Apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from agricultural crops

1. An apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from stalks of agricultural crops, comprising

(a) a base frame having a first longitudinal member, said first longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, and a second longitudinal member in a parallel spaced-relationship with said first longitudinal member;

(b) a plurality of cross members arranged perpendicularly along at least said first longitudinal member, each of said plurality of cross members having a lower stripping member for receiving the stalk of an agricultural crop;

(c) a plurality of upper stripping members, each upper stripping member positionable to cooperate with a corresponding lower stripping member to substantially encircle the stalk;

(d) means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus in a direction from said first end to said second end of said first longitudinal member; and

(e) a pivotable frame, said pivotable frame having said plurality of upper stripping members affixed thereto;

wherein each upper stripping member and the corresponding lower stripping member cooperate to strip the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus, and wherein said means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus comprises a stalk gripping assembly disposed near said second end of said first longitudinal member.

2. An apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from stalks of agricultural crops, comprising

(a) a base frame having a first longitudinal member, said first longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, and a second longitudinal member in a parallel spaced-relationship with said first longitudinal member;

(b) a plurality of cross members arranged perpendicularly along at least said first longitudinal member, each of said plurality of cross members having a lower stripping member for receiving the stalk of an agricultural crop;

(c) a plurality of upper stripping members, each upper stripping member positionable to cooperate with a corresponding lower stripping member to substantially encircle the stalk; and

(d) means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus in a direction from said first end to said second end of said first longitudinal member;

wherein each upper stripping member and the corresponding lower stripping member cooperate to strip the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus, and wherein said means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus comprises a stalk gripping assembly disposed near said second end of said first longitudinal member, said stalk gripping assembly including cooperative first and second drive belts disposed in a side-by-side relationship to form a v-configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein respective innermost segments of the belts are disposed adjacent each other to cooperate and receive the stalk therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a pair of splined rollers for receive the tip of the stalk therebetween.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a conveyor assembly disposed near said second end of said first longitudinal member, said conveyer assembly comprising a pair of rollers and an endless belt operatively encircling said rollers, said conveyor assembly connected to said base frame and effective to convey the stalk parallel to said first longitudinal member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor assembly disposed near said second end of said first longitudinal member, said conveyer assembly comprising a pair of rollers and an endless belt operatively encircling said rollers, said conveyor assembly connected to said base frame and effective to convey the stalk parallel to said second end of said first longitudinal member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said pivotable frame pivots from an open position to a closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus is initiated by placing said pivotable frame in said closed position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of dividers perpendicularly disposed along said first and second longitudinal members, said plurality of dividers effective to sort leaves by position along the stalk.

10. A method for stripping and sorting leaves from stalks of agricultural crops, the method comprising:

(a) placing a stalk upon a plurality of lower stripping members of an apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from the stalks of agricultural crops;

(b) positioning a plurality of upper stripping members so as to cooperate with a corresponding lower stripping member to substantially encircle the stalk;

(c) engaging and conveying the stalk longitudinally along the apparatus;

(d) stripping the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus; and

(e) sorting the leaves by position along the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus,

wherein the apparatus includes (i) a base frame having a first longitudinal member, the first longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, and a second longitudinal member in a parallel spaced-relationship with the first longitudinal member; (ii) a plurality of cross members arranged perpendicularly along at least the first longitudinal member, each of the plurality of cross members having one of the plurality of lower stripping members; (iii) the plurality of upper stripping members; (iv) means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus in a direction from the first end to the second end of the first longitudinal member; and (v) a pivotable frame, the pivotable frame having the plurality of upper stripping members affixed thereto; wherein each upper stripping member and the corresponding lower stripping member cooperate to strip the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus, and wherein the means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus includes a stalk gripping assembly disposed near the second end of the first longitudinal member.

11. A method for stripping and sorting leaves from stalks of agricultural crops, the method comprising:

(a) placing a stalk upon a plurality of lower stripping members of an apparatus for stripping and sorting leaves from the stalks of agricultural crops;

(b) positioning a plurality of upper stripping members so as to cooperate with a corresponding lower stripping member to substantially encircle the stalk;

(c) engaging and conveying the stalk longitudinally along the apparatus;

(d) stripping the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus; and

(e) sorting the leaves by position along the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus,

wherein the apparatus includes (i) a base frame having a first longitudinal member, the first longitudinal member having a first end and a second end, and a second longitudinal member in a parallel spaced-relationship with the first longitudinal member; (ii) a plurality of cross members arranged perpendicularly along at least the first longitudinal member, each of the plurality of cross members having one of the plurality of lower stripping members; (iii) the plurality of upper stripping members; and (iv) means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus in a direction from the first end to the second end of the first longitudinal member; wherein each upper stripping member and the corresponding lower stripping member cooperate to strip the leaves from the stalk as the stalk is conveyed along the apparatus, and wherein the means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus includes a stalk gripping assembly disposed near the second end of the first longitudinal member, the stalk gripping assembly including cooperative first and second drive belts disposed in a side-by-side relationship to form a v-configuration.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein respective innermost segments of the belts are disposed adjacent each other to cooperate and receive the stalk therebetween.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a pair of splined rollers to receive the tip of the stalk therebetween.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a conveyor assembly disposed near the second end of the first longitudinal member, the conveyer assembly comprising a pair of rollers and an endless belt operatively encircling the rollers, the conveyor assembly connected to the base frame and effective to convey the stalk parallel to the first longitudinal member.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pivotable frame pivots from an open position to a closed position.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the means for engaging and conveying the stalk along the apparatus is initiated by placing the pivotable frame in the closed position.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of dividers perpendicularly disposed along the first and second longitudinal members, the plurality of dividers effective to sort leaves by position along the stalk.