US3979891A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic fruit harvester
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-07
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Granted: 1976-09-14
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Expires: 1995-03-07
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for harvesting fruit from a fruit tree. The tree is enclosed by a tubular shroud having an open top and bottom. A fruit catcher is suspended beneath the shroud, and a rotatably powered propeller horizontally mounted in the shroud above the tree draws air entering at the bottom upwardly through the shroud and out the top. The updraft of air shakes the fruit from the branches and reduces the falling velocity of the fruit in order to prevent the fruit from being bruised upon striking a fruit catcher positioned beneath the branches of the tree. Associated with the catcher is a conveyor for transporting the fruit from beneath the shroud to a point adjacent the harvester.
Inventors
- 👤 Orvil D. Patton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:40
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for harvesting fruit from a tree, comprising: a shroud enclosing the tree, said shroud having inlet means allowing air to enter said shroud beneath the branches of the tree; a fruit catcher operatively associated with said shroud and positioned therebeneath so as to be disposed beneath the branches of the tree; and powered means operatively associated with said shroud for removing air from said shroud above the tree, said powered means having sufficient air removing capacity to create an updraft in said shroud capable of shaking fruit loose from the tree.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for harvesting fruit from a tree, comprising: a shroud enclosing the tree, said shroud having inlet means allowing air to enter said shroud beneath the branches of the tree; a fruit catcher operatively associated with said shroud and positioned therebeneath so as to be disposed beneath the branches of the tree; and powered means operatively associated with said shroud for removing air from said shroud above the tree, said powered means having sufficient air removing capacity to create an updraft in said shroud capable of shaking fruit loose from the tree.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said powered means has sufficient air removing capacity to materially reduce the falling speed of the fruit shaken loose from the tree.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shroud means comprises a plurality of concentric cylindrical shells of varying diameters, all of which are greater that the greatest diameter of the tree, said shells further including means for restraining axial movement between adjacent shells whereby each shell supports the shell below and wherein the lowermost shell is capable of raising the remaining shells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further including means for controlling the vertical position of said shells, comprising: a plurality of cables having one end secured to the lowermost shell; a spool upon which the other ends of said lines are wound; and means for selectively rotating said spool in either direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shroud and said powered means are mounted on a longitudinal support shaft and wherein said support shaft and said catcher are secured to a frame, said frame including means for rotating said support shaft approximately 90°, thereby placing said shroud and powered means in a substantially vertical plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 5, further including means for moving the frames on either side of its longitudinal axis together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said powered means for removing air from said shroud comprises: a fan blade rotatably mounted in said shroud above the tree, said fan blade being in a substantially horizontal plane; and means for rotating said fan blade.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fruit catcher comprises a pair of inclined sheets of resilient materail suspended beneath said shroud with one of said sheets overlying the other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the inner edge of said sheets contains a generally semicircular cutout adapted to encircle the trunk of the tree and wherein said catcher includes means for retracting said sheets away from each other to allow removal of the harvester from the tree.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said sheets are inclined toward one end, said catcher further including a first conveyor adjacent the lower end of said sheets whereby fruit falling on said sheets rolls onto said conveyor and is removed from beneath the tree.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fruit catcher includes a first conveyor for removing fruit from beneath the branches of the tree and delivering it to a second conveyor, said second conveyor comprising a pair of substantially vertical, parallel conveyor belts positioned face-to-face at a distance apart from each other greater than the smallest dimension of the fruit, said belts being coated with a resilient material with a thickness of at least one-half the interbelt distance minus one-half the smallest dimension of the fruit whereby fruit positioned between the belts wil contact the resilient material coating each belt.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of harvesting fruit from a plurality of trees in an orchard, comprising: enclosing a tree in a substantially air-impervious shroud; removing air from said shroud above the tree; allowing air to enter said shroud beneath the tree, thereby creating an updraft through the tree for shaking fruit loose from the branches; catching the fruit falling from the tree and collecting it at a central location; removing said shroud from the tree; transporting said shroud to a position adjacent another tree; and repeating the aforementioned steps until all of the trees in said orchard have been harvested.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of harvesting fruit from a plurality of trees in an orchard, comprising: enclosing a tree in a substantially air-impervious shroud; removing air from said shroud above the tree; allowing air to enter said shroud beneath the tree, thereby creating an updraft through the tree for shaking fruit loose from the branches; catching the fruit falling from the tree and collecting it at a central location; removing said shroud from the tree; transporting said shroud to a position adjacent another tree; and repeating the aforementioned steps until all of the trees in said orchard have been harvested.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said shroud comprises a plurality of concentric cylindrical shells of varying diameters and wherein said step of removing said shroud from the tree is accomplished by axially moving said shells upward.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the lowermost of said shells includes a stop for restraining axial movement of the lowermost shell with respect to the remaining shells, and the step of moving said shells is accomplished by securing a plurality of lines to the lowermost shell, winding said lines on a common spool and selectively rotating said spool in either direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 12 wherein air is removed from said shroud by rotating a fan blade within said shroud above the tree, said rotation being in a substantially horizontal plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said shroud and said fan blade are mounted on a longitudinal support shaft secured to a frame and wherein said shroud, fan blade and frame are placed in a towing configuration by the method comprising: reducing the height of said frame; rotating said support shaft approximately 90°, thereby placing said shroud and fan blade in a substantially vertical plane; moving the frame on either side of the longitudinal axis together; and attaching a tow bar to one longitudinal end of said frame.
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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) | 1979-09-14 | 1980-03-15 | 1980-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-14 | 1984-03-15 | 1984-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-14 | 1988-03-15 | 1988-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |