Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CRANBERRY-HARVESTING APPARATUS AND METHOD
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Patent
Application Serial No. 10/760,445, filed January 20, 2004, by the inventor
named
herein, the entire content of said application of which is incorporated herein
by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to cranberry harvesting and, more particularly, to
cranberry-harvesting equipment and methods.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cranberries are raised in fields or bogs, which are relatively flat areas
divided
into sections so that the fields can be flooded both to facilitate harvesting
and to
protect the vines from frost. The cranberry plants form a mat of vines which
may be
up to twelve or fourteen inches deep. During harvesting, the berries are
removed from
the vines and float to the surface of the water. The berries are then gathered
up for
transport to a processing facility.
Traditional methods of harvesting cranberries and the equipment used to
implement such methods generally fall into two categories. Both traditional
methods
have drawbacks which will be described herein later.
The first general method can be characterized as "beating" and is carried out
using equipment which includes beaters which are bars mounted on combine-like
revolving structures. United States Patent No. 3,672,140 (Burford) discloses
equipment based on this principal. As the harvesting vehicle moves through the
cranberry bog, a rotating wheel with transverse bars to agitate the cranbeny
vines,
causes the cranberries to detach from the plants. The rotation of the wheel
causes the
transverse bars to move through the cranberry vines at a speed greater than
the vehicle
speed at the position of principal contact with the plants. Cranberries float
to the
surface of the flooded bog and are gathered up. United States Patent No.
4,501,111
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issued to Abbott describes another harvester unit which uses such a rotating
wheel
approach.
The second general method can be characterized as picking or raking. United
States Patent No. 2,524,631 (Minutillo) describes a harvesting machine based
on this
method. A series of combs mounted on a rotating wheel is moved through the
cranberry plants to detach the cranberries &om the vines. United States Patent
No.
5,067,047 (Rosset) discloses harvesting equipment which employs vertically-
oscillating tines to strip the cranberries from the vines. Rosset then
collects the
stripped cranberries through a vacuum suction unit.
As mentioned above, the methods and equipment which are used for cranberry
harvesting have certain drawbacks. As in any commercial endeavor, increased
productivity is in general a desired performance. Typical harvesting rates for
the
cranberry-harvesting equipment commonly used today is on the order of 0.5
acres per
hour, with maximum rates being about 1.5 acres per hour. Productivity is also
affected by the fraction of the fruit which is removed from the vines during
harvesting. A higher fraction yields higher productivity.
Some of this equipment is quite "aggressive" in how it treats the cranberry
plants, often resulting in damage both to harvested fruit as well as the
vines. In
addition, much of the equipment used today includes a number of moving parts,
often
driven by hydraulic equipment. The operation of hydraulic equipment during
harvesting creates the risk of the fruit becoming contaminated with hydraulic
fluid.
Also, the complexity of the equipment translates into increased maintenance
cost.
Finally, for cranberries which are sold as fresh fruit rather than processed
into
juice or other consumer food products, not only is it advantageous to prevent
damage
to the fruit, it is also of great benefit to avoid wetting the fruit during
harvesting. As
mentioned above, the fields or bogs are flooded, allowing the fruit which has
been
separated from the plants to float, thereby facilitating the collection of the
fruit.
However, the fruit, being now wet, is subject to the growth of fungus or
requires the
additional costly step of drying in order to deliver fresh, unblemished fruit
to the
market. Because of this, it is advantageous to dry-harvest cranberries to
avoid these
problems or costs.
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Therefore, there is a need for simple, rapid and efficient, low-cost method
and
apparatus to harvest cranberries.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention, in the field of cranberry-harvesting, to
provide
a cranberry-harvesting apparatus and method which harvest cranberries at
substantially higher rates (acres per hour) than existing harvesting equipment
and
methods.
Another object is to provide cranberry-harvesting apparatus which is
mechanically simple and requires a minimum of maintenance.
Another object is to a provide cranberry-harvesting apparatus and method
which remove a higher fraction of the cranberries from the vines than existing
harvesting equipment and method.
Another object is to provide cranberry-harvesting apparatus which can be both
pushed or pulled through the field of cranberry vines.
Another object is to provide cranberry-harvesting apparatus which reduces the
risk of contamination of the fruit being harvested.
Still another object is to provide cranberry-harvesting apparatus which
reduces
the damage to the cranberries being harvested.
Yet another object is to provide a cranberry-harvesting apparatus and method
which can be used for both wet and dry harvesting of cranberries.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following
descriptions and from the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a method and apparatus for harvesting cranberries, whereby
frame-mounted transverse dislodging rods are moved through cranberry plants
with
each rod moving at the speed of the frame, thereby dislodging cranberries from
the
cranberry plants. The cranberry-harvesting apparatus of this invention
comprises a
frame movable over a field of cranben-ies in a forward direction with a
plurality of
follower assemblies each secured to and below the frame by a support. Each
follower
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assembly includes: a rod mount having a lower portion, a surface-following
leading
end, and a pivot attachment to the support at the lower portion behind the
center-of-
gravity of the follower assembly; and first and second pairs of dislodging
rods
mounted to the rod mount forward and rearward of the pivot attachment
respectively,
each pair extending laterally from opposite sides of the lower portion
substantially
parallel to the field surface and canted rearwardly. Each rod mount is
supported such
that it moves through the cranberry plants at the speed of the frame to
dislodge the
cranberries from the plants.
In certain highly preferred embodiments of the inventive cranberry-harvesting
apparatus, the mounted dislodging rods are such that the rods under load
deflect in a
plane substantially parallel to the field surface.
In another preferred embodiment of the cranbeny-harvesting apparatus, the
dislodging rods are resiliently flexible.
In yet another embodiment of the apparatus, the dislodging rods are spring-
mounted. Certain preferred embodiments of such apparatus include each
dislodging
rod having a coiled proximal end fonning a spring.
In a preferred embodiment of the cranberry-harvesting apparatus, each rod
mount is a vertical plate having a rod anchor member and each dislodging rod
has a
length and a proximal end in relationship to the rod mount. In most preferred
embodiments of such apparatus, the rod anchor member defines an opening for
receiving and supporting the proximal end of a corresponding dislodging rod.
And, in
highly preferred embodiments, each dislodging rod extends outwardly from the
opening and substantially parallel to the field surface. Each mounted rod is
adapted
to, under load, deflect in a plane substantially parallel to the field
surface.
In another preferred embodiment of the apparatus, the dislodging rods have a
substantially circular cross-section.
In highly preferred embodiments of the cranberry-harvesting apparatus, the
frame has a major axis generally perpendicular to the movement thereof and
parallel
to the field surface. Each dislodging rod has a free distal end, and the
follower
assemblies are laterally spaced substantially equally along the major axis in
altemating
forward and rearward positions thereby forming offset forward and rearward
gangs of
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adjacent assemblies such that the distal ends of the dislodging rods of
adjacent
assemblies overlap along the major axis. The distal ends of the dislodging
rods of
adjacent assemblies of each gang are spaced apart along the direction of
movement.
In highly-preferred embodiments of the cranberry-harvesting apparatus, the
frame includes a principal cross-member, and each support includes a
longitudinal
arm pivotably mounted to the cross-member.
In some embodiments of the cranberry-harvesting apparatus, each longitudinal
arm is downwardly spring-biased against the field surface. In such
embodiments, it is
most preferred that such apparatus include: an anchor arm affixed to the cross-
member and having a first connection spaced therefrom; a second connection on
the
longitudinal arm spaced from the cross-member; and a spring linkage between
the
first and second connections such that the longitudinal arm moves under load
with
respect to the anchor arm to provide the downward biasing. In some
embodiments,
each surface-following leading end is substantially convex.
In other embodiments of the cranberry-harvesting apparatus, the frame is
operator-movable up and down such that the surface-following leading ends can
be
positioned in and out of contact with the field surface.
Some highly-preferred embodiments of the invention further include a drive
apparatus to move the frame over a field of cranberries. In some embodiments,
the
frame is mounted to the front of the drive apparatus, and in other
embodiments, the
frame is mounted to the back of the drive apparatus.
Certain embodiments of the cranberry-harvesting apparatus include at least
one vacuum nozzle behind the follower assemblies whereby the dislodged
cranberries
are picked up by vacuum suction. Some embodiments include a vacuum nozzle
behind each of the follower assemblies. A collection container may also be
included
in such apparatus.
In another embodiment, inventive cranberry-harvesting apparatus includes
dislodging rods where each rod is mounted at the proximal end of the rod with
respect
to one of the vertical plate(s) and extends laterally and transverse with
respect to the
direction of movement. The dislodging rods together are substantially in a
single
plane parallel to the field surface. In most highly-preferred embodiments,
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substantially the entirety of each rod is substantially in the single plan
parallel to the
field surface.
Broadly considered, the cranberry-harvesting apparatus includes a frame
movable over a field of cranberries in a forward direction and a plurality of
support-
rod assemblies each secured with respect to the frame. The support-rod
assemblies
include a rod mount and at least one dislodging rod mounted to the rod mount,
each
rod including a portion which extends laterally and transverse with respect to
the
direction of movement and is substantially in a single plane parallel to the
field
surface. In other embodiments, a pair of dislodging rods is mounted to the rod
mount.
The inventive method for harvesting cranberries from a cranberry field
includes moving frame-mounted, free-ended dislodging rods through cranberry
plants
with each rod moving at the speed of the frame. The mounted rods are adapted
to
deflect under load, such deflections being substantially in a single plane
parallel to the
field surface. In one form of the inventive method of harvesting cranberries,
deflecting of the rods includes resilient flexing thereof. Another embodiment
of the
inventive method includes the steps of vacuuming up dislodged cranberries
immediately after dislodgement and collecting the cranberries in a collection
container.
As used herein, the following terms have the meanings given below, unless the
context requires otherwise.
The term "deflect" as used herein includes a complex range of motion and
contemplates that the dislodging rods may not always be parallel, in whole or
in part,
to the field surface. Rather, the rods will undergo slight changes in
direction of
movement as the cranberry-harvesting apparatus moves through the field and the
rods
come into contact with the cranberry plants.
The term "flexing" is used herein to describe the characteristic of the
dislodging rods where the rods are pliant or flexible such that each rod is
capable of
slightly bending and then reverting to its original position.
The term "field surface" refers to the surface of the cranberry field from
which
cranberries are being harvesting. Most typically, this will be the upper
surface of a
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mat of cranbetry vines as compressed by the dislodging rods (rather than the
surface
of the soil).
The term "resiliently" as used herein means able to recoil or spring back into
shape after flexing.
The term "surface-following" is used herein to describe one function of the
leading end of a follower assembly, indicating that the leading end enables
the
follower assembly to move over the field surface in a path which conforms to
the
contour of the field surface without digging into the field surface or
becoming
entangled with vegetation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive
cranberry-harvesting apparatus;
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1 with the first-
from-the-left of the longer longitudinal arms partially removed;
FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the inventive apparatus, including drive
apparatus to pull the frame over the field of cranberries;
FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the inventive apparatus, including drive
apparatus to push the frame over the field of cranberries;
FIGURE 6 is yet another perspective view of an embodiment of the invention
showing dislodging rods having coiled proximal ends; and
FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the inventive apparatus shown in FIGURE 5
further including one vacuum nozzle behind each of the follower assemblies and
a
collection container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGURES 1-4 show a cranberry-harvesting apparatus 10 which is one
embodiment of this invention. Apparatus 10 is configured to be pulled over a
cranberry field. Apparatus 10 has a frame 20 which is pulled over a cranberry
field in
the direction indicated in FIGURE 3. Apparatus 10 includes ten follower
assemblies
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22 configured in a forward gang 24 of follower assemblies 22 and a rearward
gang 26
of follower assemblies 22. Cranberry-harvesting apparatus I 1 of FIGURE 5 is
configured to be pushed over a cranberry field. This invention is described
primarily
with reference to apparatus 10; as will be apparent, the two embodiments are
substantially similar to each other in their essential elements.
Frame 20 consists primarily of a principal cross-member 28. Each follower
assembly 22 is attached to frame 20 by a support 30 (ten supports 30 for ten
follower
assemblies 22). In FIGURE 1, five supports 30 are short and five are long,
supporting
gangs 24 and 26 respectively. Each support 30 includes an anchor arm 36
rigidly
connected to principal cross-member 28, a longitudinal aRn 32 which is
pivotally
mounted to anchor arm 36 by a pivot mount 34 located within anchor arm 36 near
cross-member 28, a follower mount 48 affixed to longitudinal arm 32, a
follower
pivot 50 within follower mount 48 spaced away from longitudinal anm 32, and a
spring linkage 38.
Follower assembly 22 is pivotally connected to follower mount 48 at a point
within follower assembly 22 such that the center-of-gravity of follower
assembly 22 is
forward of follower pivot 50. Anchor arm 36 includes a first connection 40
spaced
away from principal cross-member 28. Longitudinal ann 32 includes a second
connection 42 also spaced away from cross-member 28. Spring linkage 38 is
pivotally connected to first connection 40 and second connection 42 such that
longitudinal arm 32 is able to pivot around pivot mount 34 as the contour of
the field
surface changes. Spring linkage 38 exerts a force such that follower assembly
22 is
pushed downwardly onto the field surface.
Refemng to FIGS. 1-3, each follower assembly includes a rod mount 44 which
is comprised of a vertical plate, a rod anchor member 52 affixed to the
vertical plate,
and at least one dislodging rod 54 mounted to the rod anchor member. The rod
anchor member defines an opening for receiving and supporting the proximal end
of a
corresponding dislodging rod. Each dislodging rod extends outwardly from the
opening and substantially parallel to the field surface, each mounted rod
being adapted
to, under load, deflect in a plane substantially parallel to the field
surface. The
dislodging rods typically have a circular cross-section as seen in FIGURES 1-
2. Rod
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mount 44 includes a convex surface-following leading end 56 and a lower
portion 58.
Follower pivot 50 is positioned at lower portion 58, and as noted above,
behind the
center-of-gravity of follower assembly 22 such that follower assembly 22 moves
over
the field surface substantially parallel to the field surface.
FIGURE 6 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the dislodging
rods 52 are spring-mounted to the rod mount 44. Each dislodging rod has a
coiled
proximal end 60 forming a spring.
FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of apparatus 10, illustrating the configuration of
follower assemblies 22 into forward gang 24 and rearward gang 26. The leftmost
follower assembly of rearward gang 26 is partially removed from FIGURE 3 to
illustrate the relative positions of dislodging rods 52 of neighboring
follower
assemblies within forward gang 24. Frame 20 has a major axis 62 which is
generally
perpendicular to the direction of motion of apparatus 10. Each dislodging rod
52 is
mounted in an orientation canted at an angle 6 with respect to major axis 70
as
indicated on the leftmost and forwardmost dislodging rod 52 in FIGURE 3. Angle
0
is preferably set within the range of 15 to 40 degrees, most preferably about
25
degrees.
Each dislodging rod 52 has a distal end 64, and follower assemblies 22 are
positioned within gangs 24 and 26. In one embodiment, the distal ends 64 of
neighboring follower assemblies 22 overlap an amount sufficient to ensure that
all of
the cranberry plants are influenced by dislodging rods 52 as apparatus 10 is
moved
over the field surface even when dislodging rods 52 are deflected backwards
under the
load of the cranberry plants. Neighboring dislodging rods 52 of adjacent
follower
assemblies 22 within gangs 24 and 26 are positioned along the direction of
motion
with a distance di between distal ends 64 such that cranberry plants which may
become caught up on dislodging rods 52 are shed off distal ends 64 as
apparatus 10
moves forward over the field surface. Distance di is preferably at least four
inches. In
another embodiment, the distal ends 64 of neighboring follower assemblies have
a
distance between them such that the ends do not overlap.
