GB2338636A

GB2338636A - Fruit collecting device

Info

Publication number: GB2338636A
Application number: GB9813401A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vasileios Vamvakidis; Hikmat Kamil Abbas; Dimitris Kotorcos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-23
Filing date: 1998-06-23
Publication date: 1999-12-29
Also published as: GB9813401D0

Abstract

The device consists of four parts: a belt 1 tied around the tree trunk and a number of hooks hanging from the belt, a holding part consisting of a number of flexible flaps 3 which hold the device to the tree trunk through the hooks 2 on the belt, a converging part 6 which slopes downwards to direct the fruits to the exit 10 and a collecting part 8 attached to a number of arms 7 in the shape of an inverted umbrella to collect the fruits dropping from the tree after shaking.

Description

p 1 FRUITS COLLECTING DEVICE 2338636 One of the most popular methods of

harvesting fruits, in particular olives, nuts etc. is by shaking the tree and collecting the fruits that drop on a flat or a sloppy sheet laying on the floor or being attached by strings to the tree or other subjects. Collecting the fruits from these sheets is a labour intensive, time consuming and therefore expensive. The present invention is a device that can collect above fruits and others such as coffee, apples, oranges etc. more efficiently.

The device consists of four parts; (1) a belt tied to the tree trunk, (2) a holding part to hold the device on the tree trunk with the aid of the belt, (3) a converging part to lead the fruits to the exit and (4) a collecting part in the shape of an inverted umbrella to collect the fruits dropping from the tree.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows the belt with the hooks and the clutch mechanism; Figure 2 shows a top view of the holding part extended from the inner perimeter of the converging part; Figure 3a shows a top view of the converging part and the joints at closed position; Figure 3b shows a top view of the converging part and the joints at open position; 2 Figure 3c shows a side view of the converging part, the joints and the angle difference with respect to the floor; Figure 3d shows a side view cross section of the converging part; Figure 4 shows a front view of the converging part, the holding part and the belt all attached on the tree trunk; Figure 5 shows an overall view of the fruit collecting device connected to the trunk of the tree; The belt, shown in Figure 1 is mounted around the tree trunk 11 as shown in Figure 4. The clutch 1 is used to tight up the belt and make it secure around the tree trunk and 2 are hooks for the holding part.

The holding part of the device consists of a number of flexible flaps 3 extended from the inner perimeter 4 of the converging part (Figure 2). The holes on the tips of the flaps are positioned on the hooks 2 of the belt as shown in Figure 4. Not necessarily all flaps need to be attached on the hooks. A few can securely hold the device on the trunk. However flaps will overlap each other.

A top view of the converging part of the device is shown in Figure 3a (closed position) and in Figure 3b (open position) with 4 the inner perimeter and 5 the outer perimeter of the converging part. Clips 6 are used to open and close the system around the trunk. A side view and a side view cross section are shown in Figure 3c and Figure 3d respectively. From those two figures it can 3 be clearly seen that the bottom of the converging part is not flat but at an angle y with respect to the floor.

The converging part and the holding part are attached on the tree trunk 11 as shown in Figure 4 with the aid of the belt (note that the converging part and the holding part are one piece).

The arms 7 are attached at an angle z at the inner perimeter 4 of the converging part and the cloth 8 is attached on the arms. The perimeter 9 of the lower side of the cloth is greater than the inner perimeter 4 of the converging part and equal or smaller than the outer perimeter 5 of the converging part (Figure 5).

To force the fruits to fall from the tree, manual shaking or vibrating mechanism can be applied. The fruits fall on the cloth and then enter the converging part because of the inclination due to angle z (angle z can have different values depending on the kind of fruits to be collected in order to avoid damaging them). Angle y (see Figure 3c) drives the fruits to the exit 10 (Figure 4 and 5). The value of.1 should be high enough in order for the fruits to slide on their own gravity. In the unlikely event of blockage, the converging part can be shaken by hand if necessary. In certain cases it may be advisable to place a vacuum mechanism at the exit to extract the fruits automatically.

4

Claims

5.

Fruits Collecting Device consists of four parts: (1) a belt tied to the tree trunk, (2) a holding part to hold the device to the tree trunk with the aid of the belt, (3) a converging part to lead the fruits to the exit, and (4) a collecting part in the shape of an inverted umbrella to collect the fruits dropping from the tree.
2. A belt as claimed in Claim 1 with a clutch attached to one end to tie it around the tree trunk and a number of hooks hanging from the belt.
3. A holding part as claimed in Claim 1 consisting of a number of flexible flaps which hold the device on the tree trunk through the hooks on the belt claimed in Claim 2.

A converging part as claimed in Claim 1 (consisting of outer and inner perimeters) going around the tree trunk and slopping downwards at a specified angle to direct the fruits to the exit and then into a container or a sack. The converging part is attached to its inner perimeter to the holding part as claimed in Claim 3.

A collecting part as claimed in Claim 1 consisting of a cloth attached to a number of arms which are held at a specified angle to the inner perimeter of the converging part claimed in Claim 4 and forming the shape of an inverted umbrella to collect the fruits dropping from the tree after shaking.

Fruits Collecting Device, as a whole of the four parts claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3, Claim 4 and Claim 5 substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.