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US3601964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Grape harvesting machine
Assignee: Up Right Inc
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Filing: 1968-03-18
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1988-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A machine, having a framework which straddles two horizontal parallel wires along which are trained fruiting canes, is propelled along the wires in such position. The machine includes a pair of horizontally spaced batons which move upward to strike each wire in a desired pattern along the length of the wire to provide the maximum effectiveness in detaching the grapes from the canes by the impact of the batons. The grapes, along with some foreign matter, are collected in resilient slanting aprons. Airblasts pass over the aprons to blow away much foreign material which might otherwise fall onto the aprons with grapes. A vibratory motion is imparted to the aprons to agitate the material collected thereon, so that the airblasts can blow away much of the foreign matter which might have fallen onto the aprons. The vibratory motion and slant of the aprons also act to feed the grapes onto conveyors which carry them from the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Fisher
- 👤 Gerald L Claxton
- 👤 John J Witt Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:20
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/28; A01D46/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A machine for harvesting grapes from a fruiting vine trained along a horizontal wire comprising: a. a vehicle including a frame, and means for moving the frame along the wire at a substantially constant velocity; b. a first baton; c. a first means on the frame for repeatedly moving the first baton in a first substantially vertically extending plane upwardly and underneath the wire to strike the wire and then laterally in said first plane away from underneath the wire after such striking, the first baton being transported with the frame while so moving; d. a second baton; e. a second means on the frame for repeatedly moving the second baton in a second substantially vertically extending plane upwardly and underneath the wire to strike the wire and then laterally in said second plane away from underneath the wire after such striking, the second baton being transported with the frame a horizontal distance from and rearward of the first baton, said second baton striking the wire at a point of time substantially intermediate the points oF time of two successive strikings of the wire by the first baton.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A machine for harvesting grapes from a fruiting vine trained along a horizontal wire comprising: a. a vehicle including a frame, and means for moving the frame along the wire at a substantially constant velocity; b. a first baton; c. a first means on the frame for repeatedly moving the first baton in a first substantially vertically extending plane upwardly and underneath the wire to strike the wire and then laterally in said first plane away from underneath the wire after such striking, the first baton being transported with the frame while so moving; d. a second baton; e. a second means on the frame for repeatedly moving the second baton in a second substantially vertically extending plane upwardly and underneath the wire to strike the wire and then laterally in said second plane away from underneath the wire after such striking, the second baton being transported with the frame a horizontal distance from and rearward of the first baton, said second baton striking the wire at a point of time substantially intermediate the points oF time of two successive strikings of the wire by the first baton.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the frame movement along the wire and the rates of striking of the wire by the first and second batons are such that the vehicle moves along the wire substantially one-fourth of the distance measured from the first baton to the second baton along the wire during the time from the striking of the wire by the first baton to the next-in-time striking of the wire by the second baton.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A machine according to claim 2 wherein are further included a third baton, the third baton being disposed substantially parallel to and vertically spaced from the first baton and adapted to move therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
211 words
A machine for harvesting grapes from a fruiting cane trained along a wire comprising: a. a vehicle including a frame of inverted, substantially U-shaped cross section to straddle the wire and fruiting cane, wheels mounted to the frame for allowing the frame to be moved along the wire in such straddling position, and means for propelling the frame along the wire in such position at a substantially constant velocity; b. a baton; c. means in the frame for repeatedly moving the baton upward to strike the wire and moving the baton away from the wire after such striking, whereby at least some of the grapes fall from the fruiting cane trained on the wire, the baton being transported with the frame while being so moved; d. a resilient apron associated with the frame for collecting the fallen grapes; e. means for directing a flow of air over said apron for removing at least some of the foreign matter collected with the grapes; f. a resilient rotatable paddle positioned to strike the resilient apron with each rotation to vibrate the resilient apron to agitate the grapes and foreign matter collected therewith and aid in the removal of the foreign matter by the flow of air; and means for rotating the resilient paddle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
211 words
A machine for harvesting grapes from a fruiting cane trained along a wire comprising: a. a vehicle including a frame of inverted, substantially U-shaped cross section to straddle the wire and fruiting cane, wheels mounted to the frame for allowing the frame to be moved along the wire in such straddling position, and means for propelling the frame along the wire in such position at a substantially constant velocity; b. a baton; c. means in the frame for repeatedly moving the baton upward to strike the wire and moving the baton away from the wire after such striking, whereby at least some of the grapes fall from the fruiting cane trained on the wire, the baton being transported with the frame while being so moved; d. a resilient apron associated with the frame for collecting the fallen grapes; e. means for directing a flow of air over said apron for removing at least some of the foreign matter collected with the grapes; f. a resilient rotatable paddle positioned to strike the resilient apron with each rotation to vibrate the resilient apron to agitate the grapes and foreign matter collected therewith and aid in the removal of the foreign matter by the flow of air; and means for rotating the resilient paddle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A machine according to claim 4 and further including conveyor means adjacent the resilient apron, the resilient apron being slanted to feed grapes collected thereon onto the conveyor means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A machine according to claim 5 wherein the conveyor means is positioned to convey the grapes upwardly and forwardly of the frame as the frame is propelled along the wire.
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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) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |