AU2005201250A1

AU2005201250A1 - Side-discharge grape harvester

Info

Publication number: AU2005201250A1
Application number: AU2005201250A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Roger Pellenc
Original assignee: Pellenc SAS
Current assignee: Pellenc SAS
Priority date: 2004-04-07
Filing date: 2005-03-23
Publication date: 2005-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-23
Also published as: FR2868663A1; FR2868663B1; ZA200502539B; AU2005201250B2

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): PELLENC (Societe Anonyme) Invention Title: SIDE-DISCHARGE GRAPE HARVESTER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 Side-discharge grape harvester This invention relates to side-discharge grape harvesters.

Unlike grape harvesters fitted with one or two grape harvest collection containers, side-discharge grape harvesters are equipped with a delivery arm fed by a cross conveyor onto which the grape harvest transported by the grape harvest collection and lifting conveyor system is discharged. This arrangement enables the continuous discharge of the grape harvest into a trailer container running close to the harvester, such that no time is lost emptying the collection containers at the end of the row. This solution is particularly suitable for the harvesting of high yield vineyards that are planted in rows of such a length that the capacity of machines with containers is not sufficient to harvest a full row. A grape harvester of this type is, for example, described in patent US-5.170.614.

However, the continuity of the work performed with this type of machine must be interrupted when the trailer container is full and another tractor must position its trailer container under the discharge end of the delivery arm. This is also the case where the machine harvest row ends where manoeuvring is difficult; in fact, in such situations, the tractor loses considerable time keeping up and properly positioning the trailer container under the discharge end of the delivery arm.

To make up for this inconvenience, some manufacturers have made provision for mounting a relay container on the machine chassis and mechanisms enabling the grape harvest flow to be momentarily diverted and to discharge it into this relay container, in the situations set out above. However, this arrangement does not result in time losses being H:\akhoo\Keep\Tep\P5172 AU.doc 23/03/05 significantly reduced and, in fact, generates further constraints. In fact, each time the relay container fills up, which often happens during a day's harvesting, the machine has to be stopped, for example at the end of a row, in order to empty it. Moreover, the relay container must be detachable from the machine chassis, so as to be emptied. Such equipment requiring hydraulic or other actuators is relatively expensive.

In addition, the grape harvest that is provisionally stored in the relay container does not go through the full cleaning cycle and remains in the aforementioned container for a considerably long period of time so that it is not emptied upon each reversal of the conveyor system but rather only when it is full. This may thus cause the harvest to be oxidised to some extent. Moreover, in an attempt to solve the cleaning problems, some machines are equipped with a special vacuum cleaner for the relay container, thereby increasing the cost.

An object of this invention is to reduce time loss resulting from the situations set out above.

In accordance with the invention, this object is met by a side-discharge grape harvester comprising a harvesting device that allows the fruit to be removed, a system for collecting and transporting the harvested fruit, being positioned on either side of this harvesting device, a lateral delivery arm enabling the continuous discharge of the grape harvest on one side of the machine, at least one relay container, a conveyance system allowing the grape harvest being transported by the system for collecting and transporting the harvested fruit to be channelled either to the beginning of the delivery arm so that the harvest can be discharged onto it, when the machine is operating normally, or to the top opening of the relay container or of each relay container during temporary periods of operation when the discharge of the grape harvest through the delivery arm has to be H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05 momentarily interrupted, and wherein the bottom portion of the aforementioned relay container or of each relay container is fitted with a discharge outlet positioned above the conveyor of one of the aforementioned systems for collecting and transporting the harvested fruit.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the discharge outlet of the relay container is fitted with a mechanism, preferably motorised, preventing the unimpeded drainage, via the aforementioned outlet, of the grape harvest discharged into the aforementioned relay containers.

In accordance with another beneficial embodiment, the mechanism preventing the unimpeded drainage of the relay container is comprised of an extraction system for the grape harvest discharged into the aforementioned relay container, and this system is, preferably, comprised of a worm fitted with a motor built to allow the aforementioned worm to be rotated at variable speeds.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the lower portion of the relay container has a section that becomes progressively narrower towards the bottom where the discharge outlet is located.

In accordance with a beneficial embodiment, the relay container is mounted sideways on the machine chassis, on the opposite side to its delivery arm and the conveyor system is comprised of a bi-directional cross conveyor making it possible to channel the grape harvest transported by the systems for collecting and transporting the harvested fruit, either to the beginning of the delivery arm or up to the top opening of the relay container.

Due to this invention, the machine can harvest without interruption when the trailer container transporting the harvest is being replaced.

H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05 The above objectives, characteristics and benefits, and others besides, will become clearer from the following description and the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 is a rear review, of a beneficial exemplary embodiment of the grape harvester in accordance with the invention, shown in normal operating mode.

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1, the machine being seen from the side on which the relay container is located.

Figure 3 is a rear view, showing the machine in temporary operating mode.

Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3, the machine also being seen from the side on which the relay container is located.

Figure 5 is a rear view, showing the machine in transitional operating mode.

