US3596455A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fruit-harvester
Assignee: FRULT HARVESTING CO Inc
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Filing: 1969-05-01
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A device for harvesting fruit or the like from a tree, the device including a pair of conveyors disposed on either side of the trunk of the tree, sheet means downwardly sloping from the trunk of the tree toward the conveyors to feed fruit falling thereon toward the conveyors, and a sheet of generally bowllike configuration, the sheet being made up of two sheet portions to feed fruit falling thereon toward the conveyors. The sheet portions are retractable so that they may be folded up. Longitudinal resilient members, in spaced-apart, staggered relationship, are positioned to receive fruit fed toward the conveyor and limit the acceleration of the fruit, meanwhile allowing it to fall therethrough and to the conveyors without damage.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip R Adrian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:26
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/26; A01D2046/262
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
A single-unit apparatus for harvesting fruit or the like from a tree comprising: a. a frame; b. a pair of generally parallel conveyors associated with the frame and disposed on either side of the trunk of the tree and extending beyond the trunk of the tree; c. first resilient sheet means associated with said frame sloping downwardly from the trunk of the tree on either side thereof to near the sides of the conveyors adjacent the trunk; d. second resilient sheet means associated with the frame and extending generally about the trunk from near the sides of the conveyors removed from the trunk in taut, generally bowllike configuration, both of said sheet means being configured to feed fruit falling thereon downwardly onto the conveyors said second resilient sheet means comprising a first sheet portion extending from near the side of one conveyor, and a second sheet portion extending from near the side of the other conveyor and overlapping to a small extent the first sheet portion to define said bowllike configuration of the second resilient sheet means with said first and second sheet portions each being extendable to positions together defining said bowllike configuration, and each being retractable to fold adjacent the conveyors near the sides thereof, and wherein are included means associated with said frame for selectively extending and retracting the first and second sheet portions; and e. shaker means associated with the frame and comprising a pair of arms positioned between the conveyors, means for providing a jawlike movement between the arms so that the tree may be gripped therebetween and means associated with the arms for shaking the tree when it is so gripped.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
A single-unit apparatus for harvesting fruit or the like from a tree comprising: a. a frame; b. a pair of generally parallel conveyors associated with the frame and disposed on either side of the trunk of the tree and extending beyond the trunk of the tree; c. first resilient sheet means associated with said frame sloping downwardly from the trunk of the tree on either side thereof to near the sides of the conveyors adjacent the trunk; d. second resilient sheet means associated with the frame and extending generally about the trunk from near the sides of the conveyors removed from the trunk in taut, generally bowllike configuration, both of said sheet means being configured to feed fruit falling thereon downwardly onto the conveyors said second resilient sheet means comprising a first sheet portion extending from near the side of one conveyor, and a second sheet portion extending from near the side of the other conveyor and overlapping to a small extent the first sheet portion to define said bowllike configuration of the second resilient sheet means with said first and second sheet portions each being extendable to positions together defining said bowllike configuration, and each being retractable to fold adjacent the conveyors near the sides thereof, and wherein are included means associated with said frame for selectively extending and retracting the first and second sheet portions; and e. shaker means associated with the frame and comprising a pair of arms positioned between the conveyors, means for providing a jawlike movement between the arms so that the tree may be gripped therebetween and means associated with the arms for shaking the tree when it is so gripped.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein are included means associated with the frame and said second resilient sheet means for resiliently suspending the inner edges of the second resilient sheet mean in spaced relation to the conveyors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the resilient suspending means comprise a plurality of taut, elastic members upwardly extending from the frame to the inner edges of the said resilient sheet means and positioned above the conveyors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein are included first and second pluralities of resilient, longitudinal members, each plurality being associated with the frame in generally parallel spaced-apart and staggered relationship to define openings therebetween to allow fruit falling thereon to fall therethrough, meanwhile limiting the acceleration of the fruit falling therethrough, the first plurality of resilient, longitudinal members being positioned to receive fruit from both said sheet means and allow it to fall onto one of the pair of conveyors, the second plurality of resilient, longitudinal members being positioned to receive fruit from both said sheet means and allow it to fall therethrough onto the other of the pair of conveyors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each resilient, longitudinal member comprises a longitudinal tubular member and a longitudinal, elastic extensible member disposed through the tubular member from one end to the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for selectively extending and retracting the first and second sheet portions comprise a first plurality of arms each pivotally mounted to the frame and fixed to the first sheet portion, each of the first plurality of arms being pivotal in one direction relative to the frame to extend the first sheet portion and in an opposite direction to retract the first sheet portion, a second plurality of arms each pivotally mounteD to the frame and fixed to the second sheet portion, each of the second plurality of arms being pivotal in one direction relative to the frame to extend the second sheet portion, and in an opposite direction to retract the second sheet portion, and cable and cylinder means for pivoting the arms in one and the other directions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein at least some of the arms are fixed only at their ends to the outer edge of the bowllike configured sheet means only, and are configured to be in spaced relation to the taut, bowllike configured sheet means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for shaking the trunk of the tree comprise a first eccentric weight rotatably fixed to one arm of said pair of arms, a second eccentric weight rotatably fixed to the other arm of said pair of arms, and hydraulic means for rotating the first and second eccentric weights at different rates of rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each eccentric weight comprises a plurality of removable and replaceable stacked plates.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |