AU2651800A - Banana harvester - Google Patents

Description

WO 00/48450 PCT/AU00/00113 1 "Banana harvester" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for severing stalks from trees and the branches of trees and in particular to an apparatus that can be 5 used in the mechanical harvesting of fruit from fruit trees. Background of the Invention While mechanical harvesters of various types are now used in the harvest of various types of fruits, vegetables and grains, the banana fruit is still typically harvested by hand. On commercial plantations, banana trees 10 are normally grown in single rows with each tree having a single or double sucker or are grown in double rows with each tree having only a single sucker. Fig. 1 provides illustrations of a number of different layouts of banana trees that might occur on a commercial plantation. In the layout depicted in Fig. la, there are single rows of banana trees 15 on the plantation, with each tree having a single ratoon. On a typical plantation, these rows are about 4.2m to 4.5m apart with each tree in a row about 1.5m from the adjacent tree in that row. In Fig. 1b, the banana trees are still in single rows but each tree has two ratoons oppositely disposed on the tree. In this layout, the rows are spaced at a typical distance of between 20 about 5.5m to 6m, with the gap between the trees in a row being about 1.8m to 2.2m. Fig. ic depicts a still further alternative layout wherein the banana trees have single ratoons like in Fig. la but are planted in double rows. In this case, the spacing between the respective midlines of adjacent double rows is between about 6.6m and 7m. In this layout, the two single rows 25 comprising a double row are slightly staggered. The space between the individual rows of a double row lies typically in the range of about 1.4m to 1.7m with the gap between individual trees in a row being about 1.5m to 1.9m. Bananas grow in bunches on banana trees at the site of the sucker(s) 30 left on the tree. Traditionally, the bunch or bunches on a particular tree are harvested by a pair of workers, with one selecting and cutting the stalk supporting the bunch (usually more highly paid) and the other lugging the bunch to a field trailer ready for transport to a packing shed. It is generally regarded that the risk of back injury increases significantly with objects 35 above a weight of 16 to 20kg and that no person should be required to lift, WO 00/48450 PCT/AUO0/00113 2 carry or lower loads having a weight above 55kg. Banana bunches typically weigh anywhere in the range 20 to 60kg. The process of harvesting the bunch, lugging it to a field trailer and then transporting it to a packing shed is generally regarded as accounting for 5 about one third of all fruit damage that occurs between harvest and delivery to the end consumer and also causes about 3-5% of harvested fruit to be rejected at the packing shed. The present invention provides a harvester for bananas or other similar fruit that reduces the loads to be carried by workers while also having the 10 potential of reducing the damage that occurs to the fruit between harvesting and the packing shed. Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus for holding and severing tree appendages that can be fitted to a 15 lifting arm, the apparatus including a support frame having a means for mounting the frame to the lifting arm, a joint member mounted to the support frame and rotatable relative thereto, a support arm radiating outwardly from the joint member and adapted on rotation of the joint member to rotate about the axis of rotation of the joint member, and an 20 appendage holding means and an appendage severing means each mounted on the support arm and movable relative thereto. In one embodiment of the invention, the holding means and severing means are mounted adjacent one another on the support arm. In a preferred embodiment, the holding means comprises a pair of plates that are relatively 25 movable towards and away from each other and constitute a gripping jaw. In one embodiment, one plate is fixed in position and the other plate is movable towards and away from the fixed plate. The movable plate is preferably mounted at or adjacent one of its ends to the support arm and is mounted such that it is rotatable thereto between a position where the movable plate is 30 adjacent the fixed plate and a position where it is distal the fixed plate. A portion of the movable plate distal the one end can be canted downwardly. This results, on closing of the gripping jaw, in the distal edge of the canted portion striking the fixed plate and so preventing further closing of the jaw. This results in a gap being maintained between the plates of the gripping jaw 35 when the jaw is in its closed position.

