System for collecting fruit from trees
OwnerLuis G. de Morais Zoio, Johanna W. van Mourikinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention concerns a new system for collecting fruit from trees. The fruit is thrown down by compression and decompression of the branches. Because the branches are flexible, the compression induces a uniform and homogenous contracting thereof. The decompression makes the branches return to their original positions and the fruit is released by inertia. The compression is obtained by beating strongly on consecutive sections of the peripheral branches, using soft surfaces fixed on rigid sections framing them. The above-mentioned fixed sections operate manually with the help of springs and ropes or mechanically with appropriate means. In this new system no part of the tree--fruit included--is submitted to strains causing serious damage.
Claims9
An apparatus for collecting fruit from a tree, comprising:
- a plurality of panels surrounding the tree, each said panel including a framing element having a free end and a hinged end, and a flexible material region connected to said framing element;
- a support structure;
- tensioning means linking said hinged end of said framing element to said support structure so that said panels are configured in a biased position;
- and
- means for manipulating each said panel with respect to said biased position of each said panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.