Tree follower
AssigneeOxbo International Corporation
InventorsAllen E. Russell, Timothy J. Ozminkowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a tree follower device. The tree follower device includes an engagement assembly that penetrates into and shakes the branches of fruit trees to dislodge the fruit. A pressure transducer in communication with a controller measures the pressure resistance from engagement with the branches and moves the tree follower device further into and out of the branches depending upon the resistance. The present invention allows for programming various upper and lower limits and for operating in different modes for different types of trees. The present invention also provides for varying the sensitivity and the speed at which the engagement devices moves into or out of the tree.
Claims22
A tree follower device, for engaging and positioning relative to branches of a tree, comprising:
- a tree branch shaker assembly configured for extending into the tree branches and shaking the tree branches;
- a shaker drive system imparting a shaking motion to the shaker assembly with a shaking force;
- a transducer in communication with the shaker assembly and sensing resistance to the shaking force of the shaker assembly shaking the tree branches;
- and
- a positioning system including a controller in communication with the transducer and controlling position of the shaker assembly in response to the resistance to the shaking force from the shaker assembly engaging the tree branches.
A tree follower device configured for engaging tree branches of a single side of a tree and positioning relative to the single side of the tree branches, comprising:
- a tree branch shaker assembly extending into the tree branches at the single side of the tree branches;
- a shaker drive system imparting a shaking motion to the shaker assembly with a shaking force;
- a transducer in communication with the shaker assembly and sensing resistance to the shaking force of the shaker assembly imparting a shaking motion to the tree branches at the single side of the tree branches;
- and
- a positioning system including a controller in communication with the transducer and controlling position of the shaker assembly in response to the resistance to the shaking force from the shaker assembly engaging and shaking the tree branches at the single side of the tree.
A tree follower device configured for engaging tree branches of a single side of a tree and positioning relative to the single side of the tree branches, comprising:
- a tree branch shaker assembly having at least one rotatable whorl arrangement having a plurality of arms spaced circumferentially apart about a periphery of a mast and extending outward in different radial directions and configured for engaging the tree branches at a plurality of horizontally spaced apart locations;
- a shaker drive system imparting a shaking motion to the shaker assembly with a shaking force;
- a transducer in communication with the shaker assembly and sensing resistance to the shaking force of the shaker assembly imparting a shaking motion to the tree branches at the single side of the tree branches;
- and
- a positioning system including a controller in communication with the transducer and controlling position of the shaker assembly in response to the resistance to the shaking force from the shaker assembly engaging and shaking the tree branches at the single side of the tree.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.