MULTIPURPOSE LEAF CROP HARVESTING APPARATUS AND PROCESSING METHOD

Abstract

The Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method will accomplish seven steps in one pass of the combine harvester. This apparatus and processing method harvests leaf crops and is configured to perform multiple processing operations, including fractionation of the leaf crop, leaf maceration, leaf sizing, elevating the leaf fraction to a transport vehicle, and stem conditioning, cutting and windrowing, in a single pass through the crop field. These steps are accomplished using a header unit, an adapter feeder macerator and a forage harvester vehicle, expeditiously removing the leaf fraction from the field. Following leaf fraction harvesting, the leaf fraction is processed by densification into forage feed products. The processed leaf fraction can be combined with other feeds to make up customized feed rations. The stem fraction is also processed. The present invention can also be used to harvest grass crops.

Claims

1. A multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus, comprising: (a) a harvesting apparatus header unit attachable to an adapter unit which is configured to attach to a forage harvester vehicle, housing (b) a stripper rotor rotatably housed within said header unit having a plurality of radially arranged stripper fingers affixed thereto; (b) said harvesting apparatus header unit having an adjustable crop deflector movably attached thereto; and (c) said harvesting apparatus header unit housing an auger and having a top hood; wherein said harvesting header unit is attached to a forage harvester vehicle and said stripper fingers are capable of stripping leaf crop leaves from the leaf crop stems and are arranged radially on said stripper rotor and when said stripper rotor rotates, said stripper fingers fractionate the leaf crop by stripping the leaf crop leaves off the leaf crop stems and transporting the leaf fraction into the radius underside of said adjustable crop deflector and through the center of said harvesting apparatus header to an auger, thereby removing the leaf fraction from the leaf crop field by elevating the leaf fraction onto a transport vehicle upon the first harvesting pass though the leaf crop field.

2. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adapter unit houses a feeder macerator unit.

3. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of stripper fingers arranged radially and located on said stripper rotor are supported by a support member and include a contoured stripper finger end.

4. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of stripper fingers include Shelbourne-type stripper fingers, hay tine-type stripper fingers, and sweeper brush-type stripper fingers, depending upon the type of leaf crop, hay crop or grass crop to be harvested.

5. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 2, further including an adapter feeder macerator capable of leaf maceration operations, wherein said feeder macerator adapter variably macerates the leaf fraction generating a macerated leaf fraction prior to elevating the leaf fraction onto a transport vehicle.

6. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 5, further including an adapter feeder macerator capable of leaf maceration operations, wherein said feeder macerator adapter macerates the leaf fraction when the leaf crop is being harvested by the leaf crop harvesting apparatus.

7. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 5, further including an adapter feeder macerator capable of leaf maceration operations, wherein said feeder macerator unit does not macerate the leaf fraction when the leaf crop is being harvested, and further wherein the maceration step occurs at a processing facility after the harvested leaf fraction is elevated onto transport vehicles during the harvesting pass, and directly and expeditiously transported to that processing facility.

8. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said macerated leaf fraction is sized generating a macerated and sized leaf fraction prior to elevating said macerated and sized leaf fraction onto a transport vehicle.

9. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said macerated and sized leaf fraction is elevated onto a transport vehicle in one harvesting pass through a leaf crop field and thereby directly and expeditiously removed from the leaf crop field in one harvesting pass.

10. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said harvesting apparatus header unit housing said stripper rotor, said stripper fingers, and said adjustable crop deflector, further includes a height adjustable crop deflector having crop deflector guide rollers to enable upward and downward height adjustment of said adjustable crop deflector to maximize leaf fractionation by deflecting the crop into an optimal position angle prior to contact with said stripper rotor, depending on the crop to be harvested.

11. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein removing the leaf crop leaf fraction from the leaf crop field upon the first harvesting pass, further includes processing the remaining in-field stem fraction by stem conditioning of the leaf crop stems, and stem cutting of the leaf crop stems followed by stem windrowing of the leaf crop stems resulting in in-field stem fraction windrows composed of aggregates of the conditioned cut leaf crop stems.

12. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said resulting in-field stem fraction windrows composed of aggregates of the conditioned cut leaf crop stems are bailed and removed from the leaf crop field.

13. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said harvesting apparatus header unit attachable to an adapter feeder macerator and conventional harvester combine vehicle, is configured to be capable of performing the following operations in one pass through a leaf crop field: a) leaf crop stripping of the leaf crop leaves from the leaf crop stems, thereby generating a leaf crop leaf fraction; b) leaf crop leaf fraction maceration; c) leaf crop leaf fraction sizing; d) elevation of said leaf crop leaf fraction onto a transport vehicle; e) leaf crop stem conditioning, leaf crop stem cutting and leaf crop stem windrowing; wherein said harvesting apparatus header unit enables the direct and expeditious removal of the leaf crop leaf fraction from the crop field upon harvest of the leaf crop simultaneously with all of the harvesting operations performed.

14. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the crop harvested is alfalfa and said harvesting apparatus header strips the alfalfa leaves from the alfalfa stems, thereby fractionating the alfalfa leaves in one harvesting pass and leaving the remaining alfalfa stems standing in the field.

15. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wherein the crop harvested is a grass crop and said harvesting apparatus header strips the grass seed head from the grass stem, thereby fractionating the grass seed head in one harvesting pass and leaving the grass stems standing in the field.

16. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wherein the rotation speed of the stripper rotor can vary in revolutions per minute during harvesting operations, depending on the type of crop to be harvested.

17. The multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wherein the height adjustable crop deflector includes a height adjustable crop deflector which acts to position the leaf crop for optimal stripping of the leaf crop leaves from the leaf crop stems, depending on the leaf crop to be harvested and removed from the leaf crop field.

18. A method for making a multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a harvesting apparatus header unit attachable to an adapter unit which is configured to attach toy a forage harvester vehicle, housing (b) providing a stripper rotor rotatably housed within said header unit having a plurality of radially arranged stripper fingers affixed thereto; (b) providing said harvesting apparatus header unit having an adjustable crop deflector movably attached thereto; and (c) providing said harvesting apparatus header unit housing an auger and having a top hood; wherein said harvesting header unit is attached to a forage harvester vehicle and said stripper fingers are capable of stripping leaf crop leaves from the leaf crop stems and are arranged radially on said stripper rotor and when said stripper rotor rotates, said stripper fingers fractionate the leaf crop by stripping the leaf crop leaves off the leaf crop stems and transporting the leaf fraction into the radius underside of said adjustable crop deflector and through the center of said harvesting apparatus header to an auger, thereby removing the leaf fraction from the leaf crop field by elevating the leaf fraction onto a transport vehicle upon the first harvesting pass though the leaf crop field.

19. A method for harvesting a leaf crop and processing a harvested leaf crop using the multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 18, comprising the steps of: a) harvesting a leaf crop by stripping the leaf crop leaves off of the leaf crop stems thereby generating a leaf crop leaf fraction and a leaf crop stem fraction and elevating said leaf fraction onto a transport vehicle using a multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus having a forage harvester vehicle an adapter feeder macerator and a harvesting header unit configured to perform multiple harvesting operations in one pass through a crop field, wherein said multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus enables the removal of the leaf crop leaf fraction from the crop field upon harvest of the leaf crop during the first harvesting pass through the leaf crop field; and b) transporting the leaf fraction elevated onto a transport vehicle directly to a processing plant and c) densifying the leaf fraction upon arrival at said processing plant, thereby generating a densified leaf crop leaf fraction for further processing into densified leaf crop leaf fraction products; wherein the transporting and densifying processing steps are taken expeditiously after harvesting and removal of the leaf crop leaf fraction.

20. The method of harvesting a leaf crop and processing a harvested leaf crop using the multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said maceration step is performed at a processing plant after said transport to a processing plant.

21. The method of harvesting a leaf crop and processing a harvested leaf crop using the multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said step of densifying the leaf fraction upon arrival at said processing plant includes drying a macerated leaf crop leaf fraction or a whole leaf non-macerated leaf crop leaf fraction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0086] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in the Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0087] FIG. 1 indicates the seven steps capable of being performed in one pass of the crop field by the Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus alfalfa combine harvester.

[0088] FIG. 2 describes the processing steps taken expeditiously after harvesting where leaf fraction is trucked from the field to the processing plant and formed into bales, cubes and pellets before delivery to market, and the stem fraction is processed for varying uses.

[0089] FIG. 3 describes a classification of hay broken down into legumes and grasses which potentially form the available harvested forage feed products according to the present invention.

[0090] FIG. 4 depicts where dry matter losses during harvest and storage are relative to the end product moisture content.

[0091] FIG. 5 depicts a chart indicating the forage yield relative to quality at different stages of growth of the leaf crop.

[0092] FIG. 6 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional view of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit and the inner parts housed therein involved in the crop harvesting process.

[0093] FIG. 7 depicts a side elevation cross-sectional view of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit illustrating the harvesting of an alfalfa type of leaf crop in the field in one pass, to eventually make up the leaf crop forage feed end product.

[0094] FIG. 8 depicts one type of the stripper fingers used on the combine harvesting equipment.

[0095] FIG. 9 depicts a perspective side view of an alternate type of stripper fingers illustrating a support member and contoured stripper fingers ends to aide in the stripping process.

[0096] FIG. 10 depicts a perspective side view of the central inner portion of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit illustrating the movement of the parts and the movement of the leaf crop harvested through the header unit.

[0097] FIG. 11 depicts a side elevation cut-away view of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit attached to a forage harvester vehicle having an adapter therebetween, and illustrating the moving parts involved with the leaf fractionation process carried out by the harvesting apparatus header unit.

[0098] FIG. 12 depicts a side elevation cut-away view of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit attached to a forage harvester vehicle having an adapter therebetween, and illustrating the stem cutting bar mounted on the underside of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit.

[0099] FIG. 13 depicts an enlarged side elevation cut-away view of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit having a stem cutter bar mounted thereto.

[0100] FIG. 14 depicts a partial top plan view of the stem cutter bar illustrating the cutter blades, cutter blade mounting support bars and the cutter blade guide rods and movement actuator rods.

[0101] For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the design and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0102] Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar parts of the Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method 10 are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 blocks representing the steps of the seven performed functions in the Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method 10 indicating the seven steps performed in one pass in the crop field, of the alfalfa combine harvester according to the present invention. This alfalfa combine harvester encompasses a header unit, an adapter unit, a cutter bar, and a forage harvester vehicle.

[0103] Referring now to the Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method 10 as shown in FIG. 1, Block 12Step 1 indicates the leaf fractionation step where this process improves nutritional values, eliminates harvest weather risks and prevents losses in quality to the leaf fraction from bleaching, prolonged plant respiration, dirt, mold and decay. The quick drying of the leaf fraction improves carbohydrate retention by stopping plant respiration much faster than is possible in the conventional having process. The fractionation of the plants will also allow animal nutritionists to better optimize feeding rations for animal health and performance.

[0104] Block 14Step 2 indicates the leaf macerating step where leaves are run through a macerator to rupture the cells of the plant leaf to speed up the drying process.

[0105] Block 16Step 3 indicates leaf forage sizing step where the leaves are conveyed into a chopper to size the leaf fraction for processing. It is anticipated that the leaf sizing and maceration could take place within the harvester, or alternatively, on site at the processing facility after the leaf fraction is transported to that facility.

[0106] Block 18Step 4 indicates where the leaf fraction is elevated into a transport vehicle or trailer and taken by truck to a drying facility for curing and processing, wherein such processing steps are performed expeditiously after harvesting.

[0107] Block 20Step 5 indicates the stem conditioning, the first step in which the leaf crop stems are cut, conditioned, and windrowed in the same pass. This leaf combine completes seven steps in one pass, and because it removes the leaf fraction from the field expeditiously after being harvested, this harvesting process eliminates weather associated harvest risks to the high value leaf fraction.

[0108] Block 22Step 6 indicates the stem mowing step where the stems are mowed and cut.

[0109] Block 24Step 7 indicates the stem fraction step where the plant will be windrowed or may be conventionally sun cured, raked and baled. The stem conditioning, cutting and windrowing operations can be accomplished in the same pass. This leaf crop harvesting combine completes each of these seven steps in one pass, thereby eliminating weather associated harvest risks to the high value leaf fraction. The valuable leaf fraction is expeditiously removed from the field to be further processed, while the less valuable stem fraction remains in the field and can be expeditiously baled or removed contemporaneously.

