MULTI-PURPOSE SELF-PROPELLED OLIVE HARVESTER

The invention relates to a "multi-purpose self-propelled olive harvester" consisting of specifically designed collaborative mechanisms fitted to a self-propelled steel frame that operate with direct interaction and in such a way as to form a single independent and self-propelled mechanical olive harvesting system. In particular, it consists of a rectangular steel frame self-supported on four wheels and self-propelled by an internal combustion engine or a hybrid engine with mechanical power transmission system, featuring a four-wheel drive arrangement and hydraulic four- wheel steering system. A hydraulic pumps arrangement and an electric generator (alternator) are fitted to the transmission system. A folding articulated telescopic arm with a rotating base and a gyroscopic header, to which is fitted a rotary oscillation mechanism featuring a metal rod with transversely adapted elastic sticks, is fitted to the self-propelled frame. Alternatively, a pulsed oscillation mechanism (vibration mechanism) is fitted to the gyroscopic header with a rod ending in a ‘grip’ for grabbing and shaking the branches of olive trees. A suspension and load lifting (hook) device is fitted to the folding arm. A folding case with an olive harvest cloth is fitted to the self- propelled frame. The following mechanisms and devices are also fitted to the self-propelled frame:

- Accumulators arrangement (batteries)

- Fuel tank

- Hydraulic oil tank - Electrical and electronic circuit control panel device

- Fixed control unit device with detachable controller

- Fixed operator seat device

- Traction device (towbar) fitted to the front of the self-propelled frame

- Towing device fitted to the rear of the self-propelled frame. With the "multi-purpose self-propelled olive harvester", the olive fruit is harvested from the olive trees either through olive harvesting or shaking of the olive tree branches and simultaneous collection, packaging in crates and transshipment to a vehicle for transportation to the olive mill. Moreover, the design and equipment of the machine as a whole allows it to be used for harvesting fruits from other kinds of fruit trees, such as almonds and walnuts.

Today, various methods are used to harvest olives using a variety of devices and machinery. The method of olive harvesting is principally applied through the use of a variety of olive harvesting devices and machinery which are either small in size for individual use and operated by one operator, or larger mechanisms that require the support of tractors. Such machinery usually comprises folding telescopic arms ending in a beating device consisting of a metal rod with transversely adapted elastic spikes. The rod performs a rotary motion resulting in the elastic spikes "beating" the branches of the olive tree. The telescopic arms are adapted to the tractor and transported to a position near the olive trees, mounted and stabilised using mechanical or hydraulic mounting systems, and operated using special wired or wireless controllers. In a limited number of cases, another method applied is the use of vibration mechanisms to shake the olive tree trunk, whereby the olives are shaken off and fall onto olive harvest cloths spread out on the ground under the tree.

Some of the most serious problems and disadvantages of the devices and machinery used to date for olive harvesting are the following:

- For olive harvesting, the grower is obliged to use various independent tools and machinery, each of which performs a specific function, resulting in increased costs in terms of both the purchase of equipment and the employment of the respective workforce.

- The use of olive harvesting mechanisms fitted to or transported by a tractor, such as the folding articulated arm, means the tractor is not available for use in other concurrent agricultural work.

- It takes considerable time to mount and stabilize the articulated folding arm each time the tractor is used to transport it.

- Due to the large dimensions of the arm and its direct dependence on the tractor, its operation and use in olive groves with rough terrain or asymmetrical distribution of olive trees is neither flexible nor easy.

- The olive tree trunk vibration-based systems cannot be applied to large trees (with a relatively rigid trunk). - With olive tree trunk vibration-based systems, which are mainly applied to relatively small trees, the whole tree is subject to harm and root damage is caused.

The invention aims to overcome the aforementioned problems and disadvantages.

The "multi-purpose self-propelled olive harvester" consists of a rectangular steel frame with four suspension systems including wheels specifically designed and fitted to its four edges. A drive arrangement consisting of an internal combustion engine or a hybrid engine in conjunction with a mechanical power transmission system, a four- wheel drive arrangement and a hydraulic four-wheel steering system, is fitted to the steel frame. The four-wheel drive arrangement consists of four hydraulic motors with ‘hydraulic couplings’ or four electric motors with ‘electric couplings’ or a four-wheel drive differential. A hydraulic pumps arrangement is fitted to the drive system for the operation of hydraulic circuits and that of hydraulic motors, as is an electric generator (alternator) in combination with an accumulators arrangement (batteries) for electric motors and electrical and electronic circuits.

A specifically designed telescopic articulated folding arm is fitted to the self- propelled steel frame, consisting of a vertical steel pole with a rotating base at the bottom and a telescopic folding pole device fitted to a specifically designed and adapted articulation at the top of the vertical pole. At the free end of the telescopic pole there is a specifically designed and fitted gyroscopic header with a socket into which is fitted a rotary oscillation mechanism featuring a metal rod with transversely adapted elastic spikes for beating the branches of olive trees. Alternatively, a pulsed oscillation mechanism (vibration mechanism) is fitted to the gyroscopic header with a rod ending in a ‘grip’ for grabbing and shaking the branches of olive trees. Furthermore, a suspension and load lifting (hook) device is specifically designed and fitted to the folding telescopic pole.

A specifically designed folding case fitted to the steel frame contains the folded or wrapped olive harvest cloth, which can be unfolded and spread out on the ground or in any adjustable layout under the olive tree.

The following mechanisms and devices are also fitted to the self-propelled frame:

- Accumulators arrangement (batteries).

- Fuel tank for the internal combustion engine. - Hydraulic oil tank for the hydraulic operation and drive systems.

- Electrical circuit control panel with electronic control device for the operation of electromechanical automation and operation controls.

- Fixed control unit with operator position and seat and detachable wireless controller for remote control of the operation and movement of the machine.

- Detachable traction system (towbar) fitted to the front of the self-propelled frame to enable its towing by truck (for long haul).

- Towing device fitted to the rear, for towing a small platform trailer or storage trunk for transporting sacks or crates or auxiliary tools used for the harvesting and transportation of olives.

In addition to overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages, the invention also offers the following advantages:

- It achieves a high degree of flexibility in movement and operation during olive harvesting and collecting

- It can access any soil morphology or distribution of olive trees, thus perfectly adapted to Greek olive groves.

- It approaches olive trees with ease; hence, a large telescopic arm is not required.

- Due to the relatively small size of the arm and the collaborative mechanisms, the driving mechanisms use the lowest possible power during operation, and correspondingly greater economy is achieved.

- With the flexibility of the machine, the time it takes to approach each olive tree and prepare for the olive harvesting is short, resulting in a faster harvest and lower labour costs.

- The self-propelled drive system allows the tractor and its driver to perform other agricultural work concurrently.

- With the possibility of remote control of operation and movement, the optimal degree of safety of the operator and the employees is attained. Moreover, the fixed operating position with a seat means greater comfort and less fatigue for the operator.

- With the ability for the operator to perform multiple tasks with a single machine, a significant reduction in operating costs is achieved. The same machine does the olive harvesting, the collection of the olives on a specially adapted olive harvest cloth in a crate, the lifting and moving of the crates onto a platform trailer for transportation to the olive mill, etc.

- With the branch vibration mechanism, it can also be used to harvest fruits from other kinds of fruit trees

- With the branch vibration mechanism, damage to the tree trunk and root system is avoided. The vibration-based harvesting method can also be applied to trees with large rigid trunks.

- With the possibility of towing a small platform trailer or storage trunk, transportation of the crates from the grove is achieved without the need for another transport vehicle, as is the transportation of the auxiliary tools required for olive harvesting, etc.

The “multi-purpose self-propelled olive harvester” described above is illustrated in the figures, and a brief description thereof is an exemplary embodiment of the invention, without being a limitation thereof, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a plan view of the self-propelled olive harvester

- Figure 2 shows a side elevation view-section of the self-propelled olive harvester

- Figure 3 shows a detail of the wheel suspension

- Figure 4 shows a detail of the rotary oscillation mechanism

- Figure 5 shows a detail of the pulsed oscillation mechanism

The “multi-purpose self-propelled olive harvester” as described above and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, consists of a rectangular steel frame (1) with four suspension systems (2) including wheels (3) specifically designed and fitted to its four edges, which are driven by a four-wheel drive arrangement (4) consisting of four hydraulic motors (one on each wheel) with ‘hydraulic couplings’ or four electric motors with ‘electric couplings’ or a differential for engine power transmission to all four wheels (four-wheel drive differential). The wheels (3) are controlled and steered by a hydraulic four-wheel steering system (5), so that the frame can be self-propelled with four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. The required motive power for four-wheel drive (3) is generated by an internal combustion engine or a hybrid engine (internal combustion engine in combination with an electric motor) (6), with a mechanical power transmission system (6.1) in combination with a hydraulic pumps arrangement (7) and an electric generator (alternator) (8), specifically designed and fitted to the steel frame (1)· A specifically designed folding articulated telescopic arm (9) is fitted to the self- propelled steel frame (1), consisting of a vertical steel pole (9.1) with a rotating base (9.2) and a telescopic folding pole device (9.3) fitted to a specifically designed and adapted articulation (9.4) at the top of the vertical pole (9.1). At the free end of the telescopic pole (9.3) there is a specifically designed and fitted gyroscopic header (10) with a socket (10.1) into which is fitted a rotary oscillation mechanism (11) with a metal rod (11.1) which features transversely adapted elastic spikes (11.2). Alternatively, a pulsed oscillation mechanism (vibration mechanism) (12) is fitted to the gyroscopic header (10) with a rod (12.1) ending in a ‘grip’ (12.2) for grabbing and shaking the branches of olive trees. Furthermore, a suspension and load lifting (hook) device (13) is specifically designed and fitted to the folding telescopic pole (9.3).

A folding case (14) into which the olive harvest cloth is folded or wrapped (14.1) is specifically designed and fitted to the self-propelled frame (1).

The following mechanisms and devices are also specifically designed and fitted to the self-propelled frame (1): Hydraulic pumps arrangement (7), Electric generator (alternator) (8), Accumulators arrangement (batteries) (15), Fuel tank (16), Hydraulic oil tank (17), Electrical and Electronic Circuit Control Panel (18), Fixed Control Unit (19) with detachable controller, Fixed Operator Seat device (20), Detachable traction device (towbar) (21) fitted to the front of the self-propelled steel frame (1), Towing device (22) for a small platform trailer or storage trunk (23), fitted to the rear of the self- propelled frame (1).

The following is an embodiment of the invention:

The “multi-purpose self-propelled olive harvester” is transported by a tractor or other trailer, towed by the towing device (towbar) (21) to the olive grove, where it then moves under self-propulsion among the olive trees. With its flexibility, it approaches the olive tree at the most suitable point and, using the remote control unit (19), the operator positions the telescopic pole (9.3) with the gyroscopic header (10) and the metal rod (11.1) with the elastic spikes (11.2) among the branches of the olive tree. With the operation of the rotary oscillation mechanism (11), the elastic spikes (11.2) vibrate, ‘beating’ the branches without damaging them and the olives fall onto the olive harvest cloth (14.1) which has previously been unfolded from the folding case (14) and spread out on the ground or in another adjustable layout under the olive tree. From the olive harvest cloth the olives are collected in sacks or crates which, through use of the lifting mechanism (hook) (13), are loaded onto a small platform trailer attached to the towing device (22), and transported to the edge of the grove from where, again through use of the lifting mechanism (hook) (13), they are transferred to a vehicle for transportation to the olive mill.

In cases where olives or other fruits, such as almonds and walnuts, are harvested by vibration, then the pulse oscillation mechanism (vibration mechanism) (12) with the rod (12.1 ) and the ‘grip’ (12.2) is fitted to the gyroscopic header and there follows the afore-mentioned procedure for the machine to approach the tree, the grip (12.2) is directed to and 'clasps’ the branch, from which the fruits then fall to the ground through the method of vibration.

The application of this invention is a way to achieve easy, fast and cost-effective harvesting of olives.