US3827446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fruit and vegetable harvesting device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-01
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Granted: 1974-08-06
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Expires: 1992-12-01
Abstract
Abstract A fruit and vegetable harvesting device including a mobile frame structure adapted to be towed by a tractor having a power takeoff associated therewith. The mobile frame structure includes a plurality of laterally spaced and transversely aligned picking stations disposed on the forward portion thereof with each picking station including a seat structure supported in close proximity to the ground such that an individual worker seated thereon may pick the randomly disposed fruit or vegetables growing therebeneath as the mobile frame structure traverses the field. The mobile frame structure further includes a conveyor system for conveying the individual picked fruit or vegetables from the various picking stations to a unitized washing and grading facility disposed on the mobile frame structure.
Inventors
- 👤 B Honeycutt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:10
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D45/00; A01D45/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
gA fruit and vegetable crop harvesting device comprising: a mobile frame structure; a plurality of laterally spaced transversely aligned picking stations disposed transversely of said mobile frame structure, each picking station adapted to support an individual worker thereon such that said worker may pick the fruit or vegetable crop lying therebeneath as the harvesting device traverses a field, said picking stations comprising, rigid beam means extending outwardly on both sides of said frame structure, a plurality of vertical support means fixed to said rigid beam means and depending downwardly therefrom, a single piece longitudinal seat support bar fixed to respective vertical support means and supported thereby, and seat means fixed to each single piece horizontal seat support bar for supporting the individual worker thereon; a transverse consolidating conveyor system disposed adjacent and in close proximity to said picking stations and adapted to receive and convey the fruit or vegetables picked by the individual workers stationed on the picking stations; a washing facility disposed on said mobile frame structure for washing and cleaning the picked fruit or vegetables, said washing facility including liquid applying cleaning means for cleaning the harvested crop passing thereby; conveyor means operatively interconnected between said transverse consolidating conveyor system and said washing facility for conveying the picked fruit or vegetables to said washing facility; and a grading system disposed on said mobile frame structure and adapted to receive picked fruit or vegetables from said washing facility, whereby said washed fruit or vegetables may be graded and separated accordingly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
gA fruit and vegetable crop harvesting device comprising: a mobile frame structure; a plurality of laterally spaced transversely aligned picking stations disposed transversely of said mobile frame structure, each picking station adapted to support an individual worker thereon such that said worker may pick the fruit or vegetable crop lying therebeneath as the harvesting device traverses a field, said picking stations comprising, rigid beam means extending outwardly on both sides of said frame structure, a plurality of vertical support means fixed to said rigid beam means and depending downwardly therefrom, a single piece longitudinal seat support bar fixed to respective vertical support means and supported thereby, and seat means fixed to each single piece horizontal seat support bar for supporting the individual worker thereon; a transverse consolidating conveyor system disposed adjacent and in close proximity to said picking stations and adapted to receive and convey the fruit or vegetables picked by the individual workers stationed on the picking stations; a washing facility disposed on said mobile frame structure for washing and cleaning the picked fruit or vegetables, said washing facility including liquid applying cleaning means for cleaning the harvested crop passing thereby; conveyor means operatively interconnected between said transverse consolidating conveyor system and said washing facility for conveying the picked fruit or vegetables to said washing facility; and a grading system disposed on said mobile frame structure and adapted to receive picked fruit or vegetables from said washing facility, whereby said washed fruit or vegetables may be graded and separated accordingly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fruit and vegetable crop harvesting device of claim 1 wherein said washing facility and said grading station form a unitary structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The fruit and vegetable crop harvesting device of claim 2 wherein said unitary washing facility and grading station comprises: a reservoir disposed on said main frame structure for containing a cleaning solution; a series of grading rollers rotatively mounted above said reservoir; and a washing stall situated above said reservoir and disposed generally between said grading rollers and said conveyor means whereby picked fruit or vegetables enter the washing stall prior to being graded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
The fruit and vegetable crop harvesting device of claim 3 wherein said mobile frame structure is adapted to be pulled behind a tractor having a power takeoff, and wherein said washing facility further comprises: a pump secured on said mobile frame structure; drive means interconnecting said pump with the power takeoff of said tractor whereby driving torque generated by the tractor is transferred to the pump; and pipe means interconnecting said pump, reservoir, and washing stall for delivering the cleaning solution, contained in said reservoir, under pressure to said washing stall for cleaning the picked fruit or vegetables passing therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The fruit and vegetable crop harvesting device of claim 4 wherein said pipe means includes a generally U-shaped pipe structure disposed interiorly of said washing stall and provided with randomly arranged perforations therein whereby the cleaning solution passing therethrough under pressure may be dispensed through said performation onto the underpassing fruit or vegetables.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The fruit and vegetable crop harvesting device of claim 1 wherein said transverse consolidating conveyor system comprises two laterally spaced conveyors, each conveyor being disposed on a respective side of said mobile frame structure and oriented so as to convey the fruit or vegetables thereon inwardly to a consolidating area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The fruit and vegetable crop harvesting device of claim 6 wherein said conveyor means extending between said transverse consolidating conveyor system and said washing facility includes rearwardly inclined slat conveyor for conveying the consolidated fruits or vegetables from said consolidating area to said waShing facility.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
The fruit and vegetable crop harvesting device of claim 1 wherein said grading station includes, about the rear thereof, an exiting chute for directing the fruit or vegetables passing thereover into a container, said exiting chute including a pivotably mounted divider panel for directing the fruit or vegetables passing over the grading station into one side of the exiting chute whereby the movement of said divider panel from one side of the chute to the other results in the passing fruit or vegetables being directed into separate containers resting below said exiting chute.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The fruit and vegetable harvesting device of claim 8 wherein said grading station further includes a plurality of supporting racks for supporting containers therearound whereby the fruit or vegetables culled or graded from those fruit or vegetables passing across the grading station may be placed in the containers supported about the sides of the grading stations by said supporting racks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
The fruit and vegetable harvesting device of claim 9 wherein said rigid beam means comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced apart parallel beams that extend across said frame structure forwardly of said grading station, said parallel beams extending along front and back sides of said consolidating conveyor system for supporting said longitudinal seat support bars of each picking station in close proximity to said consolidating conveyor system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The fruit and vegetable harvesting device of claim 10 including a multi-paneled top structure having a hingedly mounted top panel disposed on opposite ends thereof such that the hinged end panels may be folded inwardly to decrease the effective grip of the harvesting device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-05 | 1978-02-04 | 1978-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-05 | 1982-02-04 | 1982-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-05 | 1986-02-04 | 1986-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |