GB2162034A - A harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

A harvester 1 for harvesting a crop, in this case hops, from a standing plant, in this case a hop bine, comprising a movable frame 2 for moving past the plant (not shown) and a device 3 carried by the frame which has projecting crop removing means 4 adapted to move from the base to the top of the plant (upwardly as shown by the arrows X in Fig. 1) as the harvester 1 passes by the plant in order to remove the hops therefrom. It will be understood that there are several hop bines arranged in a row, there being several rows in a garden, and that the harvester 1 moves over the row harvesting hops from each bine in turn. The bines are dwarf bines. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A harvester The invention relates two a harvester, for harvesting the crop from a standing plant or row of plants.

Traditionallythe crop from plants has been harvested by hand and particularlyforcropsthe growing bine is cut down manually and removed to a picking shed where the hops are removed in complicated extensive and expensive machines usually housed in especial building. This hop picking is both labour and capital intensive. In addition to these drawbacks traditional bines grows on a complicated post and wire system to some 4to 5 metres in height.

Dwarf hops, which generally grow to no more than 2m high have been developed to avoid use of such growing systems, which dwarf hops effectivelyform a 2m high thick "hedge" when mature and bearing hops. However, the crop of hops from dwarf bines still has to be harvested.

It is accordingly among the objects ofthe invention to provide a harvesterwhich seeks to avoid the disadvantages hereinbefore referred to and which can harvest hops from dwarf bines.

According to a first aspect ofthe invention there is provided a harvesterforharvestingacropfrom a standing plant, comprising a movable frame for moving past a plant and a device carried by the frame which has projecting crop removing means which is adapted to move from the base to the top of the plant as the harvester passes thereby in orderto remove the crop therefrom.

The frame may comprise a straddle frame which may have a channel through which the plant passes as the harvester passes thereover to straddle the plant, and the device may be mounted in the frame so that the crop removing means projects into the channel during crop removal.

There maybetwo devices mounted on the frame on opposite sides ofthe channel.

Each device may comprise an endless member trained round sprockets at least one of which is driven and from which the crop removing means may project.

The endless member may comprise a plurality of spaced parallel elongate members connected by a carriertrained round the sprockets, and the crop removing means may be carried by the elongate members.

The harvester may be for removing hops from dwarf bines, when the crop removing means may comprise flexible hop removing fingers.

The device may be mounted in the channel so that they converge in the longitudinal direction of the harvester.

The devices may be adjustable in position to provide a variable gap at one end between the devices.

The variable gap may be at the forward end (in use) of the harvester.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a straddle harvesterfor harvesting hops from a dwarf hop bine, comprising a movable frame for moving over a plant and a device carried by the frame which has projecting crop removing means which is adapted to move fromthe base to the top of the plant as the harvester passes thereover in orderto remove the crop therefrom.

A harvester embodying the invention thus harvests a crop, particularly hops, non-destructively from standing plants.

A harvester embodying the invention is diagramatically illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an elevational view from one end of a harvester according to the invention for harvesting hops from standing dwarf bines; Fig. 2 is a plan view of hop picking devices ofthe harvester of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a conveyor of the harvest of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a harves ter 1 for harvesting a crop, in this case hops, from a standing plant, in this case a hop bine, comprising a movableframe2formoving past the plant (not shown) and a device 3 carried by the frame which has projecting crop removing means 4 adapted to move from the base to the top of the plant (upwardly as shown by the arrows X in Fig. 1 ) as the harvester 1 passesbytheplantinorderto remove the hops therefrom. It will be understood that there are several hop bines arranged in a row, there being several rows in a garden, and thatthe harvester 1 moves over the row harvesting hops from each bine in turn.

The frame 2 has a channel 5through which the bines pass as the harvester 1 moves over the row. On each side of the channel5 there is mounted a hop picking device 3. Each device 3 is an endless member 8 trained round sprockets 6 and 7 one of which at least is driven, the member 8 comprising a plurality of elongate substantially parallel wooden members or battens 9to which is secured longitudinally thereof a plurality of hop removing fingers 10 which project into the channel.

