US3601965A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Harvesting machine with flexible closure
Assignee: Up Right Inc
•
Filing: 1969-10-06
•
Granted: 1971-08-31
•
Expires: 1989-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A harvesting machine which straddles and moves along a row of fruited plants, such as grapevines, and is provided with a pair of resilient closure members underneath the plants to catch the fruit knocked from the plants. The closure members are flexible and have a lesser resistance to upward flexing at their inner edges than at their outer edges. The inner edges of the closure members are scalloped in the plane of the members, pleated and overlapped along the centerline of the plants so that the trunk or plant support can pass between the overlapped edges with a minimum of opening of the closure members. Additionally, the closure members are free to move in unison transversely of the machine so that they will remain centered on the row of plants in spite of steering errors or tilting of the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinrich Kaessbohrer
- 👤 Darrell C Horn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:23
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A machine for harvesting fruit from a row of fruited plants, comprising: a. a wheeled frame adapted to straddle and move longitudinally along said row, b. first and second conveyor means carried by said frame lengthwise thereof, one on each side of the longitudinal centerline of said frame, c. a pair of generally flat, elongated, flexible closure members, each one extending along and being secured along its outer edge to one of said conveyor means, and being upwardly inclined from said conveyor means towards said centerline of said frame, said closurE members having a substantially lesser resistance to upward flexing at its inner edge than at its outer edge when unsupported.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A machine for harvesting fruit from a row of fruited plants, comprising: a. a wheeled frame adapted to straddle and move longitudinally along said row, b. first and second conveyor means carried by said frame lengthwise thereof, one on each side of the longitudinal centerline of said frame, c. a pair of generally flat, elongated, flexible closure members, each one extending along and being secured along its outer edge to one of said conveyor means, and being upwardly inclined from said conveyor means towards said centerline of said frame, said closurE members having a substantially lesser resistance to upward flexing at its inner edge than at its outer edge when unsupported.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner edges of said closure members are overlapped along the length thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner edges of said closure members are scalloped along the length thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said inner edges of said closure members are overlapped along the length thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1, including means impressing a longitudinal compressive force along the inner edges of said closure members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said closure members are provided with transverse stiffening members longitudinally spaced along said closure members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein the transverse stiffening members of one of said closure members are longitudinally staggered with respect to the transverse stiffening members of the other of said closure members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A machine as set forth in claim 6, including means impressing a longitudinal compressive force along the inner edges of said closure members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A machine as set forth in claim 8, wherein the inner edges of said closure members are overlapped along the length thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inner edges of said closure members are scalloped along the length thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
A machine for harvesting fruit from a row of fruited plants, comprising: a. a wheeled frame adapted to straddle and move longitudinally along said row, b. a pair of closure members extending lengthwise of said frame, one on each side of the longitudinal centerline of said frame, said closure members each being inclined upwardly toward said centerline and having their inner edges overlapped centrally of said frame, c. a pair of conveyor means extending lengthwise of said frame, each of said conveyor means supporting the outer edge of one of said closure members, d. means suspending each of said conveyor means from said frame for movement of said conveyor means transversely of said frame, e. means for moving one of said conveyor means in a transverse direction relative to said frame in response to movement of the other conveyor means in the same direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
A machine for harvesting fruit from a row of fruited plants, comprising: a. a wheeled frame adapted to straddle and move longitudinally along said row, b. a pair of closure members extending lengthwise of said frame, one on each side of the longitudinal centerline of said frame, said closure members each being inclined upwardly toward said centerline and having their inner edges overlapped centrally of said frame, c. a pair of conveyor means extending lengthwise of said frame, each of said conveyor means supporting the outer edge of one of said closure members, d. means suspending each of said conveyor means from said frame for movement of said conveyor means transversely of said frame, e. means for moving one of said conveyor means in a transverse direction relative to said frame in response to movement of the other conveyor means in the same direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A machine as set forth in claim 11, wherein said last-mentioned means also resiliently allows said conveyor means to be moved transversely away from each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine as set forth in claim 11 in which each of said closure members is formed of resilient material and has a lesser resistance to upward flexing at its inner edge than at its outer edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A machine as set forth in claim 13, wherein the inner edge of each of said closure members is scalloped along the length thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine as set forth in claim 13, wherein said closure members are mounted on said conveyor means to impress a longitudinal compressive force along the inner edges of said closure members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A machine as set forth in claim 13, wherein said closure members are each provided with transverse stiffening members longitudinally spaced along said closure members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A machine as set forth in claim 16, wherein said closure members are mounted on said conveyor means to impress a longitudinal compressive force along the inner edges of said closure members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine as set forth in claim 17, wherein the transverse stiffening members of one of said closure members are longitudinally staggered with respect to the transverse stiffening members of the other of said closure members.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A machine as set forth in claim 17, wherein the inner edge of each of said closure members is scalloped along the length thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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 |