Improvements in or relating to Fruit and Flower Gatherers.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fruit and Flower Gatherers.
I, LAURA BIDDLE, of Syston, in the County of Leicester, Married Woman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus by which overhead
fruit and flowers may be easily and readily gathered in the same condition as
they are growing, that is without removing the bloom or bruising them in any
way.
The invention comprises a long rod or pole either in telescopic form or in
jointed or ferruled lengths so that they can be inserted one within the other to
increase or decrease the length at the will of the individual.
The mechanism by which the detaching or separation of the fruit or flowers
is effected is subject to modifications within the main lines of the invention.
According to one construction specially applicable for gathering the larger
fruits such as apples and pears there are two prongs, fingers or equivalent located
at the upper part of the pole and attached to or formed integrally with a spring
governed slide movable in guides or loops attached to the pole.
The lower part of the slide is connected to a rope or cord extending to near
the bottom of the rod or the slide itself may be continued down the rod in which
case the cord would be dispensed with.
Located immediately under the said prongs or fingers is the open mouth or
upper end of a long tubular fabric receiver or shoot for the reception of the fruit
after it is separated from the tree.
The receiver or shoot is connected around a circular ring or frame forming
the mouth thereof and the said ring or frame is fastened detachably to the rod.
In using the herein before described fruit gatherer the prongs or fingers are
placed over the top of the apple, pear or other fruit to be gathered so that the
stalk is between the said fingers whereupon the slide is lowered thereby causing
the said fingers to press upon the fruit with sufficient force to detach it from the
branch and in falling it drops into the fabric receiver down which is passes to a
point near the bottom where it is grasped by the hand of the individual who there-
upon releases his hold and takes the fruit out of the open bottom of the receiver.
One or more arms fixed to the top of the rod and over the prongs or fingers
may be employed for inserting under a branch to support it while the prongs
or fingers are pulling the fruit downwards. This facilitates the separation of
the fruit.
In gathering some kinds of fruits such as grapes and peaches a receiver of the
type hereinbefore described would be valueless as the fruits in descending therein
would get the bloom removed which would render the fruit both unmarketable
and unpresentable.
A fruit gatherer for this purpose therefore comprises in addition to the rod a
pair of jaws or fingers adapted to engage, and grip the stalk of the fruit to be
detached and a cutting device to sever the stem above the point where it is held.

page_text: .
so that the fruit will then remain gripped by and suspended between the aforesaid
fingers and upon the rod being lowered the fruit can be removed therefrom in
the same condition as regards appearance as when on the tree.
The fingers may be formed of spring steel wire or combined with a spring so
ns to be opened or closed at the will of the user.
The lower end of the wire carrying the grip fingers or with which the latter
are integrally formed passes through guides and is connected by a cord or equiva
lent means by which the said fingers can be opened to receive the stalk or stem
of the fruit and then under the influence of a spring or otherwise close upon and
grip the stalk preparatory to its being cut.
The cutting device comprises two blades located above the grip fingers the
rear limb of one or each of the cutters or blades is extended and connected to a
cord by which they can he closed and the cutting edges brought together to sever
the stalk of the suspended fruit. This latter construction is also particularly
applicable for the gathering of overhead flowers.
Dated this 29th day of April 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant,
Improvements in or relating to Fruit and Flower Gatherers.
I. LAURA BIDDLE. of Sysion, in the County of Leicester, Married Woman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus by which overhead
fruit and flowers may be easily and readily gathered in the same condition as
they are growing, that is without removing the bloom or bruising them.
The invention will be understood from the following further description in
reference to the accompanying drawing in which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view and
Figure 2a front elevation of a fruit gatherer constructed in accordance with
ny invention, .
Figure 3 is a perspective view, and
Figure 4a front elevation of a fruit and flower gatherer.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 which illustrate an apparatus specially applicable
for gathering fruits of the larger kind, such as apples and pears. A represents a
long rad or pole, the length of which can be extended ar ilecreased at will, by
making it in lengths or sections and providing each of the latter with joints or
ferrules of any suitable description so that one section or length can be fitted into
or disconnected from the other. Or the said od may be made in telescopic
form.
1 represent prongs, fingers of equivalent forming part of an angular
plate B which is fastened by serows B B to the top and side respectively of the
pole.
Care prongs, fingers or equivalent located under the fingers B B and
forming part of a slide whose two arms C ( move in guide eyes C driven into
the pule A and are brought close together and encircled by a spiral spring D.
one end of which is located under the shoulders C (7 of the said slide, while the
other end abuts against an eye E fixed in the pole A.
To the eye CS forming the lowermost end of the slide, is connected a wire rod,

