Abstract: A device for harvesting grapes or other berries having a plurality of hollow cylindrical wheels. Each of the wheels in turn has a wide tire having a rectilinear perforated circumference. The tires are maintained at reduced pressure by connection to a storage reservoir which is maintained under vacuum. The cylindrical wheels serve as presses and are arranged in pairs along two parallel vertical axes. The wheels are maintained in contact by springs which assure the pressure necessary to burst the berries or grapes which pass between the cylinders. After bursting, the fruit is drawn across and through the perforations of the cylinders and is conducted towards the storage reservoir. The device can further be utilized for harvesting other types of fruits.

Abstract: Harvesting apparatus for harvesting fruit, berries, and similar produce, including at least one pair of vibratable shaker head assemblies, each having a plurality of harvesting fingers which are subjected to rotational and vibrational movement by the shaker heads. Each shaker head of a pair is mounted on a support, and each support is mounted for pivotal movement independent of the other support about a common axis which is located substantially centrally along a line extending substantially transversely between the shaker head assemblies. Independent pivotal movement of the supports permits good penetration of produce bearing plants or bushes by the fingers.

Abstract: A pair of floor panels extend inwardly from the opposite sides of a harvesting machine in an inclined relation and have an overlapping relation centrally of the machine. Each panel has a resilient membrane supported on a plurality of longitudinally spaced, spring-pressed, inclined pivotal arms. The membrane portions are arranged to move past trunk portions of vines in close association and catch crop articles falling by gravity as a result of shaker apparatus or the like on an upper portion of the machine. The flexible membrane has upwardly arched portions in the area between the support arms, the arched portions on opposite sides being laterally aligned and in partially overlapping relation. The support arms have lateral adjustment as well as adjustment of their inclination. Adjustment apparatus is also provided to vary the tension of the membrane portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for harvesting vine borne crops and performing other work operations having a frame adapted to be transported along the vines to cause the crops in the zone to move relative to the frame along a path through the frame, a conduit borne by the frame in proximity to the path, a system for supplying fluid under pressure to the conduit, and a plurality of vents mounted on the conduit for individually releasing the fluid from the conduit in a substantially continuous fluid stream to immerse the crops during relative movement along the path.

Abstract: A grape harvester for harvesting grapes from vines having cane thereon in shielding relationship to grape bearing portions of the vines including a frame, harvesting members mounted on the frame for effectively engaging the grape bearing portions of the vines to harvest grapes therefrom, and cane lifters on the frame for lifting the cane out of the path of the harvesting members to thereby permit direct access of the harvesting members to the grape bearing portions of the vines and/or to the cordon wires which support the grape bearing portions of the vines. The cane lifters can be in the form of a chain conveyor, or a walking beam arrangement, or a rotating screw-like member, or a lifting rod.

Abstract: A mechanical grape harvester for trellis-supported grape vines having relatively rigid shaker members for engaging and shaking the rigid trunk structure of the vine and having relatively flexible striker rods for striking against the limber portions of the vine growth trained along the trellis wire. The shaker members and striker rods are both operated at minimal speeds to reduce leaf removal and plant damage.

Abstract: A mechanical grape harvesting machine including two symmetrical supports arranged face to face and adapted to be disposed on either side of the same row of vines. Each support has one or more comb units carrying at least one flexible blade and pairs of flexible flaps adapted to be close to the vegetation which passes inside each support as the machine is moved. Receptacles or conveyers are placed at the bottom of the machine and ventilators are provided for creating an ascending air flow inside the almost tight enclosure defined by each support and its flaps.

Abstract: A pivotal striker rod picking device carried by a row harvesting machine, the picking device having opposed striker rod holders each pivoting about a vertical axis, one on each side of the centerline of the machine, the striker rod holders each having horizontal striker rods mounted thereon. A cyclically operable drive means is connected to each striker rod holder to oscillate each of the striker rods horizontally through a constant amount of arcuate stroke, inwardly towards and outwardly away from the machine centerline. The force of each striker rod against an object in its path of inward movement is sensed and used to shift the striker rod stroke horizontally relative to the machine centerline. A first control shifts the strokes in the same direction to maintain an equal amount of striker rod force on both sides of an object which is off-center relative to the machine.

Abstract: A mechanical grape harvester including a support on which is mounted a plurality of blades. The support is moved to cause the blades to travel a path defined by a closed curve in a vertical plane generally perpendicular to the row of vine, using ascending in the portion of the path closest to the grapes to be harvested and descending in the portion of the path farthest away from the grapes. It is preferred that the blades be flexible in the horizontal direction and rigid in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A harvesting device having a harvesting member elongated along a longitudinal axis; mounts affixing the member for rotation about an axis of rotation eccentric to the longitudinal axis of the member; and a mechanism for rotating the member about the axis of rotation to impart a crop dislodging motion.

Abstract: A vehicle has a main frame which is adjustable for height, and a swivel frame pivoted to the main frame. There are at least three driven saws on the frames, and at least one of those is on the swivel frame. The saws are arranged to cut canes which extend respectively upwardly, outwardly and inwardly of a vine which is carried on a trellis wire.

Abstract: The invention relates to a harvesting machine. A harvesting machine is disclosed in which a tunnel defining member is supported on a mobile structure such that when the mobile structure is moved through the vineyard, the tunnel defining member passes over a row of vine stocks. Mounted within each tunnel defining member are a plurality of thresher members, or beaters, which have extending vertically spaced flexible bush engaging rods. These rods selectively engage the vines in a directed motion to harvest the fruit from the fruit bearing stocks. Means, in the form of a transversely oscillating flexible lateral deflecting lining, are used to direct the harvested fruit in a predetermined direction. Selective placement of the thresher members results in separation of said harvested crop according to the aging of the crop.

Abstract: This machine adapted to move on the ground and designed for harvesting in-line crops comprises a frame mounted on wheels and a pair of endless conveyors disposed on either side of the in-line plants to be harvested; the conveyors are movable at a linear velocity substantially equal to that of the machine in operation, and consist each of substantially vertical front and rear runs, of a substantially horizontal bottom run and of a top run; each conveyor consists of a series of transverse buckets and the buckets of the two conveyors have matching end walls for clamping the plants therebetween, the upper run of each conveyor diverging from each other to permit the passage of said plants through the machine.

Abstract: A mechanized harvesting machine particularly suitable for picking or harvesting vegetables such as peppers and tomatoes uses a single rotating helical guide member carried on a shaft aligned longitudinally above the row of plants to thread its way through the plants with minimal disturbance. Arcuate picking elements are attached between the helical guide and the shaft for pushing and pulling the vegetables or other crops to be harvested from the plant, as the helical guide member is rotated through the row of plants. The guide member is operated parallel to the ground and turns in a single direction, leaving the plants in a relatively undisturbed condition after they have been picked so that the plants may be used to grow a subsequent crop. The harvesting machine includes conveyor belts located on opposite sides of the helical guide member for catching the vegetables after they have been picked to convey them to a convenient storage bin on the machine.

Abstract: A berry picking device consisting of a container having an open front with a scoop-like portion projecting forwardly therefrom. The scoop-like portion has a bottom wall formed at least in part by a plurality of spaced-apart tines for stripping berries from branches of shrubs, trees or the like carrying the same. The berries stripped from their branches pass over the tines through a screen into a berry collecting compartment. The screen is a mesh or plurality of rods spaced apart from one another with appropriate opening allowing berries to pass therethrough and hold back the loose branches and other debris separating the same from the berries. A portion of the forwardly projecting tines pass over another compartment and the spacing between the tines is such that small berries pass therethrough into the compartment thus separating the collected berries into two different sizes.

Abstract: A machine for harvesting black currants or other soft fruit comprises a frame, ground engaging wheels for supporting the frame, traction means for driving the frame over the ground along a row of soft fruit bushes, a picking zone defined by said frame, guides for guiding branches of each bush into the picking zone as the machine traverses the bush, rotary shakers for engaging the branches in the picking zone and shaking fruit therefrom and fruit collecting means directly below the picking zone for collecting fruit shaken from the branches. The machine is provided with a longitudinally extending open top channel into which fruit can fall, a fan for providing a flow of air along the channel and ducting connecting the fan to the open top channel so as to provide a current of air along the channel to convey the fruit along the channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a harvester for harvesting soft fruit such as grapes, blackcurrants, raspberries etc. from standing bushes and comprises shaker devices mounted on a subframe of the harvester for pivoting between two positions in one of which the harvester can harvest fruit from mature bushes and in the other of which the harvester can harvest fruit from young bushes.

Abstract: A suspension and support system for shaker elements of a mechanical harvester wherein a generally horizontal shaker element support is suspended from the frame of the machine by a pair of generally vertical links pivotally connected at their lower and upper ends respectively to the shaker element support and frame, the links being of unequal length so that the unequal swinging movement of the links relative to the frame will result in a solely horizontal movement of the shaker element which is mounted on the end of the horizontal support member. The pivot connections have no relatively moving, interengaged surfaces so as to prevent sticking of such connections in the event juice accumulates thereon.

Abstract: In this assembly of conveyor elements each element is corrugated to comprise a regular series of alternating hollow portions and projecting portions to constitute bucket-like elements having each at one end a bellows structure and at the other end a plain end wall preferably higher in the center of the hollow portions than near the projecting portion; a transverse lip may be formed integrally on one side of the projecting portion, and the bottom of each element is secured to a link of a longitudinally non-extensive drive member, for instance a chain, the assembly of elements being adapted to undergo a certain deformation not only in directions at right angles to the longitudinal direction but also in any other direction. Two adjacent assemblies of elements may be imbricated with each other along their edges formed with plain end walls for clearing possible obstacles engaged therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to an endless conveyor which has a plurality of individual conveying elements which are slidably movable to an extended position laterally of the conveying direction during a conveying run of the conveyor. When the conveyor is mounted on a harvester for harvesting the crop of a row of bushes, vines or canes, the individual elements in their extended position extend below crop dislodging means of the harvester and catch the crop and convey it to a collecting station and this avoids waste. In order to prevent the conveyor from fouling obstacles such as a plant or post during harvesting, there is a device for maintaining the linear speed of the conveyor zero relative to the ground.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a lateral beam frame assembly which is mounted on a mobile unit frame, and supports a vertically adjustable guide beams which in turn support a contra-rotating tobacco defoliating mechanism as well as the conveyor assembly for conveying a defoliated tobacco leaves to a common conveyor, is made laterally adjustable. The longitudinal beams are supported adjustably on the upper portions of the tractor mounting framework. A cable and winch arrangement is used for securing lateral adjustment of the beam and the rigidly mounted guide elements for supporting the vertical guide beams. In addition, an upper truss-forming cable or bar assembly is secured to the lateral beam so as to rigidify same and prevent bending moments from impairing the effective operation of the combine and harvester.

Abstract: Harvesting apparatus for harvesting fruit, berries, and similar produce is disclosed, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of harvesting fingers which are subjected to rotational and vibrational movement by shaker heads. The shaker heads are in assemblies of at least two shaker heads, and each shaker head of a given assembly is coupled to produce the same rotational and vibrational movement of each head. The shaker heads are moveable transverse to a longitudinal horizontal axis of the harvesting apparatus, and are pivotable, so that they can conform to the shape of bushes bearing the desired fruits, berries or other produce.

Abstract: A collector leaf construction for a harvester consisting of a primary leaf portion, a pivot for mounting the inboard end of the primary leaf portion on the frame of a harvester, a secondary leaf portion, a pivot for mounting the secondary leaf portion on the outboard end of the primary leaf portion, a first spring between the primary leaf portion and the frame, a second spring between the primary leaf portion and the secondary leaf portion to permit the secondary leaf portion to deflect relative to the primary leaf portion when it encounters an obstruction, the first spring being stronger than the second spring, with the secondary leaf portion extending forwardly of the leading edge of the primary leaf portion so that when the primary leaf portion is deflected, the secondary leaf portion will occupy a part of the position previously occupied by the primary leaf portion to thereby cover any opening left by the primary leaf portion when it is deflected during harvesting, and any deflection of the secondary leaf

Abstract: A process for stripping and sorting out the leaves of a plant such as a tobacco plant, comprising the steps of introducing the plant in a stripping element, displacing the assembly formed by the plant and its stripping element in relation to the feed station, performing the progressive stripping of the plant from its leaves as the plant is being moved with the stripping element on the trajectory of the latter, and regrouping the leaves of each foliar level in the corresponding areas of the stripping trajectory.

Abstract: A rotary picker drum for use in a machine for harvesting fruit on a relatively low plants, such as low bush blueberries. The drum contains a series of circumferentially spaced rows of tines which can be retracted during the descending movement thereof as the drum rotates, and extended during the passage of the respective row through the bush and over substantial portion of the upward movement as the drum is rotated. The oscillatory extension/retraction movement is effected within a cylindric plane generally coaxial with the axis of rotation of the drum, the tines of the rows being curved such as to be generally coincident with such cylindric plane. The tines are guided in guiding plates forming one wall of a food collecting trough in the surface of the drum. The guiding plates reinforce the tines and clean same during the retracting movement thereof.

Abstract: A harvester for harvesting produce from plants such as grapevines or the like including a frame and produce harvesting members on the frame, a plurality of collector leaves mounted on the frame proximate the ground for defining a surface for catching produce harvested from the plants, and produce-lifting portions on the foremost produce-collecting leaves, said produce-lifting portions having downwardly and forwardly inclined surfaces for lifting low-growing produce onto the collector leaves. A lifting collector leaf for a harvesting machine including a first substantially horizontal planar portion and a second portion which extends forwardly and downwardly from the first portion.

Abstract: A fruit harvesting machine, especially suitable for grapes, consists of a mobile frame which straddles the vines so that longitudinal frame members extend down each side of the central axis of the frame. Base plates for catching the falling fruit extend inwards from the longitudinal members and are pivotable to allow the vines to pass along the machine. A resilient attachment for each base plate biases the plates towards their extended positions and includes internal and external sleeves between which is a resilient sleeve pre-stressed to urge the internal sleeve, attached to the plate, to rotate relative to the external sleeve into the extended position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive for a straddle type berry harvester suitable in particular for harvesting raspberries. The harvester has a frame mounted on wheels movable over a row of berry plants and having opposed rotatable upright cylindrical tined shakers connected above by universals to output shafts of a drive and mounted above conveyors in laterally slidable bearings to avoid obstructions in their path. Spring-mounted interleaved deflector plates lie between and beneath the shakers inclined towards the conveyors to guide berries shaken off by the shakers and falling therebetween. The shakers are rotated by cooperation of the tines with the plants as the harvester moves thereover.The drive for the shakers consists of two vibrating head assemblies and a high speed input in each assembly driven in synchronization but in opposed rotary direction by a single high speed prime mover.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beater for a grape harvesting machine in the form of an elongated body placed laterally to the rows of vines, and being driven in a substantially circular movement and moving on one hand, transversally, and on the other, parallel to the rows of vines, as the machine moves forward along a row, which beater is characterized in that it is made of resilient material and is deformable longitudinally.

Abstract: A beating device for a grape harvesting machine for the harvesting of grapes from a row of grapevines. The beating device comprises a pair of beaters mounted on the harvesting machine in opposing relationship to define thereinbetween a longitudinal space for the passage of a row of grapevines. Each of the beaters comprises a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally disposed whips, the ends of which are mounted to a lever which, in turn, is pivotally carried by a first eccentric so as to impose a transverse beating action to the whips. A first shaft, rotatable about a vertical axis, carries the eccentric while the eccentric carries an arm member attached to an adjustable resilient return means which functions to automatically return the whip toward the longitudinal space with the resilient force increasing in response to the resistance of the whip when the same engages a grapevine offset from the normal plane of the row of grapes.

Abstract: A fruit gathering machine, by which the fruit is released by means of shakers, is provided with means for separating out leaves which are removed at the same time. The leaves and fruit fall towards lateral discharge conveyors and each conveyor has air ducting with outlet openings whereby air jets are directed from opposite sides of the conveyor. An upper jet of air discharges the leaves from the machine.The machine is specially adapted for use in grape gathering.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for efficient harvesting of fruits or nuts from trees. Picking tines extend radially from a vertically disposed drive shaft and move horizontally through the foliage of a fruit or nut bearing tree by rotation of the shaft. During rotation, the drive shaft is also reciprocated vertically for upward and downward movement of the tines in the foliage while they also move horizontally therein. Also, the rotational velocity of the shafts is varied rhythmically so that horizontal travel of the tines on upward movement becomes zero or else is much slower than during downward movement. By upward and downward movement of the tines, while also varying their horizontal travel rhythmically, the harvesting rate can be increased and the damage to tree foliage can be reduced.

Abstract: In abstract, a preferred embodiment of this invention is a tobacco harvester wherein a centrally disposed trailer attached to a towing vehicle is straddled by a worker support platform. Mechanical means are also provided for conveying the product harvested by the workers into the centrally disposed trailer.

Abstract: A harvesting machine for harvesting produce, especially grapes, from a row of plants comprising a frame movable alongside said row of plants, first and second modules on said frame located in straddling relationship to said row of plants, shaker arms extending toward said plants from said modules, a first linkage for oscillating said shaker arms so as to shake produce from said plants, a second linkage for selectively coupling said modules for coupled rectilinear rolling movement on said frame transversely of said row of plants as required by the contour of said row or for permitting independent rectilinear rolling movement of each module independently of the other transversely of the row of plants, first adjusters for selectively varying the spacing between the modules in either of the foregoing conditions, first adjusters for varying the biasing force with which the modules are urged toward said row of plants, and third adjusters for selectively varying the inclination of said modules and the shaker arms ca

Abstract: A machine for gathering fruit by a shaking and beating action includes a wheeled frame with a longitudinal central tunnel through which the plants pass. A series of groups of flexible beater fingers flank the longitudinal axis of the tunnel, and the beater fingers of each group are on carrier means on a connecting rod which has one end operatively connected to a driver eccentric and the opposite end carried upon a slide block secured to the machine frame. Each group of beater fingers moves generally elliptically so the flexible fingers have a whipping action which shakes the plants to dislodge the fruit.The machine has several adjustments which adapt it to harvesting fruit from a variety of plants, and in particular for gathering grapes from vines of different kinds, sizes and dispositions.

Abstract: A grape harvester for harvesting grapes from vines grown in various formations such as single curtain, T-top, slant top, and double curtain formation having spaced first and second cordon wires supporting spaced curtains including a frame, spaced first and second arms mounted toward the front of the frame for beating a respective curtain, and spaced first and second wire strikers mounted on third and fourth arms located toward the rear of the frame for striking a respective cordon wire which supports each curtain. The first and second arms may be removed when harvesting formations other than the double curtain, or may have additional wire strikers mounted thereon, or all of the arms without any wire strikers may be used for harvesting single curtain formations.

Abstract: In a mechanical harvesting machine having horizontal striker rods, each of which is secured at one end to a vertical oscillating shaft, the improvement whereby the rod tips which strike the vine are inclined outwardly from the rod, away from the longitudinal centerline of the machine, thereby enabling the vertical shafts to be widely spaced to increase the angle of the rods to the centerline so that the striking contact of the rods on the vines is predominantly by the inclined tips rather than by the sides of the rods. The rods are resilient and the tips are weighted so that the tips will flex in and out of the vine when the shafts are oscillated to deliver a series of localized impulses to the fruit on the vine.

