Patent US3628609A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3628609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Harvesting machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-08-11
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1989-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A tomato-harvesting machine for severing tomato-bearing stalks with reciprocating cutter bars, elevating the stalks and tomatoes with an inclined conveyor, and separating the tomatoes and the stalks with shaker bars, inclined cleaning belts, and a debrisremoving fan. A first of the cleaning belts is positioned between the conveyor and the shaker bears to receive tomatoes previously separated from the stalks and reject soil early in the harvesting process. The second of the cleaning belts is located at an end of the shaker bars remote from the inclined conveyor to receive tomatoes subsequently separated from the stalks by the shaker bars. A transfer belt bridges the gap between the inclined conveyor and the shaker bars above the first cleaning belt to prevent entanglement of any vegetation in the shaker bar mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilbur H Graybill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:12
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D45/00; A01D45/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A machine for harvesting stalk or vine-borne fruit comprising: an elevator means communicating with the ground at a lower end for receiving vegetation and moving said vegetation upwardly to an upper end thereof, an agitating means at said upper end for receiving vegetation, said agitating means imparting an agitation to said vegetation capable of separating fruit from plant material, a transfer conveyor belt located between the upper end of said elevator means and said agitating means, said transfer conveyor belt being spaced from said elevator means so as to permit loose fruit to fall therebetween while carrying other fruit and plant material onto said agitating means, a first means for removing loose fruit falling through the space between said elevator means and said transfer conveyor belt comprising an inclined moving cleaning belt having an upward component of velocity in a direction opposite to the force of gravity, said cleaning belt having a sufficient angle of inclination and appropriate velocity to permit fruit to roll downwardly along said cleaning belt while debris including soil and plant material is moved upwardly on said cleaning belt, a collector conveyor belt communicating with and collecting fruit separated by said agitating means, and a second means for removing separated fruit from the collector conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
A machine for harvesting stalk or vine-borne fruit comprising: an elevator means communicating with the ground at a lower end for receiving vegetation and moving said vegetation upwardly to an upper end thereof, an agitating means at said upper end for receiving vegetation, said agitating means imparting an agitation to said vegetation capable of separating fruit from plant material, a transfer conveyor belt located between the upper end of said elevator means and said agitating means, said transfer conveyor belt being spaced from said elevator means so as to permit loose fruit to fall therebetween while carrying other fruit and plant material onto said agitating means, a first means for removing loose fruit falling through the space between said elevator means and said transfer conveyor belt comprising an inclined moving cleaning belt having an upward component of velocity in a direction opposite to the force of gravity, said cleaning belt having a sufficient angle of inclination and appropriate velocity to permit fruit to roll downwardly along said cleaning belt while debris including soil and plant material is moved upwardly on said cleaning belt, a collector conveyor belt communicating with and collecting fruit separated by said agitating means, and a second means for removing separated fruit from the collector conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The harvesting machine of claim 1 including means for forcing air associated with said cleaning belt, said air being forced in a direction substantially coincident with the direction of movement of said cleaning belt so as to facilitate the removal of debris upwardly away from the downwardly rolling fruit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The harvesting machine of claim 2 wherein said first means and said second means each comprises a conveyor communicating with each said cleaning belt respectively to receive the fruit rolling down each said cleaning belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The machine of claim 2 wherein the upperside of said transfer conveyor belt is inclined slightly upwardly from the end adjacent said elevator means to the end adjacent said agitating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The machine of claim 4 wherein the space between said transfer conveyor belt and said elevator means is long and narrow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein means are provided for adjusting said transfer conveyor belt to maximize the passage of loose fruit through said narrow space and the separation of debris therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The machine of claim 6 wherein the width of the narrow space between said transfer conveyor belt and said elevator means is adjustable so as to permit maximizing separation of loose fruit from debris.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The machine of claim 7 wherein said second means for removing separated fruit comprises another inclined moving cleaning belt having an upward component of velocity in a direction opposite to the force of gravity, said other cleaning belt having a sufficient angle of inclination and appropriate velocity to permit fruit to roll downwardly along said cleaning belt while debris including soil and plant material is moved upwardly on said cleaning belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The harvesting machine of claim 8 wherein said means for forcing air is also associated with said other cleaning belt, said air being forced in a direction substantially coincident with the direction of movement of said other cleaning belt so as to facilitate the removal of debris upwardly away from the downwardly rolling fruit.
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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) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |