US3568796A

US3568796A - Fruit workers platform

Info

Publication number: US3568796A
Application number: US820390A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence Edward Stanhope
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-04-30
Filing date: 1969-04-30
Publication date: 1971-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-09

Abstract

A fruit workers platform includes a support frame which can be moved from tree to tree and at least one working station thereon. Means are provided to dispose the workers at all levels of each tree for picking, pruning, etc.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Lawrence Edward Slanhope 5 6] References Cited 223 Windsor Drive, Lakeland, Fla. 33803 UNITED STATES PATENTS g gig- 404,292 /1889 Lansell 187/94 Patented Mar. 9,1971 2,829,814 4/1958 Warner 182/16X Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney-Conno1ly and l-lutz FRUIT WORKERS PLATFORM 8 Claims, 24 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl. .t. E04g 1/18 ABSTRACT: A fruit workers platform includes a support Field ofSearch.. 182/12- frame which can be moved from tree to tree and at least one l4, 129, 16, 141, 148, 187, 188, 103; 187/10, working station thereon. Means are provided to dispose the 12, 94 workers at all levels of each tree for picking, pruning, etc.

I O 1 Z5} I PATENTED -MAR 9m, 3; 568796 sum 2 or 8 ATENTEDMAR awn sum 5 or s I PATEN TEU MAR 919m SHEET 6 UF 8 FRUITWORKERS PLATFORM 4 BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to a fruit workers platform particulariy adaptable for picking fruits from orchards wherein the platform is moved from tree to tree. Various fruit picking devices exist ranging from the very crude to the very sophisticated. Such crude devices for example include different types of ladders which simply lean against the tree, while the more sophisticated devices include mechanical means for picking the fruit or shaking means causing the fruit to fall from the trees.

Despite the intricacy of the various sophisticated devices none of these devices can replace the human-hand and eye for discriminating in the type of fruit which should be picked with minimum damage thereto. There is, therefore, a need to provide a platform which can be used by fruit workers or pickers which utilizes the human picker while minimizing the time and effort required for picking.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a fruit workers platform which satisfies the above indicated needs.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a platform which disposes workers at various vertical positions along the tree.

A still further object of this invention is to provide such a platform which can easily be moved from tree to tree.

In accordance with this invention the platform includes an easily movable support frame which includes a working station for supporting the fruit workers. Means are provided to position the workers at different vertical levels.

In one form of this invention two sets of support frames are provided for disposition on opposed sides of a tree. Each set includes upstanding inclined struts with a working station movably mounted on each set of struts and with the working stations on both sets of struts being interconnected so that one working station is raised when the other is lowered. The working stations may be of elongated form to accommodate a plurality of workers with a portion of the station serving as a fruit collecting bin. A chute may be mounted on the station wall and inclined into the bin. Each set of the support frames may include a horizontal base member mounted on wheels or rollers with a pair of vertically adjustable upstanding struts interconnected to the struts in the other set and with an adjustable crossbar interconnecting both sets. Similarly the working stations may be interconnected by a cable disposed over pulleys.

The working stations can be moved up and down by proper manipulation of a winch. When a station is descending it is heavier than the ascending working station because it contains fruit picked while ascending. The extra collecting bin in one station is filled, the weight of the station causes it to move downward and in turn raises the other station. The winch can be utilized as a brake tohold the stations in predetermined vertical positions.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention the platform has an elongated base which partially encircles a tree with struts inclined toward the tree top so that the work station can be moved up and down along side the tree. Tracks are disposed around the tree whereby wheels on the base can follow the tracks and the platform can move completely around the tree. The work station can be of straight or arcuate shape.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention the platform has a plurality of vertical work stations staggered in such a manner that the workers are disposed in the optimum picking positions. The platform is supported at one end on, for example, a flat bed vehicle and at the other end on a flat bed trailer. The points of connections of the platform to the flat beds serve as pivot points to enhance the maneuverability of the entiredevice. Each working station may be an extendable cab to facilitate the close positioning of the worker with the trees. One of the flat beds may act as supports for various auxiliary structures such as rest rooms while the other flat bed may support the central collecting bins. A system of chutes are provided to convey the fruit from each picking station to the collecting bin.

In accordance with still another aspect of this invention the platform is an inverted V which includes a pair of horizontal base members mounted on wheels with a pair of parallel struts connected to the ends of each base member and a pair of struts intermediate the ends and parallel to each other and to the end struts. Cabs are mounted to one set of end and intermediate struts and similarly cabs are mounted to the other set of end and intermediate struts. One set of cabs is staggered with respect to the other set of cabs. The struts secured to one base are pivotally mounted at their upper ends to the struts secured to the other base so that the struts can be arranged to straddle the trees and thus dispose the workers in the optimum working positions.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a fruit workers platform in accordance with one aspect of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the platform shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the platform shown in FIGS. 1-2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken through FIG. 2 along the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the platform shown in FIGS. 1-3; I

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a modified form of the platform shown in FIGS. l2;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a further platform in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 9 is a front view in elevation of the platform shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of still another platform in accordance with this invention;

FIG. I1 is an enlarged view of the portion of the platform shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified form of the platform shown in FIG. 10;

FIGS. 13-15 are schematic views of the platform shown in FIG. 10in different phases of operation;

FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of still another platform in accordance with this invention;

FIGS. 17-18 are side views of the platform shown in FIG. I6;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the platform shown in FIGS. 16- 18;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the portion of the platform shown in FIGS. 1619;

FIG. 21 is an elevation view partly in section of a portion of the platform shown in FIGS. l6l9;

FIG. 22 is a side elevation view of a modified form of the platform shown in FIGS. 16-19;

FIG. 23 is a front elevation view of still another platform in accordance withthis invention; and

FIG. 24 is a side elevation view of the platform shown in FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION This invention isbased upon the concept that the most effective means of picking fruit is the human hand and eye since a human can discern as to which fruit is of the desired ripeness for picking and can carefully pick the fruit with minimum damage thereto. In accordance with this invention working stations are provided to maximize the efficiency of the human pickers by disposing pickers at different vertical levels which require a limited work area and thus minimize the necessity for stretching or bending. The concepts of this invention can also be utilized for other tree manipulations such as pruning.

FIGS. 17 show a platform in accordance with one aspect of this invention. As indicated therein the work picking platform 10 includes a framework having a base member 12 which can be varied in effective length by the inclusion of telescopic extensions l4 and which has secured thereto upstanding

inclined struts

16, 18 pivotally joined at their upper ends to top member 20. Each of struts 16, 13 is also telescopic to permit length adjustment. Movably mounted upon strut 13 is a work station 22 which is sufficiently elongated to accommodate a plurality of workers. The work station 22 has a floor 24 with an upstanding peripheral wall 26. A spaced roof 28 may also be provided to shade the workers and if desired curtains 39 may extend from roof 28 to further shield the workers from the elements.

A plurality of fruit collecting bins 32 are disposed in work station 22 and may have a sloping floor so that the fruit deposited therein tends to collect at one portion of the bin. The floor 34 of the bin may be hinged to permit discharge of the fruit when the bin 32 is filled. For example as shown in FEGS. 4-5 a handle 36 is connected to the pivotal floor 3 3 and is releasably held in spring bracket 38. Upon rotation of handle 36 the floor moves from the position indicated in full in FIG. to the position indicated in phantom. A chute 40 is provided on each bin so that the worker may conveniently place the fruit in the chute 40 without the necessity of dropping or throwing the fruit into the bin or without the necessity of bending and reaching into the bin. Chute 40 is mounted on wall 26 and is inclined into the bin. An opening 42 is provided in chute 4t and if desired flexible hoses (not shown) or other cushioning material may be attached at the opening to cushion the fall of the fruit into the bin. Alternatively hoses may be strapped to the workers with the ends of the hoses disposed in the bins. Chute 49 may also be extendable and made sufficiently strong to support a sitting worker should the tree have open areas which are otherwise inaccessible from working station 22.

Work station 22 rides up and down struts 18 by means of guide rollers 44 (FIG. 3). The power for elevating and lowering work station 22 is accomplished by lines or cables 46 connected to the work station, wrapped around pulleys 48 and anchored to base 12. The cable 46 can be manipulated by hand power as by means of a winch (not shown) in the work station which also acts as a brake to hold the station in predetermined positions or can be powered by motor means 50 (FIG. 3). When motor means are utilized the controls can be operated by a worker through control panel 52 (FIG. 4) which can also provide the controls for other power means in the platform.

Platform is arranged for completely encircling a tree so that by use of the single platform all of the fruit can be completely picked from a tree. To facilitate the movement of platform 10 base 12 is mounted upon

wheels

54, 56, 58. Wheel 58 is for example power driven by power means 60 with its controls being located in panel 52. Alternatively, other suitable power means such as manual or animal can be provided. To assure platform 10 taking the correct path around the tree a track is provided. The track may simply be a furrow dug into the ground around the tree with guide rollers 56 being disposed in the furrow. As illustrated in the drawings, however, the track 62 (FIG. 6) includes a pair of parallel upstanding flanges 64 to maintain guide wheels 56 confined in the track 62. In order to dispose the guide wheels 56 in the track guide wheels 56 are retractably mounted on a post 66 which slides in sleeve 67 secured to base 12. Post 66 has a lifting hook or eye 63 to permit the wheels 56 to be raised as the platform 10 is disposed over track 62. Wheels 56 are then lowered into position within flanges 64 and post 66 is locked to sleeve 67.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a modified form of platform 10. As indicated therein work station 22a is arcuate and includes telescopic sections 23 so that the work station can extend a greater distance around the tree. A further feature shown in H0. 7 is the inclusion of horizontal telescopic guide bar 7t which is utilized to prevent any drifting tendency of the platform away from the tree when for example the track is not used. This prevention of drifting tendency is accomplished by a cable 72 secured at one end, for example, to the base of the work platform and extending through eye 74, then wrapping around the tree trunk 76 and being detachably secured to eye 78 on crossbar 70. Although FIG. 7 shows the crossbar 70 disposed against the tree trunk with certain dimension trees, crossbar 70 will be spaced from the trunk.

FIGS. 8-9 show another modified form wherein two platforms 10b are coupled together to completely encircle the tree. In this embodiment the working stations 22 are interconnected by a common cable 80 so that one station is raised when the other is lowered. This is particularly advantageous since as the fruit is deposited in, for example, the upper work station, which is descending this station is heavier than the ascending station because it contains fruit picked while ascending and thus has a tendency to lower which in turn raises the other work station. The provision of a winch acts as a brake as indicated previously to hold the work stations in the desired location for the desired amounts of time as well as serving as power means. Platforms 10b are coupled together by a telescopic crossbar 82 disposed at the upper ends thereof and the base members may also be coupled together.

FIG. 8 shows various arrangements of the fruit collecting bins at each work station: For example work station may include a single central bin 320 with the work areas 33 at both sides thereof. Alternatively, a plurality of smaller work bins 3212 can be arranged at spaced locations in the work station.

FIGS. l012 show another platform in accordance with this invention. As indicated therein the platform is in the shape of an inverted V having a pair of horizontal base members 34 mounted on wheels 86 and includes a pair of inclined parallel telescopic struts 88 with the work station 90 riding against struts 88 guided by rollers 94.-The upper ends of struts 8 8 are pivotally secured together on shaft 92 by, for example, one set of struts having a tongue 96 (FIG. 11) and the other set having mating grooves 98. Shaft 92 is threaded so that threaded fasteners 100 can be secured thereto to act as spacers for the struts and for pulley 102. Work stations 90 are interconnected by cable 104 hand driven by winch 106.

FIG. 10 shows one pulley arrangement wherein pulleys 102, 108 are mounted on shaft 92. An alternative arrangement is shown in FIG. 12 wherein the

pulleys

102, 108 are replaced by pulleys 110 secured to the struts 88. The advantage of this arrangement is that the cables or lines 104 do not have to bend at as sharp an angle thus reducing wear on the cables.

The spacing or angle of struts 88 is fixed by suitable crossbars such as the diagonal crossbar arrangement 112 or the single horizontal crossbar 114 shown in phantom in FIG. 10. All of the crossbars are telescopic to permit adjustment thereof. Stability is added to the platform by the provision of angular sway bars 116 and by brace arrangements between each pair of struts 88. For example as shown in FIG. 10 brace arrangement including horizontal brace 118 and cross braces 120 is provided at the bottom of each pair of struts. A similar bracing arrangement would be provided at the top by having the horizontal brace about 4 feet from shaft 92. The top brace arrangements have been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity.

FIGS. l315 schematically illustrate how the working platform shown in FIGS. 10-12 can move from tree to tree so that the workers can completely pick the fruit from each tree. FIG. 13 schematically illustrates how one work station A is disposed diametrically opposite work station B for picking fruit from tree T,. The work platform then periodically moves until it has rotated to the position indicated in FIG. 14- with the horizontal brace member 114 now being on the opposite side of tree T,. By the time the work platform has rotated to this position tree T is completely picked of its fruit. The work platform can then move in a forward direction to the next tree T as illustrated in FIG. 15 and the rotational process is repeated until each tree is picked.

To maximize the efficiency of the various work platforms illustrated herein proper pruning and spacing of the trees would be desirable so that the trees for example have a somewhat conical triangular shape to easily accommodate the inverted V of the work platform and so that the trees are spaced close enough together in rows to minimize the movement required as platform goes from tree to tree.

FIGS. 16-21 shows still another form of work platform. As indicated therein the frame includes vertical struts 122 supposted on base 126. Detachable cabs 126 are mounted on struts 122 in a staggered fashion as best shown in FIG. 16 so that the work areas of different individuals are approximately 3 feet apart. When the groves are arranged with the rows of trees closely disposed to each other the platform includes pairs of work stations or cabs 126 arranged back to back. As shown in FIG. each cab is extendable to move toward the tree the required amount. For example the cabs may include guide bars 128 riding in slotted track 130 and driven by rack and pinion gear drive 132. The front of each cab may include a hinged door 134 which can be lowered so that the worker can lean forward against the door and thus get closer to the fruit. Since the cabs 126 are detachable, cabs may be added or removed in accordance with the particular tree heights. Additionally, a worker may sit directly on base 124 as shown for example in FIGS. 16-17. Access is had to the cabs by ladder 126.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16-19 base 124 is mounted at one end upon the flat bed of vehicle 136 and is mounted on the other end on the flat bed of trailer 138. If desired trailer 126 may include a steering mechanism to as sure proper positioning of the platform. Since the platform is moved only periodically a separate driver is not required for vehicle 136 but rather one of the pickers can move the entire platform. The flat beds of vehicle 136 and trailer 138 are advantageously utilized for auxiliary purposes. For example vehicle 136 may house various structures such as rest rooms 1411. Similarly, trailer 1 38 supports collecting bins 142. Obviously the structures can alternatively be mounted on the trailer and the bins on the vehicle.

Each cab 126 includes a chute 144 in which the worker places the picked fruit. Since cabs 126 are extendable (FIG. 26) chutes 14 1 are likewise telescopic. (Alternatively flexible hoses may be used in place of the chutes.) A series of zigzag plates 145 are arranged on the platform to convey the fruit to central chute 146. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 16 the fruit from each chute 1% falls on a plate 135 and rolls down the plate until it falls through an opening 147 on to the next plate. Thus the fruit from all chutes roll down the zigzag plates M5 until they are ultimately discharged into central chute 146. From central chute 146 the fruit empties into collecting area 148 which slopes downwardly to a focal point 1511. Conveyor 152 is disposed at focal point 151) to convey the fruit into an individual collecting bin 162.

As shown in FIG. 21 collecting bin 142 overhangs the support surface 154 of trailer 138. Thus when the collecting bin 142 is sufficiently full a worker need only exert minimum effort to tip the bin and permit it to slide down skids or guide surface 156. A more sophisticated manner of discharging bin 1412 is to incorporate a weight sensing element or scale on support surface 154-. When a certain weight is detected a switch is tripped to tip bin 142. After a full'bin 142 is discharged, a subsequent collecting bin 156 is then lowered to replace bin 142. For example as shown in FIG. 16 trailer 138 includes upstanding spaced rails 160 which spread apart at camming section 161. Movably secured to rails 160 are contoured clamping members 162 which engage against the upper portion of bin 158. Clamping members 162 are attached to cables 164 over capstan 166 so that by manipulation of winch 168 the clamping members 162 can be raised or lowered. When the clamping members are lowered the stacked bins are also lowered and'when the holding members reach camming section 161 the distance between the clamping members is increased and the stack of bins is no longer clamped thereby. The lowest bin The vehicle 136 and the trailer 138 not only provide a stable support for base 124 but also the points of connection 172 act as pivot points for the base so that the entire platform is quite maneuverable. FIG. 22 shows a slightly modified version of this platform wherein the base 12 1A is mounted on its own wheels 174 and is connected to the vehicle 136a and trailer 138a by connecting members 176.

FIGS. 23-24 show still another form of platform. As indicated therein the platform 178 is a combination of the type of frame and structure shown in FIGS. 10-12 with the cabs shown in FIGS. 16-19. In this respect each horizontal base 181) is mounted on wheels 182 and includes inclined struts 184 adjacent the ends thereof with intermediate struts 186 parallel to each other and to end, struts 184. The sets of struts are pivotally connected at their upper ends (FIG. 24) to form an inverted V which can be connected by suitable cross bracing 188. Detachable cabs 190 are secured to one set of

struts

184, 186 with additional detachable cabs 190 being secured to the other set of struts. The cabs of one set are arranged in a staggered position in relation to the other set, similar to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 16-19. Additionally, thecabs may be of the extendable type as illustrated in FIG. 20. The platform 178 shown in FIGS. 23-24 is particularly adaptable for straddling the trees and going from tree to tree over an entire row of trees without the necessity of raising and lowering individual working stations.

Access to the individual cabs is conveniently had by means of rungs 192 connecting intermediate'struts 186 so as to form a ladder between the struts. Each cab may include its own fruit collecting bin with chutes 194 such as illustrated in FIGS. 1- l2 or the cabs may have chutes leading to a central collecting bin by suitable conveying means (not shown).

It is to be understood that various features, such as the chutes, bins and work stations, shown in certain embodiments are adaptable for incorporation in other embodiments.

With the various arrangements shown in FIGS. 1-24 a fruit working platform is provided which can effectively be utilized for the pruning of trees, picking of fruit or other activities in a simple and efficient manner with the maximum of ease and comfort to the individual worker by disposing the worker in the immediate vicinity of the work area.

lclaim:

1. A fruit workers platform comprising a support frame, means for facilitating the movement'of said support frame from one tree to another, at least one working station for supporting fruit workers thereon, means for disposing the workers at different vertical levels along a tree, said support frame including upstanding inclined struts, said means for disposing the fruit workers at different vertical levels including elevating means for raising and lowering sad working station along said inclined struts, said working station including an elongated floor for supporting a plurality of fruit workers and enclosed by an upstanding peripheral wall, at least one fruit collecting bin being in said station, a fruit chute mounted on said wall and inclined into said bin, said frame including two sets of inclined struts, one of said sets of struts being pivotally connected to the other of said sets of struts at their upper ends thereof, each of said struts being adjustable in length, an adjustable crossbar interconnecting said sets of struts, one of said working stations being mounted on each set of struts, and said stations being interconnected whereby one of said stations is raised when the other station is lowered.