Figure 6 is a side view similar to figures 2 and 4, also showing the machine in transitional operating mode.

The aforementioned drawings will be referred back to in order to describe a valuable exemplary embodiment, though in no way restrictive, of the side-discharge grape harvester in accordance with the invention.

The grape harvesters to which the invention applies may be of a type familiar to an expert in the field, being comprised of a wheel-mounted high clearance chassis shaped so as to sit astride a row of plants or shrubs like vines and to move along that row. The chassis supports a harvesting device, represented as a whole by reference 1 in the attached drawings and is generally comprised of two sets of fruit detachers arranged facing each other, and each is comprised of a series of stacked beaters, whose active oscillatory movements are created by a motor. A system 2 for collecting and transporting the harvested fruit or bunches is fitted on H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05 either side of the harvesting device, each of these systems 2 being comprised of a conveyor belt with a horizontal section for collecting the harvest and a lifting section channelling the latter to the beginning of a delivery arm 6 mounted sideways on the upper part of the chassis and which can, during the work, be directed in a manner perpendicular or roughly perpendicular to the direction in which the machine is moving, so as to be able to position its front discharge end 6A above a trailer container R running parallel and alongside the grape harvester in the vines (figures 1 and As previously indicated, some manufacturers have provided for the installation of a relay container 8 on the machine chassis and of a conveyor system 4 enabling the grape harvest or harvest transported by the collection and transportation systems 2 to be channelled: Either to the beginning of the delivery arm 6; Or to the top opening of the relay container 8.

Hereafter is a description of a grape harvester equipped with a single relay container 8; it should, however, be noted that certain machines may be equipped with more than one relay container. In this case, the conveyor system is modified to serve each relay container during each transitional period of operation described below.

In accordance with a typical arrangement of the invention, the lower portion of the relay container 8 is fitted with a discharge outlet 10 and this outlet is positioned above the horizontal section 2A of the conveyor belt of one of the systems for collecting and transporting 2 the grape harvest.

In accordance with another typical arrangement, the lower portion 8A of the relay container 8 has a horizontal section that becomes progressively narrower towards the bottom where the discharge outlet 10 is located, the aforementioned lower H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05 7 portion being, for example, in the shape of a cone or an inverted pyramid.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the lower discharge outlet 10 of the relay container is fitted with a mechanism suitable for preventing the unimpeded drainage, via the aforementioned outlet, of the grape harvest discharged into the aforementioned relay container 8. This closing mechanism is beneficially comprised of an extraction system for the grape harvest discharged into the relay container. In the preferred embodiment, this extraction system is comprised of a worm 9 on a horizontal or approximately horizontal axis inserted at the bottom of the relay container 8 and fitted for the purposes of rotating with a manually controlled, or preferably automatic, motor 12. This motor may have a speed controller, in order to enable the speed of rotation of the worm 9 or other extraction system to be controlled, and, consequently, the rate of flow of the grape harvest from the relay container.

The relay container 8 is ideally mounted sideways and, preferably, in a fixed manner, on the machine chassis, on the opposite side to the point at which the lateral delivery arm 6 is attached to the aforementioned chassis.

In accordance with this preferred embodiment, the conveyor system enabling the grape harvest to be channelled, either to the beginning of the delivery arm 6, or to the top opening of the relay container 8, is comprised of a cross conveyor 4, with two adjacent portions of its opposite ends positioned under the upper ends of the discharge 2B from the lifting conveyors of the fruit collection and transportation system 2. One end of this bi-directional cross conveyor is positioned above the top opening of the relay container 8, while its opposite end is positioned above the upper end 6B of the delivery arm 6.

H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05 The cross conveyor 4 is fitted with a motor 11 allowing it to move in either direction.

In the attached drawings, references 3, 5 and 7 refer to grape harvest cleaning devices, for example made up of vacuum cleaners.

A vacuum cleaner 3 is installed, in a known manner, under each horizontal section 2A of the conveyors of the system for collecting and transporting 6 the harvested fruit. As for the conveyor that collects the fruit discharged by the relay container 8, in accordance with the invention, vacuum cleaner 3 is positioned under the point where the fruit discharged from the aforementioned relay container is collected, having regard to the direction in which the collecting carrying side of said conveyor is moving.

As a result of this arrangement, the grape harvest discharged into the relay container 8 is cleaned for a second time following its discharge onto the horizontal section 2A of the conveyor 2, in accordance with the usual process for cleaning the grape harvest until its discharge into the trailer container R, and without having to add any additional vacuuming devices.

The vacuum cleaner 5 is positioned above the discharge end of the cross conveyor onto the upper end 6B of the delivery arm 6, while the fan 7 is located above said arm, in the latter's mid-section.

Below is a description of the operation of the machine in accordance with the invention: I Normal operation: Discharge of the grape harvest into the trailer container R via the delivery arm (figures 1 and 2).

Grapes harvested from the vine using the beating system 1 are transported by two lifting conveyors 2 to the cross conveyor H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05 9 4; during this transfer, the grape harvest is cleaned by the lower vacuum cleaners 3, which eliminate the bulk of the foreign bodies FB (leaves, twigs, vine shoots, etc.). The cross conveyor 4 collects the two harvest flows and channels them to the delivery arm 6. After the drop the vacuum cleaner removes a portion of the remaining foreign bodies. The vacuum cleaner 7 fitted to the delivery arm 6, does the final cleaning of the grape harvest before it is discharged into the trailer container R.

During this operational phase, the extraction worm 9 fitted to the discharge outlet 10 of the relay container 8 may be continually rotating or at a stop, the driver of the machine having a control panel installed in the cabin of the aforementioned machine.

II Temporary operation: Storage of the grape harvest in the relay container Figures 3 and 4.

It operates in the same way as before except that the cross conveyor 4 runs in the opposite direction and channels the grape harvest to the top opening of the relay container.

For this to happen, the driver must simply reverse the direction of the cross conveyor 4 from the control panel. The installation of the control system may be configured such that the reversing of the cross conveyor 4 results simultaneously in: the stoppage of motor 12 driving the worm 9 and the stoppage of motor 11 driving the conveyor on the delivery arm.

During this operational phase, the machine continues to harvest and the relay container 8 collects the resulting grape harvest.

III Transitional operation: Emptying the relay container 8 and discharging the grape harvest via the delivery arm Figures 5 and 6.

H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05 It operates in the same way as during normal operation. In fact, once a fresh empty trailer container R has been positioned under the discharge end of the delivery arm 6, the machine can return to normal operation, controlled by the driver from the control panel. When this happens, the direction of the cross conveyor 4 is reversed and the delivery arm 6 can once again fulfil its role. The worm 9 once again starts to rotate and enables the discharging of the grape harvest temporarily collected in the relay container 8, onto the underlying lifting conveyor 2 which at the same time collects the grape harvest resulting from the action of the beating system 1. In the course of being channelled to the trailer container, the portion of the grape harvest discharged by the relay container 8 is once again cleaned by all the vacuum cleaners 3, 5 and 7. Once the relay container 8 is completely empty, the transitional operation is complete and the machine returns to normal operation. The driver may, should she/he so wish, thus stop the operation of the extraction system 9-12.

It should be noted that once the cross conveyor 4 directs the grape harvest to the delivery arm 6, the aforementioned extraction system 9-10 automatically starts operating, so that the grape harvest is not stored in the relay container for too long.

A known control system allows the speed of rotation of the extraction worm 9 to be controlled, such that the rate of flow of the grape harvest from the relay container is adjusted, in order to better regulate the grape harvest load discharged onto the lifting conveyor 2 depending on the volume of the grape harvest resulting from the action of the harvesting system 1, and transported by this lifting conveyor.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05 "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05

Claims

1. A side-discharge grape harvester comprising a harvesting device that allows the fruit to be removed; a system for collecting and transporting the harvested fruit, being positioned on either side of this harvesting device; a lateral delivery arm providing for the continuous discharge of the grape harvest on one side of the machine; at least one relay container; and a conveyance system allowing the grape harvest being transported by the system for collecting and transporting the harvested fruit to be channelled either to the beginning of the delivery arm so that the grape harvest can be discharged onto it when the machine is operating normally, or to the top opening of the relay container or of each relay container during temporary periods of operation when the discharge of the grape harvest through the delivery arm has to be momentarily interrupted, Wherein the bottom part of the said relay container is fitted with a discharge outlet positioned above conveyor of one of the aforementioned systems for collecting and transporting harvested fruit.

2. A side-discharge grape harvester, in accordance with claim 1, wherein the discharge outlet in the relay container is fitted with a mechanism preventing the unimpeded drainage, via the said outlet, of the grape harvest discharged into the aforementioned relay container,

3. A side-discharge grape harvester, in accordance with claim 2, wherein the mechanism preventing the unimpeded drainage of the relay container is comprised of an extraction system for the grape harvest discharged into said relay container.

4. A side-discharge grape harvester, in accordance with claim 3, wherein the mechanism preventing the unimpeded drainage of the relay container comprises a worm.

H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05 13 A side-discharge grape harvester, in accordance with either claim 3 or 4, wherein the worm or other extraction device, is equipped with a motor fitted to allow the aforementioned worm or other extraction system to be rotated at variable speeds.

6. A side-discharge grape harvester, in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the lower portion of the relay container has a section that becomes progressively narrower towards the bottom where the discharge outlet is located.

7. A side-discharge grape harvester, in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the relay container is mounted sideways on the machine chassis, on the opposite side to the point at which the delivery arm is attached to it, and where the conveyor system is comprised of a bi-directional cross conveyor, with two adjacent portions of its opposite ends positioned under the upper ends of the discharge from the lifting conveyors of the fruit collection and transportation system, this cross conveyor being fitted with a motor allowing it to move in either direction.

8. A side-discharge grape harvester, in accordance with any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the relay container is mounted on the machine chassis in a fixed manner. Dated this 23rd day of March 2005. PELLENC (Societe Anonyme) By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\akhoo\Keep\Temp\P56172 AU.doc 23/03/05