Tray for fruit harvesting system

Abstract

A fruit harvesting apparatus is provided which includes a vehicle, a mechanism for moving the vehicle along the ground; a tray, coupled to the vehicle, for receiving picked fruit; a pivotable hopper, mounted to the vehicle, for temporarily storing the picked fruit; and a transfer system for transferring the picked fruit from the tray to the hopper. The apparatus further includes an elevator for selectively elevating the device and/or a titling device for selectively tilting the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle having a front end and a back end means for moving the vehicle along the ground; a tray, coupled to the vehicle, for receiving picked fruit, a pivotable hopper, mounted to the back end of said vehicle, for temporarily storing the picked fruit; a transfer system for transferring the picked fruit from said tray to said hopper, an an elevating assembly which selectively elevates said tray; wherein said tray includes a bottom wall and a set of side walls extending from said bottom wall;   wherein at least one of said side walls defines a top edge of said tray;   wherein said elevating assembly elevates said top edge of said tray between a first height H 1  from the ground and a second height H 2  from the ground;   wherein said transfer system connects with said tray in such a manner that a smooth transition surface is formed between said tray and said transfer system; and   wherein said transfer system extends from a tray outlet to said hopper.   
     
     
       2. A fruit harvesting system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first height H 1  is approximately equal to thirteen inches or less and said second height H 2  is at least five inches greater than said first height H 1 . 
     
     
       3. A fruit harvesting system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the height of said bottom wall of said tray from the ground is one inch or less when said elevating assembly elevates said top edge of said tray to said first height H 1 . 
     
     
       4. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tray further includes a channel formed at least partially by channel-forming sections of said bottom wall and wherein said bottom wall further includes at least one sloping section which slopes towards said channel. 
     
     
       5. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said set of side walls are substantailly vertical, surrond the bottom wall, and together define a polygonal border around said bottom wall. 
     
     
       6. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said set of side walls together define a rectangular border around said bottom wall. 
     
     
       7. A fruit harvesting apparatus set forth in claim 1 further comprising a tilting assembly which selectively tilts said tray. 
     
     
       8. A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle having a front end and a back end; means for moving the vehicle along the ground; a tray, coupled to the vehicle, for receiving picked fruit; a pivotable hopper, mounted to the back end of said vehicle, for temporarily storing the picked fruit; a transfer system for transferring the picked fruit from said tray to said hopper, and a tilting assembly which selectively tilts said tray; wherein said tray includes a bottom wall and a set of side walls extending from said bottom wall,   wherein said transfer system connects with said tray in such a manner that a smooth transition surface is formed between said tray and said transfer system; and   wherein said transfer system extends from a tray outlet to said hopper.   
     
     
       9. A fruit harvesting system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said tilting assembly tilts said tray between a horizontal position and a position offset from the horizontal position. 
     
     
       10. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further comprising an elevating assembly which selectively elevates said tray. 
     
     
       11. A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle, means to move that vehicle along the ground, a tray mounted to the vehicle adjacent the ground to receive picked fruit, the tray having a sloped bottom wall to convey the received fruit to a first end of a transfer means, means to convey the fruit from said first end of said transfer means to a second end of said transfer means, said second end of said transfer means being coupled to a hopper carried by said vehicle, the hopper temporarily storing the picked fruit; wherein the hopper is pivotally connected to the vehicle adjacent the back end thereof and may be selectively moved about the pivotal connection to remove the fruit temporarily stored therein; and   wherein the tray is supported by a vertically movable frame assembly which selectively elevates said tray.   
     
     
       12. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a tilting assembly which selectively tilts said tray. 
     
     
       13. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the first end of said transfer means is pivotally mounted to the tray. 
     
     
       14. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the backward portion of the second section of the transfer system is pivotally mounted to the vehicle. 
     
     
       15. A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle having a front end and a back end; means for moving the vehicle along the ground; a tray, coupled to the vehicle, for receiving picked fruit; a pivotable hopper, mounted to the back end of the said vehicle, for temporarily storing the picked fruit; and a transfer system for transferring the picked fruit fron said tray to said hopper; wherein said tray includes a bottom wall and a set of side walls extending from said bottom wall;   wherein said transfer system extends over a side wall and is positioned in such manner that a smooth transition surface is formed between a tray outlet and said transfer system; and   wherein said transfer system extends from said tray to said hopper.   
     
     
       16. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said transfer system includes a conveyer which conveys the fruit. 
     
     
       17. A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle having a front end and a back end; means for moving the vehicle along the ground; a tray, coupled to the vehicle, for receiving picked fruit; a pivotable hopper, mounted to the back end of said vehicle, for temporarily storing the picked fruit; and a transfer system for transferring the picked fruit from said tray to said hopper; wherein said tray includes a bottom wall and a set of side walls extending from said bottom wall;   wherein said transfer system extends from a tray outlet, over one of said walls, and to said hopper.   
     
     
       18. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said transfer system is connected with said tray in such a manner that a smooth transition surface is formed between said tray and said transfer system. 
     
     
       19. A fruit harvesting appartus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said set of side walls includes a back wall portioned adjacent to said front end of said vehicle, and wherein said transfer system extends over said back wall. 
     
     
       20. A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle, means to move that vehicle along the ground, a tray mounted to the vehicle adjacent the ground to receive picked fruit, said tray having a sloped bottom wall which conveys the received fruit to a first end of a transfer system and a set of side walls which extend from said bottom wall, means to convey the fruit from said first end of said transfer system to a second end of said transfer system, said second end of said transfer system depositing the fruit to a hopper carried by said vehicle; wherein said transfer system extends from a tray outlet, over one of said side walls, and to said hopper; and   wherein the hopper is pivotally connected to the vehicle adjacent the back end thereof and may be selectively moved about the pivotal connection to remove the fruit temporarily stored therein.   
     
     
       21. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein set of side walls includes a back wall positioned adjacent to said vehicle, and wherein said transfer system extends over said back wall. 
     
     
       22. A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle, means to move that vehicle along the ground, a tray which is mounted to the vehicle adjacent the ground to receive picked fruit, said tray having a bottom wall which conveys the received fruit to a first end of a transfer system, means to convey the fruit from said first end of said transfer system to a second end of said transfer system, said second end of said transfer system depositing the fruit to said hopper carried by said vehicle; wherein the hopper is pivotally connected to the vehicle adjacent the back end thereof and may be selectively moved about that pivotal connection to remove the fruit temporarily stored therein;   wherein the tray connects with a frame assembly to allow the tray to be selectively elevated.   
     
     
       23. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein the tray is supported by a vertically movable frame assembly to allow the tray to be selectively elevated. 
     
     
       24. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein the transfer system is a converyor depositing the fruit to the hopper. 
     
     
       25. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein the transfer system pneumatically conveys the fruit to the hopper. 
     
     
       26. A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle, means to move that vehicle along the ground, a tray which is mounted to the vehicle adjacent the ground to receive picked fruit, said tray having a bottom wall which conveys the received fruit to a first end of a transfer system, means to convey the fruit from said first end of said transfer system to a second end of said transfer system, said second end of said transfer system depositing the fruit to said hopper carried by said vehicle; wherein the hopper is pivotally connected to the vehicle adjacent the back end thereof and may be selectively moved about that pivotal connection to remove the fruit temporarily stored therein; and   wherein the tray connects with a frame assembly to allow the tray to be selectively tilted.   
     
     
       27. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein the tray is pivotally connected to the vehicle to allow the tray to be selectively filled. 
     
     
       28. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein the transfer system is a conveyor depositing the fruit to the hopper. 
     
     
       29. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 26 wherein the transfer system pneumatically conveys the fruit to the hopper. .Iadd. 
     
     
       30.  A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle, means to move that vehicle along the ground, a tray which is mounted to the vehicle adjacent the ground to receive picked fruit, said tray having a bottom wall which conveys the received fruit to a first end of a transfer system, means to convey the fruit from said first end of said transfer system to a second end of said transfer system, said second end of said transfer system depositing the fruit to said hopper carried by said vehicle; wherein the hopper is connected to the vehicle adjacent the back end thereof and may be selectively elevated to facilitate removal of the fruit temporarily stored therein;   wherein the tray connects with a frame assembly to allow the tray to be selectively elevated. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the tray is supported by a vertically movable frame asseambly to allow the tray to be selectively elevated. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the transfer system is a conveyor depositing the fruit to the hopper. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the transfer system pneumatically conveys the fruit to   
     
     
        the hopper. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34.  A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle, means to move that vehicle along the ground, a tray which is mounted to the vehicle adjacent the ground to receive picked fruit, said tray having a bottom wall which conveys the received fruit to a first end of a transfer system, means to convey the fruit from said first end of said transfer system to a second end of said transfer system, said second end of said transfer system depositing the fruit to said hopper carried by said vehicle; wherein the hopper is connected to the vehicle adjacent the back end thereof and may be selectively elevated to facilitate removal of the fruit temporarily stored therein;   wherein the tray connects with a frame assembly to allow the tray to be selectively tilted. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein the tray is supported by a vertically movable frame assembly to allow the tray to be selectively tilted. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein the transfer system is a conveyor depositing the fruit to the hopper. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein the transfer system pneumatically conveys the fruit to   
     
     
        the hopper. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38.  A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle having a front end and a back end; means for moving the vehicle along the ground; a tray, coupled to the vehicle, for receiving picked fruit; a hopper, mounted to the back end of said vehicle, for temporarily storing the picked fruit; a transfer system for transferring the picked fruit from said tray to said hopper, and a tilting assembly which selectively tilts said tray; wherein said tray includes a bottom wall and a set of side walls extending from said bottom wall,   wherein said transfer system connects with said tray in such a manner that a smooth transition surface is formed between said tray and said transfer system; and   wherein said transfer system extends from a tray outlet to said hopper. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. A fruit harvesting system as set forth in claim 38 wherein said tilting assembly tilts said tray between a horizontal position and a position offset from the horizontal position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 38 further comprising an elevating assembly which selectively elevated said tray.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.41.  A fruit harvesting apparatus comprising a vehicle having a front end and a back end; means for moving the vehicle along the ground; a tray, coupled to the vehicle, for receiveing picked fruit; a hopper, mounted to the back end of said vehicle, for temporarily storing the picked fruit; a transfer system for transferring the picked fruit from said tray to said hopper, an elevating assembly which selectively elevates said tray; wherein said tray includes a bottom wall and a set of side walls extending from said bottom wall,   wherein at least one of said side walls defines a top edge of said tray;   wherein said elevating assembly elevates said top edge of said tray between a first height H 1  from the ground and a second height H 2  from the ground;   wherein said transfer system connects with said tray in such a manner that a smooth transition surface is formed between said tray and said transfer system; and   wherein said transfer system extends from a tray outlet to said hopper. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. A fruit harvesting system as set forth in claim 41 wherein said elevating assembly tilts said tray between a horizontal position and a position offset from the horizontal position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. A fruit harvesting apparatus as set forth in claim 41 further comprising a vertical elevating assembly which selectively elevates said tray. .Iaddend.