US 12,232,449 B2
Flexible catcher assembly for berry harvester
Kevin M. Roberts, Custer, WA (US); and Thomas S. Kok, Blaine, WA (US)
Assigned to Oxbo International Corporation, Byron, NY (US)
Filed by Oxbo International Corporation, Byron, NY (US)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/350,953.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/040,984, filed on Jun. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0007581 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. A01D 46/26 (2006.01); A01D 46/28 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 46/264 (2013.01) [A01D 46/28 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An over the row fruit harvester, comprising:
a chassis defining a picking tunnel;
a picking system configured to remove fruit from plants;
a catching system in the picking tunnel configured to receive fruit removed from the plants, the catching system comprising:
a plurality of resilient catcher assemblies on each side of the picking tunnel, each of the catcher assemblies at least partially overlapping adjacent catcher assemblies, each of the catcher assemblies being positioned with a sloping upper surface, the catcher assemblies flexing upon impact by falling fruit; each catcher assembly comprising:
a substantially planar framework forming an aperture and having a mounting section;
a membrane of elastomeric material directly over molded to the framework, the membrane extending across the aperture, the membrane being supported solely by the framework;
wherein the picking system comprises a pair of opposed columns of beaters, and wherein the catching system further comprises a beater soft surface assembly below each of the columns of beaters and having a partial cylinder shape with a resilient panel extending across an upper surface of the beater soft surface assembly, the resilient panel being sloped and supported at edges by a beater soft surface assembly frame; and
a tunnel second soft surface assembly proximate each side of the picking tunnel and having a resilient panel extending across an upper surface of the tunnel second soft surface assembly, the resilient panel being sloped and supported at edges by a tunnel second soft surface assembly frame, wherein the tunnel soft surface assembly frame is removable and wherein cushioning of the tunnel second soft surface assembly is adjustable by interchanging the resilient panel with a different panel with different cushioning.