Patent US3959959A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3959959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Machine for vintaging grapes
Assignee: LOUAULT SA
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Filing: 1974-11-07
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Granted: 1976-06-01
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Expires: 1994-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A machine for vintaging grapes. The machine comprises a framework, preferably U-shaped, which overlaps a row of vines and travels along the vine row by means, for example, of wheels. The machine incorporates at least two pairs of cylinders positioned with their longitudinal axes vertical and each having a plurality of radially extending rods, which may penetrate the vines. Means are provided for imparting a vibratory motion to the cylinders as the machine travels, so that the rods on the cylinders may harvest the crop which is then removed by means of a conveyor belt on the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy Louault
- 👤 Gerard Louault
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:15
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A machine for vintaging grapes comprising: a frame adapted to be moved along at least one row of grapevines, two pairs of cylinders carried by said frame and arranged one pair behind the other with respect to the direction of movement of said frame, the axis of each cylinder being vertical, and the cylinders of each pair being arranged so that one cylinder of each pair is on each side of the row of grapevines when said frame is moved along the row, support means carried by said frame and supporting said cylinders for free rotation about their axes, said support means permitting movement of the cylinders of each pair toward and away from each other, a plurality of substantially vertical rows of resilient rods projecting radially from each of said cylinders, the rods of each row being equidistantly spaced apart for the major portion of the length of each row, and rows of relatively closely spaced apart rods alternating with rows of relatively widely spaced apart rods around the periphery of each cylinder, and means for vibrating said cylinders.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A machine for vintaging grapes comprising: a frame adapted to be moved along at least one row of grapevines, two pairs of cylinders carried by said frame and arranged one pair behind the other with respect to the direction of movement of said frame, the axis of each cylinder being vertical, and the cylinders of each pair being arranged so that one cylinder of each pair is on each side of the row of grapevines when said frame is moved along the row, support means carried by said frame and supporting said cylinders for free rotation about their axes, said support means permitting movement of the cylinders of each pair toward and away from each other, a plurality of substantially vertical rows of resilient rods projecting radially from each of said cylinders, the rods of each row being equidistantly spaced apart for the major portion of the length of each row, and rows of relatively closely spaced apart rods alternating with rows of relatively widely spaced apart rods around the periphery of each cylinder, and means for vibrating said cylinders.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the rods in the rows of relatively widely spaced apart rods of each cylinder are vertically offset from the rods in the rows of relatively widely spaced apart rods of each of the two cylinders adjacent to it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between each two consecutive rods in each row of relatively widely spaced apart rods is equal to about twice the spacing between each two consecutive rods in each row of relatively closely spaced apart rods.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between each two consecutive rods in each row of relatively closely spaced apart rods is between 10 and 100mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A machine according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between each two consecutive rods of relatively closely spaced apart rods is about 32.5mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Machine according to claim 1, wherein each cylinder is mounted on two support arms which are pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine, the upper and lower pivot points being in alignment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
Machine according to claim 6 wherein the means for imparting vibratory movement to the cylinders comprises two masses mounted eccentrically on each cylinder outside the latter, the two masses being driven at synchronous rotary speeds to create an imbalance giving rise to the vibratory movement of said cylinder about the pivot axis of the support arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Machine according to claim 7, wherein the ratio of the weight of one of the two masses to the total weight of the cylinder is between 0.07 and 0.08.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Machine according to claim 6 wherein the support arms pivotally mounted on the machine frame are each subject to a resilient retaining means tending to return it towards the center of the machine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
Machine according to claim 9, wherein there is an interpenetration of the rods belonging to the two cylinders of the same pair under the action of the resilient retaining means of the support arms, the maximum interpenetration depth being controlled by the presence of an abutment which is integral with the machine frame, which abutment limits the travel of the support arms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
Machine according to claim 10, wherein the maximum interpenetration depth is between 5 and 50mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
Machine according to claim 11, wherein the interpenetration depth is approximately 25mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
Machine according to claim 12, wherein the rods have a length of between 100 and 300mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A machine according to claim 13, wherein the rods have a length of approximately 150mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
Machine according to claim 1, wherein the rods have a diameter of between 1.5 and 10mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
Machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the rods have a diameter of approximately 3.5mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
Machine according to claim 1, wherein a means is provided for controlling the two cylinders of the same pair in order that they rotate exactly at the same speed during the forward movement of the machine.
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) | 1979-06-01 | 1979-12-01 | 1980-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-01 | 1983-12-01 | 1984-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-01 | 1987-12-01 | 1988-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |