| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 056328100 | FRUIT GATHERER | 73 |
| 20080264030 | STEM CLIPPER AND CRUSHER MECHANISMS FOR USE WITH FRUIT TREES AND THE LIKE - A clipper or shearing mechanism for separating a produce item such as an apple from the plant upon which it has grown such as an apple tree is disclosed. The mechanism provides a stem separating or severing mechanism comprising at least two mutually movable elements adapted to engage and sever the stem of the produce item. A trigger can be provided to actuate the stem severing mechanism. If desired, a mounting mechanism for mounting the severing elements in a predetermined position relative to a produce intake element can be provided as well. The mechanism can also be provided with crushing mechanisms to crush and soften an exposed portion of the produce item stem. The crushed stem will be less likely to poke and consequently damage adjacent produce items. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090120050 | Fruit Harvesting Machine for Trees, Shrubs and the Like - A fruit harvesting machine for trees, shrubs and the like planted in rows, which applies a controlled intensity and direction blast wave to dislodge the fruit from the tree. The fruit-harvesting machine makes use of the advantages of using blast wave generating devices which have a combustion chamber and the combined effect of blast waves with the every released by gases during an explosion to dislodge the fruit from the tree. Additionally, the harvesting machine uses the emission of short, high intensity light pulses directed towards the fruit to be harvested, these pulses act spatially and deactivate microorganisms which are pathogenic for humans and plants. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090199532 | Fruit harvesting belt and bucket system - A fruit harvesting belt and bucket system provides for the redistribution of weight from the wearer's shoulders to the wearer's hips. The belt includes a padded back support and a front support. There is an extrusion on the front support that is used to connect to a bucket, which is strapped to a person wearing the belt. The belt is adjustable, and may be made of a variety of materials, such as nylon. The bucket may hook onto the extrusion on the belt, and the bucket has a closeable opening at the bottom, which is used to release the harvested fruit. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090293442 | FLEXIBLE ROBOTIC MANIPULATION MECHANISM - A robotic system and apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a housing having a flexible manipulating mechanism operatively connected with the housing. The flexible manipulating mechanism may include an end effector configured to manipulate an object. The apparatus may further include a first imaging device associated with the housing, the first imaging device configured to indicate a position of an object. The apparatus may also include a computing device configured to receive an imaging signal from the first imaging device and to direct the flexible manipulating mechanism towards the object based upon, at least in part, the imaging signal. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100037583 | MOBILE SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING THE PICKING AND PRELIMINARY PROCESSING OF APPLES, CITRUS, STONE FRUIT AND LIKE OBJECTS - A mobile system for improving the picking and preliminary processing of apples, citrus, stone fruit and the like is disclosed and claimed. The system comprises a mobile chassis upon which can be mounted picking stations, pneumatic tube transport subsystems, receiving and conveying subsystems, object scanning subsystems, cull diverter subsystems, labeling subsystems, and subsystems for relatively gently placing the objects in a predetermined location in a receiving bin. The system can also include a subsystem for gently placing diverted objects in a receiving bin. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100064653 | Pneumatic Fruit Decelerator Apparatus and Method - A decelerator apparatus for mounting at the end of a pneumatic fruit harvesting or delivery tube. The decelerator comprises a housing with a moving decelerator body aligned with a fruit-receiving inlet connected to the pneumatic delivery tube. The decelerator body, for example a padded rotating wheel, moves at a speed slower than the speed at which the fruit is pneumatically delivered into the housing, and further defines a compressive deceleration path that moves the fruit in a compressive but protective fit toward a housing exit, releasing the fruit after the fruit has been decelerated to the speed of the moving body. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100132326 | SEPARATOR DEVICE AND CLEANING SYSTEM FOR A STREAM HARVESTED BY A FRUIT HARVESTING MACHINE - The invention concerns a device for separating a harvested crop stream, said device being intended to be mounted in a fruit harvesting machine. The separator device includes longitudinal separator members ( | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100139233 | HARVESTER BUCKET - A harvester includes a conveyor having molded conveyor buckets. The conveyor includes a continuous first chain and a continuous second chain extending parallel to the first chain. Parallel spaced apart rods extend between the chains. Each bucket includes a front wall, a rear wall higher than the front wall, opposed sides connecting the front wall and the rear wall and a bottom portion connecting the front wall, the rear wall and the opposed sides. The front wall includes a mounting portion configured to extend over a rear wall of an adjacent bucket and one of the rods when assembled in a conveyor. The mounting portion is a lip in a first embodiment, an insert in a second embodiment and an upper portion of the front wall folded over in a third embodiment. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100139234 | HARVESTING MACHINE FOR SMALL FRUIT PRODUCED IN ORCHARDS - Harvesting head for small fruit produced in orchards, in particular for the harvesting of olives, featuring a shaking system including two fruit detaching assemblies mounted opposite each other and separated by a vertical space, characterized in that each of these fruit detaching assemblies comprises two sub-assemblies, i.e. a first lower sub-assembly and a second upper sub-assembly, offset towards the back relative to said lower sub-assembly and in the direction of travel of the machine in operation. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100139235 | HARVESTING HEAD AND SELF-PROPELLED STRADDLING VEHICLE FOR HARVESTING FRUIT-BEARING HEDGES - Harvesting head for picking fruit-bearing hedges, including a chassis in the form of a portal structure supporting, on the one hand, a shaking system including two fruit-detaching assemblies, mounted opposite each other and separated by a vertical space, and, on the other hand, two conveyor systems for receiving and transporting the harvested fruit to a receiving container, the lower horizontal portions of these two conveyor systems also providing tightness, below the shaking units. This harvesting head being supported by a mounting frame which is meant to be rigidly fastened, preferably in a removable manner, at the rear of a self-propelled straddling vehicle, including a height-adjustable chassis. The position of said harvesting head is height-adjustable in relation to said mounting frame, so that when said harvesting head is fastened to the chassis of the self-propelled straddling vehicle, it is mounted in a height-adjustable fashion in relation to said self-propelled straddling vehicle. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100269477 | MANUAL HARVEST SYSTEM FOR FINE WINE GRAPES CROP - Manual grape harvesting system for fine wines production, which improve the laborers conditions avoiding the lumbar lesions and possible accidents caused by working tools, the system comprising: a) a constriction lumbar belt with length adapting means and lumbar straightening means; b) a frontal modular piece with closing means, accessories store means and adjust belt means to constraint the laborer lumbar back area; c) a curved container to store the grape bunches, temporally fixed to the frontal modular piece through said belt adjust means | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100275566 | DEVICE FOR SORTING A HARVESTED STREAM OF FRUIT IN BUNCHES AND SEPARATION SYSTEM FURTHER INTEGRATING A DESTEMMING DEVICE - The invention relates a device ( | 11-04-2010 |
| 20110047955 | PNEUMATIC FRUIT DECELERATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD - A decelerator apparatus for mounting at the end of a pneumatic fruit harvesting or delivery tube. The decelerator comprises a housing with a moving decelerator body aligned with a fruit-receiving inlet connected to the pneumatic delivery tube. The decelerator body, for example a padded rotating wheel, moves at a speed slower than the speed at which the fruit is pneumatically delivered into the housing, and further defines a compressive deceleration path that moves the fruit in a compressive but protective fit toward a housing exit, releasing the fruit after the fruit has been decelerated to the speed of the moving body. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110126505 | MOBILE SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING THE PICKING AND PRELIMINARY PROCESSING OF APPLES, CITRUS, STONE FRUIT AND LIKE OBJECTS - A mobile system for improving the picking and preliminary processing of apples, citrus, stone fruit and the like is disclosed and claimed. The system comprises a mobile chassis upon which can be mounted picking stations, pneumatic tube transport subsystems, receiving and conveying subsystems, object scanning subsystems, cull diverter subsystems, labeling subsystems, and subsystems for relatively gently placing the objects in a predetermined location in a receiving bin. The system can also include a subsystem for gently placing diverted objects in a receiving bin. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110232256 | FRUIT HARVESTING MACHINE - The invention relates to a fruit-harvesting machine including a motorised support structure ( | 09-29-2011 |
| 20120017560 | Mobile Machinery Having a Dust Suppression System - A mobile harvesting unit which utilizes a high volume fan to separate crops from foreign matter, has a dust suppression system which substantially reduces particulates which are discharged with the fan exhaust. The dust suppression system has two stages. The first stage separates larger particles of foreign matter by deploying an air stream cleaning chain upstream of the fan. The second stage is contained within a air stream discharge duct. Within the air stream discharge duct, a liquid, such as water, is sprayed into the dust entrained air stream. The moistened air stream flows through a plurality of collection members which extend radially from a brush drum, where the moistened dust particles are accumulated on the collection members, such that the volume of dust particles contained within the air discharged from the harvesting unit is substantially reduced. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120110971 | AGRICULTURAL COLLECTING MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR FOR NUTS - An agricultural machine for the selection of fruits from loose material collected from the ground comprises a frame and a rotating roller screen selection device mounted on the frame and configured to impart to the loose material a component of sussultatory movement and a component of translational movement. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120131894 | SORTING TABLE FEATURING GRADING ROLLS WITH MODIFIABLE AND ADJUSTABLE GAPS, AND MACHINES AND INSTALLATIONS MAKING USE THEREOF - A sorting table with grading rolls supported by end supports and positioned to form a sorting plane. The rolls are rotated in the same direction and configured to create at least one opening between adjacent rolls to permit the pass-through of only the products to be sorted or calibrated. Larger products remain at the surface and are evacuated downstream. The gap between rolls can be modified. Elastic elements are interposed between said end supports and means of actuation for are provided bringing said end supports and the rolls supported by the latter closer together or moving them farther apart, in opposition to the antagonistic action exerted by said elastic elements to decrease or increase the cross section of the openings, displacements in the opposite direction of said end supports and of the grading rolls being achieved by the action of extension or compression of said elastic elements. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120192539 | Selective Harvesting of a Land Parcel by a Fruit Harvesting Machine - Selective harvesting of a parcel of land by a harvesting machine including a motorised support structure on which are mounted a harvesting assembly adapted to deliver a harvested stream, at least two receptacles ( | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120255270 | HULLER DEVICE - The invention relates to a huller device for hulling bunches of grapes after the harvest, or other fruits harvested in bunches, in other words, for separating the fruit from the stalks. The invention includes two shaking units, arranged side by side, defining a vertical space into which the harvest is intended to be directed by gravity. The invention also includes a means for collecting the fruits and the stalks arranged under said shaking units. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120279194 | Nut Gatherer and Method of Constructing Same - A nut gatherer includes a hollow drum formed by a plurality of wires. Each of the wires has a bowed middle segment and two end portions. The end portions are preferably hooked. A pair of hubs secures the hooked ends of the wires to form the drum there between. A handle is rotatably mounted to the hubs and a handle extension is removably coupled with the handle. In use, the handle or handle extension is used to rotate the drum into contact with an object, such as a nut, where the object then forces the wires to separate and permit the object to move from outside the drum to inside said drum. Once contact between the object and the wires is terminated, the wires return to their original position thereby trapping the object within the drum. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20140144118 | Motorized Conveyor For Moving A Flow Of Harvest From A Fruit Harvesting Machine - A motorized conveyor for moving a flow of harvest coming from a fruit harvesting machine, said conveyor comprising a plurality of rollers spaced longitudinally, said rollers being driven in rotation to move the flow of harvest on said rollers in a longitudinal direction between upstream and downstream transverse axes, each roller having a surface of revolution comprising grooves that extend transversely and continuously over its entire length, so as to enable transverse routing of said flow of harvest while it is being conveyed. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140250852 | ROTARY BRUSH HARVESTERS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - Automated rotary brush harvesters that reduce or prevent damage to fruit or other crops (“produce”) when they are removed from trees or bushes, and methods of using such harvesters are disclosed. The harvesters may include a brush having flexible radiating members (e.g., filaments or bristles) for removing crops from trees or bushes and a conveyor paired therewith for receiving the produce from the brush. The brush and conveyor may be angled to aid in collecting the produce and preventing damage to the produce. The conveyor may be configured to deliver the produce to one or more bins, which may be mounted on a bin elevator system. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20150068186 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR MOVING WINDROW ENDS INWARD - Apparatuses for and methods of moving the ends of windrows inward are disclosed. The apparatuses of the present invention include a front end, a rear end and two opposing sides, the front end configured to be wider than the rear end, two skids attached to the two opposing sides, a gate rotatably attached to the rear end and configured to cover an opening in the rear end, a gate cylinder operably attached to the gate and configured to close the gate to collect fruit and/or nuts within the apparatus, and open the gate to distribute the fruit and/or nuts outside of the apparatus, thus eliminating the need to hand rake the ends of the windrows inward or to blow the ends of the windrow inward with a hand blower. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20160031652 | FRUIT AND VEGETABLE TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR A HARVESTING MACHINE AND HARVESTING MACHINE THAT INCLUDES SAID SYSTEM - Fruit and vegetable transport system for harvesting machine and harvesting machine that comprises a plurality of carrier units ( | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160073584 | ROBOTIC SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND END-EFFECTORS FOR HARVESTING PRODUCE - Robotic systems and specialized end-effectors provide for automated harvesting of produce such as fresh market apples. An underactuated design using tendons and flexure joints with passive compliance increases robustness to position error, overcoming a significant limitation of previous fruit harvesting end-effectors. Some devices use open-loop control, provide a shape-adaptive grasp, and produce contact forces similar to those used during optimal hand picking patterns. Other benefits include relatively low weight, low cost, and simplicity. | 03-17-2016 |
| 056329000 | Catchers | 9 |