2. A platform as set forth in claim 1 wherein each working station includes guide rollers riding against said inclined struts, pulleys being mounted on said struts said stations being interconnected by a cable disposed over said pulleys, a winch connected to said cable, a portion of each station floor being the floor of said collecting bin, said floor of said bin being sloped downwardly and being hinged whereby said bin may discharge the fruit therefrom.

3. A platform as set forth in claim 2 wherein said support frame includes a pair of horizontal base members mounted on wheels, each set of struts being mounted to one of said base members, and said struts of one set being interconnected at their upper ends to said struts of the other set.

4. A fruit workers platform comprising a support frame, means for facilitating the movement of said support frame from one tree to another, said frame including two sets of inclined struts, one of said sets of struts being pivotally connected to the other of said sets of struts at their upper ends thereof about a common shaft to which all of said struts are connected, crossbar means interconnecting said sets of struts below said common shaft, the struts in each set being interconnected by a horizontal base member, the horizontal base member of one set being parallel to the horizontal base member of the other set, said means for facilitating the movement of said support frame including a plurality of wheels connected to each base member, and at least one working station mounted on each of said sets of struts.

5. A platform as set forth in claim 4 wherein each strut is adjustable in length.

6. A platform as set forth in claim 4 wherein each set of struts includes end struts secured to the ends of each base member, a pair of intermediate parallel struts secured to said base member between said end struts, said working station including a plurality of detachable cabs secured one atop another to one set of end and intermediate struts and a plurality of said cabs secured to the other set of end and intermediate struts, the cabs in one set being staggered with respect to the cabs in the other set, at least some of said cabs being horizontally extendable and retractable, and horizontal rungs connected between each pair of intermediate struts to form a ladder.

7. A platform as set forth in claim 5 wherein said working stations are interconnected whereby one of said stations is raised when the other station is lowered.

8. A fruit workers platform comprising a support frame, means for facilitating the movement of said support frame from one tree to another, at least one working station for supporting fruit workers thereon, means for disposing the workers at different vertical levels along a tree, said support frame including upstanding inclined struts, said means for disposing the fruit workers at different vertical levels including elevating means for raising and lowering said working station along said inclined struts, said frame including two sets of inclined struts, all of said struts being mounted at their upper ends on a common shaft whereby said sets of struts are pivotally connected to each other, an adjustable crossbar interconnecting said sets of struts below said shaft, pulley means on said shaft, cable means connected to said working station on one of said sets of struts and mounted on said pulley means and extending over to the other of said sets of struts whereby the movement of said working station on said one set of struts may be controlled by manipulation of said cable means at said other set of struts.

Claims

1. A fruit workers platform comprising a support frame, means for facilitating the movement of said support frame from one tree to another, at least one working station for supporting fruit workers thereon, means for disposing the workers at different vertical levels along a tree, said support frame including upstanding incliNed struts, said means for disposing the fruit workers at different vertical levels including elevating means for raising and lowering sad working station along said inclined struts, said working station including an elongated floor for supporting a plurality of fruit workers and enclosed by an upstanding peripheral wall, at least one fruit collecting bin being in said station, a fruit chute mounted on said wall and inclined into said bin, said frame including two sets of inclined struts, one of said sets of struts being pivotally connected to the other of said sets of struts at their upper ends thereof, each of said struts being adjustable in length, an adjustable crossbar interconnecting said sets of struts, one of said working stations being mounted on each set of struts, and said stations being interconnected whereby one of said stations is raised when the other station is lowered.