Green beans harvesting machine RF3

chili pepertractor-mounted1-row

A compact solution for mechanically harvesting fresh-market green beans, beans and edamame.

RF3 is a mounted single-row harvester for fresh-market green beans, beans and edamame. Designed for indicative areas of 1 to 10 ha, greenhouses and confined row spaces, it uses a longitudinal harvesting system with hydraulic row centring, flexible steel tines, airflow and an elevator conveyor. Indicative output: 100-300 kg/h, depending on crop and settings.

Range and technical data
Model: RF3.
Configuration: mounted, single-row, rear three-point hitch.
Harvesting system: longitudinal, along the crop row.
Products: fresh-market green beans, beans and edamame.
Indicative area: 1-10 ha; this is not an absolute operating limit.
Indicative harvesting output: 100-300 kg/h.
Indicative weight: approximately 760 kg.
Required tractor power: 25-50 HP.
PTO speed: 540 rpm.
Hydraulics: one double-acting spool valve for side shift; an additional valve is required when height adjustment is hydraulic.

Main applications
Single-row harvesting of fresh-market green beans, beans and edamame.
Small and medium-sized plots, with an indicative area of 1 to 10 ha.
Greenhouses and row crops with limited manoeuvring space.
Crops prepared for mechanical harvesting, with a minimum row spacing of 50 cm.
Chilli pepper harvesting with the dedicated accessory kit.

Main benefits
Compact mounted configuration: direct tractor connection for working in smaller plots and greenhouses.
Hydraulic row centring: aligns the picking unit with the crop without repeatedly repositioning the tractor.
Longitudinal harvesting: follows the crop row and conveys product along the machine to the elevator conveyor, supporting an orderly flow and a compact configuration for confined row spaces.
Flexible steel tines: support product detachment; reel speed, working height and travel speed must be adjusted to actual crop conditions.
Airflow and elevator conveyor: help manage harvested product flow and separate lighter material.
Essential, observable adjustments: reel speed, forward speed and working height can be tuned progressively in the field.
Proportionate mechanisation: an indicative output of 100-300 kg/h helps reduce reliance on manual harvesting for specialised smaller farms.

Why Choose Fontana
Specialist experience in bean and green bean harvesting since 1986.
A machine developed around real field conditions and fresh-market requirements.
More than 60 Fontana harvesters sold in France over five years.
Expertise covering harvesting, sorting and product-handling systems.
Technical consulting, training, after-sales support and spare parts to preserve efficiency and long-term value.

Full description
RF3 is a mounted single-row harvester developed for fresh-market green beans, beans and edamame. Its compact configuration is designed for small and medium-sized plots, greenhouses and row crops where manoeuvrability and a proportionate investment matter. Hydraulic side shift allows the operator to centre the picking unit on the row from the tractor seat.

The longitudinal harvesting system follows the crop row and conveys product along the machine to the elevator conveyor. It combines a picker reel with flexible steel tines, airflow, an adjustable harvesting-height wheel and a PTO shaft with an automatic limiting device. This architecture supports an orderly product flow and a compact configuration for confined row spaces. Indicative output ranges from 100 to 300 kg/h; actual results depend on variety, maturity uniformity, moisture, soil preparation, field conditions and machine settings.

Before harvesting the entire plot, an initial field test should be carried out by changing one parameter at a time and checking crop left on the row, damaged pods, stems or leaves in the product and possible blockages. A well-prepared crop, dry pods and correct settings help improve harvesting quality and operational continuity.