Cabbage harvester VITUS Brassica Storage

Cabbages destined for the fresh market are often still harvested manually. This is hard and repetitive work, usually in cold and wet weather conditions. The VITUS Brassica Storage is designed to harvest the cabbage from the field without damage. Working with this cabbage harvester creates a safer and more comfortable working environment. Manual working with a knife is kept to a minimum.

Torpedoes, guide rods and soft clip bindings

The VITUS Brassica Storage takes hold of the cabbage on the side to protect the delicate top. Torpedoes raise the outer leaf of the cabbage, so the cabbage is protected in the clip bindings. The white plastic torpedoes and the guide rods work closely together. The first lifts the outer leaf of the cabbage, the second pulls the cabbage out of the ground. The clip bindings bring the cabbage towards the leaf removal system. The clip bindings are covered with a soft, durable cellular rubber and contain recesses into which the cabbage fit. Thanks to this combination, the cabbage is carefully clamped.

Perfectly cut

Halfway through the clip bindings, a unique stainless steel blade cuts the roots and the outer leaves of the cabbage. The combination of the torpedoes and guide rods ensures the cabbage ends up straight and at the correct height in the clip bindings. The electrically height-adjustable blade can perfectly cut up to 99% of the root stump of the cabbage.

An extra help to cut the cabbages perfectly is an optional synchronisation of the speed of the clip bindings with the driving speed. This consists of 2 sensors, one on the running wheel of the harvester and a second on the clip bindings. In this way, the clip bindings are driven in a controlled manner and the cabbages enter the clip bindings perpendicularly, regardless of the driving speed. This way, the cabbages are guaranteed to be cut straight.

Ingenious leaf removal system

After the root and the outer leaves have been cut off, the cabbages end up on a conveyor belt with a light studded structure. A push roller covered with soft rubber guides the cabbages towards the tack-off conveyor, leaving the outer leaves under the push roller on the field. In addition, the push roller is adjustable in height and angle, which ensures optimal leaf discharge depending on the size of the cabbages. The push roller also removes loose leaves from the cabbages. The harvesting system is precise and gentle, which contributes to a very long storage period of the cabbages.

Save on labour

The hard and repetitive work is taken over by the machine. The machine requires a maximum of 3 people; someone to drive the tractor and 1 or 2 people to check the cabbage, trim them if necessary and place them in boxes.

In addition to efficiency and damage-free harvesting, the VITUS Brassica Storage also focuses on ergonomics. Options such as a canopy protect the employees at the back from wind and rain. A radio and additional LED illumination are possible. The heat from the optional oil cooler can also be blown towards the employees. The machine is equipped with 2 tilting platforms as standard, with space for one box per platform. Tilting the box makes it easier to lay the cabbage on the bottom. As the box gets more filled, you can tilt the box less. This way, you can fill the box in the most ergonomic way every time.

Optionally, the platforms can be replaced by forklifts, allowing the machine to deposit and pick up the boxes autonomously.