The harvesting machine includes a mobile chassis (1) having front and rear ends. At least two mutually spaced rows of grippers move along a picking path (22) which extends in a front-to-rear direction. The speed with which the rows of grippers move along the picking path (22) is closely matched to the speed at which the mobile chassis (1) travels in the forward direction (F). Two foliage deflectors (4) at the beginning of the picking path (22) are positioned on opposite sides of the selected plant (P). A foliage shield (40, 41) is mounted rearward of each foliage deflector to be interposed between the selected plant and the adjacent row of grippers and separate the grippers from the selected plant until they reach a gripping location where actuating means move the grippers towards each other to grip a selected plant. At the end of the picking path (22), the rows of grippers move along an upwardly inclined path (23) to carry the selected plant clear of the ground. The grippers then release their grip on the selected plant.
Harvesting machine
2021-08-11
Patent
Electronic Resource
English