Mechanism for harvesting tobacco plants in slotted rails
US7980048B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 15, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01D45/16
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A mechanism for harvesting tobacco plants includes a magazine of rails. Each rail is elongated and hollow, with a slot along a bottom portion of each rail. Two opposing dispensing conveyors each engage opposing ends of each rails for advancing an empty rail to a filling position. Two opposing notching conveyors grasps the plants and cuts notches into the plants on opposing sides of the plant. A single roller chain stepping conveyor moves the plants from the opposing notching conveyors into a rail in the filling position. The two opposing dispensing conveyors advance the rail filled with plants. An unloading conveyor having opposing roller chains receives the rails filled with plants, collects a group of filled rails, and unloads the group of filled rails on a ground level at a linear speed equal to a forward speed of the harvesting mechanism.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.