ERNTEVORRICHTUNG

A harvesting device 1 is described by which a number of chrysanthemum plants 2 may be harvested. The plants 2 are planted matrix-like in a number of rows in a bed 3 and grow through a wire mesh 10 . The wire mesh 10 is moved upwards during the growth to support the plants 2 . The harvesting device 20 provided with wheels 22 travels on the heating pipes 14 . The harvesting device 20 has a robot arm 24 that protrudes to the front and on which a gripping element 26 is mounted. The robot arm 24 is provided with a number of universal joints 25 such that the gripping element may be rotated in any chosen direction. The gripping element 26 comprises fingers that grip the stem 6 of a plant 2 above the wire mesh 10 without damage. A cutter 40 is located underneath the wire mesh 10 and cuts the stem 6 of a plant 2 . The plant 2 , gripped by the gripping element 26 , may be moved straight upwards through the wire mesh 10 by the action of the robot arm 24 .