The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 1986
Filed:
Feb. 29, 1984
Thomas S Bettencourt, Isleton, CA (US);
Darryl G Bettencourt, Lodi, CA (US);
Blackwelders, Rio Vista, CA (US);
Abstract
A tomato harvester having a standard tractor pulling a non-self powered harvester assembly partially supported on wheels and partially supported by the tractor. The harvester assembly has a main frame made up of two parallel longitudinal beams joined together by three transverse cross members, all lying approximately on the same horizontal plane. Brackets secured to the beams and extending down below them support a pair of two-wheel truck assemblies, the wheels lying below the frame. The frame carries a pivotally attached pickup unit, with a cutter, a separator unit for separating the tomatoes from the plants, and a conveyor system for transporting the collected tomatoes and delivering them to bin-trailers. A tongue comprises the sole structural member tying together the harvester assembly and the tractor, and carries hydraulic conduits leading from said tractor power-take-off unit to operate the powered devices of the harvester assembly, including apparatus for automatically keeping the cutter at a constant depth below ground. The harvester carries a hydraulic fluid storage tank and a hydraulic fluid cooling device.