Abstract:
The invention relates to the thinning and harvesting of fruit and flowers. The device is an apparatus that can thin flowers, since said device is able to reduce the number of flowers on a tree, or can harvest fruit from fruit trees or berries from bushes. To that end, the device includes an activation means ( 4, 4 ), configured to spin a shaft ( 2 ) and preferably made of calibrated steel, along which a plurality of filaments ( 3 ) are attached, said filaments being braided cords ( 3 ) that are approximately 3 mm thick and approximately 8 cm long.

Description:
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The object of the invention herein is an apparatus that can work well as a flower thinner for reducing the number of flowers on a tree, or a fruit harvester for harvesting fruit from fruit trees or berries from bushes and whose performance is substantially more economical and efficient than current thinning devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A system is currently known in agriculture that supports the growth of self-fertile varieties of trees with large volumes of fruit load, which consists of stripping a certain percentage of their flowers. By using this procedure, more energy can be directed to feed the remaining flowers, such that the fruit will develop further by having reduced the competition with the other flowers. Furthermore, this prior flower thinning phase decreases the amount of work in the subsequent fruit thinning phase. 
         [0003]    There are known apparatus called flower thinning apparatus to carry out this phase of flower thinning and harvesting fruit from trees or berries from bushes. A known thinning device is an apparatus formed by an electric battery connected to an electric motor which spins an elongated shaft provided with a plurality of filaments or threads. By spinning the shaft at a certain speed next to a branch laden with flowers or fruit, the threads hit the flowers or fruit and strip them off. A main drawback of this known thinning device is that the threads used are extremely tough and have low ductility, which produces wounds to the mixed buds and spurs, especially in vegetative buds which later form shoots or leaves. Furthermore, the known thinning apparatus is more than one metre long, enabling the user to reach high branches on the trees. This length means vibrations transmitted to the arms cause fatigue, when further taking into account its considerable weight (approximately 3 kg for the battery and 2 kg for the rest of the apparatus), resulting in decreased user performance as the hours elapse. Finally, the ties attached to the shaft mean they cannot be changed quickly, thereby producing substantial lost time each time a thread needs to be changed due to breakage. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention herein resolves the problems described by using a novel device for thinning and harvesting flowers designed to extract 60% or more of the flowers without damaging the branches, wood buds or shoots. This has been achieved through a comprehensive study of different types of threads, cords and filaments, as well as different arrangements thereof along the shaft. The thinning and harvesting device of the invention can be used during the different phases, from the developed flower bud, flowers and flowers with leaf shoots up to 3 cm without damaging them. In addition, another important advantage of the invention is that the flowers that are not stripped are distributed along the entire branch, which is very important. 
         [0005]    Thus, the invention relates to a device for thinning and harvesting flowers which includes an activation means configured to spin a shaft and preferably made of calibrated steel, to which a plurality of filaments are attached, which, according to the results of the study carried out, are a number of braided cords that are approximately 3 mm thick and approximately 8 cm long. Each braided cord is attached to the shaft by its central part, such that they are approximately 4 cm long on each side spinning along with the shaft to strip the flowers from the branches. 
         [0006]    In respect of the arrangement of the braided cords, a first particular embodiment of the invention comprises 7 braided cords spaced 2 cm apart from each other, achieving suitable results for thinning the flower bud. A second particular embodiment, on the other hand, comprises 5 braided cords spaced 3 cm apart from each other, the results of which are suitable for thinning flowers or fruit. Additionally, the preferred length of the shaft is 25 cm, while the preferred thickness is 10 mm. 
         [0007]    There is evidence that the effectiveness of a flower thinning/harvesting apparatus when in operation using braided cords of the type described, arranged according to one of these configurations, is superior to all existing machines, achieving more than 60% thinning. Furthermore, this novel thinning/harvesting apparatus prevents branches from being left without flowers when the same branch is inadvertently passed over a second time. 
         [0008]    Additionally, each braided cord is preferably attached to the shaft by means of an orifice through which the braided cord passes, being immobilised by means of a set screw. In this manner, a braided cord can be changed more easily, being changed much faster when compared to current devices for thinning and harvesting. Furthermore, the set screw should be preferably threaded on both ends, enabling it to be removed even if one of the ends becomes damaged. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, two types of activation means are contemplated for the shaft of the thinning and harvesting device of the invention: a pneumatic motor or an electric motor powered by a battery. The electric motor preferably has an output power of 50 watts with a speed control range from 2000 rpm to 5000 rpm. Thus, the speed of rotation of the shaft can be regulated depending on the type of flower or fruit. For example, in the case of apricots, it will be necessary to operate at low speeds, while a higher speed is suitable for peaches. 
         [0010]    In both cases, the shaft is coupled to the activation means by means of an encased part provided with an internal bearing which provides stability during rotation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a device for thinning and harvesting flowers according to the prior art. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows the shaft and braided cords of a device for thinning and harvesting flowers according to the invention herein. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a detailed view of how braided cords are attached to the shaft of the thinning and harvesting device of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of a device for thinning and harvesting flowers according to the invention, wherein the shaft is connected to a pneumatic motor. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of a device for thinning and harvesting flowers according to the invention, wherein the shaft is connected to an electric motor. 
       
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Described below is an example of the invention with reference to the accompanying figures. In particular,  FIG. 1  shows an example of a thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 100 ) according to the prior art. As previously mentioned, the filaments ( 101 ) used in this thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 100 ) are too tough and hard, which produces wounds in the mixed shoots and spurs, especially in vegetative buds which subsequently form the shoots or leaves. Furthermore, although not shown in this figure, attaching the filaments to the shaft means they cannot be changed quickly, which causes lost time when any change is necessary. Another problem with this thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 100 ) is its high weight, about 2 kg. (plus another 3 kg. for the battery it connects to, and which is not shown in the figure), which causes the user to get tired quickly and reduces efficiency when working. Equally, its length of up to 1.80 metres amplifies the vibrations produced on the arms, exacerbating the problem of fatigue due to the weight. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the shaft ( 2 ) of a thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 1 ,  1 ′) according to the invention herein, wherein its length is much less than that of the thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 100 ) in the prior art. Although not shown in the figure, each filament on the thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 1 ,  1 ′) in this example is a braided cord ( 3 ) 3 mm thick and 8 cm long attached to the shaft ( 2 ) by means of set screws ( 6 ) threaded in a number of orifices ( 7 ) perpendicular to those through which the braided cords ( 3 ) pass. These braided cords ( 3 ) are much more flexible and lighter than the filaments ( 101 ) used in the thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 100 ) of the prior art, which enables 60% or more of the flowers to be stripped without damaging the branches or wood buds or shoots, and without the cords ( 3 ) getting entangled in the branches. Although not shown in the figures, two configurations are described for the location of the braided cords ( 3 ) and therefore also for the location of the shaft ( 2 ) orifices ( 7 ). A first configuration designed for thinning the flower bud comprises  7  orifices ( 7 ) spaced 2 cm apart from each other, while a second configuration designed for thinning flowers or fruit comprises 5 orifices ( 7 ) spaced 3 cm apart from each other. 
         [0018]    Finally,  FIGS. 4 and 5  show respective examples of activation means ( 4 ,  4 ′) according to the invention.  FIG. 4  shows the use of a pneumatic motor ( 4 ) that connects to the shaft ( 2 ) of the invention via an encased part ( 5 ) provided with an internal bearing. 
         [0019]    On the other hand,  FIG. 5  shows an electric motor ( 4 ′) connected to the shaft ( 2 ) of the invention via the aforementioned encased part. The electric motor ( 4 ′) is a motor with no brushes or slip rings and having a constant speed control between 2000 rpm and 5000 rpm, 12 volts, 50 watts of power, and which operates at 1-4 amps. This electric motor ( 4 ′) is connected to a control box (not shown) provided with a tie that can be attached to the user&#39;s belt, this control box, in turn, being connected to a battery that the user can carry as a backpack. In this example, the control box contains an electronic card, an on/off switch, a red light which indicates the on/off status and a current regulator. 
         [0020]    This provides a thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 1 ,  1 ′) about 425 g in weight and 25 cm long, making it very convenient for thinning flowers and harvesting fruit and reduces the manpower required per hectare. A thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 1 ,  1 ′) according to the invention performs the work of three ( 3 ) operators working manually. Furthermore, the cost to the farmer is much less when compared to the thinning/harvesting apparatus ( 100 ) of the prior art.