System and method for harvesting grape clusters

Abstract

Apparatus for harvesting grapes without damaging the grapes. A cluster hanger clip is provided to securely hold a cluster of grapes by the stem, in order to cut, carry, and transport the cluster with minimal or no touching of the grape berries. A grape harvesting vehicle which moves between the rows of grapevines in the vineyard, includes grape conveyors, on which the hanger clips are suspended, either temporarily or permanently. The conveyors convey the grape clusters to packers at packing stations on the platform. The packers segregate the grape clusters and pack the clusters into boxes. A palletizer stacks the boxes on pallets in a bin. The platform can change configuration for use in the vineyard, and for travel on the highway.

1 . A grape cluster hanger clip, comprising: 
 an elongated member having first and second distal ends;    a generally annular portion attached to the first distal end; and    a generally U-shaped portion provided midway between said first and second distal ends, dividing said elongated member into first and second elongated member portions, said first elongated member portion extending in a first direction between said annular portion and said U-shaped portion, said U-shaped portion defining a substantially 180° turn, said second elongated member portion extending in a second direction substantially parallel to said first direction, between said U-shaped portion and said second distal end;    said second distal end and said annular portion, defining a gap therebetween, said gap merging into an area between said first and second elongated member portions, said gap having a first distance between said second distal end and said annular portion, and said area having a second distance between said first and second elongated member portions.    
   
   
       2 . The grape cluster hanger clip of  claim 1 , wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance.  
   
   
       3 . The grape cluster hanger clip of  claim 2 , wherein said first distance is selected to allow a stem of a grape cluster to pass through said gap.  
   
   
       4 . The grape cluster hanger clip of  claim 3 , wherein said second distance is selected so that the grape cluster stem, after passing through said gap, is held between said first and second elongated member portions.  
   
   
       5 . The grape cluster hanger clip of  claim 1 , wherein said generally annular portion comprises a ring.  
   
   
       6 . The grape cluster hanger clip of  claim 1 , wherein said generally annular portion comprises a hook.  
   
   
       7 . The grape cluster hanger clip of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge provided in said U-shaped portion.  
   
   
       8 . The grape cluster hanger clip of  claim 7 , further comprising a spring between said hinge and said second distal end.  
   
   
       9 . The grape cluster hanger clip hinge of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic material provided on surfaces in said space.  
   
   
       10 . A hanger clip for hanging a grape cluster by a stem without contacting grape berries in the cluster, comprising: 
 a generally annular handle portion;    an elongated shaft, a first elongated portion thereof extending from said handle portion in a first direction for a first distance, then turning at a generally U-shaped portion, and a second elongated portion extending in a second direction substantially parallel to and opposite said first direction for a second distance, that is less than said first distance, to a distal end, defining a gap between the distal end and said handle portion, said gap merging into an area defined between the first and second elongated portions.    
   
   
       11 . The hanger clip of  claim 10 , further comprising a flange at said distal end.  
   
   
       12 . The hanger clip of  claim 10 , wherein a width of said gap is greater than a width of said area.  
   
   
       13 . The hanger clip of  claim 10 , wherein the grape cluster stem is held in said area between said first and second elongated portions.  
   
   
       14 . The hanger clip of  claim 10 , wherein said U-shaped portion has a spring force, and said second elongated portion of said shaft can be flexed away from said first elongated portion of said shaft.  
   
   
       15 . The hanger clip of  claim 10 , wherein said generally annular handle position comprises a ring.  
   
   
       16 . The hanger clip of  claim 10 , wherein said generally annular handle portion comprises a hook.  
   
   
       17 . A method of harvesting a grape cluster, comprising: 
 providing a grape cluster hanger clip comprising a handle, a first elongated portion extending in a first direction, and a second elongated portion extending in a second direction opposite the first direction and joined to said first elongated portion at a generally U-shaped portion, said second elongated portion ending in a distal end, a gap being defined between said handle and said distal end, merging into an area between said first and second elongated portions;    passing a stem of the grape cluster through said gap into said area;    holding a portion of the stem in said area between said first and second elongated portions;    cutting the stem at a position spaced away from the held portion of the stem; and    suspending on a conveying device the grape cluster by said grape cluster hanger clip;    conveying the grape cluster;    packing the grape cluster in a box; and    loading the box on a pallet.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a step of removing the grape cluster from the hanger clip prior to packing the grape cluster in the box.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the grape cluster is packed in the box with said hanger clip still attached to the stem.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a step of moving a vehicle supporting said conveying device from a first cutting location to a second cutting location.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a step of conveying the grape cluster suspended on said conveying device from a cutting location to a packing location.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein grape clusters of different grades of grapes are packed into respective separate boxes.  
   
   
       23 . A grape harvesting system comprising: 
 a grape cluster hanger clip comprising:    an elongated member having first and second distal ends;    a generally U-shaped portion provided midway between said first and second distal ends, dividing said elongated member into first and second elongated portions, said first elongated portion extending in a first direction between said annular portion and said U-shaped portion, said U-shaped portion defining substantially a 180° turn, said second elongated portion extending in a second direction substantially parallel to said first direction, between said U-shaped portion and said second distal end;    a gap being defined between said second distal end and said annular portion, merging into an area provided between said first and second elongated portions, said gap comprising a first distance between said second distal end and said annular portion, and said area comprising a second distance and between said first and second elongated portions, said second distance being selected to hold a stem of the grape cluster between the first and second elongated portions;    a first conveyor attached to a platform comprising a means for supporting the grape cluster by supporting said annular portion of said device, thereby hanging the grape cluster by the stem, and conveying the grape cluster to one of a plurality of packing stations on said platform;    a second conveyor for conveying a plurality of boxes, each said box being packed with grape clusters from the packing station, to a palletizing station;    a pallet for receiving the boxes;    a tray for aligning the boxes on the pallet; and    means for lowering the pallet from said platform.    
   
   
       24 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said platform is mobile.  
   
   
       25 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said platform is steerable.  
   
   
       26 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said platform further comprises juicing means for rendering grapes into juice, and a juice storage tank.  
   
   
       27 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said platform is adjustable in height.  
   
   
       28 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said platform is configured to move adjacent a row of grape vines with said platform above the row of grape vines.  
   
   
       29 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , further comprising a pallet jack for lifting the loaded pallet.  
   
   
       30 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said first distal end of said elongated member of said hanger clip is fixed to said grape cluster conveyor.  
   
   
       31 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said hanger clip is attachable and detachable from said grape cluster conveyor.  
   
   
       32 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said first distal end of said elongated member comprises a generally annular portion attachable to said grape cluster conveyor.  
   
   
       33 - 45 . (canceled)  
   
   
       46 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said hanger clip is attached to the stem of the grape cluster after the stem is cut.  
   
   
       47 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said hanger clip is attached to the stem of the grape cluster before the stem is cut.  
   
   
       48 . The grape harvesting system of  claim 23 , wherein said tray aligns sides of the plurality of boxes on the pallet.  
   
   
       49 . A method of harvesting a grape cluster, comprising: 
 providing a grape cluster hanger clip comprising a first elongated portion extending in a first direction, and a second elongated portion extending in a second direction opposite the first direction and joined to said first elongated portion at a generally U-shaped portion, said second elongated portion ending in a distal end, a gap being defined between said handle and said distal end, merging into an area between said first and second elongated portions;    attaching said first elongated portion to a conveying device;    cutting a grape cluster by a stem thereof from a grape vine;    passing the stem of the grape cluster through said gap into said space in said hanger clip;    holding the stem in said are between said first and second elongated portions;    conveying the grape cluster; and    removing the cluster from said hanger clip and packing the cluster into a box.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said grape cluster stem is cut before being held in said area.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said grape cluster stem is cut after being held in said area.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said grape cluster is conveyed on a conveyer with grape berries in the grape cluster out of contact with the conveyor.  
   
   
       53 . A method of harvesting a plurality of grape clusters, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of grape cluster hanger clips, each hanger clip comprising a first elongated portion extending in a first direction, and a second elongated portion extending in a second direction opposite the first direction and joined to said first elongated portion at a substantially U-shaped portion, said second elongated portion ending in a distal end, a gap being defined between said handle and said distal end, merging into an area between said first and second elongated portions;    attaching a first elongated portion of each hanger clip to a conveying device;    harvesting the plurality of grape clusters by cutting stems thereof from one or more grape vines;    passing a stem of each cut grape cluster through one said gap into an area in one said hanger clip;    holding a portion of the stem of said respective grape cluster in said respective area between said first and second elongated portions;    conveying the plurality of grape clusters;    removing the plurality of grape clusters from said conveyor;    determining a grade of grape berries in each cluster; and    packing the clusters, separated by grade, into separate, respective boxes.    
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said grape cluster stems are cut before being held in the respective areas.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said grape cluster stems are cut after being held in the respective areas.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising stacking the boxes on a pallet.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising aligning a stack of the boxes on the pallet.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said grape clusters are conveyed on a conveyor with grape berries in the grape clusters out of contact with the conveyor.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the grape clusters hang suspended from the conveyor while being conveyed.