Abstract:
A harvesting apparatus for dislodging produce from trees comprising a support structure, a boom vertically placed where a first end is connected to the support structure, a positioning apparatus to position a second end of the boom radially from the first end, horizontal posts connected to the boom wherein a first post is positioned above a second post, crank arm rotatably connected between the horizontal posts along an axis where the crank arm has a plurality of elbows, one of a plurality of spools rotatably attached to the crank arm at each respective elbow whereby each spool is free to rotate axially, a plurality of wands axialy attached to each spool and spaced around each spool, and a rotating apparatus for rotating the crank arm about its axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a produce harvesting apparatus and method, and more specifically to an apparatus for removing fruit from a canopy of a tree where wands inserted into the canopy are not physically held in place but which freely move in the canopy as a result of resistance encountered by the foliage of the canopy while the wands are actuated vertically and horizontally. 
     Various approaches have been developed to harvest produce from trees, such as citrus and other fruit, with the intention of efficiently removing the fruit while not damaging the trees. While it is believed that some methods have included shaking the trunks of the trees, others involve inserting stationary rods into a tree&#39;s canopy and vibrating or rotating them in some fashion. It is further believed that none of these devices have been fully successful in picking enough fruit so that the excess fruit left must be picked by hand, while at the same time minimizing damage done to the trees. In several cases, wands, which are inserted into the canopy, are connected to devices that rotate the wands through the canopy. The wands are fixed so that they are not free to move in the canopy as a result of resistance encountered by the foliage. It is also believed that damage to the trees occurs because of the fixed positioning of the wands. For example, it is believed that U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,522,696, and 4,860,529 disclose wands that are fixed to a component which rotates the wands through the canopy and may result in damage to the tree. Another limitation in these patents is the inability to adjust the wands to a desired amount of penetration into the canopy. 
     In addition to reducing damage to fruit trees, another desire in harvesting fruit is to reduce the time it takes to harvest fruit. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,896 is believed to disclose a self contained, self propelled fruit harvester which utilizes oscillating removal heads which consist of stationary rods inserted into a tree&#39;s canopy that are vibrated to harvest the fruit. This harvester remains in a stationary position while each oscillating removal head is selectively engaged in a single canopy and activated to remove fruit. After the operator determines that the oscillating removal heads have removed enough fruit from this single tree, the oscillating removal heads are disengaged from the canopy and the harvester is free to move to its next tree for harvesting. Thus, it is believed that this harvester is unable to continuously move through a grove of trees at a constant rate as it harvests fruit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It would be advantageous to provide an apparatus capable of harvesting fruit while constantly moving through a field, or grove, of trees. It would also be advantageous to provide an apparatus capable of harvesting more than one tree at a time as it moves through a row of trees where the apparatus can be adjusted to the desired amount of penetration of the wands into the canopy. Additionally, it would also be advantageous to utilize wands for insertion into the canopy where the wands are not rigidly fixed to the apparatus, but are free to move as directed by resistance realized by the wands as a result of contact with foliage of the canopy during operation. 
     Towards this end, the present invention teaches a harvesting apparatus for dislodging produce from trees comprising a support structure, a boom vertically placed where a first end is connected to the support structure, a means to position a second end of the boom radially from the first end, horizontal posts connected to the boom wherein a first post is positioned above a second post, crank arm rotatably connected between the horizontal posts along an axis where the crank arm has a plurality of elbows, one of a plurality of spools rotatably attached to the crank arm at each respective elbow whereby each spool is free to rotate axially, a plurality of wands axially attached to each spool and spaced around each spool, and a means for rotating the crank arm about its axis. 
     In one exemplary example of its operation, as the crank arm turns, each spool is free to rotate its wands through the tree where the rate of rotation for each spool is determined by the turning of the crank arm and resistance encountered by the wands in contact with the tree. This movement, in unison with the propelling of the apparatus, causes fruit to be dislodged. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taking in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the fruit harvesting apparatus attached to a wheel loader harvesting citrus trees; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1 without the citrus trees; 
     FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of another embodiment of the fruit harvesting apparatus including a separate fruit storage bin; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of the other embodiment of the fruit harvesting apparatus; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the fruit harvesting apparatus with the booms vertically placed and the telescoping fruit catcher extended; and 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the fruit harvesting apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the fruit harvesting apparatus attached to a wheel loader which is harvesting two citrus trees and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1 without the citrus trees. In an exemplary embodiment, the fruit harvesting apparatus  10  consists of a support structure  71 , collection conveyor  16  with telescoping side fruit catcher conveyors  14 ,  15 , and two vertical posts or booms  20 ,  21 . The support structure  71  includes a mast  12  and a base  70 , which is better illustrated in FIG. 3. A set of hydraulic actuators or positioning cylinders  25 ,  26 ,  27  are fixed between the mast  12  and each boom  20 ,  21 . The fruit harvesting apparatus  10  is attached to a wheel loader  11 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of another embodiment of the fruit harvesting apparatus with a mobile, self propelled container or fruit storage bin and FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of the other embodiment of the fruit harvesting apparatus. As further illustrated in these figures, each boom  21  has two horizontal bars or posts,  30 ,  31  extending from the boom  21 , where the horizontal bars  30 ,  31  extend away from the wheel loader  11 . The horizontal bars  30 ,  31  are connected by a vertical bar  33  so that the horizontal bars  30 ,  31  move in unison. During operation, the horizontal bars  30 ,  31  move vertically up and down the boom  21 . On the upper horizontal bar  30 , air springs  34 ,  35  are placed above and below the horizontal bar  30  and are connected to attachments  37 ,  38  extending from the boom  21 . The air springs  34 ,  35  are placed so as to dampen the actuating and to limit the range of actuating of the horizontal bars  30 ,  31 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a first wheel or gear  39  with a connecting arm  40  that attaches to the lower horizontal bar  31  is the device which lifts and lowers the horizontal bars  30 ,  31 . The first wheel  39  abuts against a second wheel or gear  42  which in turn abuts a third wheel or gear  44  that is attached to a hydraulic motor  43 . In one exemplary embodiment the third wheel  44  is a rubber wheel. The hydraulic motor  43  turns the third wheel which turns the second wheel  42  which rotates the first wheel  39 , which in turn lifts and lowers the horizontal bars  30 ,  31 . The first wheel  39  includes two separate holes  45 ,  46  for attaching the connecting arm  40 . As better illustrated in FIG. 2, in one exemplary embodiment the holes  45 ,  46  are spaced so that depending on which hole the connecting arm  40  is connected with, the horizontal bars  30 ,  31  are lifted either nine inches or six inches from a starting position and then lowered nine inches or six inches. In operation, this movement allows the horizontal bars to be lifted and lowered either 18 inches or 12 inches. In one exemplary embodiment the turning of the wheels  39 ,  42  is slow and constant where the hydraulic motor  43  turns the wheels  39 ,  42 ,  44  at a rate of 40 to 50 revolutions per minute. 
     As is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, at the end of the lower and upper horizontal bars  30 ,  31 , a crank arm  50  extends between the horizontal bars  30 ,  31  and is parallel to the boom  21 . One end of the crank arm  50  is rotatably connected to the underside of the upper horizontal post  30  and the other end is rotatably connected to the upper side of the lower horizontal post  31  where the crank arm rotates along an axis. On top of the upper horizontal post  30  is a hydraulic motor  52  connected to turn the crank arm  50 . Axially free moving spools  57  are positioned at each elbow  58  of the crank arm  50 , and a plurality of wands  60  are extended radially from each spool  57 . In another exemplary embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a second crank arm  62  is fixed to the top of the upper horizontal post  30 . The motor  52  also turns the second crank arm  62 . The wands  60  are in the shape of rods, and are made of such materials as plastics, nylon, or other material that will reduce damaging trees, where the wands are flexible in nature. 
     In one exemplary embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, four wands  60  extend from each spool  57 . More wands can be extended from each spool. For example, in another exemplary embodiment the crank arm  50  between the horizontal posts  30 ,  31  holds sixteen spools  57  and sixteen wands  60  are connected to each spool  57 . The crank arm  62  above the upper horizontal post  30  holds four spools  57  with sixteen wands  60  connected to each spool  57 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the fruit harvesting apparatus with the booms vertically placed and the telescoping fruit catcher extended and FIG. 6 is a top view of the fruit harvesting apparatus. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, three hydraulic actuators  65 ,  66 ,  67  are connected between the booms  21 ,  22  and the mast  12  to move and control the cantilevering and positioning of each boom  21 ,  22  radially from the base of the booms  21 ,  22 . In an exemplary embodiment two of the actuators  65 ,  66  are connected to a top of the mast  12  and the third actuator  67  is connected to a component  69  extending from the mast  12 . As illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5, the base of each boom  21 ,  22  is connected to the base  70  of the support structure  71  by way of a ball joint connection  72 . The ball joint connection  72  in conjunction with the actuators  65 ,  66 ,  67  allows each boom  21 ,  22  to move in a  360  degree radius about the ball joint connection so as to best be positioned to make contact with a canopy of a tree. 
     As further illustrated in FIG. 3, an additional independently mobile fruit storage bin  75  may be placed in front of the fruit harvesting apparatus for collecting more fruit. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fruit harvesting apparatus includes a collection conveyor  16  and telescoping fruit catcher conveyors  14 ,  15  or a three conveyor belt transportation system  14 ,  15 ,  16 . The collection conveyor  16  includes a conveyor  77 , such as a potato chain conveyor, to move the fruit from the collection conveyor  16  to the mobile storage bin  75 . The components for the conveyor belt system  77  include a conveyor belt  79  and rollers  80  which guide the belt  79 . The conveyor belt transportation system  77  may be segmented  81 ,  82 ,  83  so as to fold or adjust the conveyor system  77  to operate with various sized mobile storage bins  75 . In one exemplary embodiment a first segment  81  is horizontal. A second segment  82  is angled upward away from the booms  20 ,  21 , and a third segment  83  is horizontal but at a higher height than the first segment  81 . A wrench  85  is located on the mast  12  and is connected via a cable  86  to part of the conveyor system  82  so as to adjust the conveyor system  77  to accommodate various shaped mobile storage bins  75 . 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 2,  5 , and  6 , the collection conveyor  16  includes telescoping fruit catcher sides  14 ,  15 . In an exemplary embodiment, the telescoping conveyor sides  14 ,  15  consist of a lower segment  90  which is made of a solid sheet of metal, such as aluminum. The telescoping segment or upper segment  92  is made of a material such as a metal mesh and slides upon the lower segment  90 . Bars  91  extend laterally across upper segment  92  and lower segment  90  and are connected to a chain  94 . As the chain is rotated by a motor (not shown) the bars are passed over the upper  92  and lower  90  segments. A motor (not shown) is operable to extend the upper segment  92  from its starting position under the lower segment  90  to varied lengths. A tension adjuster (not shown) is connected to the chain to adjust slack in the chain based on the telescoping position of the upper segment  92 . Each conveyor side  14 ,  15  can be lowered and raised by way of a hydraulic actuator  93 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the fruit harvesting apparatus  10  is a stand-alone component that is attached to a multi-use wheel loader  11 . A power unit (not shown) to operate the actuators  65 ,  66 ,  67 ,  93  telescoping fruit catcher catchers  14 ,  15 , conveyor belt system  77 , motors  43 ,  52 , and wrench  85  is either integrated into the fruit harvesting apparatus  10  or the power is received from the wheel loader  11 . A control system (not shown) for the actuators  65 ,  66 ,  67 ,  93  is also part of the fruit harvesting apparatus and is easily installed in the wheel loader  11 . In another exemplary embodiment, a control system for the motors  43 ,  52 , conveyor belt system  77 , and telescoping fruit catcher conveyors  14 ,  15  is also included. Other embodiments include attaching the fruit harvesting apparatus  10  to a multi-use tractor or some other vehicle to propel the harvesting apparatus  10  through a row of trees, or integrating the harvesting apparatus  10  into a harvesting apparatus-only dedicated self-propelled vehicle. 
     During one mode of operation, an operator activates the hydraulic actuators  65 ,  66 ,  67  to place the booms  20 ,  21  into position so that the wands  60  on each boom  20 ,  21  are making contact with tree canopies. The operator will then activate the hydraulic motor  43  connected to the wheels  39 ,  42  and the hydraulic motors  52  connected to the crank arms  50  to move the horizontal bars  27 ,  28  up and down on the boom  20 ,  21  and to turn the crank arms  50 ,  62  in a circular motion. Each individual spool  57  rotationally oscillates and the flexible wands  60  will freely move to find a place within the foliage of the canopy of least resistance. The operator will also extend the telescoping fruit catchers  14 ,  15  far enough under the canopy to catch fruit as it falls and retract the catchers  14 ,  15  when a trunk of a tree is in the path of either catcher  14 ,  15 . While this operation is ongoing, the wheel loader  11  is moving through the rows of trees at a slow, but constant speed where the operator is using the actuators  65 ,  66 ,  67  for adjusting the placement of the wands  60  within the canopy as needed. The movement of the wheel loader  11  and resistance encountered by the foliage causes the oscillating wands  60  to rotate through the canopy. This movement along with the lifting and lowering of the wands  60  and rotation of the crank arms collectively causes fruit to dislodge and fall onto one of the three conveyor belts  14 ,  15 ,  16 . 
     In another mode of operation, instead of elevating and lowering the horizontal bars  27 ,  28 , these components will remain stationary after the wands are inserted into the foliage. Only the crank arms will rotate as the wheel loader  11  slowly moves through a row of trees. The movement of the wheel loader  11 , resistance encountered by the foliage, and rotation of the crank arms will still cause the oscillating wands  60  to rotate through the canopy, causing fruit to dislodge and fall onto one of the three conveyor belts  14 ,  15 ,  16 . 
     While the invention has been described in what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the specific illustrative embodiment but be interpreted within the full spirit and scope of the appended claims.