Transport system for fruit and like objects

{
  "publication_number": "US7695220B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Transport system for fruit and like objects",
  "abstract": "A device for transporting articles is disclosed. In the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention, the articles are fruit such as apples, and the articles can be transported from a picking location on a fruit tree to a collection bin or other site. The device includes a tube member adapted to receive and transport the articles, and a plurality of deformable baffles at spaced-apart locations within the tube. Each baffle defines an aperture which permits the article to engage and deform the baffle and aperture so as to move through the aperture and down the tube. The article is urged through the tube by a pressure differential created across the article. In the described and illustrated embodiment of the invention, this pressure differential is a pneumatic pressure differential.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A device for transporting articles, comprising: a tube member adapted to receive and transport articles; a pneumatic system for causing a pressure differential across the article being transported as the article moves through the device; and a plurality of unslitted, unslotted deformable baffles at spaced-apart locations throughout the length of the tube, each baffle defining an aperture through which the transported article can pass, wherein adjacent baffles are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the baffle aperture.",
    "2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the baffle aperture is smaller than the article being transported, but permits the transported article to engage and deform the baffle and aperture so as to permit the article to move through the aperture.",
    "3. A device according to claim 1 further including a cutter for separating the article from a plant.",
    "4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said tube member comprises an inner tube and an outer tube coaxially aligned with but radially spaced apart from the outer tube to provide an air flow space between the tubes.",
    "5. A device according to claim 1 further including at least one liner member located between adjacent baffles.",
    "6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is mounted upon a mobile platform.",
    "7. A device according to claim 1 further including a chute mounted at an entry end of said tube member, the chute being adapted to receive an article to be transported and to deliver the article to a tube entry end.",
    "8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said chute is flexible and is generally conical in shape.",
    "9. A device according to claim 7 wherein said chute includes means permitting a picker to wear the chute.",
    "10. A device according to claim 1 wherein said tube member has a corrugated interior surface.",
    "11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said corrugated interior surface is helical.",
    "12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said baffles are adapted to be screwed into said helical corrugation into predetermined positions.",
    "13. A device according to claim 1 wherein said tube member comprises two U-shaped tube halves.",
    "14. A device according to claim 13 further including locking means for securing the tube halves together in confronting relationship.",
    "15. A device according to claim 1 further including at least one spacer located between adjacent baffles, the spacer having an aperture permitting the condition of the tube member interior to be viewed.",
    "16. A device according to claim 1 further including at least one inflatable wall liner located between adjacent baffles.",
    "17. A device according to claim 1 wherein said baffle is conical in shape.",
    "18. A device according to claim 1 further including a plurality of flexible baffles of generally conical shape and having axial lengths of predetermined extent.",
    "19. A device according to claim 1 wherein said tube member includes at least one rigid section.",
    "20. A device according to claim 1 wherein said tube member includes at least one flexible section.",
    "21. A device according to claim 1 wherein said tube includes a corrugated outer surface.",
    "22. A method of transporting an article through a tube having unslitted, unslotted baffles therein which are spaced apart throughout the length of the tube by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the baffle aperture, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an article in a tube upstream end; creating a pressure differential across the article within said tube so as to cause said article to move and continuously sequentially engage the baffles through said tube; and depositing the article in a predetermined location after the article is delivered to a downstream tube end.",
    "23. A method of transporting an article through a tube according to claim 22 further comprising the step of sequentially engaging said article by one baffle after another as said article passes through said tube.",
    "24. A method of transporting an article through a tube according to claim 22 further comprising the step of deforming at least one of said baffles as said article passes through said baffle.",
    "25. A combination comprising: a bi-ended tube member adapted to receive and transport articles; a pneumatic system for creating a pressure differential between the tube ends; a plurality of apertured but unslitted, unslotted deformable baffles at axially spaced-apart locations throughout the length of the tube; wherein the baffles are adapted to at least partly engage the surface of an article being transported so as to encourage the development of at least a momentary pressure differential across the article being transported as the article moves through the tube, and thereby advance the article through the baffle and along the tube to the next baffle.",
    "26. The combination according to claim 25 wherein at least one said baffle is disk-shaped having an axial dimension less than its radial dimension.",
    "27. The combination according to claim 25 wherein said at least one said baffle is a planar ring.",
