RETRACTABLE APRON FOR HARVESTING FRUIT

TABLIER RETRACTABLE POUR RECOLTER DES FRUITS

Description

CA 02243821 1998-07-23
RETRACTABLE APRON FOR HARVESTING FRUIT
Field of the Invention
The purpose of this invention is to provide a system for deploying a fabric
apron on the earth adjacent to and partially around the trunk of a fruit or
nut
bearing tree from which the fruit or nuts will be dislodged by shaking either
the
branches or the trunk of the tree.
Preferred Embodiment
The system comprises a large flexible fabric sheet onto which continuous or
partial pockets are attached which restrain several hoses in a parallel
relationship,
and a single larger hose at the leading edge of the fabric sheet (Fig. 1).
The inner end of the parallel hoses is fixed on a common member which may
be repositioned, as will be explained.
The hoses are in fluid communication with a manifold so that all of the hoses
will be inflated.
While deflated, the flexible fabric and hose assembly is carried on a rigid
apron in a rumpled retracted state. The rigid apron is mounted to a support
vehicle
or conveyer which moves from tree to tree during the harvest. With the rigid
apron
properly positioned under a tree, inflating the hoses will cause the leading
edge hose
to extend beyond the trunk of the tree being harvested and to carry the
flexible
fabric to which the hoses are attached. The flexible fabric will thus cover
the
ground area between the rigid apron, the leading edge hose, and the parallel
end
hoses.
~Xlhen a shaking cycle is completed and the dislodged fruit or nuts are on the


CA 02243821 1998-07-23
fabric or rigid apron, the parallel hoses are deflated. A check valve is
provided on
the feed to the leading edge hose to ensure that the leading edge hose remains
inflated. Fabric tapes (Fig. 2) attached at the pocket around the leading edge
hose
will be caused to pull slightly upward and inward toward the support vehicle.
At
the same time, the inner edge of the flexible fabric may be pulled inward
toward the
support vehicle on a drum, and the common member supporting the parallel hoses
may be repositioned toward the support vehicle. These two actions cause the
flexible fabric to roll at the leading edge and to move toward the vehicle so
as to
draw all of the harvest onto the rigid apron section.
Once all of the harvest is on the rigid apron, mechanical systems will raise
and appropriately tip the rigid apron to cause all of the harvest to roll onto
conveyor systems in the support vehicle and hence to vehicles which are
destined
to trucks on the nearby main roads.
After this dumping takes place, the leading edge hose is deflated and the
rigid
apron will be lowered to its near ground position.
The whole system can then be moved to the next tree and the hoses inflated
once again so as to extend the fabric apron toward the tree.
-2-

Representative Drawing