[0110] Therefore, it should be understood that the multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus is configured to be capable of performing one or more the following seven operations in one pass through a crop field:

[0111] a) leaf stem fractionation;

[0112] b) leaf maceration;

[0113] c) leaf forage sizing;

[0114] d) elevation of leaf fraction onto a transport vehicle;

[0115] e) stem conditioning;

[0116] f) stem mowing/cutting; and

[0117] g) stem windrowing;

[0118] wherein said multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus enables the direct and expeditious removal of the leaf crop leaf fraction from the crop field upon harvest of the leaf crop simultaneously with the seven operations performed.

[0119] FIG. 2 is a block diagram 26 that describes the processing where leaf fraction is trucked from the field to the processing plant where the leaf fraction drying is accomplished. Processing of the valuable leaf fraction can be done per customized customer feed ration requirements. Once this customized formulating and mixing is accomplished, the forage feed products are put in bales, bags, cubes or formed into pellets, bagged and sent to market as a high-quality forage feed product.

[0120] Therefore, it should be understood from FIG. 2, that the method of harvesting and processing a harvested leaf crop comprises the steps of:

[0121] First, providing a multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus which is configured to be capable of performing one or more of the following seven operations in one pass through a crop field: 1) leaf stem fractionation; 2) leaf maceration; 3) leaf forage sizing; 4) elevation of leaf fraction onto a transport vehicle; 5) stem conditioning; 6) stem mowing/cutting; and 7) stem windrowing; wherein said multipurpose leaf crop harvesting apparatus enables the direct and expeditious removal of the leaf crop leaf fraction from the crop field upon harvest of the leaf crop simultaneously with the seven operations performed.

[0122] Second, transporting the leaf fraction to a processing plant where the leaf fraction is expeditiously densified which normally includes drying; and formulated into feed rations per customer feed ration requirements. Other forms of leaf fraction densification are also anticipated.

[0123] Third, forming the resulting feed rations into bales, bale bags, cubes and pellets for distribution and marketing of the feed rations generated, wherein the processing steps are taken expeditiously after harvesting the leaf crop to generate the formulated forage feed rations per customer feed ration requirements. In this way, a leaf crop forage feed ration product is generated employing the method of harvesting and processing a harvested leaf crop comprising the above enumerated steps, wherein the forage feed ration is subsequently processed into custom feed ration products by the addition of feed additives as per customer requirements.

[0124] The stem fraction of the plant will be conditioned (broken and damaged to expose inner moisture and expedite drying), cut and windrowed after the leaf fraction has been removed. In addition to the leaf fraction being densified then utilized, the stem fraction can also be densified, then utilized by further processing into animal rations. Several anticipated ways to utilize the stem fraction include: (1) double compressing the stem fraction will yield a softer and more palatable product for animals; (2) chopping the stem fraction will create a loose form which may then be added to pellets and cubes, thereby creating a customized animal ration. In this way, a leaf crop stem fraction forage feed ration product is generated employing the method of harvesting and processing a harvested leaf crop comprising the above steps, wherein the stem forage feed ration is processed into custom feed ration products by the addition of feed additives as per customer requirements. Moreover, the stem fraction may be sold directly as bales, or further processed into any of many varying forms to be used as a feed ration or to be mixed into feed ration formulations. Additionally, the stem fraction may also be densified and used as a biofuel.

[0125] FIG. 3 is a block diagram 28 that describes the products available from the Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method such as Legumes for Alfalfa, Clover, Sainfoin, Birdsfoot Trefoil and Austrian Winter Peas. Grasses can be: Timothy, Orchard, Bermuda, Brome and Bluegrass. Additional grasses can be Oats and Barley, Wheat, and Triticale. On grasses, it is anticipated that the nutrient rich green seed heads would be stripped from the stem and harvested. In this regard, the Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method 10 readily enables the stripping of green seed heads from grasses, such as for example Timothy grass. Green seed heads from Timothy grass and other grasses have become an important source for small animal rations and can be customized for each individual customer's feed requirement needs. After the green (not ripened) seed heads are removed from the plant, the remaining headless grasses will be cut, conditioned and windrowed for sun curing and baling, much in the same way as the alfalfa stems are processed.

[0126] FIG. 4 is a chart 30 indicating where dry matter losses during harvest and storage are relative to the end product moisture content. This chart 30 demonstrates the importance of expeditious removal of the leaf fraction of a leaf crop to preserve the higher nutritional value of the resulting feed product. Additionally, as the hay lays in the field drying, it is vulnerable to extreme loss due to weather events beyond the control of the farmer. It is also important to prevent or stop cellular respiration in the harvested plant to preserve nutritional value. The Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method have been developed to harvest the leaf fraction directly from the field and take it expeditiously to a processing facility where the leaf fraction will be densified, for example dry-cured. The removed leaf fraction is transported to the processing facility expeditiously to prevent/stop cellular respiration. Expeditiously can be defined herein as the time necessary to arrest and stop cellular respiration, typically 10 to 90 minutes. The densified leaf fraction can then be processed into a customer-desired forage feed ration product.

[0127] FIG. 5 is a chart 32 indicating the forage yield relative to the quality of the end product at different stages where the vegetative, bud, first flower and post flower are shown. Clearly, the forage yield is at its highest in the late maturity state, whereas, forage digestibility in animals decreases toward the full flower stage, where leaf yield peaks.

[0128] FIG. 6 depicts a side elevation drawing of a multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit 34 illustrating that the header unit 34 houses the stripper rotor 36. The stripper rotor has a plurality of rows of stripper fingers 38 (here seven rows are shown). The header unit 34 also houses the stripper rotor 36 with rows of stripper fingers 38. The header unit 34 has a height adjustable crop deflector 40, and an auger 42, and a top hood 44. The auger 42 is a screw type auger that conveys the stripped leaves (leaf fraction material) through the center of the header unit 34. The rotation of the stripper rotor 36 during forward motion of the header unit 34 results in the leaves of the crop being stripped from the stems through the action of the stripper fingers 38.

[0129] FIG. 7 depicts a side elevation drawing of multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit 34 illustrating the harvesting of an uncut whole plant alfalfa leaf crop 45 into a leaf fraction 46. As shown here, the leaf fraction 46 is removed from the stems leaving the stems standing in the crop field. The leaf fraction is then moved up through the header unit 34 through the action of the stripper rotor 36 which rotates, and the stripper fingers 38 mounted on the stripper rotor 36 which strip the leaf crop leaves front the stems. The height adjustable crop deflector 40 acts to position the leaf crop for optimal stripping of the leaves from the stems, depending on the leaf crop (or grass crop) to be harvested and removed from the crop field. The resulting leaf fraction moves to the auger 42 and is transported on to an elevating chute and discharge spout apparatus to be loaded onto the transport vehicles comprising trucks or trailers, for transport to the processing facilities.

[0130] FIG. 8 depicts a detail illustration 48 of one type of stripper fingers 38 located on the stripper rotor 36. Three different types of stripper fingers are anticipated for use, the Shelbourne fingers (as shown in the figures here), hay tine type fingers, and sweeper brushes, all of which are anticipated to be used in the harvesting of varying leaf and hay crops, according to the present invention.

[0131] FIG. 9 depicts an illustration 50 of a type of stripper fingers 38 anticipated for use having a structure including a support member 52 and a contoured stripper finger end 54 to aide in the stripping process. This shown stripper finger 38 configuration is the preferred stripper finger configuration, but as mentioned above, other stripper finger configurations could also be used for varying leaf crop, grass crop and hay crop harvesting, using the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit 34.

[0132] FIG. 10 depicts an illustration of the inside of the central portion of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit 34 showing the stripper rotor 36, alfalfa leaf fraction (stripped off crop leaves) of the now cut whole plant alfalfa leaf crop 45 and the auger 42. This illustrates the movement of the stripped leaf fraction 46 into the auger 42 after being cut and moved through the rotation of the stripper rotor 36 having a plurality of stripper fingers 38 thereon. The rotation speed of the stripper rotor can vary in revolutions per minute (RPM) depending on the type of crop to be harvested. It is anticipated that the leaf fraction 46 may then move to a leaf macerator for leaf fraction maceration, or alternatively, the maceration step may occur at a processing facility after the harvested leaf fraction is elevated onto transport vehicles during the harvesting pass, and directly and expeditiously transported to that processing facility. Additionally, leaf sizing may occur within the process in addition to or separate from the leaf maceration operation.

