Fruit harvesting machine

A machine for harvesting fruit from trees comprising:

• a supporting vehicle;
• a hopper mounted on the vehicle;
• blower means for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure in said hopper;
• an extendable/retractable boom rotatably mounted on said vehicle;
• said boom including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable boom sections;
• said boom sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• a worker-supporting bucket attached to the outer section of said boom;
• a conduit system extending from said bucket, through said boom, and into said hopper whereby fruit may be transferred from said bucket to said hopper;
• said conduit system including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable conduit sections;
• said conduit sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• the outer end of said outer conduit section being fixedly mounted to the outer end of said outer boom section;
• and the inner end of said inner conduit section being fixedly mounted to the inner end of said inner boom section;
• a first deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said middle boom section;
• a second deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said outer boom section;
• and
• a plug groove assembly which includes a set of plugs mounted on the outer end of said middle conduit section and a corresponding set of grooves, positioned on said outer boom section, for slidably receiving said set of plugs;
• wherein said second deflection-preventing member comprises a plate-shape main body portion having an arcuate edge which is sized to form a cradle for said middle conduit section, and an opposite edge which is pivotally attached to said inner end of said outer boom section.

A machine for harvesting fruit from trees comprising:

• a supporting vehicle;
• a hopper mounted on the vehicle;
• blower means for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure in said hopper;
• an extendable/retractable boom rotatably mounted on said vehicle;
• said boom including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable boom sections;
• said boom sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• a worker-supporting bucket attached to the outer section of said boom;
• a conduit system extending from said bucket, through said boom, and into said hopper whereby fruit may be transferred from said bucket to said hopper;
• said conduit system including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable conduit sections;
• said conduit sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• the outer end of said outer conduit section being fixedly mounted to the outer end of said outer boom section;
• and the inner end of said inner conduit section being fixedly mounted to the inner end of said inner boom section;
• a first deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said middle boom section;
• a second deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said outer boom section;
• and
• a plug groove assembly which includes a set of plugs mounted on the outer end of said middle conduit section and a corresponding set of grooves, positioned on said outer boom section, for slidably receiving said set of plugs;
• wherein said second deflection-preventing member comprises a spool-shaped elastomeric body supported on a shaft which is attached to the inner end of said outer boom section;
• said spool-shaped body including an arcuate edge which is sized, when in an undeformed state, to form a cradle for said middle conduit section;
• said spool-shaped body possessing elastomeric properties such that it will allow the deformation necessary to accommodate said inner conduit section.

A machine for harvesting fruit from trees comprising:

• a supporting vehicle;
• a hopper mounted on the vehicle;
• blower means for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure in said hopper;
• an extendable/retractable boom rotatably mounted on said vehicle;
• said boom including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable boom sections;
• said boom sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• a worker-supporting bucket attached to the outer section of said boom;
• a conduit system extending from said bucket, through said boom, and into said hopper whereby fruit may be transferred from said bucket to said hopper;
• said conduit system including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable conduit sections;
• said conduit sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• the outer end of said outer conduit section being fixedly mounted to the outer end of said outer boom section;
• and the inner end of said inner conduit section being fixedly mounted to the inner end of said inner boom section;
• a first deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said middle boom section;
• a second deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said outer boom section;
• and
• a plug groove assembly which includes a set of plugs mounted on the outer end of said middle conduit section and a corresponding set of grooves, positioned on said outer boom section, for slidably receiving said set of plugs;
• wherein said second deflection-preventing member comprises a plate-shape main body portion having an arcuate edge sized to form a cradle for said outer conduit section;

A machine for harvesting fruit from trees comprising:

• a supporting vehicle;
• a hopper mounted on the vehicle;
• blower means for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure in said hopper;
• an extendable/retractable boom rotatably mounted on said vehicle;
• said boom including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable boom sections;
• said boom sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• a worker-supporting bucket attached to the outer section of said boom;
• a conduit system extending from said bucket, through said boom, and into said hopper whereby fruit may be transferred from said bucket to said hopper;
• said conduit system including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable conduit sections;
• said boom sections and said conduit sections each having an inner end, an outer end, an interior surface and an exterior surface;
• said conduit sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• the outer end of said outer conduit section being fixedly mounted to the outer end of said outer boom section;
• and the inner end of said inner conduit section being fixedly mounted to the inner end of said inner boom section;
• a first deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said middle boom section, said first deflection-preventing member comprising means for preventing deflection of said inner conduit section relative to said middle boom section;
• and
• a second deflection-preventing member mounted on the interior surface of the inner end of said outer boom section, said second deflection-preventing member comprising means for preventing deflection of said middle and outer conduit sections relative to said outer boom section and means for accommodating both said inner conduit section and said middle conduit section at various extension/retraction patterns.

A machine for harvesting fruit from trees comprising:

• a supporting vehicle;
• a hopper mounted on the vehicle;
• blower means for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure in said hopper;
• an extendable/retractable boom rotatably mounted on said vehicle;
• said boom including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable boom sections;
• said boom sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• a worker-supporting bucket attached to the outer section of said boom;
• a conduit system extending from said bucket, through said boom, and into said hopper whereby fruit may be transferred from said bucket to said hopper;
• said conduit system including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable conduit sections;
• said conduit sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• the outer end of said outer conduit section being fixedly mounted to the outer end of said outer boom section;
• and the inner end of said inner conduit section being fixedly mounted to the inner end of said inner boom section;
• a first deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said middle boom section;
• and
• a second deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said outer boom section;
• wherein said second deflection-preventing member comprises a plate-shape main body portion having an arcuate edge which is sized to form a cradle for said middle conduit section, and an opposite edge which is pivotally attached to said inner end of said outer boom section.

A machine for harvesting fruit from trees comprising:

• a supporting vehicle;
• a hopper mounted on the vehicle;
• blower means for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure in said hopper;
• an extendable/retractable boom rotatably mounted on said vehicle;
• said boom including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable boom sections;
• said boom sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• a worker-supporting bucket attached to the outer section of said boom;
• a conduit system extending from said bucket, through said boom, and into said hopper whereby fruit may be transferred from said bucket to said hopper;
• said conduit system including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable conduit sections;
• said conduit sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• the outer end of said outer conduit section being fixedly mounted to the outer end of said outer boom section;
• and the inner end of said inner conduit section being fixedly mounted to the inner end of said inner boom section;
• a first deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said middle boom section;
• and
• a second deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said outer boom section;
• wherein said second deflection-preventing member is biased to a normal transverse position.

A machine for harvesting fruit from trees comprising:

• a supporting vehicle;
• a hopper mounted on the vehicle;
• blower means for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure in said hopper;
• an extendable/retractable boom rotatably mounted on said vehicle;
• said boom including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable boom sections;
• said boom sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• a worker-supporting bucket attached to the outer section of said boom;
• a conduit system extending from said bucket, through said boom, and into said hopper whereby fruit may be transferred from said bucket to said hopper;
• said conduit system including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable conduit sections;
• said conduit sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• the outer end of said outer conduit section being fixedly mounted to the outer end of said outer boom section;
• and the inner end of said inner conduit section being fixedly mounted to the inner end of said inner boom section;
• a first deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said middle boom section;
• and
• a second deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said outer boom section;
• wherein said second deflection-preventing member comprises a spool-shaped elastomeric body supported on a shaft which is attached to the inner end of said outer boom section;
• said spool-shaped body including an arcuate edge which is sized, when in an undeformed state, to form a cradle for said middle conduit section;
• said spool-shaped body possessing elastomeric properties such that it will allow the deformation necessary to accommodate said inner conduit section.

A machine for harvesting fruit from trees comprising:

• a supporting vehicle;
• a hopper mounted on the vehicle;
• blower means for maintaining a sub-atmospheric pressure in said hopper;
• an extendable/retractable boom rotatably mounted on said vehicle;
• said boom including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable boom sections;
• said boom sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• a worker-supporting bucket attached to the outer section of said boom;
• a conduit system extending from said bucket, through said boom, and into said hopper whereby fruit may be transferred from said bucket to said hopper;
• said conduit system including inner, middle and outer telescopically slidable conduit sections;
• said conduit sections increasing in transverse size from the outer section to the inner section;
• the outer end of said outer conduit section being fixedly mounted to the outer end of said outer boom section;
• and the inner end of said inner conduit section being fixedly mounted to the inner end of said inner boom section;
• a first deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said middle boom section;
• and
• a second deflection-preventing member mounted on the inner end of said outer boom section;
• wherein said second deflection-preventing member comprises a plate-shape main body portion having an arcuate edge sized to form a cradle for said outer conduit section.