US3762577A - Raisin pick up machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for picking up and recovering raisins lying on a paper strip on the ground has a carriage advancing along the strip to pick up the end of and tension the strip as the carriage advances. From the raised part of the tensioned strip, the raisins are brushed into a receiver. An elevating conveyor and presser wheel at the front of the machine aid in starting the paper strip into the tensioner.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Olmo et al. 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 1 RAlSlN PICK UP MACHINE 2,753,981 7/1956 Madeira 198/186 [75 Inventors: Harold P. Olmo; Henry E. Studer,

both of Davis Calif Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner [73] Assignee: The Regents of the University of Attorney-Marcus Lothrop et al.

California, Berkeley, Calif.

[22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1971 57 ABSTRACT A machine for picking up and recovering raisins lying on a paper strip on the ground has a carriage advancing along the strip to pick up the end of and tension the [52] US. Cl 214/1 R, 198/186, 214/519 [51] Int. Cl 860p 1/00 Strip as the carriage advances- From the raised P of [58] Field of Search 198/186; 214/83, the tensioned strip, the raisins are brushed into a 214/519,1 R ceiver. An elevating conveyor and presser wheel at the front of the machine aid in starting the paper strip into References Cited he tensioner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1,375,704 4/1921 Kendall 198/186 1,636,986 7/1927 Caldwell 198/186 53 m e 5 57 24' f 54 3e a 62 a, 7 33 2/ 2 37 55 59 i 5 32. I l4 Q I O 1 a3 2 Z; 22 42. 6 4 f 4/ r 9 4/ 58., V a f l l 1 22. 23 2e /8 RAISIN PICK UP MACHINE In US. Pat. No. 3,587,931 issued June 28,1971 and in a companion application filed by us on Dec. 13, 1971 Scr. No. 207,133 and entitled Raisin Grape Spreader", there is disclosed a scheme for field drying grapes detached from the vine by depositing them on a long strip of paper, usually left to lie on the ground in the vineyard between adjacent rows of vines. The paper is spread from a roll onto the ground shortly before the picked grapes are deposited thereon. That manner of operation is intended to supersede thepresently utilized system of providing a number of individual Z-feet by 3-feet paper trays in the field and onto which the grapes are piled, necessitating considerable hand labor in depositing the grapes in the first instance, further hand labor in turning and arranging the grapes as they are drying into raisins, and finally for removing the raisined grapes from the trays.

It is advisable under present circumstances to reduce as much as possible the need for manual labor in a vineyard, to provide a largedrying area for the grapes to be turned into raisins in order that the layer of grapes may be of small thickness and obviate the turning step heretofore used, and toprovide a moreexpeditious, sanitary and cheaper way of harvesting raisined grapes.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a machine which is useful, after the machine of our copending application has been utilized, to go through'the vineyard between the grape rows and to retrieve the then-raisined grapes from the previously deposited strip of paper, sometimes referred to as a tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide-such a machine that can be operated by a single person of only normal skill-and which can easily be started at thebeginning of each strip or row and which can easily be stopped at the end of the strip or row.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means of recovering raisins from a continuous paper strip in such a way that surrounding earth, debris and the like are not picked up, so that the raisins are recovered in quite clean form and do not require substantial additional treatment. r

A further object of the invention is to provide a raisin pick up machine that is readily adapted to use in present vineyard, that is' low in initial cost and reasonable in maintenance and upkeep.

Other objects of the invention together with theforegoing are attained in the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation, the near side of the machine being removed, of a raisin pick up machine constructed pursuant to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail to an enlarged scale showing a portion of the structure in the vicinity of the paper driving and'tensioningmechanism;

FIG. 3 is a detail in plan of thepaper confining mechanism, the paper strip and some adjacent mechanism being omitted for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modified construction;

FIG. 5 is another view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a further, modified construction; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1, in part, showing a modified construction.

The use of a substantially continuous strip of paper lying on the ground for supporting grapes during raisining was proposed by John Stanley and is shown in Abernathy and Lamouria US. Pat. No. 2,869,284 issued Jan. 20, 1959. While the description and claims herein refer to a paper strip, it is to be understood that they are intended to refer to any other substantially continu- -ous supporting medium which is utilized as or in place In the present instance the device includes a carriage generally designated 6 having a main frame 7 supported from the ground 8 on front dirigible wheels 9 under the control through a steering wheel 11 of an operator occupying a seat 12. The frame 7 is likewise supported on rear ground-engaging wheels 1-3 appropriately driven by a hydraulic motor 14 receiving hydraulic pressure fluid from an engine-driven hydraulic sup ply system 16 represented by a rectangle. This system likewise supplies hydraulic pressure fluid under the usual operator controls for various of the instrumentalitieson the carriage.

The tread or transverse span of the wheels 9 and I3 is sufficiently narrow to fit between the customary rows of-grape vines but is wide enough to have the wheels -runat opposite sides ofbut off'of a paper strip-17 lying on theground'8 and initially carrying the raisined grapes thereon.

For use when the machine is initially lined up to.

move downanaisle between two rows of grapes,-there is provided anauxiliary frame 18 extending generally a pivot and being supported at any selected height'by a pair of hydraulic jacks 21. By maneuveringthe jacks,

the inclination of the frame 18 about the cross shaft 19 can be altered. The forward erid of the frame l8 ineludes extended teeth-22 designed to run on or slightly under the surface of the ground 8 when the frame 18 is in its lower position. When the frame is in an upper position, the teeth 22 are a substantial distance above the ground and do not disturb it. 7

Designed to operate on the auxiliary frame 18' about a pair of rollers 23 and 24 at the opposite ends thereof is a first belt conveyor'26. This tightly engages the two rollers-23 and'24, the upper one of which has a drive belt 27 leading from a hydraulic motor 28. When the motor 2 8 is energized, the belt conveyor 26 is operated so that the upper run thereof ascends the, auxiliary frame from a point near the ground and just behind the teeth 22 to a point near the center-of the main frame 7.

As the machine or carriage is started at the beginning of a row, the operator permits the frame 18 to assume its lowermost position, so that the paper strip 17 or tray is lifted by the teeth 22 onto the upper run of the con veyor belt 26.

To prevent slippage of the strip on the conveyor belt. and to assure that the strip 17 ascends the conveyoras the machine advances, there is provided a plurality of presser-wheels'3l mounted on a boom 32 at one end connected by a pivot shaft 33 to the main frame7 and having its position regulated by a settable lever 34. The wheels 31 conveniently are of soft rubber or alternatively are pneumatic tires. They can be moved in unison from a position spaced substantially above the frame 18, even in the raised position of the frame, to another lower location in which the wheels 31 are in contact with the upper run of the belt 26 (or a paper strip thereon) and are urged downwardly by the weight of the wheels.

'With this arrangement and with the machine advancing, as soon as the paper strip 17 rises over the teeth 22 and enters between the upper run of the belt 26 and the surface of the wheels 31, the paper is continuously held down against the belt by the wheels. The belt upper run is moved rearwardly at a speed about five to ten per cent faster than the machine advances, so that there is a net pull toward the rear tending to tension the pickedup paper. The paper thus is fed rearwardly and upwardly as the carriage 6 advances. This operation continues until the end of the paper strip arrives in the vicinity of a turning drum 36 mounted on a cross shaft 37 on the main frame. The drum 36 is of a substantial radius and preferably is reasonably smooth, being covered with a very soft rubber layer about one-half inch thick. Adjacent the turning drum is a backing drum 38 also covered with soft rubber and mounted on a cross shaft 39. The soft-surfaced drums are mounted close together, so that the two drums are normally in sufficiently close contact to act as a gripping means for the paper strip.

The drum 38 is driven from a hydraulic motor 41 having a belt connection 42 to that drum. By friction the drum 36 is also driven. The motor 41 is supplied with hydrauic fluid through a valve 43 having a controller 44 for use by the carriage operator, so that by varying the position of the controller 44 the operator may increase or decrease the torque imposed by the motor 41 on the drum 38 and also on the drum 36.

When the end of the paper strip, or tray, has risen substantially to the topmost portion of the conveyor 26 and has passed slightly beyond the above the turning drum 36, the end of the strip comes under a positioning bar 46. This extends transversely and is carried by arms 47 pivotally mounted on the frame 7 eccentrically of the cross shaft 37. The bar 46 is manually movable between a normal, lower position, as shown by full lines in FIG. 2, and an upper position, indicated by the dotted'lines 48 in FIG. 2. The bar 46 can easily be manually held in either of its extreme positions and can freely be swung between them. As the paper rides over the uppersurface of the turning drum 36, the paper rides under the bar 46 held in its upper position. The operator then drops the bar 46 to its lowermost position. The paper strip is thus wrapped around a portion of the turning drum 36 and is fed between that drum 36 and the backing drum 38. As soon as the paper strip is gripped between the two drums (which yield slightly because of their soft rubber surfaces to permit the paper to pass through), the drum tensioning feed has been initiated and the bar 46 may or may not be raised ready for a subsequent operation.

At this point the presser wheels 31 may be lifted or may remain in lower position since they are light and do no damage. The motor 28 driving the first belt conveyor 26 may be stopped but usually is let run. More importantly, the operator controls the motor 41 so that the motor exerts sufficient torque on the drum 38 to keep the paper strip 17 under tension. Preferably, the tension is great enough so that the near portion of the strip and its load are raised approximately in a catenary curve. The load of raisins on the paper tray stretching out ahead of the machine is sufficient to hold the paper strip against sliding along the ground and against a reasonable tension put upon the paper strip by the tensioning drum 38. The tension is kept on the paper strip as the machine advances, the operator from time to time operating the controller 44, if necessary, to make sure that a proper tension is maintained despite variations in the speed of advance of the carriage.

The effect of tensioning the paper is to hold much of the strip in the air and some distance above the ground. Consequently the frame 18 can be raised to lift the teeth 22 from the ground to avoid stirring up dust and debris. The catenary drape of the paper merges with the upper surface of the conveyor belt 26 in the vicinity of the wheels 31 and stretches out a number of feet ahead of the machine. The paper is progressively so lifted as the machine advances, thus does not easily receive any clods or earth or other debris from the ground by direct access. The lift is steady and gentle, so little or no dust is stirred up to settle on the paper strip. The raisins on the upper surface of the strip are not disturbed because the presser wheels 31 are light enough easily to ride over the raisins without damage. What arrives at the top of the turning drum 36 is a substantially flat width of paper strip with raisins distributed thereover with good uniformity since the lifting process is gentle andthe raisins do not shift position as the strip is lifted and taken in. Some strips when initially laid down are given temporarily or permanently upturned marginal edges. Such flanged paper strips, in approaching and rounding the turning drum 36, revert to or resume their initial, transversely flat contour.

There are conditions, especially winds, that may require more restrictive handling of the paper strip. Although only one center wheel 31 is actually needed to hold the strip under calm conditions, it is preferred to use the three wheels shown and to mount the outer Some paper handling alternatives are provided espe-- cially for use under severe or adverse conditions. As particularly shown in FIG. 4, the boom 32 and its associated structure, including the central wheel 31, remains as before except that a special axle 35 has its ends angled outwardly and forwardly to carry the outer wheels 31a and 31b so that, although still freely rotatable, they toe in forwardly and thus, as they revolve against the outer portions of the ascending paper,impose outward, spreading forces thereon tending not only to hold the paper firmly in position but also tending to smooth out and flatten any inadvertent folds and wrinkles.

A somewhat more elaborate arrangement may be employed as shown in FIG. 5. On the pivot shaft 33 the boom arms 32 extend forwardly as before, but instead of supporting wheels, such as 31, carry a shaft 35b for rotation and powered to turn counterclockwise, as seen in FIG. 6, by a crossed drive belt 28b driven from the hydraulic motor 28. On the shaft 35b in symmetry with the center thereof are oppositely wound helical members 32a and 32b. When these are rotated in contact with the underlying paper they exert laterally spreading forces on the paper tending to smooth it as before. Both of the devices in FIGS. 4 and 5 also exert some laterally spreading forces on any raisin layer encountered but this is a small amount and is not detrimental and may even be beneficial in contributing to a uniformly thick layer.

Additional hold-down means may be provided. On each side of the frame 18 brackets 51 (FIG. 3) are provided holding forwardly and rearwardly extending pressers 52 designed to bear upon the paper edges. The presser ends are slightly curved to cam against any curved or curled paper edges and to deflect them and hold them flat against the conveyor belt virtually until the paper engages the turning drum 36. The paper is thus precisely controlled throughout its width despite previous flanging, wind and other dislodging forces.

Instead of being mounted directly on the auxiliary frame 18, a pair of brackets 51a, corresponding to the brackets 51 and carrying the pressers 52, are fast on the legs of an inverted yoke 52a mounted to slide up and down in sleeves 53a secured to the auxiliary frame 18. A bell crank 54a is mounted to pivot on the post of the seat-l2. One forked end engages the yoke 52a and the other end carries an operating knob. Normally, the weight of the assembly keeps the pressers effectively engaging the paper. Occasionally the paper may advance with torn or defective edges and tend to ride over the pressers. Observing the approach of such torn edges, the operator can operate the bell crank 54a momentarily to lift the pressers and then permit them to lower, after the torn or improper portion of the paper has passed, onto a smooth paper surface.

To remove the raisins from the paper strip rounding the drum 36 may not require any additional mechanism. The force of gravity may be enough. That is, the raisins can be permitted to fall off of the rounded strip into a receiver. We have found in practice that sometimes the raisins tend to adhere to the paper strip and donot fall freely. For that reason we provide on the carriage frame 7 above the tensioner drum 36 a tine drum 53 This is a center core with a number of substantially radial metal fingers etending therefrom, or a nylon or like bristle brush of a circular-cylindrical configuration. The brush is mounted for rotation on a cross shaft 54 carried on the main frame 7. The tine ends are close to the surface of the paper strip going around the turning drum. The brush is rotated by means of a belt 56 extending from the shaft 54.to a drive motor 57 operated from thehydraulic source 16.

As the raisin-bearing paper strip rounds the turning drum 36, the brush 53 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and assists in dislodging the raisins, either as individuals or as bunches, from the strip and helps them to transfer to and deposit on a transverse conveyor 58 suitably driven across the framework by a hydraulic motor 59. From the conscreen table can be provided at the end of the conveyor or can be incorporated in the conveyor itself by use of open wire mesh belting so that sand, leaf particles and the like can separate from the fruit during the elevating and transfer operation.

Sometimes raisins cling to the paper and then transfer to the backing drum 38. These are removed by a member 64 serving as a scraper blade. The member 64 is mounted between a pair of arms 66 on the frame 7 and is held close to the surface of the drum 38.

It has been found that if the backing drum 38 is covered with rubber, the raisins do not adhere thereto and the member 64 can be dispensed with as a scraper. However, it has also been found that under some conditions the paper itself, due to static electric charge, may tend to adhere to rather than readily separate from the drum. For that reason the metal member 64 is retained and serves as a static discharging or grounding device as well as a device for mechanically stripping the paper so that the paper tracks and separates properly from the drum. Drums or rollers in addition to the drum 38 can be similarly treated.

After leaving the drum 38, the unloaded paper falls of its own weight onto the ground 8 and can be disposed of in various ways; for example, by burning, by maceration and incorporation into the soil, or by rerolling for subsequent use.

If the machine as a whole is not travelling forwardly but still is pulling in the paper strip from the ground, the discharged paper tends to pile up, accordion fashion, under the drums 36 and 38. If it piles high enough it may adhere to and become wound around the roller 36. This unwanted action may be fostered by static electrical charges built up between the paper and the machine. To overcome this'difficulty, there is preferably provided, as shown in FIG. 6, a rotary brush 28c (a shaft covered by a rubber sheet having protruding rubber fingers) in close proximity to the drums 36 and 38. This is rotated clockwise, as seen in FIG. 6, by a belt drive from the hydraulic motor 28 and prevents excess, discharged paper from entangling in the drums 36 and 38.

