Title: Crop harvesting apparatus

Abstract: A crop harvesting apparatus particularly suited for harvesting of tree-borne crops. Each of a plurality of crop-severing rods has its first end rotatably connected to a support plate so that the rods extend substantially perpendicular to the plate. Each crop-severing rod includes a shaft member and a cover member. Each cover member has a substantially circular cross-section of undulant diameter. Preferably, the maximum undulant diameter of each rod is adjacent the minimum undulant diameter of adjacent rods. The rods are thrust among crop-bearing foliage and rotated to remove the crops from the foliage. In one embodiment a crop catcher is provided, including a flexible body member, capable of assuming a rolled position, adjacent the apparatus, and an extended position overlying an area of ground to catch crops severed from crop-bearing foliage by the crop-severing rods.

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Inventors: Edwards, John W. (Brandon, FL, US)

Application Number: 843177
Filing Date: 1977-10-18
Publication_date: 1980-05-13
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 56/328.1 56/329
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3210921	Oct, 1965	Middlesworth et al.	56/328.
3222855	Dec, 1965	Lasswel, Jr.	56/328.
3347032	Oct, 1967	Pool et al.	56/329.
3347587	Oct, 1967	Frost	56/328.
3407580	Oct, 1968	Murray	56/328.
3451202	Jun, 1969	Murray	56/328.
3543495	Dec, 1970	Harvey	56/329.
3601962	Aug, 1971	Townsend	56/328.
3624991	Dec, 1971	Richard	56/329.
3635004	Jan, 1972	Webb et al.	56/328.
3808786	May, 1974	Bickens	56/329.
3864899	Feb, 1975	Lasswell	56/328.
3948027	Apr, 1976	Edwards	56/328.
3979891	Sep, 1976	Patton	56/328.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Kinsey, Russell R.
Assistant Examiner: Hirsch, Paul J.
Attorney: Beveridge, DeGrandi, Kline & Lunsford