GB2274967A

GB2274967A - Fruit tree vibrating unit.

Info

Publication number: GB2274967A
Application number: GB9303053A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Juan Cadena Ramon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-02-16
Filing date: 1993-02-16
Publication date: 1994-08-17
Also published as: GB9303053D0

Abstract

A head for coupling a vibrating device to a fruit tree comprises a body 1, bell cranks 4 articulated to lugs 2 at one end of the body, and side arms 6. The arms 6 extend between pairs of guide channel members 7. Actuation of hydraulic cylinders 13 disposed between the side arms 6 and the bell cranks 4 causes inward displacement of the ends of the arms 6 remote from the bell cranks, guided by the channel members 7, and brings the body 1 closer to a tree trunk located between these ends of the arms. The end of the body 1 and the ends of the arms 6 form three distinct bearing positions on the tree trunk. <IMAGE>

Description

VIBRATION HEAD FOR FRUIT TREES The present invention relates to a head for attaching to the trunks of fruit trees for effecting vibration of the latter. The head may be adapted to any diameter of tree in order to vibrate it and cause the fruit to fall off and is therefore applicable to any types of trees having fruit that can be detached by vibrating the tree, for example, olives, almond, hazelnut, chestnut and like trees.

In order to vibrate certain fruit trees and cause the fruit to fall off, it is necessary to grip the tree and, using a suitable device, produce the appropriate vibration. However, the coupling of the vibrating mechanism to the tree trunk is, in some cases, achieved by means of a clamp which strangulates and, hence, damages the tree trunk, so that the farmers reject this type of device since, after vibrating the trunk, injuries are caused which then require long and costly treatment which is not always successful.

Another type of mechanism or head by means of which the vibrator is coupled to the trunk is based on two curved arms which, although they prove less damaging than the system previously referred to, also have the effect of strangulating or constricting the diameter of the tree trunk and, in practice, are also very detrimental to the tree.

The head of the invention has been designed to solve these problems in a completely satisfactory way, on the basis of a solution that is both simple and effective, since the head according to the invention allows the vibrating mechanism to be fitted or coupled to the relevant tree trunk without causing strangulation of its diameter and, instead, produces immobilisation via three bearing points, which ensures that it is positioned firmly and securely without damaging the tree, whatever the diameter of trunk. All of this means that the tree trunk is held firmly and it is easy to apply the appropriate vibration, whilst taking care of the bark, that is, avoiding damage to the trunk.

More specifically, the head of the invention comprises a body or frame mounted so as to float on a support arm through which appropriate vibration is transmitted to the head. The body has two pairs of arms between which extend and are displaceable, in a convergent and divergent direction, side arms having extremities which determine bearing points for the tree trunk, in combination with a pad provided at the adjacent end of the body. The adjacent end of the body corresponds to the area comprised between the two pairs of arms referred to above.The side arms are articulated at their opposite extremities to connecting rods articulated in turn to lugs projecting from the body, such that these lugs are in turn linked to the piston rods of actuating rams, the actuation of which results in the displacement in a convergent and/or divergent direction, according to the direction of movement of the rams, of the above-mentioned side arms, the latter being guided by projections from the side arms engaged in grooves of the pairs of arms projecting in a divergent manner from the body.

With the invention, the body is moved towards the tree trunk, so that the pad on the body bears against the trunk, as do the ends of the displaceable side arms, producing the effect of wedging rather than of traction, as occurs in traditional systems.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that the preferred head includes a body 1 which may be considered as a floating frame and which will be mounted to an appropriate vibrating device. This body or frame 1 has, at one of its ends, a pair of lateral, diverging lugs 2 to each of which is articulated, at pivots 3, pairs of bell cranks 4.

The elbows of these bell cranks are articulated at 5 to the adjacent end, in each case, of an arm 6 disposed on either side of the body 1, each arm 6 extending between a pair of channel members 7 which project from the body on opposite sides thereof. Two pivots 8 projecting from each arm 6 are guided in the opposed grooves of each pair of channel members 7.

The free ends of the arms 6 have packing pieces 9, while the adjacent end of the body 1 disposed between the pair of arms 6 includes a packing piece or pad 10.

Between the bell cranks 4 on each side there is mounted a pin 11 linked to the piston rod 12 of a hydraulic cylinder 13 articulated to a support 14 projecting from the respective arm 6.

When the free ends of the arms 6 are placed at two opposite positions on a tree trunk with their packing pieces 9 bearing against the bark of the trunk, actuation of the hydraulic cylinders 13 produces turning of the pairs of bell cranks 4 and thereby displacement and corresponding rocking, in a divergent manner, of the arms 6 which are guided by movement of the pivots 8 in the opposed grooves in the channels 7 projecting from the body 1. This causes the body to be moved correspondingly closer to the tree trunk, that is, a closing and wedging effect is produced on the trunk, bringing nearer to the latter the pad 10 of the body 1, such that no traction of the aforementioned tree trunk takes place, but rather a wedging effect between the arms 6 and therefore a forward movement of the body 1 until complete gripping and immobilisation of the trunk is achieved.

It is possible to vary the materials, form, size and arrangement of the elements without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

CLAIMS 1. A head for coupling a vibrating device to a fruit tree, comprising a body having laterally diverging lugs at or adjacent one end, bell crank members articulated to the lugs, side arms disposed on opposite sides of the body and articulated to the bell crank members substantially at the apices of the latter, guide means projecting laterally in a divergent manner from opposite sides of the body for guiding movement of the side arms, and actuating means coupled to the bell crank members, whereby actuation of the actuating means causes displacement of the side arms guided by the guide means and movement of the adjacent end of the body closer to a tree trunk located between the free ends of the two side arms, said adjacent end of the body together with the free ends of the side arms determining three distinct bearing positions on the tree trunk.

2. A head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide means comprises a pair of channel members projecting laterally from each side of the body and between which projects the associated side arm, said arm being guided between the channel members by means of pivots projecting from the latter and engaging in the opposed channels of the channel members.

3. A head for coupling a vibrating device to a fruit tree constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.