Abstract:
A device for transporting articles is disclosed. In the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention, the articles are fruit such as apples, and the articles can be transported from a picking location on a fruit tree to a collection bin or other site. The device includes a tube member adapted to receive and transport the articles, and a plurality of deformable baffles at spaced-apart locations within the tube. Each baffle defines an aperture which permits the article to engage and deform the baffle and aperture so as to move through the aperture and down the tube. The article is urged through the tube by a pressure differential created across the article. In the described and illustrated embodiment of the invention, this pressure differential is a pneumatic pressure differential.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application 60/920,069 filed Mar. 26, 2007; and from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/949,630 filed Jul. 13, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to systems for transporting small objects, and more particularly relates to pneumatic transport systems. 
         [0003]    Presently in the fruit industry, most specifically in the apple industry, fruit is traditionally handpicked. The pickers carefully place the fruit in apple bags which are worn on the shoulders of the pickers, extending downward over the chest and abdomen to the groin. The pickers then gently release the fruit into large bins for later transport to a packing or processing plant. This technique provides for the “on-tree” selection by the picker of the appropriate fruit (apples) for picking utilizing the visually discernible criteria of color size and quality. Good pickers remove the fruit from the tree while keeping the stem intact on the fruit so as to maintain the integrity of the following years fruiting bud on the tree. On occasion, the picking operations must contend with the clipping of overly stiff or long stems; the gentle placement of the fruit into the picking bag to prevent bruising; and the transfer and delivery of the fruit to a larger size container better adapted for truck transport. Fruit located on high limbs may require that the picker climb a ladder or stand on a scaffold to reach the fruit. The fruit bins are usually placed in the row between tree lines and spaced so that they can be filled by apples transferred from the picker&#39;s bag within the shortest walking distance. The bins are then picked up by an apple trailer pulled by a tractor and taken to a common holding site awaiting forklift placement onto a flatbed truck. 
         [0004]    This fruit picking process results in about 30% of the picker&#39;s time actually picking fruit, with the remaining 70% of the time gently placing the fruit into bags or bins after having clipped the stems when required, moving and climbing up and down ladders, carrying fruit from one place to another, then walking to and carefully releasing the picker&#39;s bag load of apples into the collecting bin taking special care not to cause a blemish or bruise on the fruit by rough handling. The picker&#39;s bag load may weigh 40 pounds or more leading to fatigue of the picker and a reduction in efficiency. 
         [0005]    Due to the seasonal nature of the fruit harvest, fruit pickers are frequently found amongst migrant worker groups often from countries outside the United States. As a result of stringent U.S. immigration policies, a sufficient numbers of pickers may not be available to pick the fruit at harvest time. Due to the slowness of the fruit handpicking process, large numbers of pickers are required when the fruit reaches the proper point of ripeness. Since individual productivity is low when fruit is handpicked, wages remain low for the individual picker. This in turn results in the propagation of a population of below average wage earners. 
         [0006]    It is an objective of this invention to improve the productivity of the individual picker while maintaining the advantages of the hand picking process, namely: selectivity of fruit to be picked, gentleness to prevent bruising at all stages of movement and packing and stem trimming when needed is desirable. 
         [0007]    To accomplish this objective, a system involving specially modified and augmented pneumatic tubes is presented. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view showing an exemplary apple picker who is picking apples from a tree and depositing the apples in an embodiment of the invention for transport to an apple collection bin. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view showing a tractor and trailer upon which are mounted apple picking stations being used by apple pickers who are depositing the picked apples in an embodiment of the invention for transport to an apple collection bin. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view similar to  FIG. 1  but showing typical apple pickers and a trailer as they appear from the rear of the trailer. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3   a  is an elevational view showing a typical apple picker and his apple picking station, and suggesting how the station can be moved relative to the platform upon which the station is mounted. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a typical baffle found within a transport tube. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a typical transport tube and, mounted therein, the baffles of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a typical transport tube similar to  FIG. 5  but showing resilient material mounted between the baffles. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 6  but showing a different form of resilient material mounted between the baffles 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view similar to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7  showing a typical conical or windsock-shaped baffle. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an elevational view of the baffle shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an elevational view of an alternate form of a baffle. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary view showing, in section, an alternate arrangement of the tube and baffles shown in  FIGS. 7  or  8  and  10 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged fragmentary view showing in further detail the arrangement of a baffle and air holes shown in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a fragmentary sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention including an outer tube, an inner transport tube, air movement spaces between the tubes, and baffles. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the tube and baffle arrangement shown in  FIG. 13 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a fragmentary view in partial section suggesting the movement of typical objects such as apples through the inventive tube and baffles. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is an elevational view showing a baffle of the type included in the tube shown in  FIG. 15 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a fragmentary view in sectional aspect showing conical or windsock baffles within the transport tube. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is an isometric view showing how one embodiment of the transport tube and baffles can be assembled. 
           [0027]      FIG. 18   a  is an isometric view showing the tube of  FIG. 18  in its assembled configuration. 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is in isometric view similar to  FIG. 18  but showing how another embodiment of the transport tube and baffles can be assembled. 
           [0029]      FIG. 19   a  is an isometric view similar to  FIG. 19  but showing how yet another embodiment of the transport tube and baffles can be assembled. 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is in isometric view similar to  FIGS. 18 and 19  showing how still another embodiment of the transport tube and baffles can be assembled. 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is an isometric view showing a spacer which can be positioned between adjacent baffles. 
           [0032]      FIG. 22  is an isometric view similar to  FIG. 21  but showing a spacer provided with two exhausts or viewing ports. 
           [0033]      FIG. 23  is an isometric view similar to  FIG. 22  but showing a spacer provided with multiple exhausts or viewing ports. 
           [0034]      FIG. 24  is an isometric exploded view showing the tube, spacers and baffles shown in  FIGS. 19-23 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 24   a  is an elevational view showing a combination spacer and baffle of the type shown in  FIG. 24 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 25  is an isometric view of yet another spacer. 
           [0037]      FIG. 26  is isometric view showing still another spacer. 
           [0038]      FIG. 27  is a fragmentary sectional view suggesting a structural arrangement which can be used to interconnect various tube sections. 
           [0039]      FIG. 28  is an elevational view of an air exhaust venturi mechanism. 
           [0040]      FIG. 29  is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of  FIG. 28 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 30  is a sectional view of a disk-shaped baffle. 
           [0042]      FIG. 31  is a sectional views similar to  FIG. 30  but showing a conically shaped baffle. 
           [0043]      FIG. 32  is a sectional view similar to  FIGS. 30 and 31  but showing another embodiment of the conical baffle. 
           [0044]      FIG. 33  is a sectional view similar to  FIGS. 30-32  but showing yet another embodiment of the baffle. 
           [0045]      FIG. 34  is an elevational view of the baffle shown in  FIG. 33 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 35  is a fragmentary elevational view showing yet another embodiment of the transport tube and an associated input device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0047]    While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment and procedure, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to this embodiment or procedure. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, the transport tube invention and its peripheral equipment are comprised of four parts or subsystems. These four subsystems act together to:
   a) surround and contain a selected fruit on the tree, vine or bush; b) release the fruit or other object from the parent tree or plant at the stem&#39;s natural point of release or by clipping the stem at a desired length; c) advance (move) the fruit gently yet quickly up and/or down and/or along a rigid or flexible tube pathway, and finally; d) deposit the fruit without bruising into a separate chamber, e.g., a water bath or rigid container.
       a) In the “surround and contain” or entry portion of the device, a pneumatic tube  40  is provided with a rigid or flexible entry portal or input device  35  ( FIG. 35 ) comprised of plastic, rubber or other suitable material. This entry device  35  can be of known design, or it can be a flexible drop chute as disclosed and informally claimed in co-pending U.S. provisional patent application 60/972,302 filed Sep. 14, 2007. This entry portal device  35  is placed under and around the fruit from the stemless end to the stem end ( FIGS. 1-3 ). When the fruit is picked and separated from the tree, the portal device  35  receives the fruit from the picker and delivers it to the transport tube  40  ( FIGS. 1-3 ,  3   a ). The surrounding chute structure  35  is dimensioned so as to allow entry by any given fruit of any size, is stiff enough so as to not collapse or disfigure the shape of the tube  40  by the weight or shape of the fruit throughout the course of its passage, or prolong the passage of the fruit through the hollow chute and tube structure.   b) The fruit or other objects to be picked are separated from the tree by hand, or with the aid of a clipper or scissors-like device. These scissors or clippers can be of known design, or they can be of the sort disclosed and informally claimed in U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/921,707 filed Apr. 4, 2007 or U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/949,533 filed Jul. 13, 2007. As indicated in those applications, the “release or clip” portion of the device can be a common scissor-like device. This clipper can be comprised of one or more partially rotatable, curved, arc-like metal or plastic members, and if desired they can be mounted to the entry portal device or tube near the entry portal. The rotatable blades may be either blunt or sharp. In one embodiment of the “release or clip” portion of the device, the fruit is separated by cutting the stem when the fruit is contained in the chute of entry portal  35 , and the fruit drops down the tube for transport. In another embodiment of the “release or clip” portion of the device the blade members may be sharp and act like a knife to cut the stem at the desired length. In still another embodiment of the “release or clip” portion of the device, multiple blades may act as a scissor to cut the stem. The rotatable blades may be activated by either a visual/manual system or by a mechanical or electronic sensor when the fruit is properly positioned for fruit stem release from the tree stem. The rotatable blades may be powered by manual force, or pneumatic or other mechanically or hydraulically applied mechanisms.   The fruit can be picked by hand, of course—a lateral force sufficient to break the fruit portion of the stem from the tree can be manually applied.   c) In the “advance/move” portion of the device, the interior of the hollow or tubular portion  40  of the device can be lined with a soft or readily insertible and replaceable material liner  41  ( FIG. 6 ), and a series of baffles, as more extensively disclosed and claimed below. Pneumatic pressure can be applied to the fruit or other object to be moved, as more fully described and claimed below.   d) The terminal downstream peripheral “deposit portion” of the tube is configured so as to gently deliver the fruit or other objects into either a water bath or rigid container. The tube downstream end may be directed to different location in a water bath(not shown) by hand or machine, or the tube  40  can be rigidly connected to the water bath container for delivery into a sufficiently deep current of water so that any particular fruit does not contact another fruit or the bottom of the container during the water entry process. In a first embodiment of the “deposit portion” of the device, the terminal portion of the tube is connected to a water bath container. In a second embodiment, the “deposit end” of the device is arranged for delivery of the fruit or other items into a rigid container or water bath, but a terminal baffle or cushion of soft material or inflatable material is positioned so as to absorb the force of the moving fruit without bruising it. Once decelerated, the fruit would exit the flexible tube through a lateral portal, either by moving the tube away from the direction of the fruit exit portal, or by gently pushing the fruit through the portal in the tube side. This pushing action could be provided by an inflatable device triggered mechanically, or it could be triggered electrically by the fruit hitting a terminal deceleration cushion.   
       
 
       Pneumatic Tubes for Moving Items 
       [0055]    In 19th-century Europe, public and technical interest arose in the idea of so-called atmospheric railways. Original proposals called for the use of pneumatic tubes to carry letters, packages and even passenger trains, cars and freight. The train might be thought of as a series of car capsules or canisters into which people or items of an undetermined shape entered before being moved along as a result of an exterior force applied to the train cars. If a seal were to be created between the canister cars and the interior surface of the tunnel, the canister cars could be moved through the tube by providing relatively low pneumatic pressure at the forward end of the train and a relatively high pneumatic pressure at the rear end of the train. Later proposals suggested the use of a small pneumatic tube located alongside an ordinary railway track; a piston inside the tube would pull an attached train running on the rails. The ultimately successful alternative of pulling railway trains through tunnels or tubes behind steam locomotives was extensively developed during the same years. See: http://www.columbia.edu/˜brennan/beach/-chapter 2.html. 
         [0056]    In 1840, Samuel Clegg and Jacobs Samuda (British subjects) obtained U.S. Pat. No. 1,922 for the Construction of Valves for Pneumatic Railways. Implementation of that patent led to the successful movement of a train on wheels on a track positioned within a tube for a distance of one block. U.S. Pat. Nos. 255, 525 and 284, 456 disclose early pneumatic systems for so-called store service carriers. 
         [0057]    The fundamental concept common to previous pneumatic systems for movement of items relies on one or more seal members affixed to the moving item. These seal members provide a pneumatic seal between the moving item and the interior surface of the tube. The item to be transported (which may be of any shape) is placed within a canister of predetermined shape. An exterior flange-like seal secured to the canister moves along with the canister through the tube. The seal continuously engages the interior surface of the tube so as to provide an air seal. This air seal permits the development of a pneumatic pressure differential in the tube between the upstream and downstream surfaces of the seal and capsule. The force of this air pressure differential propels the capsule and seal along the tube. 
       Pneumatic Transport or Movement Device 
       [0058]    The object of this invention is to rapidly move items through a tube independent of the items&#39; shapes without having to place the items into a capsule or canister of fixed shape. A means to create a seal sufficient to allow the pressurized system to advance the item through the tube is required. An embodiment of the new concept focuses on a sealing arrangement, but the seals do not move along through the tube. The sealing arrangement nevertheless can maintain a proper environment for effectively providing pneumatically induced movement of the item through the tube. 
         [0059]    In accordance with the invention, a series of sealing baffles are affixed to the interior wall of the tube and can accommodate items of different sizes and shapes while maintaining a series of pneumatic seals between the sealing baffles and the items moving down the tube. 
         [0060]    As suggested in  FIGS. 1-3  and  3   a , this pneumatic tube system can be used by individual pickers P. Each picker can have an input chute  35 , which can be located adjacent the picker&#39;s chest. The chute  35  leads to a pneumatic tube  40  which transports the picked fruit to a bin  140  or other collection device. If desired, the tube transport system and the pickers P can be mounted on a trailer  240  pulled by a tractor T as shown in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, the systems and pickers can be mounted on a self-propelled vehicle as indicated in co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/026,351 filed Feb. 13, 2008. Or the systems can be mounted on a sled, a movable frame, or even a stationary pad. 
         [0061]    To reach apples or other fruit at various heights in the trees, the pickers P can be provided with picking stations or platforms  340  as especially suggested in  FIG. 3   a . The positions of these stations  340  can be adjusted by known hydraulic or other systems as suggested by the arrows in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 4-12  and elsewhere, one embodiment of the invention comprises a tube  40  which may be rigid or flexible and made of plastic, metal or other suitable material. The tube can be of circular, and/or any convenient cross-sectional shape. In accordance with the invention, a series of sealing baffles  50  are provided at spaced apart locations within the interior of the tube. Each baffle is affixed to the interior of the tube  40 , is aligned in a perpendicular fashion relative to the tube axis, and is made of a resilient smooth-surface material such as a silicon rubber or resilient plastic. Preferably, the spacing between the baffles  50  is selected to be approximately the same as the major dimension of the items to be moved through the transport tubes. The system will perform but perhaps less effectively if the baffle-to-baffle distance is made to be substantially greater or less than this item&#39;s major dimension. 
         [0063]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention, groups of closely-spaced multiple baffles may be located at major intervals along the tube interior. 
         [0064]    Preferably, the baffles each define a central opening or hole  51 . The outer periphery of the baffle, and the periphery of the hole  51 , can be of any convenient shape such as circular, oval, elliptical, or other shape. As suggested in  FIG. 15 , the central opening  51  is of such diameter that an item F greater in diameter than the hole  51  but lesser in diameter than the tube can pass through the tube because of the elasticity of the baffle  50 . The baffle  50  may have slits  52  extending from the central opening into the baffle material to facilitate its opening to accommodate a relatively loose item F passing through it. If small items F are to be moved, the slits  52  may not be needed. Alternatively, the baffles  50  can be inflatable. The material comprising the inflatable baffles can be shaped and arranged so that progressive inflation of the baffle will provide a progressively smaller opening  51 , or the shape of the opening  51  will be progressively changed in some other way. 
         [0065]    Throughout the time of engagement of the item in the central opening of the baffle, a more or less imperfect pneumatic seal is temporarily made between the object and the baffle surface. When the pneumatic system (vacuum or air pressure) pulls and or pushes it free from an upstream baffle, the item rapidly advances to the next baffle opening where the phenomenon is repeated for the full length of the baffle segmented tube. 
         [0066]    To minimize any traumatic effect on the item F being moved through the tube  40  in further accordance with the invention, the interior of the tube surface located between the resilient periodic baffle members  50  may be lined with a soft material  41  such as a soft rubber or resilient plastic. Alternatively, a series of many soft cushions such as outcroppings of small flexible finger-like extensions  42  or a soft inflatable air-filled balloon-like interior wall liner can be provided between the baffles as particularly suggested in  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  24 - 26 . 
         [0067]    An alternatively shaped baffle arrangement is shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  15 - 17 . There, conical or windsock-shaped baffles  43  are attached by a fixation device  44  on the interior surface of the tube. The windsock baffles  43  can be made of a material which may be woven or formed of a resilient material such as rubber or resilient plastic. The material may be of such a nature that it may collapse onto the surface of the item being moved through it while at the same time allowing the item to advance with minimal impedance. These interior windsocks  43  can be spaced apart from one another such that the item, on leaving one windsock baffle  43 , will at that moment be delivered into the next overlapping windsock baffle  43  in the series as particularly suggested in  FIG. 8 , thus maintaining a continuous seal as the item moves down the tube. 
         [0068]    Several variations of these baffles  50  are shown in  FIGS. 30-34 . The baffles  50  may have a disc shape as suggested in  FIG. 30 , or it may have a generally conical shape, as suggested in  FIG. 31 . This conical shape will help orient the moving object in the central axis of the tube and baffle. Alternatively, the baffles  50  may have a modified conical shape as suggested in  FIG. 32 . This shape may provide a venturi-like effect to the airflow passing through the baffles  50 . The disc  50  may have guide plates  54  as suggested in  FIGS. 33 and 34 . 
         [0069]    The tubes  40  illustrated here can comprise an outer tube  45  and a coaxial inner tube  46  having apertures  47  therein. This tube arrangement permits the creation of an air flow liner  46  thereby facilitating the maintenance of the object moving through the tube in a more central position in the tube  40 , while at the same time placing an axially extending air space  48  between individual objects F which may be moving through the tube  40  at the same time. Additionally this arrangement will allow for the effect of either vacuum or positive air pressure applied to the tube to reach more than one item moving through the tube at the same time. 
         [0070]    Other means of achieving similar effect(s) can be accomplished by having air movement portals periodically and circumferentially placed in the tube. As suggested in  FIGS. 9-12  and elsewhere, peripheral air movement occurs through the space  48  between the outer tube  40  and the baffle-containing inner tube  49  while at the same time central air movement is occurring through the inner tube  49 . These portals may be of the same or different diameters, and aligned either perpendicular to the inner tube surface or at the same or varied angles to achieve the desired effect(s). The tubes  40  and  49  may be rigid or flexible. 
         [0071]    A retainer ring  60  is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , wherein the retainer ring  60  is perforated by peripheral holes  66  which may be of different diameters and either perpendicular to or angled in any direction with relationship to the surfaces of the retainer ring  60 . These holes  66  allow for the passage of air from one inter-baffle space to another. 
         [0072]    As suggested above, modified airflow and air pressures within the tubes can be provided by an arrangement of a coaxially aligned outer tube  45  and an inner tube  46  ( FIGS. 10-14 ). The toridal-shaped space  48  between the tubes  45  and  46  allows air to be exhausted along the entire length of a tube line. Portals  47  can be provided to inject or exhaust air so as to provide the desired positive or negative pressures for urging the objects F along the tubes in accordance with the invention. These passages  47  can be formed so as to provide a helical air flow as suggested especially in  FIG. 14 . This helical air flow may discourage the moving objects F from violently impacting the inner tube sides and consequently suffering bruising or other damage. 
         [0073]    The construction and assembly of the tubes, battles and inner liners or spacers is suggested in  FIGS. 18-26 . Tube halves  140 ,  142 , can be formed with mating corrugated shapes  143 , and the baffles  50  can be nested at desired spacing within the corrugations as suggested in  FIG. 18 . The tube halves can then be assembled and locked together with suitable clamp locks  145  as suggested in  FIG. 18   a . Alternatively, unitary tubes  40  can be provided with a spiral corrugation  146  as shown in  FIG. 19 , and the spacers  50  can be mounted within the tube by a helical, screwing-like motion. Locking tabs  150  can be provided on the baffles  50  to mate with recesses (not shown) within the tube  40  as suggested in  FIG. 19   a . In yet another alternative arrangement, the tube  40  can be provided with an extended series of threads  155 , and the baffles  50  can be provided with mating threads  156 , as suggested in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0074]    Spacers  80  ( FIG. 21 ) can be made of soft material and can be located between the baffles  50 . These spacers  80  can be provided with ports  82  ( FIGS. 22 and 23 ). If the tube  40  is made of transparent material such as plastic, these ports  82  can be used to view and inspect the interior of the tube system. Alternatively, these ports  82  can provide the desired airflow if the tube system is provided with the coaxial tube arrangement described above. See  FIG. 24 . If desired, these spacers and baffles can be made as a single unit. See  FIG. 24   a . To mate with a helically corrugated tube, this spacer may be provided with a spring-like helix member  85  as suggested in  FIG. 25 . 
         [0075]    An alternatively designed spacer  87  is shown in  FIG. 26 . This spacer is formed of soft, pliable material which will conform to the inner surface of a tube, whether corrugated or planer. Spaced apart arms  88  prevent the transported object from colliding with the rigid tube wall, but the spacing between these items  88  minimizes impedance to object travel. 
         [0076]      FIGS. 27-29  suggest one of several known arrangements for interconnecting tube length modules. The tube sections can be snapped together by hand or with tools to form a flexible tube assembly. The joints  90  are self-sealing but slide to provide flexibility. 
         [0077]    If desired, a series of transport tubes can be carried within a relatively large conduit  400 , as suggested in  FIG. 35 . The conduit  400  can be equipped with a delivery chute  35  so that the picker can place objects of varying sizes in tubes of appropriate and corresponding diameter.