Apparatus for harvesting fruit from trees

Claim 2

Apparatus for harvesting fruit from trees by means of intermittent jets of compressed air, which comprises: a. a vertically positioned guide member; b. a blower unit supported by said guide member and slidably attached thereto for vertical displacement therealong; c. at least one nozzle positioned at the upper extremity of said blower unit for delivering compressed air pulsatingly against the foliage of the tree; d. means for raising and lowering said blower unit along said guide member; e. means for holding compressed air delivered by a compressor source; f. means for controlling the flow of compressed air to said blower unit; g. means connecting said holding means with said blower unit for fluid communication therebetween; and h. means for supporting said guide member in vertical position.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle comprises a butterfly-type baffle for the intermittent delivery of air jets against the foliage of the tree.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said blower unit has a plurality of nozzles and said raising and lowering means comprises a winch-operated mechanism including rope and pulley.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guide member is concurrently also the holding means for the compressed air.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid conduit connected to said air holding means by means of a feed line and comprising pressure regulating means, at least one nozzle at the extremity of said conduit and means for supporting said rigid conduit on an individual tree branch, said nozzle having a baffle for delivery of pulsating air jets.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid conduit connected to said air holding means by means of a feed line and comprising pressure regulating means and at least one nozzle at the extremity of said conduit constructed in the shape of a fan for gathering felled fruit into heaps.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second rigid conduit separately connected to said air holding means by means of a feed line and comprising separate pressure regulating means and at least one nozzle at the extremity of said second conduit constructed in the shape of a fan for gathering felled fruit into heaps.

Claim 9

Apparatus for harvesting fruit from trees by means of intermittent jets of compressed air, which comprises: a. a tubular vertically positioned air holding tank; b. a blower unit supported by said tubular tank and slidably attached thereto for vertical displacement therealong; c. a plurality of spaced apart T-nozzles along the upper portion of said blower unit for delivering intermittent jets of air against the foliage of the tree; d. means for raising and lowering said blower unit along said holding tank; e. means for connecting said holding tank with said blower unit for delivery of compressed air thereto, said connecting means containing a pressure regulator therein; f. means for supporting said air holding tank in vertical position; g. a first rigid conduit in fluid communication with said holding tank and having a pressure regulator, means for supporting said conduit on a tree branch and at least one nozzle at the extremity of said conduit for delivering intermittent jets against the foliage of the tree; and h. a second rigid conduit in fluid communication with said holding tank and having a pressure regulator, and at least one fan-sHaped nozzle at the extremity thereof for delivering jets of air against the felled fruit for gathering them into heaps.

Claim 10

Apparatus for harvesting fruit from trees by means of intermittent jets of compressed air, which comprises: a. a tubular vertically positioned air holding tank; b. a blower unit supported by said tubular tank and slidably attached thereto for vertical displacement therealong; c. a plurality of spaced apart T-nozzles along the upper portion of said blower unit for delivering intermittent jets of air against the foliage of the tree; d. means for raising and lowering said blower unit along said holding tank; e. means for connecting said holding tank with said blower unit for delivery of compressed air thereto, said connecting means containing a pressure regulator therein; f. means for supporting said air holding tank in vertical position; g. a first rigid conduit in fluid communication with said holding tank and having a pressure regulator, means for supporting said conduit on a tree branch and at least one nozzle at the extremity of said conduit for delivering intermittent jets against the foliage of the tree; and h. a second rigid conduit in fluid communication with said holding tank and having a pressure regulator, and at least one fan-sHaped nozzle at the extremity thereof for delivering jets of air against the felled fruit for gathering them into heaps.