Canopy harvester with force balanced drive
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorsPhillip R. Scott, Franklin P. Orlando, Richard K. Warren, Larry L. Slates
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A harvester for harvesting grapes or other fruits from plants. The harvester uses a force balanced shaker head, which rotationally oscillates around a vertical axis. A yoke extends down from the force balanced shaker. The arms of the yoke are attached to a plurality of rods, which shake the plant to harvest the fruit. Two rows of enclosures are provided below the shaker head to catch the fruit. A low profile conveyor transports the collected fruit to storage.
Claims29
An apparatus for harvesting fruits from plants, wherein the apparatus has a forward direction, comprising:
- a frame;
- means for providing a rotational oscillation about a substantially vertical axis of rotation and mounted on the frame;
- a first plurality of shaker rods;
- a second plurality of shaker rods
- means for mounting the first plurality of shaker rods on a first side of a plane, defined by the forward direction and the axis of rotation, and the second plurality of shaker rods on a second side of the plane, defined by the forward direction and the axis of rotation, wherein the means for mounting is mechanically connected to the means for providing rotational oscillation;
- and
- means for moving the frame in a forward direction, wherein the means for moving positions the frame with respect to the plants so that the plants pass between the first plurality of shaker rods and the second plurality of shaker rods, mechanically connected to the frame.
An apparatus for catching fruit falling from plants, comprising:
- a first row of flexible closures, wherein the flexible closures have a first end which has a rectangular shape, and a second end, which has a diamond shape;
- a second row of flexible closures, wherein the flexible closure have a first end which has a rectangular shape, and a second end, which has a diamond shape, and wherein the second ends of the first row of flexible closures are adjacent to the second ends of the second row of flexible closures;
- a first catching plate mechanically connected to the first ends of the first row of flexible closures;
- and
- a second catching plate mechanically connected to the first ends of the second row of flexible closures.
An apparatus for catching fruit falling from plants, comprising:
- a first row of closure plates;
- a first rail running along a first side of the plants;
- a first row of angle springs forming an acute angle mechanically connected between the first row of closure plates and the first rail;
- a second row of closure plates;
- a second rail running along a second side of the plants;
- and
- a second row of angle springs forming an acute angle mechanically connected between the second row of closure plates and the second rail.
An apparatus for conveying objects horizontally from front to back and vertically from bottom to top, comprising:
- an inner front roller:
- an inner rear roller, behind the inner front roller and the same vertical height as the inner front roller;
- an upper inner roller above the inner rear roller;
- a front outer roller behind the front inner roller;
- a rear outer roller in front of the rear inner roller and below the upper inner roller:
- a first belt which extends from below the front inner roller and then in front of the front inner roller and then over the front inner roller, and then in front of the front outer roller, and then under the front outer roller to under the rear outer roller and then to the rear of the rear outer roller, and then in front of the upper inner roller, and then over the upper inner roller, and then behind the upper inner roller, and then behind the rear inner roller, and then under the rear inner roller, and then under the front inner roller, thus forming a continuous loop:
- a bottom roller, coaxial with the rear outer roller;
- a top roller higher than and in front of the bottom roller;
- and
- a second belt which extends from under the bottom roller to in front of the bottom roller to in front of the top roller over the top of the top roller to behind of the top roller to behind the bottom roller and then below the bottom roller forming a continuous loop.
The apparatus, as claimed in claimed 25, wherein the first belt has flights which are less than 1 inch high and wherein the second belt has flights which are greater than 2 inches high.
A method of conveying objects, comprising the steps of:
- conveying the objects on a first belt in a horizontal direction in a rear direction;
- turning the first belt a direction greater than 90.degree. so that the objects are conveyed in an upward and forward direction and so that the objects are held against the belt by centrifugal force during the turn;
- extending the first belt in an upward and forward direction, so that the objects fall from the first belt;
- catching the objects which fall from the first belt in a second belt;
- and
- conveying the objects caught by the second belt in an upward and forward direction.
A method of removing fruits from plants, comprising the steps of:
- moving a harvester around a row of plants so that plants pass near the center of the harvester;
- providing a first plurality of horizontal shaker rods on a first side of the plants;
- providing a second plurality of horizontal shaker rods on a second side of the plants;
- mechanically connecting the first plurality and second plurality of horizontal shaker rods to a shaker means;
- and
- oscillating the shaker means and the first and second plurality of shaker rods about a vertical axis between the plurality of first and second shaker rods.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.