Hortech, model Ventum for vegetable harvesting

At EIMA International, Hortech will present Ventum, an innovative machine that is characterised by a higher harvesting capacity than a traditional machine, ensuring - underlines the manufacturer - a 50% reduction in labour. Ventum is designed to facilitate harvesting work in the field with an initial cleaning of the crop as soon as it is cut, and with an automatic boxing that is also adjusted by weighing. This offers an exact estimate of the crop that has just been harvested, thus avoiding waste. The Hortech harvester is designed for harvesting spinach, rocket and salads of various sizes. The working speed is variable and obviously also depends on the product being harvested. However, after several tests on farms that have used it in preview in different parts of the world, we can estimate a speed of around 15-20 boxes per minute. Ventum also stands out for its innovative harvesting system and the path the product takes. The machine is always paired with a wagon (it is also possible to accessorize the picker with a rear platform to stock the boxes) and the product is cut by a rotating blade placed on the front bar. From the first conveyor it jumps onto a second conveyor, a jump that allows an initial selection, discarding everything that has a specific weight different from the harvested product (stones, earth and/or foreign bodies). From the second belt, the product jumps again onto a third belt, placed in an almost vertical position. At this point, the patented air cleaning system kicks in: a large turbine conveys the air sucked in from outside into two channels. In the first channel, the air pushes the product upwards, the pushing power is adjusted according to the product and makes a further selection. In the second channel, the air is distributed over a perforated wall placed in a mirror-like position above the vertical belt that holds the product pressed, thus causing all foreign bodies with a specific weight and volume different from the product concerned to fall. Once at the top of the machine, the crop is subjected to a fourth cleaning, passing over a shaker made of steel mesh that eliminates parts that are unsuitable in size and cut. Finally, the product is conveyed to the rear carousel that performs three simple rotations: insertion of the empty box, automatic weighing decided by the operator through the monitor, light pressure of the product that compacts it without damaging it and exit. The last step, as well as having an advantage due to the correct weighing of each box, also has the advantage of being managed by a single operator and this allows work to be carried out doing many more boxes per minute than with a traditional picker. The driver's seat is located above the cutter bar and there is only one driver. The main innovation of this machine, therefore, is harvesting with product transport through a vertical air tunnel capable of sorting the crop and discarding foreign bodies by specific weight. Another important innovation is the automatic boxing and weighing of the boxes, which, as mentioned, allows harvesting times to be considerably reduced.