GB724997A - Cropping and pruning machine - Google Patents

Abstract

724,997. Harvesting tea. GLEED, H. E. March 3, 1953 [March 7, 1952], No. 5862/53. Classes 6 (2) and 6 (3). A harvesting machine for use in tea-plantations comprises, a post 1 mountable upright on the ground and an arm 6 rotatable about the post and carrying harvesting or pruning tools. As shown, the post carries a spigot 24 at its lower end insertable into any one of a series of sockets 25 mounted in concrete blocks 26 at intervals around the plantation. On the post a sleeve 2 is slidable vertically and is fixed by a pin 5. The arm 6 is mounted on a bearing 7 slidable up and down the sleeve 2 and located by a pin 28. The arm 6 is hollow and accommodates a shaft passing through a bearing 18 and terminating in a worm 22 and handle 23. The opposite end of the shaft carries a bevel-gear 20 which engages a bevel-gear 21 on a shaft 11 rotatable on the arm 6 and carrying a sub-frame 9. The sub-frame comprises equal arms 9a, 9b carrying harvesting tools 14 (Fig. 3). Rotation of the handle 23 rotates the arms and the spindle 11, but by lowering the bearing 7 on the sleeve 2 until the worm 22 engages a worm-wheel 32, the arm 6 is also rotated. The tools 14 each comprise an open box 15 having a blade 16 at its forward lower edge. The box may be slotted longitudinally to allow it to be swept by a fixed wiper plate during rotation, the wiper being mounted on the arm. 6 so as to sweep the cut crop into a receptacle adjacent to the post 1. The boxes are detachable and replaceable by other cutting tools. In a modification, using driven tools, the arms 9a, 9b, which are non- rotary and tubular, house shafts by which the drive is transmitted to the tools at their ends, these shafts being driven by the gearing 20, 21. The arm 6 and the tools may also be driven by a motor (not shown). In a further modification, the sub-frame extends asymmetrically from the outer end of the arm and a stop is provided, so that when the arm is arrested the sub-frame swings in an arc about the end of the arm. For transport, the arms 9a, 9b may be folded together and the arm 6 may be detached from the post. The post may be mounted on a portable frame or may have a spike for insertion directly into the soil.