Fruit harvesting and collecting apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for harvesting fruit from trees has an arch-shaped structure includes a plurality of interconnecting tubes. The structure surrounds two sides and the top of the tree from which fruit is to be harvested. Cables are attached to the structure and are connected together at handles on either side of the structure. Alternate pulling of the handles by operators make the cables and the structure come in contact with the tree, and through this contact and subsequent vibration the fruit falls from the tree. The fruit is prevented from flying out of the immediate area of the structure by protection panels mounted on the outside of the structure. Drop panels surround the tree trunk for catching the fallen fruit. At least one cable is attached to the drop panel via the structure to one of the handles so that the manipulation of the handles lifts the drop panels and directs the fallen fruit toward discharge areas in the drop panels.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.