METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING AND PREPARING OF CABBAGE FOR STORAGE

FIELD: agriculture. ^ SUBSTANCE: method involves cutting, cleaning and laying cabbage heads into windrows; loading cabbage heads from windrows into containers of harvesting platform and transporting containers for storage; before laying cabbage heads into windrows, providing bed for cabbage heads from cabbage leaves by breaking crown leaves of cabbage heads of adjacent rows; during loading of cabbage heads into containers on harvesting platform, placing layers of cabbage heads so that cabbage stems are oriented toward container side wall and bottom while heads are oriented one toward another; providing handling ground at field road for receiving from harvesting platform of filled containers, placing of replaceable empty containers and transportation by container cart of filled containers for storage at consumption sites in vegetable storage refrigerators. Apparatus has harvesting platform mounted on wheeled frame, containers disposed on harvesting platform, and pull-type draft tongue. Harvesting platform is equipped with detachable pallets and retainers for said pallets for fixing of containers on said platform. Frame carrier wheels are pivotally mounted on double-armed levers for adjustment of frame clearance, said levers being kinematically connected with their mid portions through arced arms and rotary axle with hydraulic power cylinders and hitch tongue of pulling means. ^ EFFECT: increased efficiency and reduced damage to cabbage heads during transportation. ^ 3 cl, 9 dwg