WO 00/48450 PCT/AUO0/00113 3 Each plate can have an inner gripping surface. The inner gripping surface of one or both plates can have a plurality of protrusions extending generally outwardly from the gripping surface to improve the grip of the plates when gripping a tree appendage. The protrusions can comprise 5 cylindrical or tapered prongs that are adapted to move into and/or pass through the appendage when the plates are moved relatively towards each other about a tree appendage. The relative movement of the plates of the holding means can be controlled by an actuator means. Examples of possible actuator means 10 include a mechanical actuator, a hydraulic cylinder, or a pneumatic ram. The actuator means can be biased so as to normally hold the plates of the holding means in a relatively apart position. This bias of the actuator means can be achieved through use of one or more resilient flexible members, such as a bias spring. In an alternative embodiment, gas can be provided in one 15 side of the hydraulic cylinder to bias the action of the hydraulic cylinder such that the plates are normally in the relatively open position. The actuator means preferably relatively closes the plates to a degree sufficient to hold the appendage without crushing or severely damaging the appendage where held. The gap created when using a movable plate that has a canted 20 portion, as described above. on closing of the gripping jaw also serves to lessen the degree of crushing of the appendage when held by the jaw. The severing means can comprise a cutting blade. The cutting blade can have a smooth or serrated cutting edge. The cutting edge can be generally straight for a portion of its length. The trailing edge of the blade 25 preferably does not have a cutting edge. The trailing edge of the blade can be generally arcuate and convex, when the blade is viewed in plan view. The blade can be mounted to the support arm on a pivotable joint. The blade is preferably mounted to the pivotable joint adjacent a first end of the blade so that the blade swings through an arc relative to the support arm. The cutting 30 edge adjacent the pivotable joint can also be arcuate and have a concave portion, when viewed in plan view. The cutting edge distal the pivotable joint can also be arcuate and generally convex, when viewed in plan view. The movement of the blade relative to the support arm can also be controlled by an actuator means. Examples of possible actuator means 35 include a mechanical actuator, a hydraulic cylinder, or a pneumatic ram. The actuator means can be biased such that the blade is normally in a WO 00/48450 PCT/AUOO/00113 4 retracted position. Where the holding means comprises one fixed plate and a movable plate, the blade is preferably normally positioned adjacent the fixed plate with its cutting edge retracted just outside the gap between the fixed and movable plates. 5 This bias of the actuator means for the severing means can be achieved through use of one or more resilient flexible members, such as a bias spring. In an alternative embodiment, gas can be provided in one side of the hydraulic cylinder to bias the action of the hydraulic cylinder such that the blade is normally in the retracted position. 10 The actuator means for the holding means and the severing means are each preferably controllable by an operator of the apparatus. When the apparatus is mounted to a lifting arm, each actuator means is preferably controllable by the operator of the lifting arm. In a preferred embodiment, the lifting arm can be mounted to a vehicle. In this case, the vehicle operator 15 preferably can also control the lifting arm and each actuator means. The support frame can comprise a base plate having at least two separated side edges. A side plate can extend upwardly from each side edge, with the plates separated by a distance equal to the width of the plate between the at least two separated side edges. In a preferred embodiment, 20 the side plates are generally identical in size and substantially parallel. One or more lifting members can extend between the side plates preferably proximate their edges distal the base plate. The lifting members can comprise cylindrical rods connected to and extending between each of the side plates. The lifting members provide the means of mounting the 25 apparatus to a lifting arm, such as a lifting arm of a vehicle. The rotatable joint member preferably includes an axial shaft adapted to rotate relative to a bearing in the base plate of the support frame. The joint member is preferably unrestricted in its rotation with the shaft able to undergo at least a full 3600 rotation relative to the bearing. Even more 30 preferably, the shaft can continue to rotate in one direction or another without restriction. The rotation of the joint member relative to the support frame is preferably controlled by a rotation actuator means. The rotation actuator means is preferably mounted on the base plate of the support frame. 35 Examples of possible actuator means include mechanical means and a hydraulic rotator. In the case of a hydraulic rotator, the rotation of the joint WO 00/48450 PCT/AUOO/00113 5 can be achieved using an internal geared slew ring or an externally geared flywheel. Control of the rotation actuator means is preferably provided by the operator of the apparatus. Again, when the apparatus is mounted to a 5 vehicle, it is preferred that the operator of the vehicle can also control the rotation actuator means. The rotatable joint member can have a first cylindrical portion of a diameter similar to the width of the base plate of the support member, a frusto-conical portion where the diameter of the joint member decreases, and 10 a second cylindrical portion distal the support frame. The support arm preferably extends radially from the second cylindrical portion with the longitudinal axis of the support arm at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable joint member. The apparatus is preferably mounted to the lifting arm of any vehicle 15 suitable for the terrain in which the apparatus is to be used. The lifting arm can be a normal lifting arm as is known in the art. The lifting arm can, for example, comprise two or more arms connected by a pivotable link. The arm may also incorporate a substantially horizontal boom to allow direct lateral movement of the apparatus towards or away from the vehicle. The vehicle 20 may comprise a trailer that is towed or pushed by another vehicle. Alternatively, the vehicle may be self-propelled. The vehicle can ride on tyres or tracks as desired. As an example only, the apparatus can be mounted to the lifting arm of an excavator, such as a Komatsu PC45R-8 Excavator. According to a further aspect, the present invention comprises a 25 method of harvesting tree appendages from a tree using the apparatus as described herein. In a still further aspect, the present invention comprises a method of harvesting bunches of bananas from banana trees using the apparatus as described herein. 30 Commercial growers typically plant banana trees in single or double rows. As an example of how the apparatus may be used, the vehicle with the apparatus mounted to the lifting arm is firstly transported to one end of a row of banana trees. At the first tree, the lifting arm of the vehicle is raised to bring the apparatus to a position proximate the bunch of bananas on that 35 tree, which is generally about 2 metres above ground level. The operator, if necessary, can then actuate the rotation control means to bring the support WO 00/48450 PCT/AUOO/00113 6 arm, and so the holding means and severing means, to a position proximate the stalk connecting the bunch to the tree. By further movement of the lifting arm, the plates of the holding means, which are normally apart, are brought around the stalk. The operator then actuates the actuator for the 5 holding means to so move the plates relatively towards each other and grip the stalk. Once the stalk is held, the blade can be swung relative to the support arm and so preferably severe the stalk from the tree. The bunch, which is still held by its stalk by the holding means, can then be lowered by the lifting arm. 10 Once the bunch is lowered by the lifting arm, the bunch can be placed onto a transport means by the apparatus. The transport means can comprise a storage means on the vehicle, a storage means on another vehicle, a trailer that is towable by the vehicle or said another vehicle, or a conveying means that can be used to deliver the bunch to a processing and/or packing area. In 15 another embodiment, the bunch can be dehanded, either before or after the bunch is released by the apparatus, with the hands of bananas placed into a storage means on the vehicle, a storage means on another vehicle, a trailer that is towable by the vehicle or said another vehicle, or a conveying means that can be used to deliver the hands to a processing and/or packing area 20 Once the bunch has been released by the holding means, the lifting arm can be again raised so positioning the apparatus ready for severing another bunch of bananas. The rotation of the rotatable joint is particularly advantageous at this point as it allows the support arm to be readily rotated to severe a bunch of bananas from a tree in an adjacent row to the row of 25 trees from which the preceding bunch was collected. Brief Description of the Drawings By way of example only, a preferred mode of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an illustrative depiction of typical banana tree layouts on 30 commercial plantations; Fig. 2 is a part side elevational view, part diagrammatic view of an apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a simplified plan view of the support arm of the apparatus according to the present invention; 35 Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the support arm according to the present invention; and WO 00/48450 PCT/AU0O/00113 7 Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of a vehicle having a lifting arm for use with the apparatus as described herein. Preferred Mode of Carrying Out the Invention An apparatus according to the present invention is generally depicted 5 as 10 in the drawings. The apparatus 10 includes a support frame 11, a rotatable joint member 12 and a support arm 13. Mounted to the support arm 13 is a cutter blade 14 and gripping jaw 15. The frame 11 includes a base plate 16, and two side plates 17 that extend respectively upwardly from the base plate 16. Extending between the 10 two side plates 17 are two rods 18 (the ends of which are visible in Fig. 2). The rods 18 act as hookups for the apparatus 10 and are adapted to be engaged by a lifting arm 41 of a vehicle 40, such as is depicted in Fig. 5. The rotatable member 12 has an axial shaft extending into a bearing in the base plate 16 of the support frame 11. The rotatable member can rotate at 15 least a full 3600 relative to the support frame 11. In the depicted embodiment, control of the rotation is provided by a hydraulic rotator 19 driving an internal geared slew ring 20. The body of the rotatable joint member 12 has a first cylindrical portion 21 having a diameter similar to the width of the base plate 16, a tapering frusto-conical portion 22, and a second 20 cylindrical portion 23. Extending radially from the second cylindrical portion 23 is the support arm 13. The cutter blade 14 rotates relative to the support arm 13 about pivot 24. Control of the rotation of the cutter blade 14 about pivot 24 is provided by hydraulic cylinder 25 and cylinder arm 25a that is mounted to 25 the arm 13 at support 26 and to the body of the cutter blade 14 at link 27. The cutter blade 14 comprises a cutting edge 28 having a substantially straight portion 28a, an arcuate concave portion 29 and an arcuate convex portion 30. When not in use, the blade 14 remains in the position depicted in Fig. 3. 30 The gripping jaw 15 includes a fixed plate 31 and a movable plate 32. As is depicted in Fig. 4. the gripping surfaces of the fixed plate 31 and the movable plate 32 can have a plurality of protrusions 37 or spikes to facilitate engagement of the plates with the stalk of the bunch of bananas. The movable plate 32 is moved about pivot 24 under the control of the hydraulic 35 cylinder 33 and cylinder arm 34. As depicted in Fig. 3, the cylinder 33 is mounted to the support arm 13 by support 35, with the cylinder arm 34 WO 00/48450 PCT/AUOO/00113 8 mounted to a link 36 on the back surface of the movable plate 32. When not in use, the plate 32 is biased to the position as is depicted in Fig. 3. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art of the present invention that the attached drawings do not depict all the components of the 5 apparatus that would be expected on the actual apparatus. For example, while not depicted, it will be appreciated that the hydraulic cylinders 25, 33 will each have hydraulic hoses feeding hydraulic fluid thereto to facilitate their operation. The vehicle 40 for use with the apparatus 10 has a lifting arm 41. The 10 lifting arm 41 is a standard item and in the depicted embodiment comprises two arms 42,43 joined at a pivot joint 44. While not depicted, it will be appreciated that the lifting arm could be modified to also include a boom that can be extended or retracted generally horizontally in direction. The vehicle 40 engages the ground with caterpillar tracks 45. The type of vehicle to be 15 used in any particular application will to a large degree depend on the nature of the terrain to be traversed by the vehicle and the space that is available between the rows of banana trees on the plantation. The operator of the vehicle 40 will sit in an operating position beneath a shelter 46 and has suitable controls 47 to allow control of the apparatus 10 20 according to the present invention, the lifting arm 41 and the vehicle 40 in general. In addition to being able to control the vehicle 40 and lifting arm 41, the operator would at least be provided with controls 47 that allow operation of hydraulic cylinders 25, 33 and hydraulic rotator 19 of apparatus 10. As depicted in Fig. 1, commercial growers typically plant banana trees 25 in single or double rows. With the apparatus 10 mounted to a lifting arm 41 of a vehicle 40, the vehicle 40 moves to one end of a row of banana trees. At the first tree, the lifting arm 41 is raised by the operator to bring the apparatus 10 to a position proximate the bunch of bananas on that tree. The operator, if necessary, then can actuate the hydraulic rotator 19 to bring the 30 support arm 13, and so the gripping jaw 15 and cutter blade 14, to a position proximate the stalk connecting the bunch to the tree. By further movement of the lifting arm 41, the plates 31,32 of the gripping jaw 15, which are normally apart, are brought around the stalk. The operator then actuates the hydraulic cylinder 33 to move plate 32 towards the plate 31 and so grip the 35 stalk. Once the stalk is held, the blade 14 can be swung relative to the support arm 13 by hydraulic cylinder 25 to severe the stalk from the tree.

WO 00/48450 PCT/AUOO/00113 9 The bunch, which is still held by its stalk by the plates 31,32, can then be lowered by the lifting arm 41. Once the bunch is lowered by the lifting arm 41, the bunch can be placed onto a transporter by the operator. The transporter in the present 5 embodiment would comprise a trailer, however, in other embodiments, the transporter might comprise a storage means on the vehicle, a storage means on another self-propelled vehicle, or a conveyor that can be used to deliver the bunch to a processing and/or packing area. In another method, the bunch may be dehanded with the banana hands then being placed into the storage 10 means on the vehicle, a storage means on another self-propelled vehicle, or a conveyor that can be used to deliver the hands to a processing and/or packing area Once the bunch has been released by the gripping jaw 15, the lifting arm 41 can be again raised so positioning the apparatus 10 ready for severing 15 another bunch of bananas. The rotation of the rotatable joint member 12 is particularly advantageous at this point as it allows the support arm 13 to be readily rotated to severe a bunch of bananas from a tree in an adjacent row to the row of trees from which the preceding bunch was collected. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous 20 variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (23)

1. An apparatus for holding and severing tree appendages that can be fitted to a lifting arm, the apparatus including a support frame having a means for mounting the frame to the lifting arm, a joint member mounted to 5 the support frame and rotatable relative thereto, a support arm radiating outwardly from the joint member and adapted on rotation of the joint member to rotate about the axis of rotation of the joint member, and an appendage holding means and an appendage severing means each mounted on the support arm and movable relative thereto. 10

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the holding means and severing means are mounted adjacent one another on the support arm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the holding means comprises a pair of plates that are relatively movable towards and away from each other and constitute a gripping jaw. 15

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein one plate of the gripping jaw is fixed in position and the other plate is movable towards and away from the fixed plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 or 4 wherein each plate has an inner gripping surface, the inner gripping surface of one or both plates having a plurality of 20 protrusions extending generally outwardly from the gripping surface to improve the grip of the plates when gripping a tree appendage.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the protrusions comprise cylindrical or tapered stalks that are adapted to move into and/or pass through the appendage when the plates are moved relatively towards each other about a 25 tree appendage.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein the relative movement of the plates of the holding means is controlled by an actuator means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the actuator means is biased so as to 30 normally hold the plates of the holding means in a relatively apart position.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 or 8 wherein the actuator means when actuated relatively closes the plates of the holding means to a degree sufficient to hold the appendage without crushing or severely damaging the appendage where held. 35

10. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the severing means is a cutting blade having a cutting edge. WO 00/48450 PCT/AUOO/00113 11

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cutting edge is generally straight for a portion of its length.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 or 11 wherein the blade is mounted to a pivotable joint adjacent a first end of the blade so that the blade swings 5 through an arc relative to the support arm.

13. The apparatus of any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the movement of the blade relative to the support arm is controlled by a blade actuator means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the blade actuator means is biased such that the blade is normally in a retracted position. 10 15. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the support frame comprises a base plate having at least two separated side edges, a side plate extending upwardly from each side edge, with the side plates separated by a distance equal to the width of the plate between the at least two separated side edges.

15

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein one or more cylindrical lifting members extend between the side plates proximate edges of the side plates distal the base plate and provide a means of mounting the apparatus to a lifting arm.

17. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the rotatable 20 joint member includes an axial shaft adapted to rotate relative to a bearing in the base plate of the support frame.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the joint member is unrestricted in its rotation with the axial shaft able to undergo at least a full 3600 rotation relative to the bearing. 25

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the axial shaft can continue to rotate in one direction or another without restriction.

20. The apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the rotation of the joint member relative to the support frame is controlled by a rotation actuator means. 30

21. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the rotatable joint member has a first cylindrical portion, a frusto-conical portion where the diameter of the joint member decreases, and a second cylindrical portion distal the support frame, with the support arm extending radially from the second cylindrical portion with the longitudinal axis of the support arm at 35 right angles to the longitudinal axis of the rotatable joint member. WO 00/48450 PCT/AUOO/00113 12

22. A method of harvesting tree appendages from a tree using the apparatus as described in any one of the preceding claims.

23. A method of harvesting bunches of bananas from banana trees using the apparatus as described in any one of claims 1 to 21. 5