GB2211716A

GB2211716A - A harvester for harvesting fruit

Info

Publication number: GB2211716A
Application number: GB8824504A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Bowes
Original assignee: PATTENDEN ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: PATTENDEN ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 1987-10-30
Filing date: 1988-10-19
Publication date: 1989-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-19
Also published as: GB8824504D0; GB8725713D0; GB2211716B

Abstract

A harvester 1 for harvesting fruit such as raspberries from standing plants (raspberry canes), comprises a frame for straddling a plant and two pairs of shaker devices 3 and 4 for shaking the raspberries from the canes, there being two shaker devices on each side of the longitudinal axis 5 of the harvester 1, wherein one pair of shaker devices 3 is offset longitudinally of the other 4 on the frame. The shaker devices of each pair comprise drums of identical diameter, the offsetting being by a drum radius, resulting in elimination in use of the entire central gap between the devices in use. <IMAGE>

Description

A HARVESTER The invention relates to a harvester, particularly a harvester which is used for the non-destructive harvesting of soft fruit such as raspberries from a standing plant.

By non-destructive is meant that the berries themselves are stripped from the plant without crushing or other damage and that the plant is not harmed during harvesting.

The harvester usually progresses along a row of plants straddling same. though in some cases a harvester could harvest from one side or the plant only, a double pass being required. Such harvesters usually comprise a revolvable drum from which protrude tines or fingers. As the harvester progresses along a row of plants, the fingers 'enter' the plant, and the drum revolves. There is mechanism to superimpose on the rotational motion an oscillatory motion so that the tines reciprocate at a required amplitude to shake the berries from the plant. The oscillatory motion is thus superimposed on the rotational motion.

When harvesting such fruit as raspberries, it is often necessary to provide for an increased contact time over that over existing apparatus.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to provide such an apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for harvesting fruit from standing plants, comprising a frame for straddling a plant from which fruit is to be harvested, and two shaker devices, for shaking fruit from the plant, situated one on each side of the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, the arrangement being such that picking portions of the two shaker devices overlap and one device is offset longitudinally of the other on the frame.

There may be four devices arranged in pairs on oppC).1z( sides of a longitudinal axis of the frame, and one pair of shaker devices may be offset longitudinally of the other in the frame.

Each shaker device may comprise a drum from which project tines which in use can enter the plant and shake fruit therefrom.

The tines may be flexible and arranged in rings, the arrangement being such that the tines may intermesh or interdigitate.

Each drum may be mounted on a respective arm of the frame. and the arms may be substantially parallel and respectively pivoted with the frame at an end opposite the drum.

The two drums of a pair of drums may be connected via means to rotate them in unison, preferably comprising an endless drive member.

The two drums may also be connected via tensioning devices.

The tensioning devices may be adjustable in length whereby to adjust the tension between the drums.

The two pairs of drums may be connected by a connection device.

preferably comprising a flexible member and which passes from a forward arm of one pair of shaker devices, round a pulley on a frame to the forward arm of the other pair of shaker devices.

The pivot may be situated on the longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

There may be resilient means intermediate the length of the connection device.

The drums may be identical in diameter and the longitudinal offset being substantially equal to a drum radius.

Apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by wav of example. with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a pair of shaker devices of apparatus comprising a straddle harvester for harvesting raspberries from standing raspberry canes; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the harvester of Figs. 1 and 2 in operation to a smaller scale than Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a schematic view of prior shaker devices.

Referring to Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, there is shown apparatus 1 for harvesting fruit such as raspberries from standing plants (raspberry canes), comprising a frame 2 for straddling a plant (not shown), and, in the embodiment shown, two pairs of devices 3, 4, for shaking the raspberries from the canes, situated one on each side of the longitudinal axis 5 of the apparatus 1, wherein one pair of shaker devices 3 is offset longitudinally of the other 4 in the frame 2.

Each pair 3, 4 of shaker devices comprises a drum from which project flexibles tines 7. The tines are arranged in rings projecting from each drum 6 and intermesh or interdigitate as is clear from Fig. 1. The drums 6 are each mounted on a respective arm 8,9, the arms 8 and 9 being substantially parallel and respectively pivoted at the end opposite the drum 6 on a pivot 10, with the frame 2. One drum 6 has mounted on its axes of rotation a shaker means 11 comprising a drive motor 12 driving via drive means 13 out-of-balance weights 14 mounted in a head 15.The two drums 6 are connected via means to rotate them in unison, in the form of an endless drive member such as a chain drive, timing belt or the like 16 which passes round sprockets or pulleys 17. e rhe t-\s(J drums ó are also connected via tensioner devices 18, preferably adjustable. at the top and bottom, as viewed in Fig. 1.

The two pairs 3,4 of drums 6 may also be connected by a connection device in the form of a tensioner or connector 19 which is flexible and passes from the forward pivot arm 8 or 9 of one pair of shaker devices 3 round a pulley 20 on the frame 2 on the longitudinal axes 5 of the harvester 1, to be connected to the forward pivot arm 8 or 9 of the other pair of shaker devices 4. The connector may include resilient means 21. When utilised, the tensioner 19 ensures synchronism of the swinging of the pairs of drums, the result being that as one pair move away from the axis 5, the other is drawn towards it, so that the central gap is always maintained constant.

The pairs of drums 3, 4 are mounted offset longitudinally of the frame 2 of the harvester, the offsetting being such that the centre of one drum of one pair of drums is staggered by 4 a drum diameter along the longitudinal axis 5 of the frame. This means that virtually the entire centre gap 22 (Fig. 4) of prior art machines can be eliminated as the offsetting or staggering means that the pairs of drums 3,4 can be placed closer together and can in fact overlap without the tines 7 of opposite pairs of shaker devices fouling. Moreover, as the harvester 1 progresses down a row of plants, straddling same, the pairs of drums pivot on the frame 2 in unison, providing a penetration of the tines to the centre of the canes, and increasing the time in contact with the bush by up to 4 times that of prior art harvesters. The contact area/time is shown in shaded areas in Figs. 3 and 4.

Moreover, because of the intermeshing of the fingers of the tines of each drum of one pair of drums (that is a pair on one side of the longitudinal axis) there is superimposed on the rotation and oscillatory shaking motion a shaking action which is transverse to the longitudinal axis 5 of the machine (which coincides in use with the centre of the row of plants). This increases the efficiency of the shaking. This arises because as the tips of the tines 7 of one drum o move away from the longitudinal axis 5, the tips of the tines of the other drum of the same pair move towards that longitudinal axis, so creating a rapid to and fro or oscillatory motion transverse to the longitudinal axis 5 of the harvester 1.

Using a harvester 1, (which it will be understood has ground wheels on a chassis supporting the frame), embodying the invention it is possible to reduce the shaking speeds and the weight of the out of balance weights, which leads to less power consumption and a cheaper harvester which is nevertheless more efficient than prior machines in which the pairs of shaker devices are not offset.

Moreover. the forward speed of the harvester can be increased so also reducing picking time, and therefore effectively increasing the yield per acre or hectare.

The drums may each comprise concentric tubes one of which is an extra tube to carry secondary tine rings.

Claims

CLAItE

1. Apparatus for harvesting fruit from standing plants, comprising a frame for straddling a plant from which fruit is to be harvested, and two shaker devices, for shaking fruit from the plant, situated one on each side of the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, the arrangement being such that picking portions of the two shaker devices overlap and one device is offset longitudinally of the other on the frame.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1. wherein there are four devices arranged in pairs on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the frame, one pair of shaker devices being offset longitudinally of the other in the frame.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, each shaker device comprising a drum from which project tines which in use can enter the plant and shake fruit therefrom.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, the tines being flexible and arranged in rings, the arrangement being such that the tines may intermesh or interdigitate.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, each drum being mounted on a respective arm of the frame, the arms being substantially parallel and respectively pivoted with the frame at an end opposite the drum.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, the two drums of a pair of drums being connected via means to rotate them in unison.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, the means comprising an endless drive member.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, the two drums also being connected via tensioning devices.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, the tensioning devices being adjustable in length whereby to adjust the tension between the drums.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, the two pairs of drums being connected bv a connection device.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, the connection device comprising a flexible member and which passes from a forward arm of one pair of shaker devices round a pulley on a frame to the forward arm of the other pair of shaker devices.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, the pivot being situated on the longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

1. Apparatus according to Claim 12, there being resilient means intermediate the length of the connection device.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the drums being identical in diameter and the longitudinal offset being substantially equal to a drum radius.

15. Apparatus for harvesting fruit from standing plants, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.