| 20080307764 | MOBILE HARVESTER - Systems, including apparatus and methods, for harvesting a product with a mobile harvester so as to minimize the amount of product lost during harvesting. The disclosed systems include an array of catcher plates designed to surround a plant to be harvested, in a manner that minimizes the possibility of harvested product dropping through the plates to the ground and thus being lost. These systems may be useful for harvesting a wide variety of products that grow on plants such as trees or bushes, including without limitation berries, fruit, and coffee beans. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090025357 | TREE FRUIT COLLECTION DEVICE V-SHAPED SUPPORT - A tree fruit collection device includes a plurality of individual freestanding supports for arrangement radially extending from a tree trunk. At least one net element is suspended between the supports and secured at a proximal circumference of the net element around the tree trunk. The net element provides a frustoconical surface to catch dropped fruit from the tree. Hook and loop fasteners or similar attachment devices are provided for removably securing the net element to the supports. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20110167778 | CROP CATCHING APPARATUS AND CROP HARVESTING MACHINE EMPLOYING THE SAME - A crop-catching apparatus for use in a crop harvesting machine is disclosed, including one or more plate members and one or more fluid conduits. The plate member) each have a surface adapted for catching falling crops, a front end and a back end, and a leading edge. The back end(s) are configured to pivotally mount on the crop harvesting machine. The front end(s) are configured to rest at a higher elevation with respect to the pivotally mounted back end(s). The conduit(s) are defined within at least one of the plate member(s) for carrying one or more fluids, and include one or more fluid inlets defined on the at least one of the plate member(s) for receiving the one or more fluids; and one or more fluid outlets defined on the at least one of the plate member(s) running at least partially along the leading edge(s) of the at least one of the plate member(s). The fluid outlet(s) are configured such that the one or more fluids exit therefrom to divert a direction of fall of the crops. A crop harvesting machine employing a crop-catching apparatus is also disclosed. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20130091821 | PNEUMATIC FRUIT DECELERATOR BODY - A decelerator apparatus for mounting at the end of a pneumatic or gravity-fed fruit harvesting or delivery tube. The decelerator comprises a housing with a moving decelerator body aligned with a fruit-receiving inlet connected to the delivery tube. The decelerator body, for example a padded rotating wheel, moves at a speed slower than the speed at which the fruit is delivered into the housing, includes multiple depressions or indentations for receiving and separating fruit, and further defines a compressive deceleration path that moves the fruit in a compressive but protective fit toward a housing exit, releasing the fruit after the fruit has been decelerated to the speed of the moving body. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130269307 | SCALE WITH A STOP RIM FOR A COLLECTING TABLE OF A HARVESTER HEAD FOR HARVESTING SMALL FRUITS, AND HARVESTER HEAD USING SAME - A scale for a traversable collecting table for machines for harvesting small fruits is disclosed. The scale has an upper face and a lower face arranged between a fixing end or proximal end and a free end or distal end provided with a stop rim rising above the plane containing the upper surface. The scale is characterised in that said stop rim consists of a flexible lip having an elastic deformation capacity. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20140250853 | MECHANICAL BERRY HARVESTER - A mechanical berry harvester and a method for harvesting berries in the field is provided. The mechanical harvester includes a framework, collectors, spring elements, pulleys and belts. The collectors are configured to collect berries fallen from branches of the berry bush. Each spring element is connected to the framework and a collector. Each pulley is connected to a spring element and a collector. Each belt has an inner face and an outer face, and the inner faces of the belts are in contact with the pulleys. When the trunk of a berry bush comes in contact with a portion of the adjacent belts, the spring element(s) connected to the portions of the adjacent belts in contact with the trunk are each configured to independently compress and create a gap between the adjacent belts. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20150020491 | TREE HARVESTING APPARATUS - A tree fruit or nut harvesting apparatus includes first and second sheets. A pair of clamps are provided for each tree and trap overlapped side edges of the first and second sheets adjacent an upper end of a tree trunk. Opposite side edges of the first and second sheets are disposed at a downward and outward acute angle to the tree trunk to form the first and second sheets in an inverted V-shape. The oppose side edges of the first and second sheets form a collection tray. The clamps may be coupled by a tape to tree branches. An intermediate support using the first and second overlapped clamps members is supported by or tapes ties to tree branches on a ground mounted stake supporting an intermediate location of the first and second sheets between two adjacent trees. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150319930 | FORCED-AIR CONVEYANCE HARVESTING SYSTEM FOR SMALL PRODUCE - A forced-air system for conveying a produce within a mechanized harvester of a row crop. The mechanized harvester includes a straddling over-carriage having a central channel for receiving a row of bushes or vines containing the produce to be harvested, and especially for blue berries. The harvester has a harvesting beater, including a spool with rotating rods, mounted within the central channel of the mechanized harvester. The forced-air system can employ offset harvesting beaters and a flexible air supply diffuser, to precisely direct the fan or blower-generated airstream, to direct the harvested fruits or produce to interior catch pans and conveyors within the harvester, and to help remove the produce from the bushes or vines. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20160120124 | HARVESTING MACHINE FOR FORMALLY TRAINED ORCHARDS - A novel mobile orchard platform and method of operation for preferably harvesting apples on trellised tress is introduced herein. An exemplary embodiment herein utilizes an articulated lifting arm which manipulates a catch frame and an apple harvesting attachment. The catch frame is configured with at least one but more often a multi-layer design of catch pans, which are inserted into the tree canopy wall lying under a trellised branch using the manipulating arm. An eccentric Dual Motor Actuator (DMA) coupled to support shafts is preferably utilized to provide shaker harmonic patterns and energy to one or more points on coupled trellis wires or one or more points of the branches of the trained trees residing in an orchard. The removed apples are caught using the catch pans. | 05-05-2016 |
| 056330000 | Berry strippers | 14 |
| 20080236126 | Destemming Device and Method for Harvesting Machines - The destemming device is installed on a harvesting machine, between the sloping end of the harvesting conveyors and the harvest collection bowls pertaining to the machine. The destemming device includes, upstream in the direction of the supply of the rough harvest, an extractor system for extracting the juice and the grapes detached from the stems by the crop package; and, downstream, a stemmer provided with an inlet that communicates with the sloping end of the extractor system. The stemmer enables the hacking of the bunches forming the remaining part of the harvest, and the rejection of the stems, plant waste and other undesirable products. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080236127 | LOW-BUSH BERRY HARVESTING SYSTEM AND METHOD - The low-bush berry harvester that has a plurality of interspaced berry-picking units movable along a closed-loop berry-picking path. The closed-loop berry picking path is non-circular, but rather designed with a relatively straight lower portion configured and adapted to be level with the ground during use. Hence, the berry-picking units are slidable against the ground in the straight lower portion of the berry-picking path to pick berries, and are pivotable in an upper portion of the berry-picking path to drop picked berries for collection. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080302078 | Vehicle and Method for Harvesting Espalier Fruit, Especially Berries or Grapes - A vehicle for harvesting espalier fruit, such as berries or grapes, and for further processing to a must on the vehicle. The vehicle comprises a frame configured to reach over a row of plants to be harvested in an area of a u-shaped recess of the vehicle. Also included are wheels on both sides of the u-shaped recess and arranged on the frame. Further included is a picking device to separate the fruit from a remainder of the plants. A solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge is arranged directly on the vehicle, which solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge separates and clarifies a fruit mash into at least a solids phase and a liquid phase. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090056297 | LINEAR STALK SEPARATOR WITH ALTERNATING OSCILLATING MOVEMENTS - Stalk separator for the de-stalking of small fruit picked in bunches, in particular for the de-stalking of grapes. The invention includes a conveyor belt and a de-stalking device positioned above this conveyor belt. The de-stalking device includes at least two spaced assemblies positioned opposite each other, each assembly featuring a number of stacked separator arms. The mechanical drives communicate a high frequency oscillating movement to the assemblies of stacked separator arms. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20100005772 | Harvesting machine improvement - A scale or leaf for a berry picking machine and a collector scale assembly including the scale that reduces both the waste of berries and damage to the stalks of berry bushes associated with the use of such machines. A freely rotating disc on the free end of the scale when attached to a rail of the machine is the most distinctive feature of the comma shaped scale. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100024372 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PICKING UP BERRIES - A berry harvester comprising a rake head having a plurality of spaced apart rake teeth forming a rake having a top face for collecting berries and a bottom face; and a cleaner mounted on the bottom face of the rake and slidable along the rake teeth in conformity with the shape of the teeth. A ground-engaging roller rotatably mounted to the berry harvester and located under the rake head can be added, the moving of the berry harvester causing the roller to roll. The roller can comprises notches bumping across a portion of the rake head for causing vibrations of the rake head, and thus cleaning the rake head. The roller can also comprises a plurality of combs having prongs insertable into the rake teeth interspaces for cleaning the rake. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100024373 | BERRY HARVESTING MACHINE, ESPECIALLY GRAPE HARVESTING MACHINE, EQUIPPED WITH A SHAKING SYSTEM AND MECHATRONIC SHAKING CONTROL FOR THIS SYSTEM - Berry, such as grape, harvesting machine includes a plurality of superimposed shakers formed by flexible bars, and attached through their ends to two vertical shafts. At least one shaft is an oscillating actuation shaft controlled by a mechatronic shaking control permitting an oscillating movement. The mechatronic shaking control includes an eccentric system connected to the actuating shaft through a connecting rod, and the rotation axis of the eccentric system is mounted with an orientation adjustable in a plane parallel to the median plane of the machine so that any modification of this orientation permits to modify the amplitude of the oscillating movement of the actuating shaft, and, consequently the amplitude of the shaking movement of the shakers. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100024374 | SHAKER WITH ADJUSTABLE STIFFNESS FOR HARVESTING MACHINES AND HARVESTING MACHINES USING SUCH SHAKERS - Shaker with adjustable stiffness for harvesting machines, especially grape harvesters, includes two berry detaching assemblies, facing each other. Each assembly includes a plurality of vertically spaced out flexible shakers, having the general shape of a hairpin and two branches connected through a curved portion. The end of one of these branches, the activation branch, connects to an actuation system while the end of the other branches connects to a fixed support. The activation branch is equipped with a mechanism to modify the degree of stiffness or flexibility of the branches over at least a portion of length, and thereby, to adjust the degree of stiffness or flexibility of the shaker assembly. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100050588 | Apparatus for harvesting strawberries - An apparatus for harvesting strawberries at night is disclosed. An array of high intensity lights is carried by an articulating boom mounted to the chassis of an existing strawberry harvesting machine. The boom moves between an extended position wherein it supports the array of lights above the ground a distance between 10 and 20 feet and behind the harvester chassis a distance between 10 and 19 feet. The massive lighting illuminates a large area allowing handpickers to harvest strawberries at night with the same picking efficiency as experienced during daytime harvesting. The illumination provided by the invention is preferably at least 75 lumens per square foot. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100139236 | HARVESTING TOOL - One embodiment of a tool to aid in harvesting edible plant products may include a glove adapted to be worn on an individual's hand for protecting the hand against injuries while harvesting the plant products. The harvesting tool may also include a claw member extending from the glove, the claw member adapted for dislodging the plant products from a branch bearing the plant products. Further, the harvesting tool may include an attachment member adapted to be removably attached to an upper end portion of a pole for facilitating in maneuvering the plant. Moreover, the harvesting tool may include a gripping tool adapted to be carried by the individual for holding a receptacle underneath the plant products intended to be dislodged in order to collect the plant products in the receptacle. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100223899 | METHOD FOR ELIMINATING LEAF STALKS A HARVESTED CROP FLOW - The invention relates to a method of eliminating leaf stalks (P) from a harvested stream in a machine for harvesting fruit berries (G), said method successively comprising the steps of feeding the harvested stream to a sorting device through which a stream portion comprising leaf stalks (P) and fruit berries (G) can pass; recovering the portion passing through on a conveyor: removing from the conveyor components of the passing through portion other than leaf stalks (P); eliminating leaf stalks (P) remaining on the conveyor. The invention also relates to a sorting device, an extraction conveyor, and an elimination system for implementing this method, and a fruit berry harvesting machine including this kind of elimination system. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20160081274 | Berry Picking Systems - A berry picking tool comprises a plurality of tines separated by a gap having a width to harvest berries without inflicting damage to berry bushes. The tines arranged between first and second dive rails suitable for interfacing with leaves and branches of the berry bushes without stripping the leaves and/or the branches from the berry bushes. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20170231158 | Harvester | 08-17-2017 |
| 20170231159 | Shaped Conveyor System For A Harvester | 08-17-2017 |
| 056331000 | Berry clippers | 6 |
| 20090107101 | System and method for harvesting grape clusters - Apparatus for harvesting grapes without damaging the grapes. A cluster hanger clip is provided to securely hold a cluster of grapes by the stem, in order to cut, carry, and transport the cluster with minimal or no touching of the grape berries. A grape harvesting vehicle which moves between the rows of grapevines in the vineyard, includes grape conveyors, on which the hanger clips are suspended, either temporarily or permanently. The conveyors convey the grape clusters to packers at packing stations on the platform. The packers segregate the grape clusters and pack the clusters into boxes. A palletizer stacks the boxes on pallets in a bin. The platform can change configuration for use in the vineyard, and for travel on the highway. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20100107587 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HARVESTING GRAPE CLUSTERS - Apparatus for harvesting grapes without damaging the grapes. A cluster hanger clip is provided to securely hold a cluster of grapes by the stem, in order to cut, carry, and transport the cluster with minimal or no touching of the grape berries. A grape harvesting vehicle which moves between the rows of grapevines in the vineyard, includes grape conveyors, on which the hanger clips are suspended, either temporarily or permanently. The conveyors convey the grape clusters to packers at packing stations on the platform. The packers segregate the grape clusters and pack the clusters into boxes. A palletizer stacks the boxes on pallets in a bin. The platform can change configuration for use in the vineyard, and for travel on the highway. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20110197563 | METHOD FOR ELIMINATING LEAFSTALKS FROM A HARVESTED STREAM - The invention concerns a method for eliminating leafstalks (P) from a harvested stream in a berry (G) harvesting machine, said method comprising successively the steps of disposing at least a portion of the stream containing leafstalks (P) and berries (G) on a continuous conveyor belt ( | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110203247 | SELECTIVE HARVESTING OF A LAND PARCEL BY MEANS OF A FRUIT HARVESTING MACHINE - The invention relates to a machine and method for selective harvesting of a parcel of land by means of a harvesting machine including a motorised support structure on which are mounted a harvesting assembly adapted to deliver a harvested stream, at least two receptacles ( | 08-25-2011 |
| 20160157430 | FOLIAGE HOLDING - A system including a foliage displacement system. The foliage displacement system can include a support structure and two or more surfaces movably coupled to the support structure and configured to move between an open configuration of the foliage displacement system and a closed configuration of the foliage displacement system. The two or more surfaces can be configured to move foliage of a plant toward a center of the plant such that crops of the plant that underlie the foliage are exposed when the foliage displacement system moves from the open configuration to the closed configuration. Other embodiments are provided. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160157431 | AUTOMATED SELECTIVE HARVESTING OF CROPS WITH CONTINUOUS OFFLOAD - A system including a picking apparatus including a plurality of grippers each spaced apart and extending radially from a central axis of the picking apparatus, and each configured to pick a different individual crop of crops of plants. The picking apparatus can be configured to use a first one of the plurality of grippers to pick a first individual crop of the crops at a first time. During a second time period that starts with a second one of the plurality of grippers picking a second individual crop of the crops and ends with a third one of the plurality of grippers picking a third individual crop of the crops, the picking apparatus can be configured to offload the first individual crop from the first one of the plurality of grippers. The second time period can start after the first time. The second and third ones of the plurality of grippers can be configured to hold the second and third individual crops, respectively, at the end of the second time period. Other embodiments are provided. | 06-09-2016 |
| 056332000 | Pole supported | 7 |
| 20130047571 | APPARATUS FOR PICKING OLIVES AND THE LIKE - The apparatus for picking olives and similar products comprises a support rod ( | 02-28-2013 |
| 20140283495 | Apple and Fruit Harvester - A fruit harvester has an extensible pole and a cutting head unit connected to the pole. The cutting head unit includes a pair of opposing cutting blades moveable such that a stem placed between the pair of opposing cutting blades is severed upon movement of the cutting blades from an open position to a closed position. A solenoid is attached to the pair of cutting blades to move the pair of cutting blades between the open position and the closed position. A chute located below the pair of opposing cutting blades has a rigid portion with a first opening and a second. The pair of opposing cutting blades is disposed over the first opening, and a flexible portion is attached over second opening. An electrical switch in communication with the solenoid initiates movement by the solenoid of the cutting blades between the open and closed positions. | 09-25-2014 |
| 056333000 | Pivoted jaw | 2 |
| 20120255271 | FRUIT PICKING DEVICE - A fruit picking device for picking fruits from a tree is provided. The fruit picking device includes an elongated rod defining a first end and a second end, a lower jaw detachably attached to the first end of the elongated rod, and an upper jaw attached to the lower jaw through a first pivot. The upper jaw is movable between a first position and a second position about the first pivot. The lower jaw and the upper jaw are configured to grab a fruit. The fruit picking device also includes one or more blades configured to cut the stem of the fruit. These blades are attached to at least one of: the lower jaw or the upper jaw. In addition, the fruit picking device includes a slider attached to the upper jaw. The movement of the slider in a predefined direction moves the upper jaw from the first position to the second position. | 10-11-2012 |
| 056334000 | Chute | 1 |
| 20100212279 | AUTOMATED FRUIT HARVESTING APPARATUS - An apparatus is disclosed for harvesting items of spherical fruit by severing them from their stems and conveying them by means of air flow into a receptacle. The harvesting apparatus includes a tubular body with a clamshell cutter for severing items of fruit from their stems, and a retractable throat that is able to restrict and then allow passage of the fruit. The apparatus further includes a control unit that can control the clamshell cutter and the throat. A funnel-shaped orifice is preferably included at the harvesting end of the tubular body. When a piece of fruit enters the harvesting end, it contacts the throat and blocks the airflow. The control unit senses the resulting pressure drop, and simultaneously activates the clamshell cutter while causing the throat to open so as to allow the piece of fruit to pass through the tubular body and into the receptacle. | 08-26-2010 |
| 056335000 | Pivoted knife | 1 |
| 20100115910 | FRUIT EXTRACTOR - A fruit extractor including a container having an open top, blade slidably connected to said open top, such that said blade covers said open top in a closed position and uncovers said open top in a retracted position, a pole connected to said container, a retraction arm connected to said blade and pivotally connected to said pole, and a retraction line connected to said retraction arm for moving said arm to a retracted position. | 05-13-2010 |
| 056339000 | Fixed detaching member | 2 |
| 20110258978 | Pole mounted fruit-thinning device - A ‘head’ or cap device, mountable on the end of a pole, for thinning fruit, such as cherries. The head includes a hub that caps or mounts upon the end of the pole. A multiple of tines mount to and extend outward from the hub, approximately perpendicular from the lengthwise axis of the pole. The tines are regularly spaced around and radially project from the perimeter of the hub and include a bend at their midpoints of approximately forty-five degrees, back toward the far end of the pole. The pole mounted head is especially useful in the swift thinning of unripe cherries, by twisting and raking the tines of the device along fruit laden branches. As the tines become clogged with fruit and debris, the head is rotated by the user to expose clean tines and clear raked fruit and debris from between the tines. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20150296710 | Fruit Collecting Device - A fruit collecting device for picking fruit from the branches of a tree. The fruit collecting device includes an elongated handle, wherein the handle is preferably telescopic so that it can be adjusted to a desired length. A first end of the handle includes a cage having an opening thereon, wherein the cage includes an interior volume suitable for storing or holding fruit. The opening includes one or more sharp or serrated edges for severing the stem of a piece of fruit. In this way, the user can maneuver the cage so that a piece of fruit is positioned through the opening and within the cage, and can then move the device such that the serrated edges of the opening cuts the stem, causing the piece of fruit to fall into the cage. | 10-22-2015 |
| 056340100 | Tree shaker | 11 |
| 20090308046 | SHEARS-TYPE VIBRATOR FOR SHAKING TREES - The present invention is a scissor-type vibrator for shaking trees wherein one of the arms thereof extends backwards to achieve a better working lever so that, on gripping the tree, the hydraulic piston that connects the two scissor arms expands, thus increasing the tightening torque whilst reducing the hydraulic pressure, and furthermore, to bring about the vibration, the scissor-type vibrator has a cam to which a synchronised single or double rotation may be applied and the vibration time may be regulated. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20110047956 | NUT AND FRUIT HARVESTING APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In an example, a system for harvesting nut and fruit trees includes an electro-mechanical shaker head, a transport mechanism, and a control system. The electro-mechanical shaker head is configured to dislodge fruit or nuts from a target tree using a linear energy system. The transport mechanism is configured to position the electro-mechanical shaker head on the target tree. The control system is communicatively coupled to the shaker head and configured to dynamically control shaker head operation. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20140026532 | APPARATUS FOR PICKING OLIVES AND THE LIKE - The apparatus for picking olives and the like comprises a support rod ( | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140033673 | APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING OLIVES AND SIMILAR PRODUCTS - The apparatus for harvesting olives and similar products comprises a support body ( | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140075914 | TRUNK SHAKER ISOLATOR - A fruit harvester includes a chassis; a motor; wheels; and a trunk shaker assembly. The shaker assembly includes engagement members configured to engage plants to loosen fruit. A mount connects the engagement members to a drive mechanism and includes an elastomeric block. The block includes a first passage formed therein extending from one side to an opposite side. Second passages extend from a third side to an opposite fourth side. A first tubular insert extends into the first passage and a second tubular inserts extend into the second passage. A backing plate is adjacent the fourth side and has orifices aligned with the second passages. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140109541 | Fruit harvesting unit and harvesting machine comprising such unit - A fruit harvesting unit mounted on a harvesting machine. The harvesting unit comprises a straddling chassis delimiting a harvesting tunnel in which plants to be shaken are introduced successively to move through said tunnel between a front opening and a rear opening of said tunnel. The harvesting unit has a main shaker system including two shaker devices disposed on respective sides of the harvesting tunnel to delimit transversely a central part of said tunnel, and an additional shaker system that is mounted on the straddling chassis and comprises two shaker devices disposed on respective sides of the harvesting tunnel to delimit transversely a front upper part of said tunnel. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140250854 | HARVESTER AND METHOD USING AN RFID SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AND LOCATING OBJECTS AND CONDITIONS ALONG A HARVESTING PATH - A harvester for agricultural products such as fruits such as grapes, berries, vegetables, and the like, and method of harvesting, using an RFID system capable of detecting and interrogating RFID tags associated with objects or conditions along a path of the harvester in a manner to determine both presence and location of the associated object or condition, to enable responsively adapting or altering the operation of harvesting apparatus in a predetermined manner, such as by reducing or interrupting forces exerted thereby when about or proximate the object or condition. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20160057931 | CONVERSION OF HARVESTER PICKING HEAD - Described herein is rail assembly | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160106039 | HARVESTER PICKING HEAD - Described herein is rail assembly | 04-21-2016 |
| 20170231157 | Attachment Assembly for Hydraulically Actuated Rams of a Shaker Head | 08-17-2017 |
| 20180020618 | FLEX BAR SYSTEM FOR MASS VIBRATION SYSTEMS IN CHANGING SPATIAL ORIENTATION USING MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ACTUATOR | 01-25-2018 |
