US3925973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fruit picking apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-11-19
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1994-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A hollow cylindrical housing encloses a spiral auger driven by a hydraulic motor with a fruit infeed opening provided in one end of the housing adjacent the spiral member and a fruit discharge outlet provided in the opposite end of the housing adjacent the spiral member. A stripper flange defines the outer edge portion of the spiral member adjacent the fruit infeed opening for engaging fruit and moving the fruit toward one edge of the fruit infeed opening defining an abutment so that continued rotation of the spiral member strips the fruit from the stem and moves the fruit for subsequent discharge through the discharge outlet.
Inventors
- 👤 George M Glover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:14
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A fruit harvesTer for harvesting fruit from a tree comprising in combination, an elongated spiral member, support means supporting said elongated spiral member for rotation about its axis, means defining a fixed abutment extending transversely adjacent said elongated spiral member, drive means for drivingly rotating said elongated spiral member about its axis in direction so that positioning of an unharvested fruit member inwardly of the outer periphery of said spiral member between said spiral member and said fixed abutment results in movement of the fruit member past the fixed abutment to harvest the fruit member from the tree.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A fruit harvesTer for harvesting fruit from a tree comprising in combination, an elongated spiral member, support means supporting said elongated spiral member for rotation about its axis, means defining a fixed abutment extending transversely adjacent said elongated spiral member, drive means for drivingly rotating said elongated spiral member about its axis in direction so that positioning of an unharvested fruit member inwardly of the outer periphery of said spiral member between said spiral member and said fixed abutment results in movement of the fruit member past the fixed abutment to harvest the fruit member from the tree.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises housing means having axially spaced rotary bearing members engaging shaft means extending axially of, and connected to, said elongated spiral member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises housing means having axially spaced rotary bearing members engaging shaft means extending axially from each end of said elongated spiral member, said housing including an inner surface defining an internal chamber substantially enclosing said spiral member and closely spaced from the outer surface of said spiral member, said housing further including means defining a fruit infeed opening radially adjacent one end of said spiral member and a portion of which comprises said fixed abutment and further including means defining a fruit discharge outlet radially adjacent said spiral member and axially spaced from said fruit infeed opening wherein said drive means rotates said spiral member in a direction to convey fruit in said housing from a position adjacent said fruit infeed opening to said fruit discharage outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein said spiral flange means includes a radial spiral web and a stripper flange portion extending perpendicular from the outer termination of said radial spiral web in the end of said spiral member adjacent said fruit infeed opening and in a direction toward said discharge outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 4 additionally including movable support means connected to said housing for enabling desired positioning of said housing with respect to fruit on a tree.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein said housing comprises a generally cylindrical casing and said internal chamber is of cylindrical shape and said spiral member is mounted for rotation about the axis of said cylindrical casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein said drive means comprises a hydraulic motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a cylindrical housing means formed of a generally cylindrical sleeve and first and second parallel end walls, axially spaced and aligned bearing members mounted in said end walls, said elongated spiral member being supported for rotation by said bearing means and having its outer periphery closely adjacent the inner surface of said generally cylindrical sleeve wherein said fixed abutment comprises an edge of a fruit infeed opening provided in said generally cylindrical sleeve adjacent one end thereof, said edge extending in a plane transverse to the axis of rotation of said elongated spiral member and a downwardly facing fruit discharge outlet provided in said generally cylindrical sleeve axially spaced from said infeed opening so that rotation of said spiral member conveys fruit through said generally cylindrical sleeve from said fruit infeed opening to said fruit discharge outlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein said spiral flange means includes a radial spiral web and a stripper flange portion extending perpendicular from the outer termination of said radial spiral web in the end of said spiral member adjacent said fruit infeed opening and in a direction toward said discharge outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 9 additionally including movable support means connected to said housing for enabling desired positioning of said housing with respect to fruit on a tree.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention of claim 9 wHerein said drive means comprises hydraulic motor means.
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) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |