US3736738A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Row crop harvester
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1971-03-18
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1991-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A mobile harvester includes a pair of endless stripper conveyors disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of a ridge containing two rows of strawberries or the like. Each conveyor having a lower run moving rearwardly and outwardly relative to the harvester. A plurality of longitudinally extending rows of stripping fingers are individually supported on each conveyor by parallelogram linkages which allow the fingers to float when contacting the ground. The shanks of the fingers are maintained substantially vertical throughout their movement and the conveyors are each driven at a speed relative to the forward speed of the harvester which causes the fingers while in their lower runs to move rearwardly at substantially the same speed as the forward movement of the harvester causing the fingers to move transversely through the associated row of plants outwardly through the shortest possible distance thereby dislodging the berries from the plants and moving them outwardly into collecting means with a minimum of damage to the berries.
Inventors
- 👤 J Carr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:58
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for removing articles from plants on a ridge comprising: a mobile frame having a longitudinal axis; power means connected to said frame for moving said frame forwardly and longitudinally of the ridge; an endless conveyor on said frame having a downwardly moving run disposed parallel to the direction of movement of the mobile frame and the ridge and a lower run moving rearwardly and outwardly relative to said mobile frame; said conveyor including a pair of spaced parallel endless chains, a plurality of generally horizontal rows of stripper fingers, carrier means connected to and extending between said chains for mounting said plurality of rows of stripper fingers on said chains with the rows of fingers disposed substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said frame; and means connected between said power means and said conveyor for driving said conveyor in timed relation with the forward movement of said mobile frame and at a speed which causes the rearward component of movement to substantially equal the forward movement of said frame for causing the stripper fingers when in said lower run to move through at least a portion of the plants in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the frame for removing articles from the plant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for removing articles from plants on a ridge comprising: a mobile frame having a longitudinal axis; power means connected to said frame for moving said frame forwardly and longitudinally of the ridge; an endless conveyor on said frame having a downwardly moving run disposed parallel to the direction of movement of the mobile frame and the ridge and a lower run moving rearwardly and outwardly relative to said mobile frame; said conveyor including a pair of spaced parallel endless chains, a plurality of generally horizontal rows of stripper fingers, carrier means connected to and extending between said chains for mounting said plurality of rows of stripper fingers on said chains with the rows of fingers disposed substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said frame; and means connected between said power means and said conveyor for driving said conveyor in timed relation with the forward movement of said mobile frame and at a speed which causes the rearward component of movement to substantially equal the forward movement of said frame for causing the stripper fingers when in said lower run to move through at least a portion of the plants in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the frame for removing articles from the plant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 and addItionally including means on said frame for collecting said articles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally comprising means for individually mounting each finger on its carrier means for limited vertical movement of the entire finger relative to said carrier means whereby each finger will gently follow the contour of the ridge when moving along a substantial portion of said lower run.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is a strawberry harvester and wherein said fingers in each row are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow small unripe strawberries to pass therebetween when the fingers are moving through the plants and are dislodging the larger ripe strawberries therefrom.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for removing articles such as strawberries from plants on a ridge comprising: a mobile frame having a longitudinal axis; power means connected to said frame for moving said frame forwardly and longitudinally of said ridge; a pair of endless stripping conveyors on said frame with one conveyor disposed on one side of the longitudinal axis of said frame and with the other conveyor disposed on the other side of said longitudinal axis; each of said conveyors having a lower run moving rearwardly and outwardly from said longitudinal axis, each of said conveyors including a pair of spaced parallel endless chains, a plurality of generally horizontal rows of stripper fingers for each conveyor, carrier means connected to and extending between associated ones of said chains for mounting said plurality of rows of stripper fingers on said associated chains with the rows disposed substantially horizontal and parallel to said longitudinal axis; and means connected between said power means and said conveyors for driving each of said conveyors in timed relation with the forward movement of the frame and at a speed which causes the rearward component of movement of each finger to substantially equal the forward movement of said frame for causing the stripper fingers when in said lower run to move outwardly from substantially the center of said ridge in directions normal to the direction of movement of the frame to remove articles from the plants.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for removing articles such as strawberries from plants on a ridge comprising: a mobile frame having a longitudinal axis; power means connected to said frame for moving said frame forwardly and longitudinally of said ridge; a pair of endless stripping conveyors on said frame with one conveyor disposed on one side of the longitudinal axis of said frame and with the other conveyor disposed on the other side of said longitudinal axis; each of said conveyors having a lower run moving rearwardly and outwardly from said longitudinal axis, each of said conveyors including a pair of spaced parallel endless chains, a plurality of generally horizontal rows of stripper fingers for each conveyor, carrier means connected to and extending between associated ones of said chains for mounting said plurality of rows of stripper fingers on said associated chains with the rows disposed substantially horizontal and parallel to said longitudinal axis; and means connected between said power means and said conveyors for driving each of said conveyors in timed relation with the forward movement of the frame and at a speed which causes the rearward component of movement of each finger to substantially equal the forward movement of said frame for causing the stripper fingers when in said lower run to move outwardly from substantially the center of said ridge in directions normal to the direction of movement of the frame to remove articles from the plants.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 and additionally including guide means for causing the carrier means of each conveyor to move in a rectangular path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 and additionally including means adjacent the outer ends of the lower runs of each conveyor for collecting the stripped articles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 and additionally comprising means for individually mounting each finger to its carrier means for limited vertical movement of the entire finger relative thereto whereby each finger will gently follow the contour of the ground when moving along at least a substantial portion of said lower run.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said fingers in each row are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow small unripe strawberries to pass therebetween when the fingers are moving through the plants in said lower run and are dislodging the larger ripe strawberries therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 and additionally including guide means for causing the carrier means of said conveyor to move in a rectangular path, said guide means including guide blocks rigidly secured to said carrier means, and track means secured to said frame and positioned to slidably engage said guide blocks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 and additionally including guide means for causing the carrier means of each conveyor to move in a rectangular path, said guide means including guide blocks rigidly secured to said carrier means, and track means secured to said frame and positioned to slidably engage said guide blocks.
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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) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |