Patent ID: 6282877
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
Apparatus for harvesting fruit from vinous crops comprising:a. cutting means for cutting a fruit-carrying vine mass of said crop from its growing roots;b. first vibrating means, receiving said vine mass from said cutting means, for imparting first vibratory motion to said vine mass to separate fruit from vines of said vine mass, comprising:i. a first rotatable shaker;ii. means for drivingly rotating said first shaker and imparting vibratory motion thereto during rotation thereof;iii. means, extending from said first shaker, for engaging said vine mass and vibratingly carrying said vine mass along an arcuate path over said first shaker as said first shaker vibratingly rotates;c. means receiving said vine mass upon disengagement from said first vibrating means, for transporting said vine mass away from said first vibrating means while permitting fruit separated from said vines to fall therethrough;d. second vibrating means engaging said vine mass, for imparting second vibratory motion to said vine mass to separate from said vine mass detached fruits remaining entrapped therein after application of said first vibratory motion to said vine mass;e. a reel located proximate to and generally above said cutting means, the axis of said reel being transverse to direction of travel of said apparatus through said field, said reel rotating in a direction such that at closest approach of said reel periphery and said cutting means, said reel periphery and said ground move in a common direction relative to said cutting means as said apparatus travels through said growing field for urging said plants towards a pick-up position portion of an upwardly inclined conveyor beneath said reel; andf. said upwardly inclined endless conveyor transporting plants upwardly from the ground after being cut from their roots by said cutting means and being urged thereagainst by said reel to a position at which said fruits are detached from said vinous plants.