Patent GB-675771-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to hop or other analogous plant plucking machines
IPC: A01D46/02
Filed: 1949-08-05
Abstract: 675,771. Hop &c. pickers. BROOKES, A. E. July 27, 1950 [Aug. 5, 1949], No. 20381/49. Class 58 A hop or other analagous plant plucking machine, of the type comprising two sets of rotary tines adapted to exert a combing action on the plants passed between them, has in combination a rotary driving member, a plurality of tines and tine-actuating means mounted on and operable by the driving member for causing the tines to receive reciprocatory motion relatively to the driving member simultaneously with movement through a circular path. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 each pair of rotary body parts comprises a pair of end discs a secured to a spindle b provided with a sprocket wheel c for driving, and having a number of channel-shaped axles d rotatably mounted between, to one side of each is secured a row of laterally extending and resilient tines h. To each axle is secured a sprocket wheel j connected by a chain k to a stationary sprocket m mounted coaxially on the spindle b. On rotation of the discs a by the spindle b the axles d are rotated relatively thereto at a rate which maintains the tines h horizontal and whilst undergoing a longitudinal reciprocation. Starting with any one of the axles d in its uppermost position, Fig. 1, its tines h all lie within the outer periphery of the cylindrical zone situated between and bounded at its ends by the end discs a of the body part. During movement of the latter through the first 90 degrees of its rotation, these tines are advanced gradually while moving downwardly with the body part, until they extend to their maximum extent beyond the outer periphery of the zone. During the next 90 degrees rotation the tines are retracted and during the succeeding half revolution which brings the axle back to its initial position, the tines all lie wholly within the zone with their ends adjacent the outer periphery of the zone. Two such assemblies are arranged side by side forming a pass into which the tines extend and through which the hop plants p can be fed. In a modification shown in Fig. 3 a beam q carrying a row of laterally extending tines h is connected to the end of a connecting rod r which at its other end is connected to a slide s situated between stationary guides t, the tines being arranged to extend through a grid-like or slotted guard h<SP>1</SP>. The connecting rod r is pivotally attached intermediate its ends to a crank arm u on a driving shaft v, so that when the latter is rotated the connecting rod causes the tine carrying beam q to traverse a circular path during which it moves outwardly and inwardly relatively to the shaft, and causes the tines to be projected and retracted through the guard h<SP>1</SP> whilst exerting a combing action on the plants p. A plurality of tine-carrying beams may be mounted one above another at each side of a pass through which the plants can be fed. In another modification, Figs. 4 and 5 (not shown), a plurality of tine-carrying beams extend between a pair of eccentrically mounted end discs one of which being driven from a convenient source of motion supports the adjacent ends of the beams at equal distances from each other and from the disc axis. The other ends of the beams are rotatably supported on the other disc at equal distances from each other and from the disc axis. The arrangement is such that during rotation of the first disc the beams are rotated relatively thereto at a rate which maintains the tines horizontal and enables them to reciprocate as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Two assemblies are arranged side by side to form a pass there between.