Harvesters – Fruit gatherer – Pole supported
Reexamination Certificate
2009-02-26
2010-10-12
Fábián-Kovács, Árpád (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Fruit gatherer
Pole supported
C056S333000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07810305
ABSTRACT:
A harvesting apparatus for harvesting generally spherical fruit by severing each fruit from its stem and conveying it using air flow into a receptacle. The harvesting apparatus includes a tubular body with a clamshell cutter for severing items of fruit from their stems, and a retractable throat that is able to restrict and then allow passage of the fruit. The apparatus further includes a control unit that can control the clamshell cutter and the throat. A funnel-shaped orifice is preferably included at the harvesting end of the tubular body. When a piece of fruit enters the harvesting end, it contacts the throat and blocks the airflow. The control unit senses the resulting pressure drop, and then activates the clamshell cutter while causing the throat to open so as to allow the piece of fruit to pass through the tubular body and into the receptacle.
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http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs—all.jsp?tp=&arnumber=4338567&isnumber=4338503 An end-effector for spherical fruit harvesting robot was developed. This end-effector is a multi-sensory one that is universal for spherical fruit such as tomatoes, apples and citrus. It performs fruit singulation with a vacuum suction pad.
“A Multi-Sensory End-Effector for Spherical Fruit Harvesting Robot” Proceedings of the IEEE.
Fábián-Kovács Árpád
Russ Weinzimmer & Associates
Weinzimmer Russ
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