FR2688977A1 - Manual fruit collector, for fruit which has fallen on ground - has two plates, which can be closed together by lever, with upper plate fitted with series of points, which pass through lower plate to pierce fruit - Google Patents

Abstract

The equipment is constructed with a handle (1), which is used to operate and to carry the device around. An operating lever (3), with an attached handle (2), is pushed by the user to operate through a swan's neck lever to cause the two plates (7 & 8) to close together against a spring force. The upper working plate (8) is fitted with points (6). When the plates are closed together, the points pass through the guides (5) in the lower plate (8), and pierce the fruit, on the ground thus enabling the operator to pick it up. To remove the fruit, the operator pulls the handle (3) towards him. USE/ADVANTAGE - It enables fruit to be collected from the ground, without bending the back or the knees.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting apples, pears or other fruit fallen on the ground.

The collection of these fruits1 apart from a few large machines for large farms, are still nowadays picked up manually, people are forced to stoop or kneel in the wet or frozen grass, which is quite painful.

This invention overcomes this drawback.

 I1 comprises, in fact, according to the invention a first characteristic, a holding handle provided at its base with a socket with a flat iron in the form of a fork where a holding plate is fixed provided with spikes at a fixed distance.

At the base of the handle is fixed a flange which maintains a lever provided with a handle, this lever is used to actuate a plate known as working plate which goes up or down according to which one pushes or pulls the lever.

At the base of this lever is fixed a flat iron in the form of a swan neck which is used to activate a plate which pulls on two rods of round iron and two springs which, in turn, pulls on levers which are in the form of ears or handles, which they are fixed on the work plate, which is pierced with holes at a fixed distance and fixed with rubber ends which are held by circlips, these rubber are pierced with holes where the points of the plate will pass through holding.

The user takes the device by the handle and the handle and pushes the handle and he presses on the fruit to be picked up, he raises the device.

When it is above a container, it pulls the handle to it and releases the fruit, the drawings shown illustrate the invention.

Figure (1) shows the device seen from the side at rest, Figure (2) shows the device seen from the front, Figure (3) shows the device seen from the work side.

With reference to these drawings, the apparatus is composed as follows of a holding handle (1) of aluminum or other material, a socket where a flat iron in the form of a fork is fixed, two polyester plates (7 and 8) not breaking, rectangular but which could be square or round but this last model is not recommended because there would be loss of collection between each round, a working lever (3) which actuates the working plate (8) provided with spikes at a fixed distance (6), these spikes are held below by stapled washers.

The polyester retaining plate (7) is pierced with holes or will fit rubber ends drilled from the inside, these ends are held inside and outside by hoops.

These rubbers serve both as shock absorbers (5) on the fruits.

Guides for tips and freeing fruit and preventing leaves and soil from sticking to the work plate (7)
On this plate will come to join at the two ends two round irons (12) the ears which serve to reassemble the polyester plate (8)
The ears in the shape of a rectangle or handles are held by small hinges with fixing lugs, on these ears is fixed a small round iron eye which has several functions, maintaining the rods and springs and adjusting the height between the two plates a wooden lever (3) drilled at the top of 5 holes 50 mm apart, in one of these holes is fixed a wooden handle (2) drilled in the middle or will be housed a bolt fitted with a wing nut ensuring tightening on the lever, this adjustable working handle can be changed up or down holes depending on the size of the user and side for a right-handed or left-handed, on the handle (1) above the socket is fixed a flat iron flange which takes up with a bolt another flat iron in the shape of a swan neck at the end of this neck is fixed by two small bolts on a vertical flat iron pierced by two slots platinum mechanism at the top of which is housed a rod from tr avail on each side held in the slots by a small flat iron across, held by a screw to prevent wear of the friction of the ear lifters (12)
It will be fitted with small plates mounted on each side of the retaining plate (8) iron rods (10) are taken in the eye on each side of the round iron (12) ear and plays in the slots of the platinum and clings to their work (8)
In parallel with these rods is joined a spring (9) on each side which maintains in the high position the work plate (8) whose points are no longer visible, which can prevent an accident.

As an accessory can be attached to this device for transporting a heavy canvas cover, a funnel in the shape of a truncated cone with a slight slope in sheet metal or plastic to allow the fruit to fall easily into a container.
For transport by car is provided at the bottom of the working lever (3) a bolt with butterfly (4) which can be removed to lay the lever along the handle.

We know that the fruit will be bitten by the tips, but as the fruit falls from the tree or is attacked by birds or finally grind to make juice, the bites are insignificant.

This device taking the fruit on top, they do not roll in the ground.

Claims (1)

Apparatus for picking up apples and pears or other fallen fruit, characterized in that it comprises a holding handle (i) which also serves to carry the apparatus, a working lever (3) with a handle (2) , which lever when pushed by the user acts on a swan neck flat iron, descends a work plate provided with spikes, layer of levers or ears (12), tightens springs (9), and makes appear the points (6) through another plate (7), the apparatus being thus ready for work, and when the user pulls the lever to him (3) by the handle (2) the flat iron in swan neck pulls on rods (10) which act by raising the ears (12) which in turn raise the work plate (8) which raises the tips (6), free the fruit, the device then being at rest and remaining seen there that the springs hold it.