Equipment for harvesting bonsai broccoli

Abstract

Equipment for the collection of bonsai broccoli with a harvesting unit (2) comprising primary and secondary transport belts (16, 18) inclined relative to each other, first cutting means (22) to harvest the broccoli and second cutting means (30) for separating the stalks (18) of the harvested broccoli heads (26), rigid guide elements (24), conveyor belts (32, 36) to transfer the heads to the rear of the harvesting unit, collection means (44) for receiving the heads and pneumatic means for separating by means of air flows the heads from cut leaf portions.

Description

[0001] EQUIPMENT FOR HARVESTING BONSAI BROCCOLI.

[0002] The present invention concerns an equipment for the harvesting of bonsai broccoli.

[0003] Bonsai broccoli or baby broccoli are well known; they constitute a new plant variety and are distinguished from traditional broccoli by their stalk, which can have a length ranging from approximately 15 cm to approximately 30 cm, and a diameter ranging from approximately 2 cm to approximately 4 cm, as well as by their head located at the upper end of the stalk with a diameter generally ranging from approximately 2.5 cm to approximately 8 cm.

[0004] Due to the variability in the shape of the vegetable, that is linked both to the season, in which sowing occurs, and to the intrinsic characteristics of the plant, the stalk length, in particular, and the attachment point of the leaves to the stalk, and therefore the distance of the head from the leaves, can vary greatly from plant to plant. This variability in characteristics conflicts with the requirements imposed by the mechanized harvesting of vegetables, as an alternative to manual harvesting, which does not require substantial uniformity of characteristics but involves other issues that are difficult to overcome, related to operational slowness and thus to the costs of the harvesting process itself.

[0005] An equipment for harvesting traditional broccoli is known from EP 502789. As it results from this prior document, traditional broccoli plants have a height of 70-80 cm, with a head that is on average about 14 cm high and has a diameter of approximately 11-21 cm. This equipment could not be used for harvesting bonsai broccoli, as it was designed to operate on vegetables of significantly different dimensions and with characteristics tied to those dimensions. It could not be effectively used for the mechanized harvesting of bonsai broccoli, which are delicate plants of very small size, with reduced stability and unsuitable for withstanding the stresses imparted by an equipment designed for the mechanized harvesting of traditional broccoli.

[0006] The present invention addresses the problem of overcoming the current limitations for the mechanized harvesting of bonsai broccoli and aims to propose an equipment for performing this mechanized harvesting.

[0007] Therefore, the purpose of the invention is to propose an equipment that allows the mechanization of the harvesting of bonsai broccoli.

[0008] Another purpose of the invention is to propose an equipment that can be applied to a self-propelled or towed machine and that is capable of performing the mechanized harvesting of bonsai broccoli in the field. Another purpose of the invention is to propose an equipment capable of operating with substantial indifference to the variable length of the bonsai broccoli stalks.

[0009] Another purpose of the invention is to propose an equipment capable of cutting the bonsai broccoli near the head so as to almost completely separate the stalk and leaves from the head, regardless of the variable length of the stalk itself.

[0010] Another purpose of the invention is to propose an equipment that can easily adapt to the different crops of bonsai broccoli, which are generally cultivated in fields where they are arranged in parallel rows.

[0011] All these purposes, as well as others that will become apparent from the following description, can be jointly or separately achieved according to the invention with an equipment for harvesting bonsai broccoli as defined in claim 1.

[0012] The present invention is further clarified below in some of its preferred embodiments, provided purely by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawing sheets, in which: figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an equipment for the harvesting of bonsai broccoli according to the invention, figure 2 shows it in a partial perspective view in an operational condition, figure 3 shows it in a bottom plan view, figure 4 shows it in a longitudinal vertical sectional view, figure 5 shows, in a perspective view and on a larger scale, some details of the equipment of fig. 1 , and figure 6 shows, in a different perspective view and on a larger scale, other details of the same equipment.

[0013] In the present description, the term “row” refers to a plurality of bonsai broccoli arranged along a line that is substantially, though not necessarily, straight and runs parallel to other lines in the cultivated field at a distance that may vary based on the characteristics of the seeding machine but is generally about 25 cm.

[0014] Furthermore, in the present description, the term “harvesting unit” 2 refers to a pair of elements, preferably consisting of elongated bodies 4, preferably streamlined, configured to be positioned on either side of each row and moved forward in the field to collect, as they pass, the individual bonsai broccoli plants 6 that belong to that row. The term “equipment” refers to the entirety of all harvesting units 2 and their associated means of movement, transmission, and control, which are collectively designed to be applied to a self-propelled or towed agricultural machine to operate along the rows in the cultivated field. To operate simultaneously on multiple rows, the equipment according to the invention can include a plurality of harvesting units 2 arranged so that the passages defined by the facing sides of two adjacent units 2 are spaced apart in accordance with the substantially constant distance between the rows of plants 6 to be harvested.

[0015] In particular, the invention advantageously provides that each elongated body 4, except for at most the two outermost bodies 4' of the equipment, has a width substantially equal to the distance between the rows of plants 6, allowing both of its sides to operate on adjacent rows. This solution is generally applied in cases where the equipment according to the invention is intended to operate in cultivated fields where the rows of plants 6 are spaced at a constant distance substantially equal to the width of each elongated body 4.

[0016] In cases where the equipment according to the invention is intended to operate in cultivated fields where the rows of plants 6 are spaced at a constant but nonstandardized distance, it is provided that each harvesting unit 2 is mounted on the frame of the equipment in a transversely adjustable manner using known systems, either manual or automated, so that it can be positioned relative to the harvesting unit 2 operating on the adjacent row in accordance with the distance between the rows.

[0017] Finally, in cases where the distance between the rows is less than the width of each elongated body 4, the harvesting units 2 operating on each row can be arranged on the machine's frame in a longitudinally staggered sequence, offset laterally from one another.

[0018] The following description will refer, for simplicity of explanation, to a single harvesting unit 2 and, for certain characteristics, to two harvesting units 2 operating on adjacent rows of plants 6. However, it is understood that the same description applies to all harvesting units 2 that belong to the equipment.

[0019] Each harvesting unit 2 includes, as mentioned, two elongated bodies 4, preferably streamlined, which are fixed to the frame of the equipment so that, in operation, they are arranged at an angle to the ground, as can be better seen in Fig. 2.

[0020] Each elongated body 4 may advantageously have a substantially constant width along its entire longitudinal development, except for its front end 8, which is preferably tapered and flattened. This front end 8 forms, together with the front end 8 of the adjacent elongated body 4, a converging channel 10 designed to receive the plants 6 of the row and guide them toward the narrow passage defined by the facing sides of the two elongated bodies 4 belonging to the same harvesting unit 2. Moreover, the front end 8 of each elongated body 4 has its longitudinal axis slightly inclined on the vertical plane relative to the rest of the elongated body 4, so that, in operation, when the elongated body 4 is inclined relative to the ground 12, the lower surface of its front end 8 is substantially parallel to the ground, or at least appears less inclined than its rear portion, as shown in the drawings.

[0021] A plurality of guide and return pulleys 14 for a flexible driving means, advantageously consisting of a belt 16 closed in a loop, are applied to each elongated body 4. A straight section of this belt 16 slightly protrudes from the lateral edge of the respective elongated body 4 and cooperates with the straight section of the belt 16 applied to the other elongated body 4 of the same harvesting unit 2. Together, these cooperating straight sections of belt 16, moving in the same direction, form a kind of clamp that moves from the front end toward the rear end of the corresponding elongated body 4. This movement occurs in the opposite direction to the equipment's forward motion on the ground 12 but at a speed consistent with the equipment's advancement, ensuring that the individual plants 6 are not subjected to displacement relative to the ground, at least until their stalks 18 are cut.

[0022] Each belt 16, which may advantageously be smooth, toothed, or equipped with a coating suitable for ensuring optimal grip on the stalk 18 of the plants 6, includes, in addition to the straight section cooperating with the straight section of the facing belt 16, a first front section that slightly protrudes from the inclined inner edge of the front end 8 of the respective elongated body 4. It then extends to close in a loop inside the elongated body itself.

[0023] The pulleys 14, which guide the straight section of the belt 16 running along the side of at least one elongated body 4 of each harvesting unit 2 and facing the straight section of the belt 16 belonging to the other elongated body 4 of that harvesting unit 2, are preferably mounted, in whole or in part, on articulated little arms 20 equipped with springs. These ensure localized elastic yielding of the section of the belt 16 when it holds, together with the facing section of the belt, the stalk 18 of a plant 6.

[0024] One of the return pulleys 14 of each belt 16 is motorized and is preferably connected to a single electric or hydraulic motor. This motor is preferably configured to drive the corresponding pulleys 14 of all the other streamlined bodies 4 and to move them in the correct direction required by the operation of the equipment. All belts 16 of this type are here referred to as primary belts 16, and the motor that drives them is referred to as primary motor.

[0025] Near the front end of the straight section of the two primary belts 16 of each harvesting unit 2, a cutting means is advantageously provided, preferably consisting of a disc blade 22 with a substantially vertical or slightly inclined axis. This blade is positioned so that, when the equipment is operating and advancing over the cultivated field 12, the disc blade 22 is located a short distance from the ground, enabling it to cut the stalk 18 of the plants 6 it encounters. The machine can also include automatic systems, which are themselves conventional, to adjust the height of the disc blade 22 relative to the ground and thus the cutting height of the stalk 18 of the plants 6.

[0026] The disc blade 22 is driven by its own electric or hydraulic motor 23, which may also drive, via a belt, chain, or other traditional transmission systems, the disc blade 22 of a plurality of harvesting units 2, and preferably of all harvesting units 2.

[0027] As an alternative to the disc blades 22, the equipment according to the invention may provide for the use of serrated blades with reciprocating movement. These blades can be individual for each harvesting unit 2, though it may be more practical to have a single serrated blade for a plurality of harvesting units 2 or, preferably, a single serrated blade for all the harvesting units 2.

[0028] The primary belts 16 extend posteriorly along only a portion of the respective elongated body 4, preferably up to just over half its length.

[0029] Along the lateral edge of each elongated body 4 and positioned to face the lateral edge of an adjacent elongated body 4, there is a longitudinally rigid guide element located above the elongated body itself. This is preferably made of a metallic rod 24, particularly stainless steel, which, together with the metallic rod of the other elongated body 4 belonging to the same harvesting unit 2, forms a longitudinal guiding channel for the stalk 18 of the plants 6 that have been cut by the corresponding disc blade 22. The two metallic rods 24 feature a short converging lead-in section followed by a straight section that is parallel to the edge of the elongated body 4, to which each metallic rod 24 belongs. These rods also run parallel to the straight section of the metallic rod 24 belonging to the adjacent elongated body 4, forming a kind of guiding channel. This channel runs above the longitudinal passage in each harvesting unit 2 for the stalk 18 of the plants 6, which is the passage defined by the parallel straight sections of two cooperating primary belts 16. This passage has a width slightly greater than the expected maximum width of the stalk 18 of the plants 6 to be harvested but smaller than the expected minimum width of the heads 26 of these plants. This configuration allows the stalk 18 of the plants 6 to slide along the guide while holding the plants vertically at their heads 26.

[0030] In an advantageous alternative embodiment, it may be advantageously provided that one or both metallic rods 24, forming the longitudinal guide of each harvesting unit 2, are equipped with transverse mobility and are associated with springs that tend to keep them in a close position. However, these springs also allow for their elastic separation to enable the passage of stalks 18 with greater width.

[0031] The straight, opposing sections of the two metallic rods 24 of each harvesting unit 2 are more inclined on the vertical plane compared to the straight sections of the primary belts 16. The inclination of these sections can be adjusted using traditional systems, which may be manual or automated.

[0032] Each harvesting unit 2 of the equipment according to the invention is also equipped, beneath the two metallic rods 24 but above the primary belts 16, with a pair of secondary flexible conveying means, preferably consisting of belts 28. These secondary belts 28, similar to the primary belts 16, are guided by pulleys 29 and are driven in opposing directions by one of these pulleys, which is powered in a known manner by a secondary motor that can also be electric or hydraulic.

[0033] The secondary belts 28 mounted on each elongated body 4 feature a straight section facing the straight section of the secondary belt 28 mounted on the other elongated body 4 of the same harvesting unit 2. Advantageously, this straight section is located further back than the straight section of the corresponding primary belts 16, to the extent that a short front section of the secondary belts 28 overlaps with the rear section of the corresponding primary belts 16.

[0034] It is preferable that the rear section of the primary belts 16 beneath the front section of the secondary belts 28 is slightly divergent to facilitate the transfer of the grip on the stalks 18 of the plants 6 from the pair of primary belts to the pair of secondary belts. Likewise, it is also preferable that the pulleys 29 guiding the secondary belts 28, or at least part of these pulleys, are mounted on articulated little arms associated with springs. These springs elastically keep the belts in contact with the stalks 18 of the plants 6, but it is also preferable that these springs are weaker than the springs associated with the articulated little arms 20 of the pulleys of the primary belts 16.

[0035] Both of the design solutions described above allow, as will be better explained later, for the easy removal of the stalks 18 of individual plants 6 from the secondary belts 28 by the guides formed by the metallic rods 24. In fact, to further facilitate this removal, it may be advantageously provided that the vertical width of these secondary belts 28 is smaller than the corresponding width of the primary belts 16.

[0036] Also the inclination on the vertical plane of the straight section of the secondary belts 28 is preferably adjustable using traditional systems, which can be either manual or automated. The length of the metallic rods 24 is such that their rear ends terminate further forward than the ends of the secondary belts 28. Near the rear ends of these metallic rods 24, below the secondary belts 28, secondary cutting means are provided. These are preferably constituted by a pair of counter-rotating disc blades 30, driven by an electric or hydraulic motor. Using a pair of counter-rotating blades 30 is preferable to a single rotating blade or a serrated blade with oscillating motion, as these blades must work on plants 6 that are already detached from the ground, held only by the secondary belts 28. Moreover, these plants, having the typical flexibility of bonsai broccoli, are not stabilized in their position and would struggle to withstand asymmetric lateral forces.

[0037] Additionally, on the rear extension of the metallic rods 24, a conveyor belt 32 is provided. This runs above the rear terminal section of the secondary belts 28 and is configured to receive and transport backward the heads 26 of the bonsai broccoli 6 after they have been separated from their respective stalks 18. These heads are still held by the pair of secondary belts 28 after the intervention of the disc blades 30.

[0038] To facilitate the transfer of the heads 26 of the plants 6 from the guide formed by the pair of metal rods 24 to the belt conveyor 32, a sort of rotating brush 34 is provided, which is placed coaxially on the same rotation shaft as each blade 30 above this and has the purpose of transferring the heads themselves onto the belt conveyor 32 after they have been cut from their respective stems.

[0039] The conveyor belt 32 extends further back beyond the rear end of the secondary belts 28.

[0040] Furthermore, since the conveyor belt 32 has a certain inclination on the vertical plane, which might hinder the proper backward transfer of the heads 26 and could even cause them to slide forward due to inevitable vibrations to which the equipment is subjected during operation, it may be advantageously provided, for each harvesting unit 2, a flat belt 36 above the pair of metallic rods 24. This flat belt 36 is closed in a loop and features a straight section parallel to the conveyor belt 32. It is spaced at a distance approximately equal to the average height of the heads 26 and extends backward at least up to the rear end of the same conveyor belt 32. This flat belt 36 is advantageously powered by a own electric or hydraulic motor, which, in the case of multiple harvesting units 2, may preferably be shared among the flat belts 36 of these units.

[0041] Alternatively, instead of an individual flat belt 36 for each harvesting unit 2, a single common conveyor belt may be provided for all the harvesting units 2. Moreover, whether an individual flat belt is provided for each harvesting unit 2 or a single common conveyor belt for all units, these belts 36 or this conveyor may feature spikes or similar protruding elements 38 designed to interact with the heads 26 of the plants 6. These elements aim to cooperate more effectively with the underlying conveyor belts 32.

[0042] In an advantageous form of implementation, the protruding elements 38 can be mounted on rectangular blades 40, which are hinged at their front transverse edge to the belt 36, allowing them to oscillate relative to it.

[0043] The equipment according to the invention also comprises, at the rear end of the secondary belts 28 and in a position substantially below this end, a bladed member 42 rotating around a horizontal axis and configured to ensure that the stalks 18 with the leaf portions attached to them, now separated from the respective heads 26, are removed from the secondary belts and can fall onto the ground 12.

[0044] Finally, the equipment according to the invention may also be equipped with an output conveyor belt 44, preferably common to all the harvesting units 2. It is located below the rear end of the lower conveyor belts 32 but beyond the rear end of the secondary belts 28, in order to collect the heads 26 and the upper leaf parts of the plants 6, but not the stalks 18 and the leaf parts attached to them, which fall onto the ground. The output conveyor belt 44 may extend longitudinally or transversely and can be associated with traditional suction or blowing devices for the separation of the heads 26 from the leaf portions of the plants 6 and for the subsequent selective collection of the heads themselves.

[0045] The equipment according to the invention also includes a series of control and adjustment devices, which are traditional in themselves, and collectively oversee the entire functioning of the equipment, which is described below.

[0046] The equipment according to the invention, mounted on a self-propelled or towed agricultural machine, is positioned at one end of the cultivated field 12, where the plants 6 to be harvested are arranged in parallel rows, spaced at a distance equal to the distance between the harvesting units 2, typically around 25 cm. However, it is provided that this distance between the harvesting units can be adjusted according to the actual spacing between the rows of the cultivated field.

[0047] Once the equipment is positioned at the start of the cultivated field, such that the number of rows of plants 6 corresponds to the number of harvesting units 2 on the equipment, the motors that drive all the moving components of the equipment are activated, particularly the primary belts 16, the secondary belts 28, the conveyor belts 32, the belt(s) 36, the output belt 44, the front disc blades 22, and the rear disc blades 30.

[0048] As the equipment advances, the individual plants 6 enter with their stems 18 into the channel 10 formed by the terminal front portions 8 of the two elongated bodies 4 of each harvesting unit 2. The stem is then engaged by the active portion of the pair of primary belts 16 of that elongated body and is held by them while the corresponding disc blade 22 cuts it near the base, detaching it from the ground 12 along with the leaves and the head 26. Thanks to the inclined arrangement of the primary belts 16, as the plants 6 are moved backward by the belts, they are also raised relative to the ground 12.

[0049] After a brief translation along the harvesting unit 2, the individual plants 6, still held by the two opposing primary belts 16, sequentially encounter the pair of metallic rods 24 and the overlying pair of secondary belts 28, which take over from the primary belts 16 in the function of gripping and transporting the individual plants 6, now detached from the ground 12, along the guides formed by the pairs of metallic rods 24.

[0050] T o make the transition of the plants 6 from the primary belts 16 to the secondary belts 28 easier, it can be advantageously provided that in the overlap zone, the rear sections of the primary belts 16 are slightly divergent, so as to gradually release the grip on the stalks 18 of the plants 6 as they are progressively gripped between the secondary belts 28.

[0051] The greater inclination of the metallic rods 24 compared to the secondary belts 28 causes the heads 26 of the plants 6 to initially rest on the rods themselves, and subsequently a sort of extraction of the stalk 18 of the individual plants 6 from the secondary belts 28. This extraction is further facilitated by the limited vertical width of these belts and continues with the movement of the plants along the metallic rods 24. In the case of metallic rods 24 kept elastically close together, they will suitably adhere to the stalks 18 of the plants 6, regardless of their diameter.

