FRUIT CATCHER Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC A01D51/00 A01D45/00 

FIELD: agricultural engineering.

SUBSTANCE: this invention in particular refers to melon harvestring machines. Fruit catcher comprises frame-mounted catching device in the form of blade rotor comprising rows of cammed rakes rotating in the direction of movement, as well as chute mesh in the form of unit cells located between the rakes with a slope to an unloading conveyor, and an unloading conveyor as well. Each rake is of curve form being a quarter of ellipse, which major axis is directed from the blade rotor centre to its outside surface, and top of ellipse major axis is located on the rake end. Each rake is attached to a wheel hub mounted on the drive shaft and fixed by a joint tongue or a spline key inserted into the drive shaft slot for crank prevention. Wheel hub can move along shaft axis. Rake areas which are connected to the wheel hub are inter-mated by a curve ensuring fruit roll-over to the chute mesh. Distance between the rakes at the blade rotor is less than minimum dimensions of the fruits caught for a value of a rake bent up during fruit capture. The blade rotor rests upon string pressure wheels located between rake pairs. String pressure wheels are equipped with pneumatic-tyres, and rakes are covered with flexible coating. A drum with fruit moving disks located between each string pressure wheel is mounted before the blade rotor. Fruit moving disks are equipped with pneumatic tyres along OD and are pressed to string pressure wheels by press springs. The blade rotor is mated to the chute mesh in the form of triangled supports located by pairs between the rakes and cover by flexible coating. Chute mesh is mated to linen-slat loading conveyor equipped with fruit stacker. The blade rotor is driven by a hydraulic motor, and loading conveyor is driven by tractor PTO.

EFFECT: decrease of fruit damaging.

2 dwg