Method and apparatus for harvesting grapes

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR PICKING WINE GRAPES AND FOR CONVERTING IT INTO MUST, COMPRISING: (A) A VEHICLE ADAPTED TO BE MOVED ALONG A ROW OF GRAPES VINES IN A VINEYARD; (B) AN ENCLOSED RECEPTACLE ON SAID VEHICLE; (C) A CONDUIT HAVING AN INNER END CONNECTED WITH SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING AT SAID INNER END OPENING INTO SAID RECEPTACLE; (D) A NOZZLE HAVING AN INLET OPENING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A BUNCH OF GRAPES THEREIN AND OF A DIAMETER APPROXIMATELY THAT OF THE AVERAGE MAXIMUM DIAMETER OF THE BUNCHES OF GRAPES ON SAID VINES; (E) SAID NOZZLE HAVING AN OUTLET COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INLET; (F) SAID CONDUIT HAVING AN OUTER END OUTSIDE SAID RECEPTACLE AND SAID NOZZLE BEING CONNECTED WITH SAID OUTER END WITH SAID OUTLET ON SAID NOZZLE COMMUNICATING WITH THE INSIDE OF SAID CONDUIT AT SAID OUTER END OF THE LATTER; (G) MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID RECEPTACLE FOR CREATING A PARTIAL VACUUM THEREIN AND IN SAID CONDUIT AND NOZZLE SUFFICIENT TO DETACH THE GRAPES ON EACH BUNCH THEREOF THAT IS ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID INLET AND TO MOVE THE GRAPES SO DETACHED THROUGH