US4088570A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tomato harvester separator
Assignee: University of California, San Diego
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Filing: 1977-02-16
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Granted: 1978-05-09
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Expires: 1997-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An improved tomato harvester separator of the type having lengthwise extending bars with lengthwise extending gaps between them, has series of slender resilient fingers extending in both directions from alternate ones of the bars. This placement of the fingers, with alternating fingerless bars adjacent to the rows of fingers, avoids the progression of the tomato plants and their tomatoes to one side of the separator during shaking and separation, and therefore is particularly useful in harvesters wherein the stream of separated tomatoes is divided to two sides of the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas S. Bettencourt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:07
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B1/00; B07B1/28; A; A01; A01D; A01D45/00; A01D45/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
In a harvester for tomatoes and the like having a separator device comprising two series of parallel lengthwise extending walking bars with lengthwise extending gaps between them, the bars of one series alternating with those of the other series, and means for oscillating the bars so that any point on each bar moves in approximately a circle in a vertical plane, the bars of one series being 180° out of phase with the bars of the other series, the improvement comprising rows of slender resilient fingers secured to and extending transversely from the walking bars of one said alternating series, the fingers extending from both sides of each bar of said one series into the gaps on both sides of the bar, the fingers on the same side of said one series being spaced apart from each other wider than the width of each gap and being nearly as long as the width of a gap but slightly short of spanning the gap, and the fingers having sufficient resiliency so that when the fruit of the crop being harvested lands on a finger it gives and flexes and the fruit falls through and having sufficient rigidity to retain thereon stems, leaves and other lightweight vegetative matter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a harvester for tomatoes and the like having a separator device comprising two series of parallel lengthwise extending walking bars with lengthwise extending gaps between them, the bars of one series alternating with those of the other series, and means for oscillating the bars so that any point on each bar moves in approximately a circle in a vertical plane, the bars of one series being 180° out of phase with the bars of the other series, the improvement comprising rows of slender resilient fingers secured to and extending transversely from the walking bars of one said alternating series, the fingers extending from both sides of each bar of said one series into the gaps on both sides of the bar, the fingers on the same side of said one series being spaced apart from each other wider than the width of each gap and being nearly as long as the width of a gap but slightly short of spanning the gap, and the fingers having sufficient resiliency so that when the fruit of the crop being harvested lands on a finger it gives and flexes and the fruit falls through and having sufficient rigidity to retain thereon stems, leaves and other lightweight vegetative matter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The harvester apparatus of claim 1 wherein the walking bars of each series include spaced upward projections, said fingers being located near the base of each projection of said one series, with two fingers at each projection extending in opposite directions from the bar.
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) | 1981-05-08 | 1981-11-07 | 1982-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-08 | 1985-11-07 | 1986-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-08 | 1989-11-07 | 1990-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |