Olive picker with speed control and selected picker dimensions

Portable hand supported and hand manipulated olive picking apparatus of the type comprising a picking head, gimbal supported on the end of an elongated handle, and having, in the head, a plurality of tines on a shaft rotated by a motor, the motor powered by a conduit leading down the handle to a power source at ground level, said apparatus characterized by:

• control means, including a variable speed means, on the handle, proximate ground level for operating said motor at selected speeds to rotate said tines in the range of 15 to 75 r.p.m. to conform with the age and skill of the operator;
• and
• quick release means having a single elongated shaft along which all of said tines are spaced to extend normal thereto, said shaft having opposite ends each with an axial bore, and said shaft having a pair of shaft rods, each slidable in one of said bores, a pair of coil springs each seated in one of said bores to bias the shaft rod therein, outwardly to project from said bore, a pair of longitudinally extending slots, each in one of the ends of said shaft and a pair of pins, each affixed to one of said shaft rods and projecting through the adjacent slot;
• movement of said pins toward each other against pressure of said springs retracting said shaft rods into said bores for removal and replacement of said tines and shaft from said head.