As the machine approaches the end of the vine row, the load on the paper tray or strip is not sufficient to hold the strip in place, and the strip tends to travel over the ground toward the machine. So that this does not occur to an excessive degree, the operator at this junc ture stops the conveyor belt 26 and lowers the auxiliary frame 18 until the teeth 22 again engage the ground. He also adjusts the speed of the backing drum 38 to reduce the tension on the paper strip, which is then slowly drawn into the machine as the catenary curve is relaxed and the paper is moved over the conveyor 26 as a support as the machine advances. Finally, the paper end runs through the space between the drums 36 and 38 and drops. The machine turns into another aisle, the conveyor 26 is again started by energizing the motor 28, and the presser wheels 31 are again lowered, if they were previously raised. The advance of the machine with the teeth 22 on or slightly below the ground surface picks up the end of the loaded paper strip 17 in the next aisle, as before, and the process is repeated.

What is claimed is:

1. A raisin pick up machine for use with raisins disposed on an elongated strip of paper having spaced ends and lying on the ground comprising a carriage 1 having a wheel engaging the ground, means for rotating said wheel to advance said carriage along the ground in the direction of the strip, means on said carriage for gripping said strip, and means on said carriage independent of said wheel rotating means for operating said gripping means to tension said strip between the ground and said gripping means.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said operating means is operable to regulate said tension independently of said advance of said carriage.

3. A device as in claim 1 in which said gripping means includes a pair of drums, and said operating means drives at least one of said drums at selected speeds independent of the speed of advance of said carriage.

4. A device as in claim 3 including a conveyor on said carriage in the vicinity of the discharge side of said drums.

S. A device as in claim 3 including a bar disposed parallel to said drums, and means on said carriage for pivotally housing said bar to swing away from and toward one of said drums for guiding said paper strip around said one of said drums and between said drums.

6. A devide as in claim 3 including a scraper in scraping relationship with one of said drums.

7. A device as in claim 3 including a brush positioned to brush raisins from said tensioned strip.

8. A device as in claim 1 including a belt conveyor mounted to extend forwardly of said carriage and to support said strip of paper between the ground and said gripping means, and means on said carriage for driving said conveyor.

9. A device as in claim 8 including a presser wheel adapted to rest on the upper run of said belt conveyor.

10. A device as in claim 9 including means for lifting and lowering said presser wheel.

11. A device as in claim 8 including means for lifting and lowering said belt conveyor.

12. A device as in claim 1 in which said operating means is effective to tension said strip sufficiently to lift said strip into a substantially catenary curve.

Claims (12)

1. A raisin pick up machine for use with raisins disposed on an elongated strip of paper having spaced ends and lying on the ground comprising a carriage having a wheel engaging the ground, means for rotating said wheel to advance said carriage along the ground in the direction of the strip, means on said carriage for gripping said strip, and means on said carriage independent of said wheel rotating means for operating said gripping means to tension said strip between the ground and said gripping means.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which said operating means is operable to regulate said tension independently of said advance of said carriage.

3. A device as in claim 1 in which said gripping means includes a pair of drums, and said operating means drives at least one of said drums at selected speeds independent of the speed of advance of said carriage.

4. A device as in claim 3 including a conveyor on said carriage in the vicinity of the discharge side of said drums.

5. A device as in claim 3 including a bar disposed parallel to said drums, and means on said carriage for pivotally housing said bar to swing away from and toward one of said drums for guiding said paper strip around said one of said drums and between said drums.

6. A devide as in claim 3 including a scraper in scraping relationship with one of said drums.

7. A device as in claim 3 including a brush positioned to brush raisins from said tensioned strip.

8. A device as in claim 1 including a belt conveyor mounted to extend forwardly of said carriage and to support said strip of paper between the ground and said gripping means, and means on said carriage for driving said conveyor.

9. A device as in claim 8 including a presser wheel adapted to rest on the upper run of said belt conveyor.

10. A device as in claim 9 including means for lifting and lowering said presser wheel.

11. A device as in claim 8 including means for lifting and lowering said belt conveyor.

12. A device as in claim 1 in which said operating means is effective to tension said strip sufficiently to lift said strip into a substantially catenary curve.

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