Bulk shrub harvester and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12453309-B2
Application number	US-202117922363-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods of harvesting a shrub from a base of the shrub proximate a ground surface utilizing a shrub harvester include dislodging the shrub from a base of the shrub proximate the ground surface via a shrub dislodging system on the shrub harvester. The methods also include receiving the shrub via a shrub release system on the shrub harvester. The methods further include grasping the shrub via the shrub release system on the shrub harvester. The methods also include releasing the shrub via the shrub release system, which can include a plurality of catch members.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of harvesting a shrub utilizing a shrub harvester moveable in a direction of travel along one or more rows of shrubs to be harvested, the method comprising:
dislodging a shrub from a shrub base thereof proximate a ground surface via a shrub dislodging system on the shrub harvester;
receiving the shrub via a shrub release system on the shrub harvester with the shrub release system including at least one reel assembly that includes:
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall spaced from the first sidewall in a lateral direction transverse to the direction of travel such that a pass-through opening is defined between the first sidewall and the second sidewall with the pass-through opening configured to receive the shrub;
a forward reel supported between the first sidewall and the second sidewall for rotation about a forward axis that extends in the lateral direction;
an aft reel disposed aft of the forward reel and supported between the first sidewall and the second sidewall for rotation about an aft axis that extends in the lateral direction and is oriented parallel with the forward axis; and,
a plurality of catch assemblies supported between the forward reel and the aft reel with each of the plurality of catch assemblies including an elongated support member and a plurality of catch members, the elongated support member of each of the plurality of catch assemblies supported between the forward reel and the aft reel in a predetermined angular orientation relative to the ground surface, and the plurality of catch members supported on the elongated support member and extending therebelow toward the ground surface with the plurality of catch members spaced apart from one another along the elongated support member in the direction of travel;

simultaneously rotating the forward and aft reels of the at least one reel assembly respectively around the forward and aft axes thereof and thereby displacing the plurality of catch assemblies through a continuous closed path with the elongated support member of each of the plurality of catch assemblies remaining in at least approximately the predetermined angular orientation and the plurality of catch member extending therebelow to thereby at least grasp the shrub via the shrub release system on the shrub harvester as the forward and aft reels are simultaneously rotated; and,
releasing the shrub via the shrub release system for discharge from the shrub harvester.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein dislodging the shrub from the shrub base includes displacing one or more blades to cut through the shrub base of the shrub proximate to the ground surface.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the shrub includes separating the shrub from a different shrub in an adjacent row of shrubs using a vertical cutter.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein displacing the plurality of catch assemblies through the continuous closed path includes displacing the plurality of catch assemblies in the predetermined angular orientation from a bottom central position to a forward position and thereby grasping the shrub, and displacing the plurality of catch assemblies through the continuous closed path includes displacing the plurality of catch assemblies in the predetermined angular orientation from the forward position to a top central position and thereby lifting the shrub away from the ground surface and displacing the shrub in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the shrub harvester.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein displacing the plurality of catch members through the continuous closed path includes displacing the plurality of catch assemblies in the predetermined angular orientation from the top central position to an aft position and thereby further displacing the shrub in the direction opposite the direction of travel of the shrub harvester and releasing the shrub.

6. A method according to claim 4 , wherein lifting the shrub away from the ground surface includes lifting the shrub via the shrub release system over a base of the shrub dislodging system.

7. A reel assembly transportable on a shrub harvester in a direction of travel along one or more associated rows of associated shrubs to be harvested from an associated ground surface, the reel assembly comprising:
a first sidewall;
a second sidewall spaced from the first sidewall in a lateral direction transverse to the direction of travel such that a pass-through opening is defined between the first sidewall and the second sidewall with the pass-through opening configured to receive the associated shrubs as the reel assembly is transported in the direction of travel;
a forward reel supported between the first sidewall and the second sidewall for rotation about a forward axis that extends in the lateral direction;
an aft reel disposed aft of the forward reel and supported between the first sidewall and the second sidewall for rotation about an aft axis that extends in the lateral direction and is oriented parallel with the forward axis, the aft reel configured to rotate simultaneously with the forward reel; and,
a plurality of catch assemblies supported between the forward reel and the aft reel with each of the plurality of catch assemblies including an elongated support member and a plurality of catch members, the elongated support member of each of the plurality of catch assemblies supported between the forward reel and the aft reel in a predetermined angular orientation relative to the associated ground surface, and the plurality of catch members supported on the elongated support member and extending therebelow toward the associated ground surface with the plurality of catch members spaced apart from one another along the elongated support member in the direction of travel such that simultaneous rotation of the forward and aft reels of the reel assembly respectively around the forward and aft axes thereof displaces the plurality of catch assemblies through a continuous closed path with the elongated support member of each of the plurality of catch assemblies remaining in at least approximately the predetermined angular orientation relative to the associated ground surface and the plurality of catch members extending toward the associated ground surface throughout displacement along the continuous closed path.

8. A reel assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of catch assemblies hang vertically from the elongated support member are configured to grasp the shrub and pull the shrub over a base during operation of the shrub harvester.

9. A reel assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the forward reel includes a forward support shaft, the aft reel includes an aft support shaft, and one or more catch assemblies of the plurality of catch assemblies extends from the aft support shaft of the aft reel to the forward support shaft of the forward reel.

10. A reel assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the aft reel includes an aft main shaft assembly that at least partially defines the aft axis with the aft support shaft disposed radially outward from the aft main shaft assembly, and the forward reel includes a forward main shaft assembly that at least partially defines the forward axis with the forward support shaft disposed radially outward from the forward main shaft assembly.

11. A reel assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the aft reel includes first and second aft side supports that are spaced laterally from one another and operatively connect the aft support shaft with the aft main shaft assembly, and the forward reel includes first and second forward side supports that are spaced laterally from one another and operatively connect the fo

Assignees

• Bridgestone Corp

Inventors

• Prock Russell

Classifications

• A01D57/12

  Rotating rakes · CPC title

• A01D45/065

  of fibrous plants other than flax, e.g. ramie, sisal, hemp, jute, Spanish grass, raffia · CPC title

• A01D57/02

  using reels · CPC title

• A01D34/23

  with additional vertical cutter-bar · CPC title

• A01D34/662

  to the front of the vehicle · CPC title