US3685266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Harvesting machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-05-27
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1990-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A harvesting machine having wheeled support and arranged to move in straddling relation along a row of vines. The center of the machine for receiving the row of vines is defined by a pair of rub bars, and flexible fingers in continuous relation are disposed in opposed relation for encompassing the stems of vines to receive crop removed from the vines by shaker mechanism. Laterally movable conveyors are provided for receiving the crop from the flexible fingers and such conveyors move the crop onto longitudinally movable conveyors. Forced air means are provided in connection with the laterally movable conveyor to blow out foreign particles. The pickup finger mechanism has travelling support on the machine so as to be driven in reverse at the same speed that the machine is travelling forward so that the fingers do not slide past the vines. Means are provided for regulating the speed of the shaker mechanism as well as the angular disposition thereof and the length of travel of the shakers.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald R Mohn
- 👤 Herbert D Mohn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:21
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A crop harvesting machine comprising a. a main frame arranged to move over the ground, b. said frame having a longitudinal opening therethrough wherein it is arranged to straddle vines from which crop articles are to be removed, c. shaker means engageable with the vines for shaking crop articles therefrom, d. and a plurality of laterally extending catching fingers disposed below the shaker means, e. said fingers comprising coil springs, being flexible and being disposed in side by side close relationship to form longitudinal catching means arranged to encompass stem portions of the vines for catching crop articles shaken from the vines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A crop harvesting machine comprising a. a main frame arranged to move over the ground, b. said frame having a longitudinal opening therethrough wherein it is arranged to straddle vines from which crop articles are to be removed, c. shaker means engageable with the vines for shaking crop articles therefrom, d. and a plurality of laterally extending catching fingers disposed below the shaker means, e. said fingers comprising coil springs, being flexible and being disposed in side by side close relationship to form longitudinal catching means arranged to encompass stem portions of the vines for catching crop articles shaken from the vines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 1 including a plurality of said fingers extending centrally of the machine from both sides in overlappiNg relation whereby the fingers are arranged to have said encompassing relation with the vine portions for catching crop articles falling from all sides of the vines and around the stem, said fingers being of substantially uniform diameter throughout their length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 1 including a. a laterally movable conveyor arranged to receive the crop articles from said fingers and discharge such articles laterally, b. blower means for blowing foreign particles out the side of the machine from the discharge end of said laterally movable conveyor, c. and a rotating paddle wheel adjacent to the discharge end of said laterally movable conveyor for catching leaves and subjecting them flatwise to the air stream of the blower means for removal with the other foreign particles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 1 including a. support means secured to one end of said fingers and being movably mounted on said frame for travel in a direction reverse to the forward travel of the machine, b. and means arranged to drive said support means in said reverse direction at a speed substantially the same as the forward speed of said machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 4 wherein said support means comprises a continuous length flexible linkage operating around end revolving members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 4 wherein a. said support means comprises a continuous length flexible linkage operating around end revolving members, b. and said drive means are variable speed drive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 1 including a. support means for said fingers, b. said fingers being connected to said support means at one of their ends whereby the other end is free to extend in close relationship with the stem portions of the vines, c. said fingers being angled upwardly from said support means for directing crop articles falling thereon in a downwardly lateral direction, d. and a longitudinally extending laterally movable conveyor arranged to receive the crop articles from said fingers and discharge such articles laterally.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 7 including a longitudinally movable conveyor arranged to receive the crop articles from said laterally movable conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 7 including longitudinal rigid frame members extending under said fingers intermediate the connected end and the free end of supporting said fingers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 7 including a. longitudinal rigid frame members extending under said fingers intermediate the connected end and the free end for supporting said fingers, b. and means mounting said frame members for lateral adjusting movement to accommodate widened obstructions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 1 wherein a. said shaker means comprises a plurality of reciprocatable paddles disposed angularly across said opening in the frame, b. and including means adjusting the angularity of said paddles across said opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 1 wherein a. said shaker means comprises a plurality of reciprocatable paddles disposed angularly across said opening in the frame, b. and including means adjusting the angularity of said paddles across said opening, c. and means adjusting the length of said reciprocating movement of the paddles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 1 wherein a. said shaker means comprises a plurality of reciprocating paddles disposed angularly across said opening in the frame and having pivotal support on the frame for adjustable positioning as to its location laterally in the opening, b. and including means adjusting the angularity of said paddles across said opening c. and adjusting means connected to said shaker means for holding the latter in selected positions of its pivotal support.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 1 a. including an auXiliary frame supported on said main frame for lateral adjustment, b. said auxiliary frame supporting said shaker means and said fingers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 16 including means vertically adjusting said auxiliary frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 1 including conveyor means for receiving crop articles from said catching fingers, said conveyor means comprising a. a pair of end drums disposed in parallel relation longitudinally of said machine, b. continuous flexible links operating laterally around said drums, c. means for driving at least one of said flexible links rotatably around said drums, d. and a plurality of article holding strips secured to said links in parallel relation to said drums, e. some of said strips being smaller than the others to form pockets for holding articles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 16 wherein said strips are alternately large and small and are spaced from each other to allow foreign articles to fall through.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
A crop harvesting machine comprising a. a main frame arranged to move over the ground, b. said frame having a longitudinal opening therethrough wherein it is arranged to straddle vines from which crop articles are to be removed, c. catching means on said machine for catching crop articles removed from the vines, d. at least two sets of vertically extending reciprocating paddles mounted on said machine above said catching means and disposed in opposed relation across said opening in the frame for engaging opposite sides of a vine, e. each of the sets of paddles having at least two horizontally extending paddles, f. and drive means for alternately reciprocating the individual paddles in each set relative to the other paddles of the same set.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
124 words
A crop harvesting machine comprising a. a main frame arranged to move over the ground, b. said frame having a longitudinal opening therethrough wherein it is arranged to straddle vines from which crop articles are to be removed, c. catching means on said machine for catching crop articles removed from the vines, d. at least two sets of vertically extending reciprocating paddles mounted on said machine above said catching means and disposed in opposed relation across said opening in the frame for engaging opposite sides of a vine, e. each of the sets of paddles having at least two horizontally extending paddles, f. and drive means for alternately reciprocating the individual paddles in each set relative to the other paddles of the same set.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 18 wherein a. said paddles are pivotally supported for accomplishing the reciprocating movement, b. said drive means for alternately reciprocating the paddles comprising a vertically extending rotating shaft having individual lever means operatively engageable with respective paddles for reciprocating said paddles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The crop harvesting machine of claim 18 including a. means adjusting the angularity of said paddles across said opening, b. and means adjusting the length of reciprocating movement of said paddles.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |