Tomato harvesting apparatus with air blast dirt removed feature

Abstract

A produce harvesting apparatus, such as for harvesting tomatoes, which includes apparatus for harvesting produce, such as tomatoes, which includes an enclosed vehicle and a first conveyor belt extending forward of the vehicle for moving produce and associated vines into the enclosed vehicle. The apparatus further includes a ventilation system for drawing air from within the enclosed vehicle and expelling that air through an outlet that is disposed in alignment with the first conveyer belt to direct exhaust air from the enclosed vehicle toward the produce on the first conveyor belt whereby some dirt is dislodged from the produce and vines disposed on the first conveyor belt. The apparatus may have the outlet disposed to direct a stream of air from the enclosed vehicle in a direction that is aligned with the axis of the first conveyor belt. In some forms of the invention the apparatus further includes a second conveyor disposed within the enclosed vehicle, the second conveyor belt is aligned and disposed with respect to the first conveyor belt for receiving produce and vines from the first conveyor belt and a third conveyor belt disposed within the enclosed vehicle. The third conveyor belt may be substantially aligned with respect to the second conveyor belt.