Mechanical harvester for tree fruits
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorsDonald L. Peterson, Scott D. Wolford
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Abstract
An apparatus for the mechanical harvesting of tree fruits has been designed which has the capability of providing fruit suitable for the fresh market. The harvester features an impactor for dislodging fruit from a tree limb, a unique positioning system, a collecting conveyor utilizing energy-absorbing materials for minimizing fruit damage due to the impact of falling fruit, a transport conveyor which moves the harvested fruit to a revolving collecting bin, and bin-filling mechanisms which gently deposit harvested fruit in the collecting bin.
Claims12
An apparatus for harvesting tree fruits, said apparatus comprising a steerable, self-propelled carriage having mounted thereon
- a) an impactor for dislodging fruit from a fruit-bearing tree limb mounted on a positioning arm, wherein said arm moves up, down, forward, backward and twists;
- b) a collecting conveyor for catching and conveying the dislodged fruit, wherein said conveyor is supported by a frame and is comprised of a series of supports covered by a catching surface having an energy-absorbing flexible material, and wherein said collecting conveyor and said positioning arm are connected and mounted on a track on said carriage such that both components are positioned simultaneously for harvesting fruit;
- c) a transfer conveyor, wherein said transfer conveyor is supported by a frame and said collecting conveyor has an outlet edge disposed such that it is positioned above said transfer conveyor sufficient to allow the deposit of harvested fruit onto said transfer conveyor;
- and
- d) a collecting bin, wherein said transfer conveyor has an outlet end which declines into said bin for the deposit of harvested fruit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.