FRUIT PICKING UNIT Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC A01D51/00 A01D45/00 

FIELD: machine building.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to agricultural machinery building, particularly, to fruit picking machines. The proposed unit comprises a frame, roller, closed-loop chain with lifting chain inclined opposite the machine motion direction and conveying chain embracing the closed-loop chain from outside and flexible blades rigidly linked with aforesaid chains. The unit is mounted on the tractor drive wheel axle ahead of which a swath former is installed. The closed-loop chain blades feature [-like shape and are arranged perpendicular to the chain. Each blade carcass is coated, from inside, by elastic material. Aforesaid frame features 3D trapezoid along which the closed-loop chain runs in sprockets. The lifting chain is inclined backward at the angle of 70° to 80° to horizon. The conveying chain represents elastic belts furnished with grousers. The distance between the belts is equal to the fruit minimum size. Swath former and roller are provided with fruit shifter plates arranged at the angle of 40° to 50° to the motion direction, elastic rolls being mounted at their lower parts and running in bearings on nonworking side of the said plate. The roll outer surface seats some 5 to 10 mm above the said plate working surface. The fruit shifter plate width and length, height above the field surface, inclination towards horizon, rolling width, fruit picking loop width, blade pitch and height, unloading zone width, fruit receiving chute depth, fruit lifting loop height are determined from the following dependencies, i.e. fruit shifter plate width b=(1.2…1.36)d_mean, where d_mean is the mean fruit diametre; fruit shifter plate location height; h=(0.2…0.25)d_mean. Fruit shifter plate inclination to horizon, plate inclination to soil surface; is the angle of inclination to motion direction γ=40…50°; plate length l=(3.0…4.0) d_mean; rolling zone width B=(7.5…8.5) d_mean; fruit lifting loop width E=(2….3)d_mean; blade pitch t=(2.0…2.6) d_mean; blade height M =(2.0…2.6) d_mean; unloading zone width C =(4.0…5.0) d_mean; fruit licking chute depth K =(2.0…2.4) d_mean; fruit picking lifting loop height H = 3.0…3.5 m.

EFFECT: higher output, efficiency and reliability.

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