[0052] When the stalk 18 of each plant 6 meets the pair of counter-rotating disc blades 30, they cut it just below the head 26, separating it from the head and the upper portion of the leaves that the blades encountered.

[0053] After the intervention of the counter-rotating disc blades 30, the heads 26 and the cut portions of leaves of the plants are pushed by the respective rotating brushes 34 onto the belt conveyor 32 and in this phase the articulated connection of the tips 38 to the belt 36 is such that when a row of tips 38 reaches the proximity of the front end of the belt itself, the blade 40, to which they are connected, tilts forward by gravity and in this way collects a head 26 of bonsai broccoli 6 and cooperates with the rotating brushes 34 to push it onto the belt conveyor 32.

[0054] After the intervention of the disc blades 30, the stems 18 of each plant 6 and the portions of leaves still attached to them continue to advance, always transported by the pair of secondary belts 28, until they reach the rear end of these and can fall to the ground, also pushed by the bladed member 42.

[0055] Once the heads 26 and the cut portions of leaves have climbed onto the conveyor belt 32, they are transported by this, and are held between it and the overlying flat belt 36, and also pushed by other heads 26 that subsequently arrive. Once the heads 26 and leaf portions have passed the rear end of the conveyor belt 32, they fall onto the output conveyor belt 44, where the separation of the leaf portions from the heads 26 occurs, and the heads are collected into a final container. Given the small size of the bonsai broccoli heads 26, it is preferable that this separation of leaves from heads 26 takes place with weak pneumatic activity, i.e., with aspirating or blowing airflows of limited intensity, possibly distributed along the conveyor 44.

[0056] As mentioned, what occurs for one harvesting unit 2 also occurs for the other harvesting units that form the equipment according to the invention, which drop the leaves and stalks 18 of the plants 6 onto the ground while simultaneously collecting their separated heads 26.

[0057] From what has been said, it is clear that the equipment according to the invention is able to achieve all the stated objectives, in particular:

[0058] - it allows for the mechanized harvesting of bonsai broccoli,

[0059] - it is applicable to self-propelled or towed agricultural machines and can therefore be moved across the entire cultivated ground,

[0060] - it can operate on bonsai broccoli even if they have stems of different heights and diameters, and always allows for the separation of the heads from the stalks and leaves,

[0061] - it is of simple design and provides safe and reliable operation.

Claims

C L A I M S1 . Equipment for the collection of bonsai broccoli, to be mounted on a self-propelled or towed machine along rows of bonsai broccoli (6) in a cultivated field (12), with at least one harvesting unit (2) comprising: at least one pair of primary transport belts (16), configured to engage with a straight section facing the stalk (18) of said bonsai broccoli (6) still attached to said cultivated field (12), first cutting means (22) positioned near the front end of the straight section of said primary belts (16) and configured to operate on the stalk (18) of said bonsai broccoli (6) still attached to said cultivated field (12), at least one pair of secondary transport belts (28) configured to engage with a straight section facing the stalk (18) of said bonsai broccoli (6) already removed from said cultivated field (12) following the intervention of said first cutting means (22), said secondary transport belts (28) having a front portion of their straight section overlapping a rear portion of the straight section of said primary belts (16), drive means for said secondary belts (28) at a speed consistent with the speed of said primary belts (16), second cutting means (30) for separating said stalk (18) from its respective head (26), characterized in said said harvesting unit (2) further comprises: a pair of substantially rigid guide elements (24), defining a passage for the stalk (18) of said bonsai broccoli (6) already removed from said cultivated field (12), said guide elements (24) being positioned above said secondary belts (28) and being inclined with respect to them at an angle greater than the inclination that said secondary belts (28) present with respect to said primary belts (16), the front end of said guide elements (24) being positioned ahead of the front end of said secondary belts (28), a first conveyor belt (32) positioned substantially along the rear extension of said pair of guide elements (24) and configured to receive the heads (26) and portions of leaves that said second cutting means (30) have separated from the portions of leaves attached to their respective stalks (18), a second conveyor belt (36), positioned above said first conveyor belt (32) and cooperating with it to transfer said heads (26) to the rear end of said harvesting unit (2), collection means (44) positioned below said first conveyor belt (32), and configured to receive said heads (26),pneumatic means associated with said collection means (44) and configured to separate, by means of air flows, said heads (26) from said cut leaf portions.