[0133] FIG. 11 depicts a side elevation cut-away view of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit 34 attached to a forage harvester vehicle 56 having an adapter feeder macerator assembly 58 therebetween, and illustrating the moving parts involved with the leaf fractionation process carried out by the harvesting apparatus header unit 34 and the subsequent movement of the resulting leaf fraction. In order to optimize leaf fractionation, the height adjustable crop deflector 40 is mounted on the front of the header unit 34 and can be positioned upwardly or downwardly riding on a crop deflector guide roller 62 located under the top hood 44 of header unit 34. When the combine harvester moves forward 60, and stripper rotor 36 is rotating, the leaves of the now cut whole plant alfalfa leaf crop 45 are stripped from the stems of the crop, leaving only stripped leaf crop stems 47 and moved into an auger 42. The auger 42 then moves the leaf fraction into the adapter feeder macerator assembly 58 to an adapter feeder paddlewheel 64, through multiple primary feed rolls 66, multiple secondary feed rolls 68, and past a shear bar 70 to a rotating cutter drum 72. From there, the leaf fraction is elevated by the action of the rotating cutter drum 72 and a blower accelerator 74 up through and out of a discharged spout 78 in a specified direction dictated by a directional discharge plate 76 located on the end of the discharged spout 78.

[0134] FIG. 12 depicts a side elevation cut-away view of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit 34 attached to a forage harvester vehicle 56 having an adapter feeder macerator assembly 58 therebetween, and illustrating the stem cutting bar assembly 80 mounted on the backside of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit 34.

[0135] FIG. 13 depicts an enlarged side elevation cut-away view of the multipurpose harvesting apparatus header unit 34 having a stem cutter bar assembly 80 mounted thereto. This enlarged detailed look at the cutter bar assembly 80, illustrates that the cutter bar assembly 80 includes a cutter bar mount arm and machine attach structure 82, a double knife/scissors support bar 84, and a plurality of double knife sections 86 in variable linear lengths depending on the header width, mounted on the cutter double knife support bar 84. When the cutter bar passes over the ground it floats above the ground on the height adjustable skid shoe 88 as it cuts the remaining leaf crop stems 47 down low to the ground leaving a stem stubble 49. This remaining stem stubble 49 allows the plant to regrow in the crop field for future harvesting.

[0136] FIG. 14 depicts a partial top plan view of further detail of the stem cutter bar assembly 80 illustrating a closer view of the cutter bar and the reciprocating double knife assembly 82, a double knife support bar 84, and a plurality of upper double knife blades 94, a plurality of lower double knife blades 96, and illustrates the position, orientation and structure of the cutter bar lower knife guide arm 90 and the cutter bar upper knife guide arm 92, with relation to the double knife support bar 84. The action of the stem cutter bar assembly 80 is to cut the stem fraction remaining after the leaf fractionation operation. Stem conditioning, which occurs when the stripper rotor removes the leaf fraction from the plant, involves breaking or damaging the outside surface of the stem, thereby exposing moisture stored in the stem, to allow for faster drying of the stem fraction.

[0137] The Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method 10 shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present application. It is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described may be employed for providing a Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method 10 in accordance with the spirit of this disclosure, and such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this design as broadly defined in the appended claims.

[0138] While certain embodiments of the Multipurpose Leaf Crop Harvesting Apparatus and Processing Method have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the systems and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, one portion of one of the embodiments described herein can be substituted for another portion in another embodiment described herein. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present inventions is defined only by reference to the appended claims.

[0139] Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0140] Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0141] Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.

[0142] For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0143] Conditional language, such as can, could, might, or may, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

[0144] Conjunctive language such as the phrase at least one of X, Y, and Z, unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y. or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

[0145] Language of degree used herein, such as the terms approximately, about, generally, and substantially as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms approximately, about, generally, and substantially may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms generally parallel and substantially parallel refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree.

[0146] The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.

[0147] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, foreign patent offices worldwide and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.