Fruit harvesting machine

A fruit harvesting machine comprising a pair of vertically disposed booms which are pivotally connected at their lower ends to opposing ends of a transverse extensible axle rigidly connected to the underside of a transport mechanism such as a conventional tractor. A pair of man supporting baskets are reciprocatably mounted to each boom. A trough is positioned at each basket allowing picked fruit to be conveyed via a conveying tube into a storage bin at the rear of the tractor. The fruit harvesting machine is particularly adapted for harvesting fruit from hedged rows of fruit trees and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to harvesting machines. More particularly, this 
invention relates to fruit harvesting machines including a man supporting 
bucket connected to a tiltable boom which allows a person situated in the 
bucket to pick fruit from the fruit bearing trees. 
2. Description of the Background Art 
Presently, there exist many types of fruit harvesting machines. Typical 
fruit machines include a man supporting basket operatively connected to 
the end of an articulated boom powered by a transport vehicle. During use, 
the person/picker situated in the basket controls the movement of the boom 
so as to position himself adjacent to the tree whose fruit is to be 
picked. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,973,112, 3,878,957, 3,337,000, 3,182,827, 
2,450,152, 3,329,290, 3,250,343, 3,866,713 and 3,285,365 illustrates prior 
art harvesting machines. Several of these patents disclose dual boom 
arrangements allowing fruit to be picked from adjacent rows of trees as 
the fruit harvesting machine is transported therebetween. For example, 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,285,365 discloses man supporting baskets connected to 
respective booms emanating from a common, vertically reciprocatable 
carriage such that the baskets are moved upwardly or downwardly in unison. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,452,528 and 3,311,192 disclose more elaborate fruit 
harvesting machines in which the boom is operatively connected to 
swiveling mechanisms allowing the boom and correspondingly, the man 
supporting basket, to move circuitously around at least a portion of the 
fruit tree being picked. 
With regard to oranges and similar fruits, modern day horticulture suggests 
that a greater yield per acre can be achieved by planting the trees closer 
together in a row instead of spaced apart such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,866,713. The adjacent positioning of the trees in a row allows the row 
of trees to be hedged along the side and along the top, much in the same 
manner as trimming a row of ornamental ligustrum hedges. Oftentimes, the 
hedged row of trees are trimmed from the bottom at a slight inward angle 
and from the top at a slight downward angle as opposed to perfectly 
vertical sides and horizontal top. 
The proliferation of hedged row fruit trees has rendered many of the prior 
art fruit harvesting machines obsolete or excessively complicated and 
expensive. 
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which 
overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and 
provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the 
advancement of the fruit harvesting art. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a fruit harvesting machine 
particularly designed for harvesting a hedged row of fruit trees. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a hedged row harvesting 
machine which allows harvesting of adjacent hedged rows of fruit trees as 
the harvesting machine is transported therebetween. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a hedged row harvesting 
machine including a pair of vertical booms positioned on opposing sides of 
a tractor to which are connected a plurality of vertically reciprocatable 
man supporting baskets allowing a person situated in each of the baskets 
to pick adjacent sides of adjacent hedged rows of fruit trees. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a hedged row harvesting 
machine including vertical basket supporting booms which may be tilted 
outwardly from a bottom pivot point connected to the frame of the basket 
so as to be parallel and adjacent to the sides of the hedged row of fruit 
trees. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a hedged row harvesting 
machine including vertical basket supporting booms which may be adjusted 
outwardly at their bottom pivot point so as to increase or decrease the 
distance between the booms corresponding to the distance between adjacent 
hedged rows of fruit trees. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a hedged row harvesting 
machine including a pair of basket supporting booms and having a fruit 
conveying tube having one end conveniently positioned at each basket and 
its other end positioned over a fruit bin seated on the rear of the 
tractor. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a hedged row harvesting 
machine which is operable by means of controls positioned in the man 
supporting baskets. 
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the 
invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of 
some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended 
invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the 
disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention 
within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a 
fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the 
summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred 
embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims 
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is defined by the appended claims with a specific embodiment 
shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the 
invention, the invention comprises a fruit harvesting machine particularly 
adapted for harvesting fruit from hedged rows of fruit trees and the like. 
More particularly, the hedged row harvesting machine of the invention 
comprises a pair of vertically disposed booms which are pivotably 
connected at their lower ends to opposing ends of a transverse axle 
rigidly connected to the underside of a transport mechanism such as a 
conventional tractor. A cross beam is positioned over the engine of the 
tractor and rigidly connected to the frame by vertical support members. 
The middle portion of each boom is pivotably connected to a dual action 
hydraulic cylinder positioned in opposing ends of the cross beam allowing 
precise outward tilting of the booms about their lower pivot point so as 
to correspond to the sides of the hedged rows. Outriggers are provided on 
each side of the tractor to prevent over-turning. Further, the axle may be 
extensible so as to allow adjustment of the spaced distance between the 
booms to correspond to the distance between the hedged rows. 
A pair of man supporting baskets are reciprocatably mounted via travellers 
to the front and rear sides of each boom. In one embodiment, a conveying 
tube is interconnected between troughs positioned at each basket and the 
rear of the tractor allowing picked fruit to be deposited in the trough. 
The fruit is then conveyed through the tube into a fruit bin positioned on 
the rear of the tractor. In another embodiment, a temporary storage bin is 
affixed to the front and side of each basket. The temporary storage bin 
includes a door mechanism at its bottom end which, when opened, acts as a 
guide to empty the fruit in the bin into a chute positioned longitudinally 
above the tractor which then causes the fruit to roll rearwardly into the 
fruit bin at the rear of the tractor. 
Each boom may further comprise a pair of light fixtures to facilitate 
picking during night. Also, each traveller may be easily adapted to allow 
mounting of baskets in tandem. Finally, controls are positioned in each 
basket for controlling the upward and downward movement of the basket 
along their respective boom and the tilting of the boom. Controls are also 
positioned in one basket for controlling the steering and forward speed 
for the tractor. 
During use, the tractor is set on a course down the middle of the path 
between the adjacent rows of hedged fruit trees to be picked. The controls 
in one of the baskets allow the pickers situated therein to increase or 
decrease the speed of the tractor as desired and to steer the tractor. 
Other controls in each basket control the outward tilting of the 
respective boom allowing the boom to follow the contour of the side of the 
hedged row being picked. Other controls in each basket allow the picker 
situated therein to control the upward and downward movement of the 
basket, preferably but not necessarily in reciprocal relationship with the 
other basket connected to the same boom. As the fruit is picked by the 
picker, it is deposited in the trough at the upper edge of the basket 
whereupon the fruit flows through the conveying tube into the fruit 
storage bin at the rear of the tractor. In the other embodiment, the fruit 
is temporarily stored in the temporary storage bin. When full, the 
operator actuates the door mechanism to empty the bin whereupon the fruit 
flows rearwardly along the chute into the fruit bin. 
It is apparent that the hedged row harvesting machine is particularly 
adapted for harvesting hedged rows of fruit trees such as orange trees. 
The versatile controls of the machine allow the pickers to optimally 
position their respective baskets relative to the sides of the hedged rows 
and optimally control the upward and downward movement of the baskets as 
needed depending upon the density of the fruit being picked at various 
areas along the side and top of the hedged rows. 
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important 
features of the present invention in order that the detailed description 
of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present 
contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features 
of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of 
the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in 
the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be 
readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures 
for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should 
also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent 
constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as 
set forth in the appended claims.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several 
views of the drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, the fruit harvesting machine 10 of the invention 
comprises a pair of vertically disposed booms 12 and 14 operatively 
connected to opposing sides of a conventional tractor, generally indicated 
by numeral 16, so as to pivot outwardly from the tractor 16. A pair of man 
supporting baskets 18 are slideably connected via travellers 20 to the 
front and rear sides of each boom 12 and 14 to move upwardly or downwardly 
by means of a lift mechanisms 21 inside each boom 12 and 14 (see FIGS. 
5-10). An outrigger, generally indicated by numeral 30, extends from 
opposing sides of the tractor 16 to prevent sidewise capsizing of the 
tractor 16 when the respective boom 12 or 14 is tilted outwardly. 
In one embodiment, a trough 22 is rigidly affixed to an upper edge of each 
basket 18. A fruit conveying telescopic tube 24 is pivotably connected to 
each trough 22 and positioned t extend rearwardly of the tractor 16 above 
a fruit bin 26 removably positioned on a fruit bin platform 28 supported 
at the rear of the tractor 16. As shown in FIG. 1a, in another embodiment, 
an L-shaped wrap around, temporary storage bin 23 is affixed to the front 
and the side opposite the traveller 20 of each basket 18. The temporary 
storage bin 23 includes a door mechanism 25 positioned in the innermost 
panel 27 facing a chute 29 positioned longitudinally over the tractor 16 
and extending over the fruit bin platform 28. Picked fruit is deposited 
into the temporary storage bin 23 and when full, the lift mechanism 21 is 
operated to align the door mechanism 25 with chute 29. The door mechanism 
25 is then operated to open the door 25D. The opened door 25D functions as 
a guide to guide the fruit into the chute 29 as the temporary storage bin 
23 empties. Door 25D is then closed. 
Referring now to FIG. 2, each boom 12 is pivotably connected at its lower 
end 36 to a transverse extensible axle 38 by means of a universal joint, 
generally indicated by numeral 40. The extensible axle 38 is rigidly 
connected to the undercarriage 42 of the tractor 16 by bolts 44 or the 
like such that the opposing ends of the extensible axle extends outwardly 
from the opposing sides of the tractor 16. 
A cross member 46 is positioned above the engine of the tractor 16 in a 
position substantially transverse to the direction of travel of the 
tractor 16. The cross member 46 is rigidly connected to the extensible 
axle 38 by means of vertical support members 48 positioned on opposing 
sides of the tractor 16. 
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the universal joint 40 comprises an upper 
clevis 50 positioned transverse to a lower clevis 52. The lower clevis 52 
includes a pivot pin 54 inserted through bearing 56 welded to the end 58 
of the telescopic extensible member 60 of the extensible axle 38. Thus, 
the lower clevis 52 allows the boom 12 and 14 to tilt outwardly and 
inwardly about pivot pin 54. 
The upper clevis 50 of the universal joint 40 comprises a pair of pivot 
pins 62 and 64 which are inserted through corresponding holes at the end 
36 of the respective booms 12 and 14. When both inserted, the pivot pins 
62 and 64 secure the booms 12 and 14 in an upright position without 
forward or backward movement. Removal of pivot pin 64 allows the boom 12 
or 14 to pivot rearwardly about chambered edge 66 to a horizontally angled 
position for storage (see FIG. 11). 
FIG. 3C is a partially cut-away view of another embodiment of the 
extensible axle 38. More particularly, this embodiment of extensible axle 
38 comprises a cylindrical pipe 200 which is telescopically slideably 
inserted within the rectangular frame 201 of the extensible axle 38. A 
threaded plug 202 is rigidly connected within the extensible axle 38. A 
length of threaded rod 204 is positioned within the cylindrical pipe 200 
to threadably engage the threaded plug 202. The threaded rod 204 also 
threadably engages a thrust collar 206 which is rotatably mounted to a 
plate 208 welded to the end of the cylindrical pipe 200. The end 210 of 
the threaded rod 204 is made square allowing it to be rotated by a wrench 
or other suitable tool. Clockwise rotation of the threaded rod 204 forces 
the pipe 200 into the extensible axle 38. Conversely, counter clockwise 
rotation of rod 204 forces the pipe 200 outwardly, thereby extending the 
overall length of the axle 38. 
Referring again to FIG. 2 along with FIG. 4, the boom 12 and 14 is 
pivotably connected to the cross member 46 by means of a cross member 
clevis 70 rigidly connected to the inward side of the boom 12 or 14. The 
cross member 46 includes a dual acting hydraulic cylinder 78 having its 
extensible rod 72 with clevis 72 clevis 70 extending outwardly therefrom. 
An enlarged hole 74 is formed within clevis 70 to receive the smaller 
diameter pivot pin 76 of the extensible rod clevis 72. The eccentricity of 
the pivot pin 76 within hole 74 allows sufficient room for movement of the 
pin 76 within hole 74 as the boom 12 or 14 is tilted outwardly about its 
lower end 36 by extension of the dual acting cylinder 78. 
Still referring to FIG. 2, each outrigger 30 positioned on opposing sides 
of the tractor 16 comprises a stub axle 80 with wheel 81 pivotably 
connected to the end 58 of the extensible portion 60 of the extensible 
axle 38 by means of a journal bearing 82 welded thereto and pivot pin 84. 
Each outrigger 30 further comprises a hydraulic cylinder 86 interconnected 
between a mid portion of the stub axle 80 and to a clevis 88 welded to the 
outer side of the respective boom 12 or 14. 
Hydraulic cylinder 86 of the outrigger 30 functions to prevent pivoting of 
the outrigger about pivot pin 84 when the respective boom 12 or 14 is 
being tilted or when the respective boom 12 or 14 has been tilted beyond a 
predetermined safe limit. More particularly, both hydraulic inputs of the 
cylinder 86 are connected via line 90 to a reservoir 91. The reservoir 91 
is provided to accommodate the volume differential in the opposite ends of 
the cylinder 86 and allow free flow of fluid between the cylinder ends. A 
solenoid valve 92 is connected inline with hydraulic line 90. When closed, 
solenoid valve 92 prevents flow through the line 90 thereby freezing the 
operation of the cylinder 86. Outrigger 30 is thus secured in a rigid 
position. The solenoid valve 92 is controlled by a pressure switch and 
relay 93 connected to the dual acting cylinder 78. The pressure switch 93 
energizes the solenoid valve 92 when the pressure exceeds a predetermined 
amount, which pressure is a function of the angle of tilt of the 
respective boom 12 or 14. The relay 93 energizes the solenoid valve 92 
when it senses tilting movement of the respective boom. 
The preferred embodiment of the cross-sectional configuration of the booms 
12 and 14 and the preferred embodiment for the lifting mechanism 21 are 
shown in FIGS. 5-7. More particularly, the preferred embodiment of each 
boom 14 and 16 comprises a generally rectangular configuration having 
outwardly extending ends 94 at each corner 96 of the rectangular 
configuration. The travellers 20 each comprise a flat portion 98 having 
inwardly disposed U-shaped corner portions 99 positioned at ninety degrees 
relative to each other corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration 
of the ends 94 extending from the corners 96 of the boom 12 and 14. A 
bearing material 102 is positioned within each of the U-shaped corner 
portions 100 to provide a suitable bearing surface against the outer 
surfaces of the ends 94 of the corners 96 of the boom 12 and 14 as the 
traveller 20 slides along its length. It is noted that the baskets 18 are 
pivotably connected to the flat portion 98 of the traveller 20 by means of 
a locking bolt and nut 104 and friction plate 106 which allows the basket 
18 to swing freely about bolt 104 or rigidly secured to the flat portion 
98 of the traveller 20. 
The preferred embodiment of the lifting mechanism 21 comprises a pair of 
hydraulic cylinders 108 positioned within each boom 12 and 14. The 
lowermost end of each hydraulic cylinder 108 is connected via eye 109 to 
the pivot pin 62 and 64 of the universal joint 40 (see FIGS. 3A, 3B & 3C). 
The extensible rod 108R of the hydraulic cylinders are each connected to a 
respective lifting clevis 110 reciprocatably mounted within boom 12 or 14 
and centered by means of clevis guide 112. A suitable bearing material 114 
such as nylatron may be provided at the outermost edges of the clevis 112 
to facilitate sliding. Each lifting clevis 110 includes a sheave 116 
rotatably positioned therein. A corresponding sheave 118 is positioned at 
the upper end 120 of the boom 12 or 14. A cable 122 is rigidly connected 
at one end to the inner surface of the boom 12 or 14 at fastener 124 and 
is threaded through the sheave 116 in the clevis 110 and then through the 
upper sheave 118 to then run along the outside of the boom 12 or 14 to be 
rigidly fastened to the inner surface of the respective traveller 20 by 
means of fastener 126. 
During use, extension of the rod 108R of the hydraulic cylinder 108 causes 
the lifting clevis 110 to move upwardly to play out a longer length of 
cable 122 causing the traveller 20 to which it is connected and the 
corresponding basket 18 to be lowered Conversely, contraction of the rod 
108R causes the lifting clevis 110 to move downwardly within boom 12 or 14 
thereby raising the traveller 20 and basket 18. The use of two hydraulic 
cylinders 108 allows each basket 18 on each boom 12 or 14 to be 
individually raised or lowered. 
FIG. 8 illustrates another cross-sectional embodiment of the booms 12 and 
14 as including a generally I-shaped configuration having center member 
130 and side members 132 with longitudinally inturned edges 134. The 
distance between the inturned edges 134 and the center member 130 define a 
track 136 along the longitudinal length of the boom 12 or 14. 
Correspondingly, traveller 20 comprises a flat portion 98 (to which the 
basket 18 is connected as described above) and inwardly disposed side 
edges 138 defining a generally U-shaped configuration. A plurality of 
wheel bearings 140 are journaled to the side edges 138 along its length to 
ride within track 136. Slideable movement along the length of the boom 12 
or 14 is therefore achieved. 
FIGS. 9 and 10 include other embodiments of the lifting mechanism 21 by 
means of hydraulic motors 142 in lieu of the hydraulic cylinders 108. 
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the hydraulic motor 142 is positioned at 
the lower end 36 of the boom 12 and 14. An endless chain 144 is entrained 
between the upper sheave 118 and the sheave 142S of the hydraulic motor 
142. The traveller 20 is rigidly connected to the endless chain 144. An 
idler sheave 146 may be provided for adjusting the tension in the chain 
144. Operation of the hydraulic motor 142 causes rotation of the endless 
chain 144 to raise and lower the traveller 20 and basket 18. 
FIG. 10 illustrates a modified hydraulic motor type of lifting mechanism 
including a single hydraulic motor 142 and a single endless chain 144 
which is entrained about the upper sheaves 118 and the lower idler sheaves 
146 of both sides of the respective boom 12 and 14 such that the paired 
travellers 20 and baskets 18 are moved upwardly or downwardly in reverse 
unison. 
Finally, FIG. 11 illustrates the hedged row harvesting machine of the 
invention with its booms 12 and 14 in a knocked-down position (by removal 
of pivot pins 62 and 64 and pivoting a rod 72 of cylinder 78) with the 
baskets 18 stacked on the fruit box platform 28, allowing convenient 
transportation to and from the grove. 
The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as 
well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has 
been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the 
preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous 
changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement 
of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the 
invention.