Design, construction and testing of an apricot tractor-trailed harvester
- Torregrosa Mira, Antonio
- Chaparro, O.
- Martín Górriz, Bernardo
- Ortiz, C.
- Bernad, J.J.
- Ortí, E.
- Gil, J.
- Pérez, M.
ISSN: 1695-971X, 2171-9292
Datum der Publikation: 2008
Nummer: 3
Seiten: 333-340
Art: Artikel
Andere Publikationen in: Spanish journal of agricultural research
Zusammenfassung
The purpose of this research is to facilitate the mechanical harvesting of apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) for industry. A tractor-trailed harvester was built to catch the fruits detached from apricot (cv. Búlida) trees by vibratory systems. This machine is a low profile catcher that can move under the trees in high-density canopies where umbrella-type harvesters cannot. The trailer is able to work under trees with as little free-trunk height as 0.35 m. The tests were done in 5- to 9-year-old apricot trees, planted in two frame, 2.5 m and 4.5 m in-the-row distances, with 6.5 m between rows in both cases. To detach the fruit, two hand-held pneumatic shakers were used. Harvest rate was 61 and 44 trees h-1 for each type of orchard, respectively. The main conclusion is that the trailer, together with branch-shakers, can work in narrow orchards of low canopy trees where other machines can not go in.