Abstract: Apparatus and methods for picking and coring produce heads. A righting mechanism receives and orients planted produce heads, and when a planted head is in a position to be severed, a lift arm and clamp wheel are controlled to position a clamp proximal to the planted head, wherein the planted head is clamped and a severing mechanism severs the planted head from the soil bed. The lift arm and clamp wheel operate to automatically reposition the clamped and severed head proximal to a coring mechanism, and the coring mechanism automatically removes the core of the clamped and severed head.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 1, 2006
Date of Patent:
July 8, 2008
Assignees:
Valley Fabrication Inc., Willoughby Farms, Inc.
Inventors:
Peter de Groot, Jason Tracy, Fred Willoughby