    "28. A device for transporting articles, comprising: a tube member adapted to receive and transport articles; a pneumatic system for causing a pressure differential across the article being transported as the article moves to the device; and a plurality of unslitted, unslotted deformable baffles at spaced-apart locations throughout the length of the tube, each deformable baffle defining an aperture through which the transported article can pass, wherein said deformable baffle is adapted to create a pressure seal between the baffle and the article being transported through the baffle, and wherein the adjacent baffles are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the baffle, so that the article passing through the baffle is passed substantially continuously from one sealing baffle engagement to the next sealing baffle engagement.",
    "29. A method of transporting an article through a tube having apertured but unslitted, unslotted baffles therein which are spaced apart through the length of the tube by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the baffle aperture, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an article in a tube upstream end; and thereafter creating a seal between the article being transported and a baffle so as to create a pressure differential across the article being transported along the tube and through the baffle, the pressure differential across the article consequently urging the article through the baffle and toward the next baffle within the tube so as to cause said article to move and sequentially engage the baffles in said tube with a sealing engagement.",
    "30. A combination comprising: a bi-ended tube member adapted to receive and transport articles; a pneumatic system for creating a pressure differential between the tube ends; a plurality of apertured but unslotted deformable baffles at axially spaced apart locations throughout the length of the tube, the baffle spacing being substantially equal to the diameter of the baffle aperture; the baffles being adapted to at least partly engage the surface of an article being transported so as to encourage the development of at least a momentary pressure differential seal across the article being transported as the article moves through the baffle and thereby advance the article along the tube to the next baffle.",
    "31. A device for transporting articles, comprising: a tube member adapted to receive and transport articles; a pneumatic system for causing a pressure differential across the article being transported as the article moves through the device; and a plurality of apertured deformable baffles at spaced-apart locations throughout the length of the tube, each baffle defining a single aperture through which the transported article can pass, wherein adjacent baffles are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the baffle aperture.",
    "32. A combination comprising: a bi-ended tube member adapted to receive and transport articles; a pneumatic system for creating a pressure differential between the tube ends; a plurality of apertured but unslitted, unslotted deformable baffles at axially spaced-apart locations throughout the length of the tube; wherein the baffles are adapted to at least partly engage the surface of an article being transported so as to encourage the development of at least a momentary pressure differential seal across the article being transported as the article moves through the tube, and thereby advance the article through the baffle and along the tube to the next baffle, the baffles being spaced apart from one another within the tube by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the baffle aperture so that the article being transported is substantially continuously engaged by at least one baffle so as to develop a pressure differential across the baffle and the article moving through that baffle."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application 60/920,069 filed Mar. 26, 2007; and from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/949,630 filed Jul. 13, 2007.\n\nThis invention relates generally to systems for transporting small objects, and more particularly relates to pneumatic transport systems.\n\nPresently in the fruit industry, most specifically in the apple industry, fruit is traditionally handpicked. The pickers carefully place the fruit in apple bags which are worn on the shoulders of the pickers, extending downward over the chest and abdomen to the groin. The pickers then gently release the fruit into large bins for later transport to a packing or processing plant. This technique provides for the “on-tree” selection by the picker of the appropriate fruit (apples) for picking utilizing the visually discernible criteria of color size and quality. Good pickers remove the fruit from the tree while keeping the stem intact on the fruit so as to maintain the integrity of the following years fruiting bud on the tree. On occasion, the picking operations must contend with the clipping of overly stiff or long stems; the gentle placement of the fruit into the picking bag to prevent bruising; and the transfer and delivery of the fruit to a larger size container better adapted for truck transport. Fruit located on high limbs may require that the picker climb a ladder or stand on a scaffold to reach the fruit. The fruit bins are usually placed in the row between tree lines and spaced so that they can be filled by apples transferred from the picker's bag within the shortest walking distance.",
  "cpc": [
    "A01D 46/24",
    "B65G 11/203",
    "B65G 69/16"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 11/20",
    "B65G 51/00",
    "B65G 53/58"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Picker Technologies LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Vincent E. Bryan, JR.",
    "Alex E. Kunzler",
    "Joseph A. Penaranda",
    "Jeffrey A. Cleveringa",
    "Randy Allard",
    "Daniel Baker",
    "Vincent E. Bryan, III"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2008-03-25",
  "publication_date": "2010-04-13",
  "grant_date": "2010-04-13",
  "priority_date": "2007-03-26",
  "application_number": "US-5520908-A",
  "family_id": "39788998",
  "cited_by_count": 17,
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}