 4, comprises a plurality of roller bar cutters  96  that are rotatably driven by hydraulic motor  97  and its associated gearing  98 . Roller bar cutters  96  are rotatably connected to upper bearing block assembly  100  at the driving end and lower bearing block assembly  102  at the driven end. The roller bar cutters  96  should be long enough to allow onion crops  12  to have sufficient time to be placed in position to have the roots  16  and tops  18  severed by roller bar cutters  96 . The inventor has found that a length of 48″ to 60″ is typically sufficient. The lower bearing block assembly  102  includes a yoke housing assembly that allows limited swing about the vertical axis of the bearing shaft and limited forward and aft motion along the axis of the roller bar cutters  96 . As best shown in FIG. 7, which is a top view of adjacent sets of roller bar cutters  96 , each set of roller bar cutters  96  comprise a pair of counter-rotating (as illustrated by the arrows) roller bar cutters  96  such that the onion  12  is centered over the set of roller bar cutters  96  so the roots  16  and tops may be severed by the roller bar cutters  96  during the cutting process. FIG. 8 illustrates the end view of two opposing bars  104  of the roller bar cutters  96  and the general relationship between them. Also generally shown in FIG. 11 is the profile, and general configuration of the inner and uppermost corner of the cutting bars  104  and the greater width of the bars  104  that reduces the abrupt contact of the corner with the onion bulb  20  and provides a relatively horizontal plane for the cutting of the tops  18  and roots  16  to take place. Each set of roller bar cutters  96  is separated from the other sets of roller bar cutters  96  by a channeling device  106  (best shown in FIG. 7) that directs the onion  12  toward the center of the set of roller bar cutters  96 .  
         [0040]    Each of the bars  104  of roller bar cutters  96  should be shaped and configured to effectively and efficiently cut the roots  16  and tops  18  off the onion crop  12 . As shown in FIG. 11, the leading (cutting) edge  150  of the cutter bars  104  should be angled to so as to cut the tops  18  off of onion bulb  20  without cutting bulb  20  and be able to leave the desired amount of residual top on the bulb  20 , as desired for marketing purposes. As explained below, topping length limiting device  116  is necessary to accomplish this objective. The inventor has found that roller bar  104  approximately 2″ wide by ½″ height having a leading edge 150 angle of approximately 20 to 25 degrees works well with the harvester  10  of the present invention. In addition to configuring the cutter bars  104 , the inventor has found it necessary to modify the ends of the cutter bars  104  so that the rotating path of the roller bar cutters  96  is more of a flat elliptical path, as opposed to the more circular paths of the prior art devices, so as to provide for a more even surface for cutting the onions  12 . These modifications include cutting or shortening the component that connects the end of the cutter bars  104  to the upper bearing block  100 . In addition, the angle of the shaft  103  connecting the hydraulic motor  97  and gearing  98  with the upper bearing block  100  needs to be increased in order to decrease the amount of vertical travel of bars  104  as they make the flat elliptical path. This reduces the distance from the center of the pin that is attached to the bearing block  100  to the leading edge  150  of the cutting bar  104 , thereby reducing the “standoff”. The modifications also reduce the width of the elliptical path to further provide a more even surface for the onions  12  to be exposed. The prior art configurations have a much greater difference between the uppermost and lowermost positions of the roller bars  104  as they travel in their circular or elliptical path. Because the angle is significantly greater in the present invention  10 , there is a less overall difference in height, providing the more even and flatter moving surface for the onions  12  to come in contact with. In addition, because the cutter bars  104  do not travel to as high a position in its elliptical orbit or path, it does not strike the onion with as much vertical force. The effect of these modifications is to significantly reduce the mechanical damage to the outer surface of the onion bulb  20 .  
         [0041]    Cutting assembly  92  also comprises a deflecting apparatus  108  that directs green tops  18  and debris from the cutting process downward to inhibit such offal from passing rearward to the inspection assembly  110 . A bearing block guard  112  protects upper bearing block assembly  100  from onions  20  and harvesting debris. Distribution apparatus  114  directs the cut onions  20  to the distribution chute  115  where the onions will pass to the inspection assembly  110 . To control the length of the tops  18  remaining on onions  20 , the cutting assembly  92  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention  10  includes an adjustable topping length limiting device  116 , as shown in FIG. 9. Topping length limiting device  116  is positioned directly above the point at which the severing of the onion tops  18  occurs and is located along the entire length of the roller bar cutters  96 . To allow for varying lengths of onion tops  18  left on the onion  20 , based on preference, the topping length limiting device  116  should be vertically adjustable. After the onions  12  are deposited on the roller bar cutting assembly  92  from the inclined elevator assembly  78 , they will be moved to the center of the roller bar cutters  96  and rearward toward the inspection assembly  110 . The topping length limiting device  116  will prevent the roller bar cutters  96  from cutting off too much of the onion tops  18  and prevent the cutters  96  from cutting into and damaging the onions  20 .  
         [0042]    Inspection assembly  110  comprises a discharge and inspection conveyor  118  consisting of a belted bar chain  120  supported by a plurality of rollers  122  and interconnecting a first inspection roller  124  and a second inspection sprocket  126 . Inspection conveyor  118  is driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown) connected to hydraulic pump  50  for moving the onions rearward in the harvester  10  to the sacking assembly  128 . The discharge and inspection conveyor  118  provides a location for onions  20 , with their tops removed, to be inspected and any refuge remaining from the severing operation to be removed prior to the sacking operation. The belted bar chain  120  should have a pitch that allows undersize onions and offal to fall to the soil surface below. Alternatively, inspection conveyor  118  can be a conveyor belt-type surface that is relatively flat and solid. Sacking assembly  128  comprises a plurality of sacking stations that allows the onions to be deposited into field curing sacks  130  (such as burlap sacks), hanging on racks  132 , by operators standing on the rear operating platform  134 . The sack storage platform  136  is located conveniently in close proximity to the operators tending the sacking assembly  128  to facilitate the change out full sacks with empty sacks. Rear operating platform  134  is vertically adjustable by hydraulic ram  138  to provide for increased ground clearance when harvester  10  is being moved on highways and roads between fields.  
         [0043]    To facilitate improved quality of onions  20  harvested by the harvester  10  of the present invention, the harvester  10  includes a number of platforms along the sides  28  and  30  of harvester  10  (as best shown in FIG. 2). The primary inspection platform  140  provides for the initial inspection of the onions  12  and removal of unmarketable onions, weeds and other field debris prior to the roller cutter bar assembly  92 . The side discharge and inspection platform  142  allows inspection, further processing of the onions  10  and final removal of any remaining debris prior to the sacking operation. The rear operating platform  136  allows for the deposing of the onions  10  into the sacks  130 .  
         [0044]    As set forth above, hydraulic pump  50  is in fluid communication with the lifting bar  54 , flapper wheel  66 , lifting elevator conveyor  68 , inclined elevator conveyor  80 , roller cutter bar mechanisms  92 , discharge and inspection conveyor  118 , lifting elevator conveyor hydraulic ram  62 , rear platform hydraulic ram  138  and various other harvester components. Other than the hydraulic rams  62  and  138 , the above hydraulically driven devices have flow regulators to adjust the speed according to operating conditions. The roller cutter bar mechanisms  92  are controlled, however, as a group of four pairs and not individually. As shown in FIG. 12, the flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump  50  is distributed to each of the four pairs of roller bar cutting assemblies  92  (in the preferred embodiment) by a flow divider mechanism  144  that ensures equal hydraulic pressure is distributed to each of the four pairs of roller bar cutters  96 . Without the flow divider  144  in the harvester  10  of the present invention, the hydraulic fluid would go to the pair of motors  97  having the least amount of resistence. This would cause unequal speed between the roller bar cutting assemblies  92  as one pair of roller bar cutters  96  slows down and the others speed up. The flow divider  144  ensures that all pairs of roller bar cutters  96  would rotate at the same speed (RPM). A three position control valve  146 , shown in FIG. 12, is located between the flow divider  144  and the hydraulic motors  97  for each of the four pairs of roller bar cutters  96  to individually control (i.e., stop, reverse, etc.) each set of cutters  96 .  
         [0045]    In use, the harvester  10  of the present invention is towed or driven, depending on whether it is self-propelled or not, to the field  14  where onions  12  need to be harvested. Due to the configuration and function of the present harvester  10 , the onions  12  can be harvested while the tops  18  are still green, avoiding the need to wait until they are partially or completely dried out, as is necessary for prior art harvesters to work satisfactorily. The onion plants  12  are extracted from field  14  by lifting bar  54  and coaxed into the lifting conveyor  68  by the rotating flapper wheel  66 . The lifting conveyor  68  transports the onion plants  12  to the inclined elevator assembly  78 . The belt chain configuration of the inclined elevator  80  allows small onions, rocks, dirt and other debris to fall to the ground below harvester  10  before the onion plants  12  are delivered to the roller bar cutting assembly  92 . Upon discharge from the inclined elevator  80 , the onions  12  tumble onto or are directed by channeling devices  106  to the upper surface fo the roller bar cutting mechanism  92 . The hydraulic motors  97  rotate the roller bar cutters  96  in the roller bar cutting assembly  92  in sets, with one-half of each set rotating in a counter-rotating direction. The combined actions of gravity and the opposing rotation of the roller bar cutters  96  induce the roots  16  and tops  18  to be drawn into the roller bar cutters  96 , where they are severed from the onion bulb  20  and deposited on the ground. The topping length limiting device  116 , parallel and slightly above the roller bar cutters  96 , set the amount of top  18  to remain on the bulb  20 . Workers standing on the primary inspection platform  140  can cull out unmarketable onions  12  and debris. From the roller bar cutting assembly  92 , the onion bulbs  20  are transported rearward toward the distribution chutes  115  by being diverted by the bearing block guard  112  and distribution apparatus  114 . The chutes  115  deliver the prepared onion bulbs  20  to the inspection conveyor  118  where workers standing on the side discharge platform  142  can make the final inspection of the onions  20  before they are placed into sacks  130  on the rear operating platform  134 . The result of harvesting onions  12  with the harvester  10  of the present invention is to obtain a less damaged final product (i.e., onion  20 ) in a more manpower and time efficient manner.  
         [0046]    As an alternative to sacking the onions  20  at the back end  40  of harvester  10 , harvester  10  can include a chute device that is suitable for returning the onions  20  to the ground. As another alternative, the harvester  10  can be provided with a continuous elevator conveyor system suitable for transferring the onions  20  to an adjacent vehicle for removal from the field  14 .  
         [0047]    From the foregoing description it will be apparent that there has been provided an apparatus for the harvesting and topping of bulb crops wherein the length of residual top is controlled by reference to the shoulder of each bulb, wherein the length of residual top is the same for each bulb and wherein tops may be trimmed to a desirably short length without damaging the bulbs. While there is shown and described herein certain specific alternative forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to the dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape, and use. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be taken as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0