Although shown parallel in Fig. 1, the devices 3 are adjustable so that they converge intheforeto aft longitudinal direction of the harvester 1,so that the entry gap atthe forward end can be adjusted as derived, to a lateral width of 18" (45.72 cm) maximum for hops. The rear or downstream end has a fixed gap of 6" min. (15.24 cm). The convergent or angled arrangement of the devices 3 provides that hops can be picked from mature and younger bines in the same row.

The fingers 10 each comprise a resilient finger, in this case of metal, though other suitable materials such as fibre glass or plastic could be used, which is of U-shape, the end 11 remote from the batten 9 being angled as shown.

The frame 1 is mounted on ground-engaging wheels 12, and has a lower crop catching skirt effectively closing the base ofthe channel 5 and The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

including opposite directed panels 13 each of which at theirfree edges have a brush 14the bristles of which interdigitate and which brushes extend along the length ofthe channel 5. The skirts 13, 14 lead to respective conveyors 15 each of which is a canvas belt conveyorwith a horizontal strand 16 and an inclined flight 17 at its rear end so that hops are deposited in containers 18.

The harvester 1 has its own motor such as a hydraulic motorfor driving one or more of the ground-engaging wheels 12. Also, there is motor means such as a hydraulic motormeansfor driving the devices 3 and the conveyors 15 so thatthe harvester 1 is an integrated self-propelled harvester which does not require a towing tractor. Although not shown, there may be a cleaning device towed by the harvester 1 so thatthe picked hops from the containers can be cleaned of leaves, twigs etc as harvesting progresses.

In use, to harvest hops from a row of dwarf bines, the devices 3 are adjusted to the desired configuration and driven so thatthe fingers move in the direction of the arrows X, and the conveyors 15 are started and the harvester 1 is driven along the rowto straddle the row, the bines passing substantially down the centre ofthe channel the brushes 14 closing round the stems of each bine, post or other upright in the row so thatthe base of the channel 5 is effectively closed, two catch all harvested hops.Thefingers 10 extend intothe bine and effectively "comb" through it in the upward (as viewed) direction,the hops being caught in the fingers and trapped in the end 11 the fingers bending against the resistance of springs 18 until the hop isflicked off the bine, when thefinger returns to the unflexed position shown. In this way hops are harvested in situ, and it is not necessaryto destroythe hop bines ortake out posts, stakes etc as the harvester straddles these with the bines.

Claims (11)

1. A harvesterfor harvesting a crop from a standing plant, comprising a movable frame for moving pasta plant and a device carried bythe frame which has projecting crop removing means which is adapted to move from the base to the top ofthe plant as the harvester passes thereby in order to remove the crop therefrom.

2. AharvesteraccordingtoClaim 1,theframe comprising a straddleframewhich has a channel through which the plant passes as the harvester passesthereoverto straddle the plant, the device being mounted in the frame so thatthe crop removing means projects into the channel during crop removal.

3. A harvester according to Claim 2, there being two devices mounted on theframe on opposite sides ofthe channel.

4. A harvester according to Claim 3, each device comprising an endless membertrained round sprockets at least one ofwhich is driven and from which the crop removing means projects.

5. A harvester according to Claim 4, the endless member comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elongate members connected by a carriertrained round the sprockets, the crop removing means being carried bythe elongate members.

6. Aharvesteraccordingto Claim 5,for removing hops from dwarf bines, the crop removing means comprising flexible hop removing fingers.

7. Aharvesteraccordingto anyofClaims3to6,the devices being mounted in the channel so that they converge in the longitudinal direction ofthe harvester.

8. Aharvesteraccordingto Claim 7,the devices being adjustable in position to provide a variable gap at one end between the devices.

9. A harvester according to Claim 8, the variable gap being at the forward end (in use) ofthe harvester.

10. A straddle harvesterfor harvesting hops from a dwarf hop bine, comprising a movableframefor moving over a plant and a device carried by the frame which has projecting crop removing means which is adapted to move from the base to the top of the plant as the harvesterpassesthereoverin orderto remove the crop therefrom.

11. A harvesterfor harvesting a crop from a standing plant, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.