Tree harvester trunk seal

A harvester for gathering produce from one or more plants, the harvester comprising:

• (a) a drive mechanism for automatically advancing the harvester along a first direction relative to the plants;
• (b) an agitator constructed and arranged to engage the plants and remove produce from the plant as the harvester moves in the first direction;
• (c) a retractable conveyor mounted to and extending from the drive mechanism towards the plant, the retractable conveyor being selectively positionable between a first position and a second position;
• and
• (d) a sealing arrangement mounted at a distal end of the retractable conveyor;
• the sealing arrangement including:
• (i) a sealing arrangement arranged between the harvester and at least one of the plants including a plurality of pivot plates mounted along the distal end of the retractable conveyor, wherein a leading edge of each of the pivot plates is positioned above or beneath a rear edge of an adjacent pivot plate such that no gap exists between any two adjacent pivot plates;
• and
• (ii) a sensor comprising the plurality of overlapping pivot plates configured to engage the plant and provide input to the retractable conveyor so as to maintain a predetermined distance between the distal end of the retractable conveyor and at least one corresponding plant, thereby forming a seal between the harvester and each corresponding plant.

A fruit harvester for maintaining a seal between the harvester and a second object, the harvester being configured to move relative to the second object, the harvester comprising:

• (a) a retractable arm mounted to and extending from the harvester towards the second object;
• the retractable arm being selectively positionable between a first position and a second position;
• and
• (b) a sealing arrangement mounted at a distal end of the retractable arm;
• the sealing arrangement including:
• a plurality of overlapping pivot plates pivotably mounted along the distal end of the retractable arm, the plurality of overlapping pivot plates being constructed and arranged to accommodate the second object as the harvester travels along a first direction;
• wherein each of the pivot plates is biased to engage the second object as the harvester travels along the first direction and wherein at least one of the pivot plates is coupled to a switch configured to provide input to the retractable arm to maintain a predetermined distance between the distal end of the retractable arm and the second object, thereby maintaining the seal between the harvester and the second object.