Patent ID: 7308781

Claim:
A method for converting a harvester between bulk loading and tote loading configurations, comprising: utilizing a harvester comprising, in combination: a first harvester end; a second harvester end opposite the first harvester end; a main conveyor adapted to transport harvested produce in a direction from the first harvester end to the second harvester end; a substantially horizontal raised conveyor area positioned at a level higher than the main conveyor and located proximate the second harvester end; means for elevating the harvested produce from the main conveyor to the raised conveyor area; a lower conveyor adapted to transport filled totes; a first elevator adapted to lift the filled totes from a terminus of the lower conveyor; a second elevator adapted to lift the harvested produce in an unpacked state from a terminus of the raised conveyor area toward a bin; and means for permitting the first elevator and the second elevator to be alternately coupled to the second harvester end; coupling the first elevator to the terminus of the lower conveyor; transporting the filled totes on the first elevator; removing the first elevator; coupling the second elevator to the second harvester end; and lifting the harvested produce with the second elevator from the terminus of the raised conveyor area in the direction of the bin.