Mechanical Produce Harvester

Abstract

A mechanical harvester for harvesting a produce with a stem/core planted in a field is provided. The mechanical harvester includes a chassis, and a cutting device and a transport assembly connected to the chassis. The cutting device is configured to cut the stem/core of the produce. The transport assembly is configured to transport the cut product using a movable first belt with a first set of produce grippers and a movable second belt with a second set of produce grippers. When the produce is held between the first set and second set of produce grippers, a portion of the first set of produce grippers opposes a portion of the second set of produce grippers. The opposing produce grippers are configured to compress and exert a force on the produce to hold the produce between the movable first and second belts.

1 . A mechanical harvester for harvesting produce planted in a field, the produce having a stem/core, the mechanical harvester comprising:
 a chassis;   a cutting device, connected to the chassis, configured to cut the stem/core of the produce; and   a transport assembly, connected to the chassis, configured to transport the produce cut by the cutting device, wherein the transport assembly comprises:
 a movable first belt, wherein the movable first belt includes a first set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable first belt has a peak; and 
 a movable second belt, wherein the movable second belt includes a second set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable second belt has a peak,
 wherein, when a cut produce is held between the movable first and second belts, the cut produce is held between a peak of a deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and a peak of an opposing deformable protrusion of the movable second belt, and 
 wherein is the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt are configured to compress and exert a force on the produce to hold the produce between the movable first and second belts. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The mechanical harvester of  claim 1 , wherein the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt are configured to each exert a force of between approximately 100 percent and 200 percent of the weight of the produce to hold the produce. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanical harvester of  claim 1 , wherein the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt and the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt each exert a force that is approximately the same as the weight of the produce to hold the cut produce. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanical harvester of  claim 1 , wherein the movable first and second belts are positioned at an incline from a front end to a rear end of the transport assembly, wherein the front end is proximate to the cutting device. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanical harvester of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of deformable protrusions are formed of a pliable material. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The mechanical harvester of  claim 1 , wherein the movable first belt and the movable second belt are conveyor belts. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The mechanical harvester of  claim 1 , wherein the transport assembly further comprises:
 a movable third belt and a movable fourth belt, connected to the chassis, configured to hold and transport another produce between the third and forth movable belt, wherein the movable third belt and movable fourth belt are disposed adjacent to the movable first belt and movable second belts.   
     
     
         10 . A mechanical method of harvesting produce planted in a field using a mechanical harvester, the plant having a stem/core, the method comprising:
 cutting the stem/core of the produce with a cutting device connected to a chassis of the mechanical harvester;   moving a transport assembly, connected to the chassis, to the cut produce, wherein the transport assembly comprises:
 a movable first belt; and 
 a movable second belt, 
 wherein the movable first belt includes a first set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable first belt has a peak, and 
 wherein the movable second belt includes a second set of deformable protrusions, wherein each deformable protrusion of the movable second belt has a peak; 
   holding the cut produce between a peak of a deformable protrusion of the first movable belt and a peak of a deformable protrusion of the second movable belt, wherein the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable first belt opposes the peak of the deformable protrusion of the movable second belt, and wherein the peak of the deformable protrusion of the first movable belt and the peak of the deformable protrusion of the second movable belt are configured to each compress and exert a force on the produce to hold the produce between the movable first and second belt.   
     
     
         11 . The mechanical method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 transporting, by the transport assembly, the cut produce held between the peak of the deformable protrusion of the first movable belt and the peak of the deformable protrusion of the second movable belt to a processing platform connected to the rear of the mechanical harvester.   
     
     
         12 . The mechanical method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 lifting the cut produce from the ground using the peak of the deformable protrusion of the first movable belt and the peak of the deformable protrusion of the second movable belt.