An Improved Combined Branch Pruner and Fruit Gatherer.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Combined Branch Pruner and Fruit Gatherer.
I, SAMUEL HALL, trading as The Standard Manufacturing Company, of
Saint Alkmund's Churchyard, Derby, in the County of Derby, Horticultural
Implement Maker, 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 :--
In order that my invention may be the more readily understood I have caused
to be annexed to this Specification a sheet drawings; the figures and letters of
reference marked upon which will be hereafter referred to :-
Figure 1 being an elevation of my improved combined branch pruner and fruit
gatherer, the intermediate portions of the pole and rod being broken away for the
sake of convenience.
Figure 2 is a section on line "a,"
366
a
" of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged or full sized view of the blade or cutter.
In carrying out my invention I fix at one end of a pole A a double fork B
rivetted together at C, C1, C2, the two sides of the fork being kept apart by means
of washers D at these points. At E I pivot the blade F which as will be seen
is also forked in shape and has its cutting edge F¹ on the inside of one arm the
other arm carrying at its extremity the end of a rod G, the said rod passing
through eyelets or guides H down the shaft or pole A of the implement to the
short arm I of a bell crank lever which is pivotted to a bracket or clip J fixed to
the pole or shaft A.
To the short arm I of the said bell-crank lever I also attach a spring such as K
about midway between the fulcrum and the outer end of the said short arm 1, the
other end of the spring being fixed to the pole or shaft; the action of this spring
is to bring the blade or cutter within the fork, in the position shewn upon Figure 1,
preparatory to making a cut.
Under the long arm L of the bell-crank lever I cast or fix a stud or projection M
to form a stop at the lower end of the pole to prevent overstraining the upper
part of the mechanism, this stop is arranged to come into play when the cutter has
finished its stroke.
The portion of the blade below the pivot hole E is shaped out as shewn on
Figure 3 leaving a hollow N and two horns or projections O, O', these work
against the washer D between the two sides of the fork at rivet C2 already
mentioned, to stop the blade in each direction at the end of the cut and at the
end of the return stroke, the former being timed to come into operation at the
same time as the stop M.
To convert the implement into a fruit gatherer I form a square or other
suitably shaped hole P immediately below the rivet or stud C² in which fits a
shouldered stud X threaded at one end to receive a winged nut Q to secure it to
the forked head, this shouldered stud at its other end is bored to receive a ring R
(the latter being thus hinged to the stud X) on this ring is placed the net S to
catch the fruit. On the said ring and opposite to the stud I form a collar T
threaded internally at each end to receive the threaded ends of the ring, this
collar also forms a bearing for one end of a curved rod U which encircles it to
form a joint.
On the pole A. a suitable distance below the forked extremity I fix a plate V
provided with a series of holes W into which the other end of the curved rod
may be fitted according to the angle at which the net ring is required to be
adjusted.
It is evident that I may employ other devices for adjusting the angle of the

page_text: net, for instance I may have a stud on the curved rod to fit into slotted holes in
the plate and so minimise the danger of the end of the rod slipping out of the
holes in the said plate.
It will also be seen that I may have a detachable pruning saw to fit into the
hook B after the blade F has been removed and so increase the utility of the
implement.
I may also dispense with the rod G and bell-crank lever and substitute a cord,
in which case the arm F' of the blade would be extended outwards so as to increase
the leverage and a coil spring would be used between the blade and the hook to
return the former to the proper position preparatory to making a cut.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
The improved combined branch pruner and fruit gatherer substantially as
described herein and illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 20th 1 of 1000
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.