Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc.

Raul Machuca

Stephen C Jens

Serafin Albarran

Frank Edward Davis

Dennis Johnny Castillo

Richard L Bascou

Terry Young

Manuel Maldonado Magana

Ignacio Barajas

Maximino Corral

Carlos Uribe Meza

Gabriel Fuentes Villasenor

Jorge Alejo

Whit Frans

Daniel Albarran

Kevin Nash

Jose Roman

Ignacio Rodriguez Figueroa

Ignacio R Figueroa

A mechanical harvester for harvesting a produce with a stem/core planted in a field 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 produce 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.

Mechanical produce harvester with gathering belts

A mechanical harvester for harvesting produce with a core planted in a field is provided. The mechanical harvester includes a chassis, a positioning apparatus, a decoring device, and a transport assembly. The positioning apparatus is connected to the chassis and configured to position the produce in the ground for harvesting and decoring. The decoring device is connected to the positioning apparatus and configured to sever the core of the produce while the produce is in the ground. The transport assembly is connected to the chassis and configured to lift the cut produce from the ground and transport the cut produce to a processing unit or a storage container.

Decoring mechanism with mechanized harvester

Produce with a core planted in a field can be harvested and decored using a mechanical harvester. The mechanical harvester includes a chassis, a positioning apparatus, a decoring device, and a transport assembly. The method includes moving the mechanical harvester through the row in the field; positioning the produce in the ground using the positioning apparatus; severing a substantial portion of the core of the produce while the produce is in the ground using the decoring device; lifting the produce from the ground; and transporting the produce to a processing unit or a storage unit using the transport assembly.

Method of harvesting and decoring produce using a mechanical harvester

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Prunedale, CA, United States of America

Raul Machuca