Harvesters – Fruit gatherer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-28
2001-07-24
Shackelford, H. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Fruit gatherer
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263652
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
Generally, the invention relates to fruit harvesting machines. More specifically, the invention relates to such machines which operate utilizing a canopy penetration, fruit grasp and pressure induced sever method of harvesting.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Mechanical harvesting of fruit from trees has been attempted using various designs of machines. One class of machines provide for picking members to be inserted and withdrawn from a canopy of the tree. A sub-class of these machines employ picking arms which are displaced generally along there longitudinal length during an extension cycle and a withdrawal cycle into and out of the canopy of the tree.
Typically these penetration type harvesting machines come to a complete stop prior to beginning the harvesting operation. Then, once stopped, the picking arms are inserted into the canopy of the tree to there desired depth of penetration and withdrawn from the canopy of the tree. Certain designs of such machines require a subsequent insertion and withdrawal cycle to ensure adequate harvesting of the crop by the picking assembly. Following any insertion and withdraw operation the harvesting machine is advanced along the row of trees and brought to a complete stop again at the new harvesting position. Then the procedure is repeated with a complete pause of the harvesting machine prior to each and every cycle of insertion and withdrawal from the canopy of the tree. This arrangement is extremely time consuming and requires extreme diligence on the part of the operator to maximize production. If the operator advances an insufficient distance between pauses an excessive overlap exists and production suffers as additional cycles of advance, pause and picking arm displacement are required during movement down a row of trees. If the operator advances beyond the required distance than a section of the tree is missed by the harvesting operation and the percentage of fruit left on the trees increases to an unacceptable level. Both of these results may be disastrous to the owner of the grove being harvested.
Various attempts have been made to provide for a mechanical harvesting of fruit from a grove of trees. These attempts have been less efficient than desired. As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a harvesting machine which can continuously advance along the row of trees while complete coverage is provided by the harvesting procedure in order to minimize the time required for the harvesting while maximizing the amount of fruit harvested. The present invention substantially fulfills these needs.
SUMMARY
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of harvesting machines, your applicant has devised a machine having a machine frame, a plurality of arm members, means to continuous move during a harvesting procedure, means to repetitively perform a series of movements during the harvesting procedure while the machine continuously advances and picking members attached to each of the arm members. The machine frame has a front portion and a center axis. The plurality of arm members are positioned on the harvesting machine to extend outward relative to the center axis of the machine frame. The series of movements of the arm members performed repetitively during the harvesting procedure include a rearward movement, an extension movement, a retraction movement and a forward movement. The rearward movement moves the arm members away from the front portion of the machine frame and is broken down into a first portion and a second portion. The extension movement moves the arm members outward relative to the center axis of the machine frame and occurs during the first portion of the rearward movement of the arm members. The retraction movement moves the arm members inward relative to the center axis of the machine frame and occurs during the second portion of the rearward movement of the arm members. The forward movement moves the arm members toward the front portion of the machine frame. The picking members provide for an engagement of fruit during the retraction movement of the arm members to produce a picking pressure to sever the fruit from the fruit tree. These movements are repetitively performed during continuous movement of the harvesting machine along the row of trees.
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of them herein disclosed and it is distinguished from the prior art in these particular combinations of these structures for the functions specified.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide for a mechanical harvesting of fruit wherein the harvesting machine continuously advances adjacent a row of fruit trees during the harvesting.
Other object include;
a) to provide for a canopy penetration, fruit engagement and pressure building picking as the method of continuous advance harvesting.
b) to provide for a coordination of movement of a plurality of arm members relative to advance of the overall harvesting machine to provide for the desired picking actions.
c) to provide for an arm housing to retain the arm member.
d) to provide for an arm housing frame to retain the arm housing.
e) to provide for a reciprocating displacement of the arm housing frame generally parallel to a center axis of the harvesting machine.
f) to provide for a reciprocating displacement of the arm housing relative to the arm housing frame and generally perpendicular to the center axis of the harvesting machine.
g) to provide for a stationary insertion and withdraw of the arm member relative to a canopy of the tree wherein lateral movement of the arm member is minimized during continuous advance of the harvesting machine adjacent the tree.
h) to provide for a slight lateral displacement of the arm members while in the canopy of the tree to provide for a gathering motion of the arm members while in the canopy of the tree during continuous advance of the harvesting machine adjacent the tree.
i) to provide for picking members to extend from both lateral sides of each arm member.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated the preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3153311 (1964-10-01), Pool
patent: 3347587 (1967-10-01), Frost
patent: 4163356 (1979-08-01), Robbins et al.
patent: 5421146 (1995-06-01), Visser
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