Patent US4970300A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3810512A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Harvesting apparatus for removing crops from plants or vines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-12-01
•
Granted: 1974-05-14
•
Expires: 1992-12-01
Abstract
Abstract Plants or vines having vegetables or fruit, e.g., tomatoes, attached thereto are picked up from ground level and deposited on a shaker belt formed of transverse links spaced more widely than the largest nominal dimension of the crops being harvested. As the plants are transported along the surface of the belt, the latter is oscillated to shake the fruit loose from the plants. Thus, the fruit may fall through the belt, between the links, while the plants remain thereon. A second belt is encircled by the first to catch the fruit falling therethrough. The second belt is also formed of spaced links, to allow dirt, etc., to fall through, but spaced more closely than the smallest nominal dimension of fruit to be harvested. The shaker belt is oscillated by a plurality of rotating arms along each side, the arrangement and means of driving the arms being such that optimum shaking motion is achieved.
Inventors
- 👤 W Porter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:17
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D45/00; A01D45/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
Harvesting apparatus for separating tomatoes, and like crops, from plants on which they are growing, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a first continuous conveyor chain for receiving plants with attached fruit on an upper portion at a receiving end and havIng support members spaced more widely than the largest nominal dimension of fruit being harvested; b. a second continuous conveyor chain encircled by said first chain and having support members spaced more closely than the smallest nominal dimension of fruit being harvested; c. means for imparting oscillatory motion to at least the upper portion of said first chain, the magnitude and speed of said oscillatory motion being sufficient to dislodge the fruit from the plants, whereby the fruit falls through said first chain to be received on said second chain said oscillatory motion imparting means comprising a plurality of straight arms mounted for rotation about their centers in spaced relation along the lower side of said upper portion on both lateral sides thereof, successive arms along each of said lateral sides being arranged at substantially 90* from one another, and the arms along one of said lateral sides being arranged substantially opposite the arms along the other side and opposite arms are arranged at substantially 90* from one another; and d. means for separately discharging the plants from said first chain at a discharge end thereof, and the fruit from said second chain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
Harvesting apparatus for separating tomatoes, and like crops, from plants on which they are growing, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a first continuous conveyor chain for receiving plants with attached fruit on an upper portion at a receiving end and havIng support members spaced more widely than the largest nominal dimension of fruit being harvested; b. a second continuous conveyor chain encircled by said first chain and having support members spaced more closely than the smallest nominal dimension of fruit being harvested; c. means for imparting oscillatory motion to at least the upper portion of said first chain, the magnitude and speed of said oscillatory motion being sufficient to dislodge the fruit from the plants, whereby the fruit falls through said first chain to be received on said second chain said oscillatory motion imparting means comprising a plurality of straight arms mounted for rotation about their centers in spaced relation along the lower side of said upper portion on both lateral sides thereof, successive arms along each of said lateral sides being arranged at substantially 90* from one another, and the arms along one of said lateral sides being arranged substantially opposite the arms along the other side and opposite arms are arranged at substantially 90* from one another; and d. means for separately discharging the plants from said first chain at a discharge end thereof, and the fruit from said second chain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein a greater number of said arms are mounted along one of said lateral sides than along the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the arms are of the same length and the arms along one of said lateral sides are driven at a different rotational speed than the arms along the other side.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention according to claim 1 and further including a third continuous conveyor chain having a forward end near ground level for receiving plants with attached fruit therefrom, and an elevated rear end discharging said plants and fruit onto said first conveyor chain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention according to claim 1 and futher including means for turning the plants as they are transported by said first conveyor chain, whereby different sides of the plants contact said first chain during transport.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention according to claim 5 wherein said turning means comprise at least one stationary member positioned in spaced relation above said first chain, between said receiving and discharge ends, for contact by plants transported thereon, whereby the upper sides of the plants are held by said stationary member as the lower sides are moved by said shaker belt to turn the plants on the chain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 6 wherein said turning means comprise at least one strap extending parallel to the direction of travel of said first chain and having a lug extending toward the chain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 5 wherein said means for collecting comprise a second continuous belt rotatable about horizontal axes and located below the upper portion of said shaker belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 8 wherein said second belt is formed of transverse links spaced more closely than the smallest nominal dimension of the crops being harvested.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention according to claim 9 wherein said second belt is encircled by said shaker belt.
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) | 1977-05-13 | 1977-11-12 | 1978-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-13 | 1981-11-12 | 1982-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-13 | 1985-11-12 | 1986-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |