Patent US3698169A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3698169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Gathering apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-02-03
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A gathering apparatus particularly suited for use in harvesting nuts and similar discrete articles. The apparatus is characterized by a pair of converging wings horizontally extended to scrape the surface of the ground to form a window of articles being gathered and a driven impeller having a circular periphery supported to receive the articles in operative engagement, for ejecting the articles from the windrow along an upwardly directed trajectory to an inclined conveyor having a discharge opening disposed above a portable article-receiving bin, whereby randomly deposited articles, such as nuts deposited beneath parent trees, can readily be gathered and rapidly delivered into an articlereceiving bin.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee S Simpson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:06
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D51/00; A01D51/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
301 words
A gathering apparatus for gathering nuts randomly deposited on the ground beneath parent trees adapted to be towed along a given path by a wheeled tractor comprising: A. a frame supported by a pair of parallel drag plates; B. windrowing means including a pair of angularly related plates suspended from the tractor in an oblique relationship with the path for depositing in a windrow nuts being gathered; C. an impeller assembly supported by said frame disposed in a trailing relationship with said plates including, i. a resilient impeller member of a toroidal configuration supported for driven rotation about an axis extended in a transverse relationship with said path, and ii. an article ramp suspended adjacent to the peripheral surface of the resilient member having a plurality of laterally spaced rods extending from a point slightly above the ground to a point substantially elevated with respect to the ground, whereby nuts deposited in the windrow are engaged by said toroidal member and advanced along the surface of an article ramp and propelled therefrom as the member is driven in rotation; D. an inclined conveyor supported by said frame including a driven belt extending from a pick-up point adjacent to the ramp to a delivery point elevated with respect thereto for receiving and conveying nuts propelled from said ramp; E. a pneumatic blower operatively associated with said conveyor adapted to pneumatically sweep foreign matter from the nuts conveyed by the conveyor belt; F. a power-delivery engine mounted on said frame and operatively coupled with said resilient member, said conveyor belt and said pneumatic blower for concurrently driving the member, the conveyor belt and said blower as the gathering apparatus is towed along said path by said tractor; and G. a portable article-receiving bin coupled with said frame and positioned beneath said delivery point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
301 words
A gathering apparatus for gathering nuts randomly deposited on the ground beneath parent trees adapted to be towed along a given path by a wheeled tractor comprising: A. a frame supported by a pair of parallel drag plates; B. windrowing means including a pair of angularly related plates suspended from the tractor in an oblique relationship with the path for depositing in a windrow nuts being gathered; C. an impeller assembly supported by said frame disposed in a trailing relationship with said plates including, i. a resilient impeller member of a toroidal configuration supported for driven rotation about an axis extended in a transverse relationship with said path, and ii. an article ramp suspended adjacent to the peripheral surface of the resilient member having a plurality of laterally spaced rods extending from a point slightly above the ground to a point substantially elevated with respect to the ground, whereby nuts deposited in the windrow are engaged by said toroidal member and advanced along the surface of an article ramp and propelled therefrom as the member is driven in rotation; D. an inclined conveyor supported by said frame including a driven belt extending from a pick-up point adjacent to the ramp to a delivery point elevated with respect thereto for receiving and conveying nuts propelled from said ramp; E. a pneumatic blower operatively associated with said conveyor adapted to pneumatically sweep foreign matter from the nuts conveyed by the conveyor belt; F. a power-delivery engine mounted on said frame and operatively coupled with said resilient member, said conveyor belt and said pneumatic blower for concurrently driving the member, the conveyor belt and said blower as the gathering apparatus is towed along said path by said tractor; and G. a portable article-receiving bin coupled with said frame and positioned beneath said delivery point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said resilient member is provided with a plurality of transverse cleats circumferentially spaced about the periphery thereof and radially extended therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a fruit and nut harvester, an impeller including a pneumatically inflated torus-shaped member of resilient elastic material, means mounting the member for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and for earth traversing movement along a path extended substantially in the plane of the member, resilient cleats integral with the member and peripherally disposed in planes radial to said axis, drive means coupled with the member for rotating it at a peripheral speed greater than the speed of earth traversing movement thereof, whereby the cleats have predetermined orbits of travel, a ramp extending upwardly from beneath the member in the direction of rotation of the member, and means supporting the ramp in adjacent spaced relation to the orbits of said cleats defining a throat between the ramp and the member through which the cleats successively travel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a fruit and nut harvester, an impeller including a pneumatically inflated torus-shaped member of resilient elastic material, means mounting the member for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and for earth traversing movement along a path extended substantially in the plane of the member, resilient cleats integral with the member and peripherally disposed in planes radial to said axis, drive means coupled with the member for rotating it at a peripheral speed greater than the speed of earth traversing movement thereof, whereby the cleats have predetermined orbits of travel, a ramp extending upwardly from beneath the member in the direction of rotation of the member, and means supporting the ramp in adjacent spaced relation to the orbits of said cleats defining a throat between the ramp and the member through which the cleats successively travel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
A gathering apparatus for gathering discrete articles randomly distributed on a substantially planar surface comprising: A. means for receiving and delivering discrete articles including a portable impeller supported for travel along a given path traversing said surface, including a pneumatically inflated member of a substantially toroidal configuration, having an elastic surface, supported for driven rotation about a horizontal axis, and a ramp supported adjacent to said member for receiving articles delivered thereto to be engaged by said elastic surface; B. means for imparting rotation to said member for engaging and advancing articles along said ramp; and C. receiver means supported in operative alignment adjacent to said ramp for receiving articles delivered thereto from said impeller, including an inclined, endless conveyor belt having a terminal portion disposed adjacent to said ramp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
A gathering apparatus for gathering discrete articles randomly distributed on a substantially planar surface comprising: A. means for receiving and delivering discrete articles including a portable impeller supported for travel along a given path traversing said surface, including a pneumatically inflated member of a substantially toroidal configuration, having an elastic surface, supported for driven rotation about a horizontal axis, and a ramp supported adjacent to said member for receiving articles delivered thereto to be engaged by said elastic surface; B. means for imparting rotation to said member for engaging and advancing articles along said ramp; and C. receiver means supported in operative alignment adjacent to said ramp for receiving articles delivered thereto from said impeller, including an inclined, endless conveyor belt having a terminal portion disposed adjacent to said ramp.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a pair of article collecting wings supported in an oblique relationship with respect to said path at opposite sides of said ramp for engaging articles to be delivered to said ramp.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A gathering apparatus for gathering discrete articles randomly distributed on a planar surface comprising: A. a rotatable member having a peripheral portion substantially conforming to toroidal configuration provided with a resilient, elastic peripheral surface; B. an upwardly inclined article ramp supported in juxtaposition with said member for receiving thereon articles delivered thereto; C. receiver means aligned in juxtaposition with said ramp for receiving articles therefrom; and D. drive means operatively coupled with said rotatable member for imparting a selected rate of rotation thereto, whereby articles received by said ramp are engaged by said member and advanced therealong to said receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A gathering apparatus for gathering discrete articles randomly distributed on a planar surface comprising: A. a rotatable member having a peripheral portion substantially conforming to toroidal configuration provided with a resilient, elastic peripheral surface; B. an upwardly inclined article ramp supported in juxtaposition with said member for receiving thereon articles delivered thereto; C. receiver means aligned in juxtaposition with said ramp for receiving articles therefrom; and D. drive means operatively coupled with said rotatable member for imparting a selected rate of rotation thereto, whereby articles received by said ramp are engaged by said member and advanced therealong to said receiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said ramp is of a generally arcuate configuration and having a radius of curvature extending to the center of the adjacent peripheral portion of said member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gathering apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a pneumatic blower operatively associated with said receiver means for pneumatically separating foreign matter from said articles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The gathering apparatus of claim 8 wherein said receiver means includes an inclined, endless conveyor belt having a terminal portion disposed adjacent to said article ramp.
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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) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |