US3864899A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spindle for fruit picker
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-20
•
Granted: 1975-02-11
•
Expires: 1993-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A fruit picking panel with a certain arrangement of a plurality of parallel disposed rotating spindles and a certain arrangement of a plurality of intermingled parallel disposed stationary spindles for penetrating the branches of a fruit bearing tree. The rotating spindles have single-lobed cam-like elements intermediate the ends thereof to provide maximum openings for permitting the easy penetration of the panel of spindles in and around the branches and the hanging fruit for a minimum of physical damage thereto and thereafter the rotation of the spindles carrying the cams causes the fruit to be gently squeezed between adjacent cams or between a cam and a stationary spindle to spin the fruit free of its attachment to the tree.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred D Lasswell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:30
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A fruit harvesting panel comprising a plurality of tree penetrating spindles mounted in a certain arrangement on one side thereof, certain of said spindles being stationary, certain of said spindles being rotatable and widely spaced apart each of the rotating spindles having a cam mounted thereon constituting a fruit harvesting area, each of said cams comprising smooth cylindrical cammed surfaces arranged on said rotating spindles, means for rotating all of the rotatable spindles in one direction for alternatively forming between adjacent rotating spindles on the panel a wide and a narrow gap, whereby when the panel of spindles is inserted into a tree the arrangement of spindles is such that fruit hanging in the area of the cams on the spindles will upon the spindles being rotated be pushed against and thereby gripped and gently twisted by the cooperation of the cylindrical cammed surfaces of two adjacent rotating spindles as the cams close the gap between the spindles or engaged and twisted by the cooperative engagement of the cylindrical cammed surface of one rotating spindle and a stationary spindle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A fruit harvesting panel comprising a plurality of tree penetrating spindles mounted in a certain arrangement on one side thereof, certain of said spindles being stationary, certain of said spindles being rotatable and widely spaced apart each of the rotating spindles having a cam mounted thereon constituting a fruit harvesting area, each of said cams comprising smooth cylindrical cammed surfaces arranged on said rotating spindles, means for rotating all of the rotatable spindles in one direction for alternatively forming between adjacent rotating spindles on the panel a wide and a narrow gap, whereby when the panel of spindles is inserted into a tree the arrangement of spindles is such that fruit hanging in the area of the cams on the spindles will upon the spindles being rotated be pushed against and thereby gripped and gently twisted by the cooperation of the cylindrical cammed surfaces of two adjacent rotating spindles as the cams close the gap between the spindles or engaged and twisted by the cooperative engagement of the cylindrical cammed surface of one rotating spindle and a stationary spindle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fruit harvester as set forth in claim 1 in which a rubber blanket is provided over the cylindrical cammed surface of each of the rotating spindles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fruit harvester as set forth in claim 1 in which a portion of each of the stationary spindles located adjacent the harvesting area of the rotating spindles comprises a plurality of spaced apart fruit harvesting ribs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fruit harvester as set forth in claim 3 in which a rubber sleeve is provided over each of the ribbed stationary spindles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fruit harvester as set forth in claim 1 in which a harvesting area of each of the stationary spindles is square in cross section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A fruit harvester as set forth in claim 5 in which a rubber blanket is provided over the cylindrical cammed surface of each of the rotating spindles and a rubber sleeve is provided over the square harvesting area of the stationary spindles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
A rotating fruit picking spindle for a mechanical fruit harvester comprising a shaft, plural sleeve elements carried on said shaft, means locking said plural sleeve elements to said shaft, said sleeve elements comprising a rearwardly tapering cone, a cylindrical eccentric cam and an eccentric forwardly tapering nose cone, said means locking said plural sleeve elements onto said shaft comprising said shaft having a fixed collar at one end, an internally threaded outer end, and a cooperative elongated bolt threadedly engaging said internally threaded outer end, said bolt having an enlarged head to abut the nose cone and hold the plural sleeve elements on the shaft against the fixed collar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
A rotating fruit picking spindle for a mechanical fruit harvester comprising a shaft, plural sleeve elements carried on said shaft, means locking said plural sleeve elements to said shaft, said sleeve elements comprising a rearwardly tapering cone, a cylindrical eccentric cam and an eccentric forwardly tapering nose cone, said means locking said plural sleeve elements onto said shaft comprising said shaft having a fixed collar at one end, an internally threaded outer end, and a cooperative elongated bolt threadedly engaging said internally threaded outer end, said bolt having an enlarged head to abut the nose cone and hold the plural sleeve elements on the shaft against the fixed collar.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |