Patent ID: 7117661

Claim:
A method for operating a collection system for collecting fruit harvested from the foliage of a tree planted in a row of trees having a front, a rear, a first row-side, and a second row-side, and having on the first row-side, a harvesting unit with a tree-fruit harvester for harvesting fruit from the tree into a cart, and a deflector for guiding fruit harvested mainly on the first row-side to the second row-side, the method comprising the steps of: on the second row-side: spreading at least one portion of a pliable apron on the ground to reach under the deflector in a receiving position, and under at least one portion of the foliage of the tree, the apron having a ground face that faces the ground during harvesting, and a receiving face opposite the ground face, for receiving the harvested fruit thereon, receiving the fruit directly on the receiving face of the apron, and from the deflector, and folding the apron and discharging the fruit together in one bulk into the cart.