APPARATUS FOR PICKING OFF FRUITS FROM TREES Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: manual devices for picking off fruits from stone fruit trees. SUBSTANCE: apparatus has frame with two U-shaped members axially interconnected with their cross-pieces. Smaller lower U-shaped member is hinged mounted on handle 1 so that it embraces handle 1 with its opening at controlled tension. Upper ends of larger U-shaped member has grooved peripheral portions, where grooved ring 10 is secured. Fruit accumulator 12 is attached on ring 10. Drive has hollow casing 16 positioned in central part of frame and fixed to cross-piece of upper U-shaped member. Casing 16 is provided with inner longitudinal guiding members extending in parallel with casing cavity. Spindle 21 is mounted within casing 16 in axial alignment with casing cavity and frame on two adjustable bearing supports 19 and 20. Spindle 21 is connected with its upper part to fruit separating device through split sleeve 22 provided with shoulder and thread and carrier planks and nut 23 positioned on upper part. Spindle has non-selfbraking thread cut in cylindrical part between supports. Nut 29 formed as disk and spring-biased from below by plate-shaped flexible member 31 is mounted on non-selfbraking thread and provided with thread mating with spindle 21. Ends are loosely positioned for rotation between ends of slide 30 spring-loaded from below. Ends of flexible loops 33 are attached to slide 30 in symmetry with its longitudinal axis. Lower mid portion of loop 33 is connected with flexible tie-rod 34. Fruit separating device has fruit organizer. EFFECT: increased efficiency, simplified construction and improved quality by reduced damage to fruits. 9 cl, 6 dwg