A vacuum-based fruit gripper assembly for use in a fruit-picking machine is provided. Said fruit gripper assembly comprising: a support having a main axis and receivable onto a fruit-picking machine, said support comprising an aperture therethrough for communication with a source of suction generator; and a flexible gripping suction-nipple for engaging a fruit, mounted on said support and connected to said aperture, wherein said nipple is equipped with an interlock mechanism and has two configurations: a first open-configuration when the nipple is not attached to a fruit and no vacuum/suction is generated, in which said interlock mechanism is open and the nipple is free to twist; and a second locked/crammed-configuration when the nipple is attached to a fruit and vacuum/suction is applied, in which said interlock mechanism is locked thereby preventing twisting of the nipple.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FRUIT HARVESTING
VORRICHTUNG UND VERFAHREN ZUM ERNTEN VON FRÜCHTEN
DISPOSITIF ET PROCÉDÉ POUR LA RÉCOLTE DE FRUITS
2025-05-07
Patent
Electronic Resource
English