US3766724A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Grape harvester
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-13
•
Granted: 1973-10-23
•
Expires: 1991-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A grape harvester adapted to cut off the grapes from a vine carried by a sloping trellis comprises an elongated casing arranged transversely, one end of which is provided with an input port cooperating with the grape cutting tool while a fan blows a draft of air through the casing to urge the leaves cut with the grapes through a corresponding output port and a conveyor belt leads the cut grapes to another corresponding output, the grapes dropping finally onto a longitudinal conveyor belt leading them to the exhaust. The casing is advantageously adapted to execute limited pivotal and longitudinal movement.
Inventors
- 👤 R Paillou
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; A01D46/285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A machine for harvesting clustered fruits from a vine on an oblique trellis and removing the cut clusters of grapes, comprising a chassis adapted to be suspended on a tractor through a three-point connection, a tunnel-shaped elongated casing carried by the chassis provided with an input port at one end and with two output ports at its opposite end, a fan associated with said casing and adapted to produce a draft of air through the casing from the input port towards the output ports, a cutting tool supported by and disposed about the input port of the casing and a conveyor beLt extending longitudinally over the lower part of the casing starting from its end lying approximately underneath the location of the cutting tool towards a point registering with one output port to urge the grape clusters cut off the vine through the latter, the leaves cut off the vine being blown out by the blast of air through the other output port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A machine for harvesting clustered fruits from a vine on an oblique trellis and removing the cut clusters of grapes, comprising a chassis adapted to be suspended on a tractor through a three-point connection, a tunnel-shaped elongated casing carried by the chassis provided with an input port at one end and with two output ports at its opposite end, a fan associated with said casing and adapted to produce a draft of air through the casing from the input port towards the output ports, a cutting tool supported by and disposed about the input port of the casing and a conveyor beLt extending longitudinally over the lower part of the casing starting from its end lying approximately underneath the location of the cutting tool towards a point registering with one output port to urge the grape clusters cut off the vine through the latter, the leaves cut off the vine being blown out by the blast of air through the other output port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1 comprising a rail pivotally secured to the chassis, a plurality of rollers carried by the casing and slidably carried by the rail and elastic means opposing the pivotal movement of the rail and the sliding of the chassis carried by the rollers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cutting tool slopes obliquely with reference to the longitudinal axis of the chassis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a horizontal spindle carried transversely by the casing and to which the cutting tool is pivotally secured and a spring urging the tool into its operative position in parallelism with an oblique trellis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second transverse conveyor belt extending underneath the one output port of the casing to receive the grapes dropping off the front end of the first-mentioned conveyor belt, and a fluid-tight chute in which said second conveyor belt progresses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second transverse conveyor belt extending underneath the one output port of the casing to receive the grapes dropping off the front end of the first-mentioned conveyor belt, a fluid-tight chute in which said second conveyor belt progresses and an elevator the lower end of which is fed by said second conveyor belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising an auxiliary fan and means through which the blast of air passing out of said auxiliary fan is directed upwardly towards a point located to the front of and slightly underneath the lower end of the cutting tool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting tool includes a number of overlapping parallel smooth-edged circular blades.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting tool includes a number of overlapping parallel smooth-edged circular blades, the machine including furthermore a yielding sheathed cable rotating said blades.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan is enclosed within the casing and includes vanes with leading cutting edges.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tunnel-shaped casing is substantially horizontal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tunnel-shaped casing is substantially horizontal and carries the fan adjacent said one output port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tunnel-shaped casing is incurved in a vertical plane and shows its concavity downwardly the input port and said other output port being provided adjacent the opposite lower ends of the incurved casing, the fan being located within the upper, medial portion of the casing and the one output port being provided in an area between the fan and said other output port.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A grape harvesting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tunnel shaped casing is substantially horizontal and the fan is adapted to rotate around a horizontal axis and produces a blast urging the casing transversely of the longitudinal axis of the chassis towards one of the vine rows.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2893194A
Cited
FR1460141A
Cited
US3328944A
Cited
FR1529620A
Cited
US3559386A
Cited
US3563016A
Cited
US3546856A
Cited
FR1584603A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |