Tomato harvester mountable double rod cutter

摘要

An apparatus adaptable to be mounted on the tomato harvesters of various manufacturers for the purpose of removing tomato plants from the ground with their tomatoes attached for delivery onto a tomato harvester, which mechanically separates the tomato fruit from the balance of the plant. This apparatus also reduces the amount of agglomerated earth or clods that sticks to the root system upon removal from the ground. The apparatus utilizes a pair of spaced cutter bars which rotate counterclockwise. Upon impact of the forward lower bar with the plant, the plant is pulled from the ground. As the plant travels rearwardly, the upper bar knocks dirt loose from the roots.