Abstract: An ambulatory supporting frame provided with wheels is adapted for longitudinal movement along a row of plants by a separate vehicle. A shaker means carried by the frame includes a plurality of beater elements, in the form of fingers or rods, which extend toward opposite sides of the row of plants and bear against the foliage of the plants. The finger elements are resiliently coupled to an oscillating means carried by the frame in a manner imparting a whipping motion to the fingers, and all the finger elements are oscillated simultaneously in the same direction toward and away from the row of plants. The removed crops are collected by a movable floor and pair of laterally spaced conveyors, and the movable floor elements are mounted in a manner permitting adjustment of the degree of inclination of the floor elements enabling an assembly of additional shaker elements adjacent to the lower region of the machine to remove crops which grow relatively close to the ground.

Abstract: A frame, positioned adjacent a selected vine, carries clasping fingers, whereto the worker attaches vine-branches, removed from the vine and which bear grape-bunches. The clasping fingers and the vine-branches clasped thereby are shaken to remove relatively ripe grape-berries from the grape-bunches, while the resulting grape-stalks continue to be held by the clasping fingers so that they cannot be mixed with the shaken-off grape-berries. When the shaken-off grape-berries have been collected, the grape-stalks are manually or automatically unhooked from the clasping fingers.

Abstract: A conveyor system for harvesting machines comprising a plurality of pivotally supported buckets of relatively rigid and nonporous material such as metal or plastic adapted to be moved through an endless path. The path includes spaced horizontal and vertical portions each defined by spaced and parallel rails fixed to the machine frame. Each bucket is supported in a crop-carrying position by an element at each end thereof having a rod portion rotatably connected to the bucket and having a bearing roller mounted thereon for engaging the rails. The supporting elements include a leg portion engaging the bucket at a location spaced from the pivotal connection of the rod portion for limiting pivotal movement of the bucket along a portion of the conveyor path. Each bucket is pivoted to a position for discharging crops along other portions of the path by means on the bucket which engages a rail in a manner pivoting the bucket about the supporting rod portion.

Abstract: A rolling device for manipulating a substantially flat work object, the device comprising a frame adapted to transmit the work object therethrough; a mechanism borne by the frame for folding the object to dispose portions thereof in overlapping relation; and a pair of powered conveyor belts mounted on the frame in object receiving relation to the mechanism and having juxtaposed runs twisted for inverting the object to dispose it in rested relation on the overlapping portions thereof.

Abstract: A machine for vintaging grapes. The machine comprises a framework, preferably U-shaped, which overlaps a row of vines and travels along the vine row by means, for example, of wheels. The machine incorporates at least two pairs of cylinders positioned with their longitudinal axes vertical and each having a plurality of radially extending rods, which may penetrate the vines. Means are provided for imparting a vibratory motion to the cylinders as the machine travels, so that the rods on the cylinders may harvest the crop which is then removed by means of a conveyor belt on the machine.

Abstract: A machine for automatically picking fruits on shrubs and notably ripe grapes from vine-stocks with a view to provide a clean and stripped vintage for making wine. The machine comprises a series of juxtaposed bells formed in a passage-way duct adapted to move along a row of shrubs. Means for blowing a rising gyratory main air flow in each bell are provided ensuring the picking of the fruits and their carrying along through a lifting centrifugation up to the top of the bells where they are received in a collecting tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a beating mechanism for grape-gathering operations.Two beaters (5) and (6), disposed opposite each other, and constituded by whips (8), are imparted transverse motions defined by the throws of two cam members (10) and (17) of a beating mechanism. The motions, which have identical periods, differ in phase on two opposite beaters. The mean spacing between the points (9) is at a maximum; said spacing varies according to a law, in order to avoid breaking the branches, while ensuring that the grapes are duly taken down.

Abstract: A cane separator for removing cane from the intersection of first and second conveyors of a harvesting machine, including a toothed chain mounted in the path of travel of the first conveyor for guiding cane leaving said first conveyor across said second conveyor, a rotating shaft for driving said toothed chain, said shaft being located on the opposite side of said second conveyor from said first conveyor for engaging cane which may extend beyond said second conveyor and thus pulling cane from said second conveyor, and a wobble wheel keyed to said shaft and extending transversely to the path of travel of said second conveyor to engage cane and lift it from said second conveyor.