US3584442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for picking citrus fruit
Assignee: Ael Food Automation Inc
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Filing: 1970-02-18
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1990-02-18
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a method and apparatus for picking citrus fruit by submerging the trees temporarily in water. The invention has special application to picking oranges and grapefruit utilizing the buoyancy of the fruit in water and utilizing the water to aid in controlling motion of the tree during picking of the fruit and to provide a buoyant cushion for the fruit itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard S White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:02
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of picking oranges and grapefruit from trees which comprises the steps of a. raising a level of a body of water upwardly surrounding the tree and its branches creating a buoyant lifting action on the fruit which is attached to the branches, b. confining the water to a region immediately surrounding the tree, c. agitating the water for removal of the fruit from the branches, and d. floating the picked fruit on the surface of the water to protect the fruit from bruising by avoiding falling impact upon lower branches.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of picking oranges and grapefruit from trees which comprises the steps of a. raising a level of a body of water upwardly surrounding the tree and its branches creating a buoyant lifting action on the fruit which is attached to the branches, b. confining the water to a region immediately surrounding the tree, c. agitating the water for removal of the fruit from the branches, and d. floating the picked fruit on the surface of the water to protect the fruit from bruising by avoiding falling impact upon lower branches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The mEthod of picking oranges and grapefruit from trees according to claim 1, in which the step of agitating the water comprises e. swirling the body of water as a whole in a generally cylindrical swirl pattern concentric about the trunk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of picking oranges from trees according to claim 1, in which the step of agitating the water includes f. generating intense mechanical vibrations in the water for loosening the fruit from its stems.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of picking oranges from trees according to claim 2, in which intense mechanical vibrations are generated in the whole swirling body of water.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
62 words
The method of picking oranges and grapefruit from citrus trees which comprises the steps of a. confining water to a region immediately surrounding the tree, b. shaking the fruit to separate the fruit from its stems, c. changing the level of the water during the shaking, and d. cushioning the loosened fruit from damage by buoyantly floating the fruit in the water.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
62 words
The method of picking oranges and grapefruit from citrus trees which comprises the steps of a. confining water to a region immediately surrounding the tree, b. shaking the fruit to separate the fruit from its stems, c. changing the level of the water during the shaking, and d. cushioning the loosened fruit from damage by buoyantly floating the fruit in the water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of picking fruit from citrus trees as claimed in claim 5, and including the steps of e. mechanically shaking the tree trunk for shaking the fruit, and f. imposing the weight of the water as a distributed load upon the soil about the base of the trunk for holding the soil in place about the roots during the shaking of the tree.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of picking oranges and grapefruit from trees as claimed in claim 5, wherein the level of the water is lowered as the fruit is being shaken.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
77 words
The method of picking oranges and grapefruit from citrus trees which comprises the steps of: a. providing a container around the tree, b. providing water within the container in a region immediately surrounding the tree and its branches creating a buoyant lifting action on the fruit on the branches, c. floating the removed fruit on the surface of the water to protect the fruit from damage due to falling, and d. collecting the fruit from the water.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
77 words
The method of picking oranges and grapefruit from citrus trees which comprises the steps of: a. providing a container around the tree, b. providing water within the container in a region immediately surrounding the tree and its branches creating a buoyant lifting action on the fruit on the branches, c. floating the removed fruit on the surface of the water to protect the fruit from damage due to falling, and d. collecting the fruit from the water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of picking oranges and grapefruit from citrus trees as claimed in claim 8, in which the water is removed from the region immediately surrounding the tree and its branches by withdrawing the water and introducing the withdrawn water into another container around another tree.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |