Patent ID: 6430910
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A fruit harvesting machine comprising:a) a transport assembly having a perimeter; b) transport means to provide for motion of the transport assembly; c) a plurality of picking fingers, each picking finger to provide for an engagement of a fruit to produce a picking pressure; d) a plurality of arms, each arm having at least one of the picking fingers extending therefrom; e) a lower arm housing member displaceably mounted on the transport assembly, the lower arm housing member having a lower array of arms; f) an upper arm housing member displaceably mounted on the transport assembly, the upper arm housing member having an upper array of arms, the upper arm housing member having: 1) an operational orientation wherein each of the arms of the upper array of arms are retained relatively horizontal to the transport assembly and elevationally above the lower array of arms of the lower arm housing member; 2) a transport orientation wherein each of the arms of the upper array of arms are retained relatively vertical to the transport assembly and intermixed with the arms of the lower array of arms of the lower arm housing member; g) transfer means to provide for an alternating displacement of the upper arm housing member between the operational orientation and the transport orientation; h) displacement means to provide for a displacement of the lower arm housing member and the upper arm housing member relative to the transport assembly and alternatingly between a respective fully retracted orientation and a respective fully extended orientation, the displacement means of at least the upper arm housing member further comprising: 1) first displacement means to provide for an alternating displacement of at least the upper arm housing member relative to the transport assembly less than the distance between the respective fully retracted orientation and the respective fully extended orientation, the alternating displacement of the first displacement means having an extension direction and a withdrawal direction; 2) second displacement means to provide for an alternating displacement of at least the upper arm housing member relative to the transport assembly less than the distance between the respective fully retracted orientation and the respective fully extended orientation, the alternating displacement of the second displacement means having an extension direction and a withdrawal direction; and wherein the displacement of the first displacement means and the displacement of the second displacement means cooperate to provide for displacement of at least the upper arm housing member between the respective fully retracted orientation and the respective fully extended orientation with the upper arm housing member significantly outside of the perimeter of the transport assembly while in the respective fully extended orientation.