Abstract: Broccoli heads are placed individually, with the stem down or laying horizontal, in a receiving cup in a loading position. A gripping mechanism engages the stem portion to secure the head in place. A positioning and cutting assembly adjusts the position of the receiving cup to a cutting position with the head down and stem up and rotates the receiving cup. The assembly includes a cutting mechanism having a blade that engages the rotating head to cut the florets. The blade cuts off the florets which fall to a first location where they are collected in a first collecting bin or by a first collection conveyor. The assembly next adjusts the receiving cup to a releasing position, whereupon the clamping mechanism disengages to release the stem, which falls to a second location where it is collected on a second collecting conveyor or in a second collecting bin. The assembly then returns the receiving cup to the loading position.

Abstract: Broccoli heads are placed individually, with the stem down or laying horizontal, in a receiving cup in a loading position. A gripping mechanism engages the stem portion to secure the head in place. A positioning and cutting assembly adjusts the position of the receiving cup to a cutting position with the head down and stem up and rotates the receiving cup. The assembly includes a cutting mechanism having a blade that engages the rotating head to cut the florets. The blade cuts off the florets which fall to a first location where they are collected in a first collecting bin or by a first collection conveyor. The assembly next adjusts the receiving cup to a releasing position, whereupon the clamping mechanism disengages to release the stem, which falls to a second location where it is collected on a second collecting conveyor or in a second collecting bin. The assembly then returns the receiving cup to the loading position.

Abstract: Broccoli heads are placed individually, stem down, in transporting cups that are affixed to a conveyor that at one end rotates around a carousel axis. A clamping and cutting assembly includes linkages rotating around the carousel axis synchronously with the transporting cups on the conveyor. Retractable clamps affixed to an upper linkage retain the broccoli heads while curved blades that are affixed to a lower linkage dissect the broccoli. The blades cut off the florets with a scooping motion along the bottom side of the transporting cups which results in similar sized florets, standardized by the diameter of the truncated cone-shaped chamfer of the cups. Upon dissection the florets are released from the cups and collected on a collecting conveyor.

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.

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 re-position the clamped and severed head proximal to a coring mechanism, and the coring mechanism automatically removes the core of the clamped and severed head.