Selective harvester

摘要

The present application relates to selective harvesting of agricultural objects, such as asparagus spears. One described example relates to a harvester that includes at least one set of independently controllable cutter arm assemblies that rotate about a common axis to harvest individual asparagus spears.

主权项

1. A harvesting apparatus, comprising:
a cutter arm assembly configured to operate in a plane that is parallel to a direction of movement of the harvesting apparatus, wherein the cutter arm assembly includes a moveable cutter knife configured to:
be moveable within the plane, relative to the cutter arm assembly, andsever an asparagus spear that is proximate to the plane, wherein the moveable cutter knife is biased from a first inward position relatively closer to an axis of rotation of the cutter arm assembly to a second outward position relatively farther from the axis of rotation, and wherein an upward force acting upon the moveable cutter knife during the harvesting process temporarily overcomes the bias, moving the moveable cutter knife relative to the cutter arm assembly.