Each follower assembly 22 has first pair 66 and second pair 68 of dislodging
rods 52, first pair 66 being positioned forward of second pair 68 by a
distance d2.
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Distance d2 is preferably at least 12 inches and more typically between 16 and
18
inches. Distance d2 is chosen to be sufficient to allow the cranbeny plants
which are
compressed by first pair 66 to rise up before being compressed again by second
pair
68. Distance d2 is therefore dependent on the speed of the forward motion of
apparatus 10. High speeds require dZ to be larger. (Distance d, may be about
half of
distance d2 or may be significantly less as shown in FIGURE 3.)
The distance between forward gang 24 and rearward gang 26 of follower
assemblies 22 is typically larger than distance d2 to ensure that forward gang
24 and
rearward gang 26 act on the cranberry plants in an independent fashion.
FIGURES 4 and 5 are side elevations simply illustrating the fact that the
inventive cranberry-harvesting apparatus can be both pulled (FIGURE 4) and
pushed
(FIGURE 5) over the field surface by a drive apparatus 70, typically a farm
tractor
suitably configured to drive over a cranberry field. Illustrated in both
FIGURES 5 and
6, the harvesting apparatus is attached to drive apparatus 70 on a movable
hitch 72.
Movable hitch 72 is the standard movable hitch typically available on farm
tractors to
raise and lower farm implements for proper operation. In addition, frame 20 is
able to
be rotated on hitch 72 by hydraulic actuator 74 acting on frame ann 76,
further
enabling the height and orientation of apparatus 10 and 11 to be adjusted for
proper
operation. For example, in apparatus 11 in FIGURE 6, follower assemblies 22
are
mounted in the opposite direction from that of apparatus 10 with respect to
frame 20
and supports 30.
FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIGURE 5 configured for
dry harvesting of cranberries. Each follower assembly 22 has mounted
immediately
behind it a vacuum nozzle 78 connected to vacuum unit 90. Cranberries which
are
picked up by vacuum unit 90 through vacuum nozzles 88 are deposited into
collection
container 92.
The general operation of the apparatus 10 is as follows. Apparatus 10 is
lowered down onto the field surface such that follower assemblies 22,
primarily
through dislodging rods 60, compress the cranberry plants from an uncompressed
thickness, which is typically on the order of twelve inches, down to a
thickness of a
few inches. Apparatus 10 is moved forward over the field surface, thereby
moving
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dislodging rods 60 over the field surface at the speed of apparatus 10. As
dislodging
rods 60 compress the cranberry plants, the cranberry fruit is dislodged from
the
cranberry plants with a minimum of damage to both fruit and vines. One
mechanism
by which this dislodging takes place is a squeegee-like action on the field
surface.
Except those areas covered by the left and right sides of apparatus 10, every
point
along the field surface is in general acted on by four dislodging rods 60,
thereby
providing significant opportunity for the cranberry fruit to be released from
the
cranberry plants.
Typically, apparatus 10 is moved forward over the field surface by drive
apparatus 80 at speeds of five or six miles per hour, thereby being able to
harvest
approximately three acres of cranberries per hour. High-speed harvesting using
the
inventive apparatus may be carried out in flooded cranberry bogs, with
subsequent
cranberry recovery carried out using standard methods known in the art for the
gathering of floating berries.
Apparatus 10 is able also to be used for dry harvesting of cranberries such
that
at least a substantial portion of the crop is harvested without being wetted.
During dry
harvesting, vacuum nozzles 88 mounted immediately behind follower assemblies
22,
are used to pick up the cranberries which have been dislodged by dislodging
rods 60.
Since some of the dislodged cranberries may be trapped within the cranberry
plants
during dislodgment and vacuuming, the cranberry field may then be flooded and
the
typical methods for the gathering of dislodged cranberries in flooded fields
used to
complete the harvest.
While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with
specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions
are made
only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention.
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