2. Equipment according to claim 1 , characterized in that the terminal portion of the active rear section of said primary belts (16) beneath the terminal front portion of said secondary belts (28) is divergent.

3. Equipment according to claims 1 and / or 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of elongated bodies (4) forming two by two a harvesting unit (2).

4. Equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that each elongated body (4) comprises two primary transport belts (16) and two secondary transport belts (28), extending from both sides of the body itself.

5. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said primary belts (16) and / or said secondary belts (28) are associated with deflection pulleys (14,29) which, at least in their active straight portion, cooperate with the straight portion of the other belt in the pair, are mounted on articulated arms (20) provided with springs tending to elastically bring said straight portions closer together.

6. Equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that the springs of said articulated arms (20) supporting the pulleys (29) of said secondary belts (28) are weaker than the springs of the articulated arms supporting the pulleys of said primary belts (16).

7. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the straight portion of said primary belts (16) are inclined relative to said cultivated field (12).

8. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first cutting means (22) consists of a disc blade placed in the passage delimited by a pair of primary belts (16).

9. Equipment according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said first cutting means (22) consists of a serrated blade with an oscillating motion, placed in the passage delimited by a pair of primary belts (16).

10. Equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that said first cutting means consists of a serrated blade with an oscillating motion and common to multiple pairs of primary belts (16).

11. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each substantially rigid guide element (24) consists of a metal rod, preferably made of stainless steel.

12. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each guide element (24) is associated with springs configured to keep it elastically close to the other guide element (24) of the pair.

13. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inclination on the vertical plane of the straight section of said pair of secondary belts (28) with respect to the straight section of said pair of primary belts (16) is adjustable.

14. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second cutting means (30) consists of a pair of counter-rotating disc blades.

15. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, at the rear end of said guide elements (24), a pair of counter-rotating brushes (34) with a substantially vertical axes, configured to pick up the heads (26) of said bonsai broccoli (6), already separated from their respective stems (18), and transfer them onto said first conveyor belt (32).

16. Equipment according to claims 14 and 15 characterized in that each brush (34) is mounted on the same drive shaft as a disc blade constituting said second cutting means (30).

17. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second conveyor belt (36) is provided with protrusions (38) configured to engage the heads (26) of said bonsai broccoli (6).

18. Equipment according to claim 17, characterized in that said protrusions (38) are applied to a support (40) articulated around a transverse axis to said second conveyor belt (36) and pivotable by gravity around said axis.

19. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first conveyor belt (32) and / or said second conveyor belt (36) are common to multiple pairs of guide elements (24).

20. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each harvesting unit (2) comprises a pair of elongated bodies (4), to each of which at least one primary belt (16), at least one secondary belt (28), and at least one guide element (24) are applied, forming, with the primary belt (16), the secondary belt (28), and the guide element (24) of the other elongated body (4), the pair of primary belts (16), the pair of secondary belts (28), and the pair of guide elements (24) of said harvesting unit (2).

21. Equipment according to claim 20, characterized by comprising a plurality of elongated bodies (4), each of which, except for the outer elongated bodies (4'), is engaged on both sides by a single primary belt (16), a single secondary belt (28), anda guide element (24), which, together with the corresponding elements of the adjacent elongated body, form a harvesting group (2).

22. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises, at the rear end of each pair of secondary belts (28) and in a position underneath them, a bladed member (42) rotating around a substantially horizontal transverse axis and acting on the stem (18) just cut of said bonsai broccoli (6) to ensure their removal from said secondary belts (28) and their fall to the ground.

23. Equipment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one transport conveyor (44) positioned below the rear end of said first conveyor belt (32).

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