GB2151445A - Grape harvesting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A grape harvesting machine comprises a frame (1) having secured thereto in symmetry with the longitudinal centerline thereof a shaker member (7), a grape trap (8) with grape trapping elements spring-loaded to tubular carrying members (9), longitudinal conveyers (2), a grape cleaning system (3), and an inclined bucket conveyers (4). The shaker member (7) and the grape trap (8) are secured to a separate inverted-U-shaped subframe (6) capable of transverse oscillations relative to the centerline of the main frame (1) through pivotable suspension elements (10). Ledges (11) are provided on the tubular carrying members (9) with a minimum of clearance above the longitudinal conveyers (2) to partially overlap these conveyers (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Grape harvesting machine This invention relates to farm machinery, and more particularly to vibration-type grape harvesting machines.

The machine according to the invention can find the most advantageous application in harvesting grape and other berries from trellistrained or free-trained plants.

The aims of the invention has been attained by that in a grape harvesting machine comprising a main frame having secured thereto in symmetry with a longitudinal centerline thereof a skaker member, a grape trap with grape trapping elements spring-loaded to tubular carrying members, longitudinal conveyers, a grape cleaner system, and inclined bucket conveyers, according to the invention, the shaker member and the grape trap are disposed one above the other on an inverted U-shaped subframe attached to the main frame of the machine by means of suspension elements for swinging transversely relative to the path of travel of the machine, the tubular carrying members of the grape trap having affixed thereto ledges partially overlapping the longitudinal conveyers disposed thereunder.

One of the preferred alternative embodiments of the machine according to the invention provides that the inverted-U-shaped subframe is connected to the main frame of the machine by means of dampers.

The essence of the herein proposed invention resides in that in a grape harvesting machine provided with a set of implements to execute grape harvesting two principle units or assemblies stand out, these two units being the shaker and the grape trap; these elements being adapted to directly engage with vine plants and trellises to consequently dictate such performance characteristics as the extent of grape dislodgement from the vine plants and grape retrieval.This functional separation of the principle working implements is caused by the need to reduce the amount of inertia loads imposed on the plants and trellises in the course of the forward travel of the machine along the centerline of the row of plants being harvested, as well as by the need to provide more simple and efficient layout and construction of other implements and units, particularly conveyers, grape cleaning systems and inclined bucket conveyers.

In order to facilitate the travel of the machine in line with the row of vine plants being harvested and for more accurate self-centering relative to the trunks of the vine plants and to the trellises, as well as for reducing the loads exerted on the plants and trellises, the shaker unit and the grape trap are united into a double-level system through using the inverted-U-shaped subframe. The latter is pivotally secured to the main frame of the machine for limited oscillations transversely of the path of travel of the machine when reactive forces from the plants or trellises arising during steering inaccuracies act thereon.

To maintain the vertical position of the shaker member and optimum angular position of the elements of the grape trap, suspension elements of the inverted-U-shaped subframe has the form of parallel vertical arms arranged in pairs, which in conjunction with the subframe form a spatial multi-link parallel mechanism.

Therewith, in order to ensure the symmetrical arrangement of the above elements relative to the row of vine plants being harvested to provide for a uniform double side action on the plants and maintained optimized distance between the opposite sections of said elements, the subframe is of the aforedescribed arcuate or inverted-Y-shaped construction. The unitization of the shaker member and grape trap into a single two-level system provides for fast-response and accurate positioning of these elements relative to the centerline of the row of vine plants through their joint action on the plants and trellises. Most important is the action from the spring loaded grape trapping elements forming the lower level and bearing in the course of harvesting on more rigid underside parts of the plants and trellises. This in turn assures a more complete dislodgement and retrieval of grapes.

In order to prevent the formation of gaps between the longitudinal conveyers and the grape trap, the tubular carrying members of the grape tran have ledges affixed thereto, these ledges being disposed above the conveyers to overlap the latter; they are also capable of transverse movement relative to the conveyors within limits determined by the value of distance for following the centerline of the row of plants being harvested.

Further, to stabilize the positioning of the working elements relative to the centerline of the row of plants being harvested by suppressing incidental swinging motions of the inverted-U-shaped subframe caused by the forces of inertia or by ground surface irregularities, this subframe is joined to the main frame of the machine by way of a damper.

In all, the grape harvesting machine according to the present invention features the following advantages; a more accurate self-centering of the shaker and grape trap relative to the centerline of the row of vine plants being harvested to more fully dislodge and retrieve grapes therefrom; reduction in the loads exerted on the plants and trellises by virtue of substantially reduced weight of the movable system of the machine, which in turn results in less damage done to the vine plants, trellises and working elements of the machine; improved maneuvrability of the machine; reduced vibration of the main frame of the machine thanks to the provision of an additional inverted-U-shaped subframe secured to the main frame on pivotable suspension members, which makes the machine more reliable and improves working conditions for the operator;; transmission of vibrations from the shaker members to the elements of the grape trap through their attachment to the subframe, which facilitates sliding of the grapes from the plate elements of the grape trap to the conveyers and provide for uniformity of the subsequent grape retrieval operations; and a more functional and simple construction and layout of conveyers and grape cleaning systems; more particularly, dispensing with auxiliary transverse conveyers and the use of longitudinal horizontal and inclined conveyers, simplified construction of the drive mechanism and the arrangement of the grape cleaning system immediately between the horizontal and inclined conveyers to ensure improved cleaning of the grapes dislodged from plants, and reduced losses of grape yield in terms of unwounded grape and grape juice.

In view of the foregoing, the machine of the invention enables to dislodge practically all the grapes from the vine plants by the shaker member and reduce grape retrieval losses by 20% to 30%. The losses in terms of grape yield are therefore reduced by 5% to 7% versus the prior art machines for harvesting grapes.

Other abjects and attending advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent from a more detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a grape harvesting machine according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the machine; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the machine according to the invention in operation when the longitudinal axis of the machine coincides with the centerline of the row of vine plants being harvested; and Figure 4 shows the machine in a situation when its axis fails to coincide with the centerline of the row of vine plants being harvested.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2 the machine for harvesting grape embodying the present invention comprises a main frame 1 which includes short-length belt-apron conveyers 2 arranged in symmetry with the longitudinal center-line of the machine, a system 3 of pneumatic cleaning of the grapes from impurities provided with suction fans, inclined belt bucket conveyers 4, and grape collectors 5.

Attached to the main frame 1 of the machine is an inverted-U-shaped subframe having secured thereto in symmetry with the longitudi nal axis of the machine a shaker member 7, in the modification being described in the form of a double-section finger-type horizontal action vibrator having titanium working fingers and a double-section grape trap mechanism 8 of the petal type opposed sections of which include overlapping plate elements fabricated, for example, from stainless steel and spring-loaded to tubular members 9 carrying these plate elements.

The inverted-U-shaped subframe 6 is generally a light-weight although sufficiently rigid tubular spatial structure affixed to the main frame 1 by way of pivotable suspension elements 10 having the form of parallel vertical arms.

Secured on the tubular members 9 of the grape trap mechanism 8 are relatively rigid flat ledges 11 adapted to overlap free spaces between the tubular members 9 of the grape trap 8 and the conveyers 2 and partially lapping over the conveyers 2. The amount of overlap somewhat exceeds the amplitude of a curve of deviation of the longitudinal centerline of the machine from the centreline of the row of vine plants as they are being harvested during the forward travel of the grape harvesting machine.

Clearances are provided between the ledges 11 and conveyers 2, as well as between the tubular members 9 of the grape trap mechanism 8 and the conveyers 2 to assure their free travel in a transverse plane within specified limits. The inverted-U-shaped subframe 6 is connected to the main frame through a damping device 1 2.

The grape harvesting machine according to the invention operates as follows.

When the machine straddles the row of vine plants and moves forward in line with such a row, the shaker member 7 acts to dislodge grape bunches from the vine plants indicated by 13 in Fig. 3. In this manner the row of vine is uniformly harvested on the two sides thereof thanks to the symmetrical arrangement of the sections of the shaker member 7 relative to the longitudinal centerline of the subframe 6. The grape traps 8 tightly embrace by their spring-loaded plate elements the trunks of the vine plants being harvested to overlap to a maximum degree their underside; the deviation of these elements of the grape trap 8 accounted for by the section of the vine trunks is in this case at its minimum, whereby the vine plant underside space not overlapped by these elements is negligeable.

Grapes dislodged by the shaker from the vine plants containing a certain amount of impurities in the form of leaves, cut lengths of shoots, and the like, tend to fall down on the surfaces of the plate elements of the grape trap 8, ledges 11 or directly onto the conveyers 2, while a negligeable amount of grape may escape through portions not overlapped by the grape trap elements and reach the ground.

The grapes which fall onto the plate elements of the grape trap 8 tend to slide therefrom to the ledges 11 and hence be moved toward the conveyers 2. The conveyers 2 feed the grapes and impurities to the suction cleaning systems 3, the fans thereof retrieving the impurities which are then damped to vine interrows. The grapes cleaned of impurities are then delivered to the inclined belt-bucket conveyers 4 which in turn convey them to the grape collectors 5.

With reference to Fig. 4 when the machine fails to travel in line with the longitudinal centerline of the vine row,.such as during steering inaccuracies, the row of vine plants exerts a greater load on one of the symmetrical sections of the shaker member 7 and the grape trap 8. Therefore, the inverted-Ushaped subframe 6 to which the shaker member 7 and grape trap 8 are attached tends to move under the action of such a load by virtue of the suspensions 10, whereas the ledges 11 are also displaced over the conveyers 2 to prevent the formation of longitudinal gaps between the conveyers and the grape trap.Therewith, the vertical position of the shaker member 7 is maintained, while the plate elements of the grape trap 8 and the ledges 11 sustain their optimum angular position relative to the horizontal, since the arms of the suspensions 10 connected to the inverted-U-shaped subframe generally form a four-link parallel mechanism.

The movement of the inverted-U-shaped subframe 6 to comform to the loads exerted thereon by vine plants or by trellises occurs until the opposite symmetrical sections of the shaker member 7 and grape trap 8 are orientated relative to the longitudinal centerline of the vine row so that loads imposed thereon are equalized. Incidental oscillations of the subframe 6 caused by inertia forces are suppressed by the damper 12. As a result, in the course of the forward travel of the grape harvesting machine the shaker member 7 and the grape trap 8 at any moment during such travel assume an optimum position relative to the centerline of the vine row being harvested to assure uniform and efficient grape dislodgement by the shaker unit 7 with a minimum of force imposed on the plants along with sufficient overlapping of the underside of the vine plants by the grape trap 8.Another advantage resides in that the grape trap 8 assists the shaker member 7 to assume a central position relative to the crown or trunks of the vine plants thanks to the resilient action from the plate elements of the grape trap, which facilitates harvesting and assures minimum damage to the vine plants. Vibrations transmitted from the shaker member 7 through the inverted-U-shaped subframe 6 to the grape trap 8 promotes fast and uniform discharge of the grapes retrieved from the plate elements of the grape trap onto the conveyers 2 at minimum inclination angles of the elements of the grape trap 8 to the horizontal to result in reduced height of grape trapping. Transverse swinging of low-frequency oscillations of the system are suppressed by the damper 1 2.

In view of the foregoing, the considerably reduced weight of the movable system which follows the centerline of the vine row being harvested the subframe 6 of which has only two working members, viz. the shaker 7 and grape trap 8, static and dynamic loads exerted on the vine plants and trellises are substantially reduced during harvesting, while the response and accuracy ofrself-centering of the working implements relative to the centreline of the vine row is increased.

Also, damage to the vine plants is prevented because the grape trap 8 bears on the plant trunks by its spring-loaded elements, and not by a rigid beam or by the housing of the conveyer.

In addition, the machine according to the invention provides such added advantages as higher maneuverability, reduced vibraton and improved working conditions for the operator.

Claims (3)

1. A grape harvesting machine having a main frame having secured thereto in symmetry with a longitudinal centerline thereof a shaker member, a grape trap with grape trapping elements spring-loaded to tubular carrying members, longitudinal conveyers, a grape cleaning system, and inclined bucket conveyers, the shaker member and the grape trap being disposed one above the other on an inverted-U-shaped subframe attached to the main frame by means of pivotable suspension elements for swinging transversely of the forward travel path of the machine, the tubular carrying members of the grape trap having affixed thereto ledges partially overlapping the longitudinal conveyers disposed thereunder.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the inverted-U-shaped subframe is connected to the main frame of the machine by means of dampers.

3. A machine as described in the description and claimed in the claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.