US 12,453,309 B2
Bulk shrub harvester and related methods
Russell Prock, Maricopa, AZ (US)
Assigned to Bridgestone Corporation, Chuo-ku (JP)
Appl. No. 17/922,363
Filed by Bridgestone Corporation, Chuo-ku (JP)
PCT Filed Apr. 30, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/030034
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 29, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/222672, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/018,040, filed on Apr. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0165190 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. A01D 34/835 (2006.01); A01D 34/23 (2006.01); A01D 45/06 (2006.01); A01D 46/06 (2006.01); A01D 57/02 (2006.01); A01D 57/12 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 34/835 (2013.01) [A01D 34/23 (2013.01); A01D 45/065 (2013.01); A01D 57/12 (2013.01); A01D 57/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.