Patent Description:
Self-propelled machines for the field harvesting of fruit or vegetables are well known. In order to make the harvesting process increasingly quicker and more efficient with a view to cutting harvesting costs, the trend is to construct machines equipped with several transport systems that transfer the fruit or vegetables simultaneously from several harvesting points to a conveyor, such as a belt conveyor, which moves the harvested fruit or vegetables toward containers or subsequent treatments.

Especially in the case of harvesting fruit, the machine is also equipped with one or more fixed or extendable platforms, each suitable for bringing operators to a certain height above the ground to allow them to pick the fruits from the plant. Each transport system must then transfer the harvested fruits from a position near the operator on the platform to the conveyor. The conveyor is usually placed at a certain distance and at a different level from the harvesting points, as it must receive fruit from different transport systems.

Since current transport systems consist substantially of conveyor belts, equipped, for example, with fingers or other means for retaining the fruits, and therefore have a rather rigid structure, which in practice does not allow for curves or jumps in elevation, the transfer of the fruits from the harvesting point to the unloading point takes place by arranging several separate conveyor belts in cascade. Said harvesting point, for example, in order not to force operators to continually rotate their bodies to place the fruit harvested from the plant on a main conveyor belt parallel to the row of fruit trees, requires the use of a first lateral conveyor belt, i.e., running alongside the operator, which flows into the main conveyor belt. Embodiments of fruit or vegetable harvesting system are shown in document <CIT>.

It is obvious that the use of several conveyor belts in cascade, however connected, involves the fruits passing from an upstream belt to a downstream belt, which may cause bruising and therefore be the cause of waste.

The object of the present invention is to propose a fruit or vegetable harvesting system capable of resolving the drawbacks mentioned above.

Another particular object of the invention is to provide a fruit or vegetable harvesting system that is able to improve harvesting ergonomics for the operator.

A further particular object of the invention is to provide a fruit and vegetable harvesting system that is also able to reduce harvesting time.

These objects are achieved with a harvesting system for fruit or vegetables in accordance with claim <NUM>. Dependent claims describe preferred or beneficial embodiments of the harvesting system.

The features and advantages of the harvesting system according to the invention will become apparent from the description below of its preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:.

In said drawings, reference <NUM> has been used to denote, in its entirety, a fruit or vegetable transport system for transferring fruits <NUM> or vegetables from a harvesting point to an unloading point in a conveyor, such as a conveyor of a fruit or vegetable harvesting machine (an example of which will be described below).

The transport system <NUM> comprises a plurality of transport modules <NUM> connected together in a way which forms a closed chain <NUM>.

Each transport module <NUM>, or two or more adjacent transport modules <NUM>, are provided with support means <NUM> configured to hold a single fruit or vegetable, or possibly multiple fruits or vegetables, in a stable position but in such a way that they are not in contact with each other.

Each transport module <NUM> comprises an axially symmetrical body <NUM> extending along a module axis X defining, along said module axis X, a spherical head <NUM> and a pair of arms <NUM> rigidly connected to the spherical head.

The spherical head <NUM> is crossed transversely to the module axis X by a through head opening <NUM>.

This through head opening <NUM> forms on the outer surface of the spherical head <NUM> opposing eyelets <NUM> with prevalent extension in the direction of the module axis X.

In one embodiment, the spherical head <NUM> is hollow, whereby the through head opening <NUM> is defined by the inner cavity and the opposing eyelets <NUM> formed in the wall of the spherical head delimiting the inner cavity.

The arms <NUM> diverge from the spherical head <NUM> so as to form respective distal portions of the arm <NUM> that are mutually spaced so as to form therebetween a head seat <NUM> that accommodates the spherical head <NUM> of an adjacent transport module <NUM>.

The distal arm portions <NUM> are connected to each other by a connection pin <NUM> that passes through the through head opening <NUM>. The connection pin <NUM> extends predominantly along a pin axis K.

Thus, the through head opening <NUM> accommodates the connection pin <NUM> allowing the latter, due to the presence of the opposing eyelets <NUM>, a certain pivot around a head axis Z, for example passing through the center of the spherical head <NUM>, perpendicular to both the module axis X and the pin axis K.

For example, the amplitude of the pivot of the connection pin <NUM> is limited by the end walls of said eyelets <NUM>.

The connection pin <NUM> is also free to rotate in the through opening <NUM> about its own pin axis K.

Therefore, each transport module <NUM> is free to rotate with respect to the spherical head <NUM> of the adjacent transport module (i.e., with respect to the spherical head <NUM> to which the arms <NUM> of the transport module <NUM> are connected by means of the connection pin <NUM>), either about the pin axis K or about the head axis Z.

Thus, with particular reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, considering, for example, the module axis X<NUM> of a first transport module <NUM> lying in a horizontal plane, the module axis X<NUM> of a second transport module 10a adjacent to the first can rotate either in said horizontal plane (X-Y plane in <FIG>) or in a vertical plane (X-Z plane in <FIG>).

As a result, the chain <NUM> can form curves and oblique portions so as to make direction changes and elevation changes in its loop path.

The transport system <NUM> further comprises motorized movement means <NUM> and guide means <NUM>-described below-of the chain <NUM> along a predetermined loop path.

In one embodiment, the extension of the opposing eyelets <NUM> in the direction orthogonal to the prevailing direction is substantially equal to the diameter of the connection pin <NUM>, whereby the connection pin <NUM> is guided by the opposing eyelets <NUM> to rotate about the head axis Z.

In one embodiment, the arms <NUM> and the spherical head <NUM> are made in one piece.

In one embodiment, the distal arm portions <NUM> are parallel to each other and tangent to the spherical head <NUM>. This facilitates, for example, the fastening of the connection pin <NUM> to the distal arm portions <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the spherical head <NUM> comprises a spherical side portion 16a affected by the opposing eyelets <NUM> and a flat top wall 16b coplanar to flat top walls 18a of the arms <NUM>.

Therefore, the top walls 16b and 18a of the head and arms form a plane that can be used as a base for the support means <NUM>.

<FIG> show some examples of support means <NUM>. In <FIG>, the transport modules <NUM> are equipped with containers for a single fruit or vegetable, for example in the form of a bowl 12a (<FIG>) or fingers 12b (<FIG>). In <FIG>, the transport modules <NUM> are equipped with separator elements 12c; 12d, a single fruit or vegetable being held stably between two adjacent separator elements.

Returning to the transport system illustrated in <FIG>, in one embodiment, the motorized movement means comprise at least two return members <NUM>, for example pulleys, suitable to reverse the travel direction of the chain <NUM> between a forward path (arrow F) and a return path (arrow R).

In one embodiment, the return path of the chain <NUM> has a longer length relative to the forward path. The motorized movement means include, along the return path, at least one length-adjusting return member <NUM> arranged to form a chain <NUM> recovery portion <NUM>' in the return path that allows the length of the forward path to be modified.

For example, the recovery portion <NUM>' of the chain <NUM> runs vertically.

The length-adjusting return member <NUM> and at least one other return member <NUM> can be connected to actuator means <NUM> (<FIG>) for an adjustment of their position and thus for an adjustment of the length of the forward path of the chain <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the guide means <NUM> comprise a guide track <NUM> wherein the transport modules <NUM> of the chain <NUM> run.

For example, each transport module <NUM> is provided with a pair of lateral guide flaps <NUM> suitable for sliding into the guide track <NUM>.

Note that, in one embodiment, the guide means <NUM> can only be provided in certain portions of the chain <NUM>, for example so as to allow for changes in direction and elevation along the path.

In other embodiments, the guide means <NUM> are made in such a way and/or of such a material whereby they follow the path of the chain <NUM> even in changes of direction and/or elevation.

In the example of <FIG>, the guide means <NUM> comprise a box body wherein the guide track <NUM> is formed for both the forward path and the return path of the transport modules <NUM>.

The fruit or vegetable harvesting system employs the above-described transport system.

The harvesting system further comprises at least one support platform for an operator, which defines a harvesting point of the fruit or vegetables, and a conveyor suitable to receive the fruit or vegetables transferred from the transport system.

The closed chain <NUM> forms a portion of the forward path that directly connects the harvesting point to the conveyor, whereby each harvested fruit or vegetable is transferred from the harvesting point to the conveyor without being moved from its position defined by the support means.

<FIG> and <FIG> schematically illustrate a fruit harvesting machine <NUM> implementing an example of said fruit or vegetable harvesting system.

The harvesting machine <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM> resting on wheels <NUM> for movement over the harvested field along a direction of travel W.

Operator support platforms <NUM> are attached to the frame <NUM>. Each operator support platform <NUM> can accommodate one or more operators tasked with picking the fruits from the plant. The support platforms <NUM> can be connected to the frame <NUM>, for example by means of articulated arms <NUM>, so as to be translatable transversely with respect to the direction of travel W and possibly also vertically.

Operator support platforms <NUM> that are not vertically movable are connected to the frame <NUM> at different heights so that operators can still reach different harvesting heights.

Each operator support platform <NUM> can be equipped with a guardrail <NUM> that protects the operator from the risk of falling from the platform and acts as an anchoring element for the transport system.

The harvesting machine <NUM> is equipped with a conveyor <NUM> suitable to receive fruit or vegetables transferred from the transport system <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the conveyor <NUM> comprises an automatically vertically adjustable filler belt <NUM> that receives the fruits from the transport system <NUM> and deposits them into a container <NUM>.

Thus, in the example shown, the transport system <NUM> conveys the fruits to the top of the filler belt <NUM>.

However, in a variant embodiment, the filler belt <NUM> can be eliminated by making the same chain <NUM> of the transport system complete a vertical descending portion before being recovered for the return path toward the operator support platforms <NUM>. In this case, the support means <NUM> will be constructed so as to hold the fruit during the downward parabola.

As can be appreciated from <FIG> and <FIG>, each operator support platform <NUM> is associated with a chain <NUM> of the transport system <NUM>.

In particular, a first forward portion 2a of the chain <NUM> extends in front of the operator engaged in harvesting, i.e., parallel to the forward direction W of the machine. The chain <NUM> then makes a bend, for example substantially <NUM>°, so as to continue with a second forward portion 2b directed toward the central part of the machine <NUM>. The chain <NUM> then completes a second curve so as to continue with a third portion 2c that ends at the top of the filler belt <NUM>. This is where the return portion of the chain <NUM> begins, running parallel to the same portions of the forward path in the opposite direction.

The harvesting machine <NUM> illustrated in the example also has two straight, parallel center chains <NUM> extending between a lower harvesting point, projecting, for example, beyond the rear end of the frame <NUM>, and the top of the filler belt <NUM>.

As can be seen, all the chains <NUM>; <NUM> of the fruit transport system <NUM> of the machine <NUM> run along different directions and make elevation jumps up to the filler belt <NUM> without any discontinuity in the transport of the fruits, which remain stably supported on their respective support means <NUM> from the harvesting point to the unloading point in the conveyor <NUM>.

In other words, using the proposed transport system, it is possible to obtain a single level of conveyance of harvested fruit or vegetables without the need for transfers from one conveyance system to another due to changes in direction and/or level, as is the case with harvesting systems according to the prior art.

Note that the first forward portion 2a extending in front of the operator makes the operator's job much more convenient, comfortable, safe, and fast.

The ability to transport the fruits or vegetables individually means that the fruits or vegetables are not bruised or damaged, leading to a dramatic reduction in waste.

As mentioned above, the proposed transport system allows for a significant improvement in harvesting ergonomics. Operators will always have the transport system positioned in the most favorable way for them, as they are able to modify the path as they wish and are able to have the system follow the movements of the platform.

Harvesting times are also reduced as a result of eliminating unnecessary body rotations. Consider, for example, that for each rotation of the operator's body, now no longer necessary, two seconds are "lost" on the harvest time; moreover, the movements are tiring for the operator.

The chain can be set up with different means for supporting fruits or vegetables, depending on their type and/or size.

Claim 1:
A fruit or vegetable harvesting system, comprising:
- a transport system (<NUM>) for transferring fruits or vegetables from a harvesting point to an unloading point on a conveyor;
- at least one support platform (<NUM>) for an operator, the support platform (<NUM>) defining a harvesting point for the fruit or vegetables;
- a conveyor (<NUM>) suitable to receive the fruit or vegetables transferred from the transport system;
wherein the transport system comprises a plurality of transport modules (<NUM>) connected to one another so as to form a closed chain (<NUM>), where each transport module is provided with, or jointly forms with one or more adjacent transport modules, support means (<NUM>) configured to keep a single fruit or vegetable or several fruits or vegetables in a stable position without mutual contact, wherein each transport module comprises a module body (<NUM>) with axial symmetry extending along a module axis (X) defining along said module axis (X) a spherical head (<NUM>) and a pair of arms (<NUM>) firmly connected to the spherical head, where the spherical head is crossed transversely to the module axis (X) by a through head opening (<NUM>) forming, on the outer surface of the spherical head, opposite eyelets (<NUM>) with a prevalent extension in the direction of the module axis (X), and where said arms diverge from the spherical head so as to form corresponding distal arm portions (<NUM>), which are mutually spaced apart so as to form therebetween a head seat (<NUM>), which accommodates the spherical head of an adjacent transport module, the distal arm portions being connected by a connection pin (<NUM>) passing through the through head opening, so that the arms of each transport module are free to rotate with respect to the spherical head of the transport module to which they are connected, both about the axis of the connection pin (K) and about a head axis (Z) passing through the center of the spherical head and orthogonal to the axis of the connection pin (K), the transport system further comprising motorized movement means (<NUM>) and guide means (<NUM>) for the chain along a predetermined ring path;
wherein the harvesting system is characterized in that the closed chain forms a portion of the forward path, which directly connects the harvesting point to the conveyor, so that each fruit or vegetable collected is transferred from the harvesting point to the conveyor without being moved from the position thereof defined by the support means.