Harvesters – Fruit gatherer – Berry strippers
Patent
1993-12-13
1994-12-06
Bagnell, David J.
Harvesters
Fruit gatherer
Berry strippers
56130, 56DIG2, A01D 4600
Patent
active
053699440
ABSTRACT:
An apparatus for harvesting berries on low plants, such as wild blueberries, is adapted for mounting on the 3-point hitch of a farm tractor. The apparatus has a drum which rotates in a direction such that the lower segments thereof move in a direction against a direction of travel. A plurality of combs having a plurality of fingers generally pointing in a direction of rotation, are mounted at regular angular intervals on this drum. As the apparatus moves over a crop, plants are raked in an ascending movement, retaining thereby the fruits to be harvested. The berries are carried by respective combs atop the drum where emptying of each comb is done by gravity. The rotation of the drum and the corresponding advance of the combs being slower than the free rolling of the berries on the backward face of the drum, the fruits gain speed rapidly to rebound on the back surface of a preceding comb, to thereby jump from the surface of the drum and leap over a gap, reaching into an accept chute. As round fruits have negligible coefficient of friction as compared to leaves and debris, the rolling of berries has the additional effect of separating the fruits from leaves and twigs. Such debris remain on the surface of the drum until able to fail straight down, avoiding thereby the accept chute.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2524631 (1950-10-01), Minutillo
patent: 3675406 (1972-07-01), Grant et al.
patent: 4141204 (1979-02-01), Kuryluk
patent: 4790127 (1988-12-01), Nason et al.
patent: 5113644 (1992-05-01), Windemuller et al.
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