page_text: cord or equivalent F of any convenient length passing through eyes Ft inserted
at intervals along the rod A.
Immediately underneath the prongs or fingers B B C C is a wire or other
ring G, a rear member of which passes through a hole in the said rod and is
screwed tightly against the opposite side of the latier by a nut G.
Sewn or otherwise attached around the ring is the mouth or upper end of
a long tubular fabric chute or receiver G³ represented by dotted lines, the said
tube of fabric being of such a length as to extend to near the bottom of the
pole A where it is held or grasped by the individual.
The apparatus is used as follows:-
The four prongs B¹ B² C¹ C² are passed over the stalk of an apple, pear or other
fruit to be gathered, with the upper two prongs B1 B2 pressed upwards against
the undersurface of the branch from which the fruit hangs, as indicated by the
dotted line in Figure 2.
The individual by now pulling the wire rod or cord F downwards will lower
the fingers C C2 on to the fruit, as also shown in Figure 2, and as the lowering
of the branch is resisted by the prongs B1 B2 and the downward tension of the
fruit is increased by the fingers CC the stalk becomes severed from either the
branch or the fruit and the latter falls into the fabric tube or receiver G³ to the
bottom of which it drops without damage.
The individual may hold the open lower end of this chute or receiver in his
hand and when the fruit has descended he can take it out without it having become
bruised or impaired in any way.
When the prongs have been lowered to detach a fruit as herein before stated the
spring becomes compressed between the shoulders (and the eve E but
immediately the cord F is released the spring expands and raises the fingers to
their normal position as in Figure 1.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 an apparatus is here shown which is specially
applicable for the gathering of such fruits as grapes, peaches or the like which
possess a bloom, or for flowers.
II represents a rod or pole which may be constructed in ferruled sections or
telescopically as hereinbefore described in reference to Figures 1 and 2.
represent two spring fingers forming the upper continuation of two vertical
arms JJ all constructed out of a single piece of steel wire and forming a slide
provided with an integral eye J' at its lower end through which a lowering cord.
or rod K passes.
The said slide passes through eyes L L L connected to the pole H and a
spring Mattached one end to a screw driven into the pole and the other
end to the slide controls the movement of the latter. The two spring fingers JJ
are arranged as hereinafter described to grip the stalk of the fruit or flower to he
cut and while the latter is held thereby the stalk is severed by cutting mechanism.
This as shown in the drawings may consist of a fixed arm or blade N provided
with a cutting edge and secured to the upper end of the rod H by screws N¹.
Pivotted to the rod at one side thereof is a movable limb or blade N having a
cutting edge provided with a spring 0 which keeps the limb normally extended
and the cutting jaws open and a cord P or equivalent passing through eyes Pat
intervals down the rod H by which the said jaw can be closed against the fixed
jaw.
The apparatus is used as follows:-
Upon the cord K being pulled downwards and held there, the fingers will be
opened as in Figure 3 and the spring M expanded.
The two open fingers and the two cutting jaws No N are now passed
over the stalk or stem of the fruit or flower to be gathered and upon the cord K
being released the spring M will raise the slide and close the fingers J J as in
Figure 4 when the stalk of the fruit or flower will be gripped between them.
Upon the individual now pulling down the other cord P the movable cutting
jaw N will be brought against the fixed jaw X" as in Figure 4 and the stalk being
'

page_text: between them will be severed thereby so that by now lowering the rod the fruit
or flower can be removed therefrom in the same condition as when growing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. In a fruit gatherer, means for supporting a branch of a tree and means for
pressing upon a fruit hanging therefrom for the purpose described.
2. In a fruit gatherer, means for supporting a branch of a tree, means for
pressing upon a fruit hanging therefrom and à receiver or chute for the purpose
described.
3. In a fruit gatherer the combination with means for detaching a fruit from
its branch or stalk, of a tubular fabric chute or sleeve for the purpose described.
4. In a fruit gatherer the combination of a rod or pole, a pair of fixed prongs
or equivalent for supporting a branch of a tree, a pair of prongs or equivalent for
exerting downward pressure upon a fruit hanging therefrom and means for
lowering the said prongs for the purpose described.
5. Tn a fruit gatherer, the combination of a rod or pole, a pair of fixed prongs.
a pair of movable prongs and a tubular fabric chute or receiver for the purpose
described.
6. A fruit gatherer consisting of the parts constructed, arranged and operating
substantially in the manner described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
7. A fruit or flower gatherer consisting of means adapted to grip the stalk of a
fruit or flower, and means for cutting the said stalk while it is gripped.
8. A fruit or flower gatherer consisting of fingers or equivalent adapted to
open and close to hold or release the stalk of a fruit or flower, means to open and
close the said fingers, and means to cut or sever the said stalk while it is held
by the said fingers.
9. A fruit or flower gatherer consisting of means adapted to grip or release
the stalk of a fruit or flower, a fixed and a movable cutting blade and means
for actuating the latter to effect the severance of the said sialk while it is
gripped.
10. In a fruit or flower gatherer the combination of a pair of fingers such
as slide such as JJ, fixed and movable cutting blades such as N N operat-
ing substantially as described.
11. In a fruit or flower gatherer the combination of a pair of fingers and
combined slide, the latter adapted to he lowered to open the said fingers to engage
the stalk of a fruit or flower and to be raised to close the said fingers and grip
the said stalk, fixed and movable cutting blades and means for actuating the
movable blade to effect the severance of the said stalk substantially as described.
12. The improved fruit and flower gatherer consisting of the parts constructed.
arranged and operating substantially in the manner described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 31st day of 1200
BOULT. WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.