Systems and methods for harvesting fresh produce
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for harvesting fresh produce using a produce harvesting apparatus wherein the method includes trimming the fresh produce and placing the trimmed produce into a container. The container is placed onto a transport device located on the produce harvesting apparatus. The container is then transported on the transport device to a wash station and it is washed at the wash station. The container may be shaken during transport after the wash station.
1. A method of harvesting fresh produce using a produce harvesting apparatus, the method comprising:
trimming the fresh produce;
placing the trimmed produce into a container;
placing the container onto a transport device located on the produce harvesting apparatus;
transporting the container on the transport device to a wash station; and
washing the trimmed produce at the wash station.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transporting the trimmed produce on the transport device from the wash station to a transport container and transferring the trimmed produce to the transport container.
3. A method in accordance with claim 2 further comprising shaking the transport device at least between the wash station and the transport container.
4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the transport device comprises a conveyor and the conveyor is shaken by clapper bars located under the conveyor to thereby bounce the conveyor.
5. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the transport device is shaken between where the container is placed thereon and the transport container.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising placing the container onto a return transport located on the produce harvesting apparatus and transporting the container thereon.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the container comprises a tote with a wire mesh bottom.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the container comprises a plastic tote with a grid bottom that allows liquid to penetrate through the bottom of the tote after washing the trimmed produce.
9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the container comprises a basket.
10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the container comprises a wire basket.
11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wash station comprises spray nozzles.
12. A method in accordance with claim 1 comprising submerging the trimmed produce in a liquid at the wash station.
13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the container includes a solid bottom.
14. A method in accordance with claim 13 where the trimmed produce is washed by filling the container with liquid and then dumping or draining out the liquid.
15. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising placing trimmed produce in a second container after a first container has been filled with trimmed produce, and then placing the first container on the transport device after the second container is filled.
16. A method of harvesting fresh produce using a produce harvesting apparatus, the method comprising:
trimming the fresh produce;
placing the trimmed produce into a container;
placing the container onto a conveyor located on the produce harvesting apparatus;
transporting the container on the conveyor to a wash station;
washing the trimmed produce at the wash station
transporting the trimmed produce on the conveyor from the wash station to a transport container and transferring the trimmed produce to the transport container
shaking the container at least between the wash station and the transport container.
17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the shaking is accomplished by clapper bars located under the conveyor that bounce the conveyor and thereby shake the container.
18. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the container is shaken between where the container is placed on the conveyor and the transport container.
19. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising placing the container onto a return conveyor located on the produce harvesting apparatus and transporting the container thereon.
20. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the container comprises a tote with a wire mesh bottom.
21. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the container comprises a plastic tote with a grid bottom that allows liquid to penetrate through the bottom of the tote after washing the trimmed produce.
22. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the container comprises a basket.
23. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the container comprises a wire basket.
24. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the wash station comprises spray nozzles.
25. A method in accordance with claim 16 comprising submerging the trimmed produce in a liquid at the wash station.
26. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the container includes a solid bottom.
27. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein the trimmed produce is washed by filling the container with liquid and then dumping or draining out the liquid.
28. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising placing trimmed produce in a second container after a first container has been filled with trimmed produce, and then placing the first container on the conveyor after the second container is filled.
29. A portable produce harvesting system comprising:
at least one trim station for trimming produce;
at least one container for receiving trimmed produce;
at least one wash station for washing trimmed produce in the container; and
at least one transport device coupling the trim station and the wash station.
30. A system in accordance with claim 29 further comprising a load station after the wash station for receiving washed produce, wherein the transport device extends between the trim station and the load station.
31. A system in accordance with claim 30 further comprising means for shaking the transport device at least between the wash station and the load station.
32. A system in accordance with claim 31 wherein the transport device comprises a conveyor and the means for shaking the transport device at least between the wash station and the load station comprise clapper bars under the conveyor.
33. A system in accordance with claim 30 further comprising means for shaking the transport device at least between the trim station and the load station.
34. A system in accordance with claim 33 wherein the transport device comprises a conveyor and the means for shaking the transport device at least between the trim station and the load station comprise clapper bars under the conveyor.
35. A system in accordance with claim 30 further comprising at least one return transport device between the load station and the trim station.
36. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the container comprises a tote with a wire mesh bottom.
37. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the container comprises a plastic tote with a grid bottom that allows liquid to penetrate through the bottom of the tote after washing the trimmed produce.
38. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the container comprises a basket.
39. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the container comprises a wire basket.
40. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the wash station comprises spray nozzles.
41. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the wash station submerges the trimmed produce in a liquid.
42. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the container includes a solid bottom.
43. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the system comprises a plurality of trim stations.
44. A system in accordance with claim 29 wherein the system comprises a plurality of containers.
45. A portable produce harvesting system comprising:
a plurality of trim stations for trimming produce;
a plurality of containers for receiving trimmed produce;
at least one wash station for washing trimmed produce in the containers;
a load station after the wash station for receiving washed produce; and
at least one conveyor coupling the trim stations and the load station.
46. A system in accordance with claim 45 further comprising means for shaking the conveyor at least between the wash station and the load station.
47. A system in accordance with claim 46 wherein the means for shaking the conveyor at least between the wash station and the load station comprise clapper bars under the conveyor.
48. A system in accordance with claim 45 further comprising means for shaking the conveyor at least between the trim stations and the load station.
49. A system in accordance with claim 48 wherein the means for shaking the conveyor at least between the trim stations and the load station comprise clapper bars under the conveyor.
50. A system in accordance with claim 45 further comprising at least one return transport device between the load station and the trim stations.
51. A system in accordance with claim 45 wherein the containers comprise totes with a wire mesh bottom.
52. A system in accordance with claim 45 wherein the containers comprise plastic totes with a grid bottom that allows liquid to penetrate through the bottom of the tote after washing the trimmed produce.
53. A system in accordance with claim 45 wherein the containers comprise baskets.
54. A system in accordance with claim 45 wherein the containers comprise wire baskets.
55. A system in accordance with claim 45 wherein the wash station comprises spray nozzles.
56. A system in accordance with claim 45 wherein the wash station submerges the trimmed produce in a liquid.
57. A system in accordance with claim 45 wherein each container includes a solid bottom.