Nov 4, 2011
Apple harvester represents a landmark change in technology

Phil Brown, owner of Phil Brown Welding, an orchard implement company in Conklin, Mich., recently demonstrated the latest version of his apple-harvesting machine to growers in Michigan and Washington state.

The core concept of the machine is to eliminate extra labor from the harvesting process. The idea is that a worker picks apples from either scaffolding or walking alongside the machine, then places the apples into tubes where air pulls them into a bin. The trick, according to Brown, is to get the apple to the bin without bruising it.

That is where Phil Schwallier, a Michigan State University Extension educator, joined the project. Schwallier ran bruising trials on the newest machine.

“We ran trials on McIntosh, a very soft variety, for bruising and counted every scuff,” he said. “The average was 13 percent bruising or scuffs. Each apple would still pass U.S. extra fancy grade. Basically, there was no bruising to speak of. This is a landmark change in technology. I think this will have a major impact on apple production in North America.”

To achieve the low bruise rate, Brown worked on slowing the apple down as it passed along the tube. In addition, the apple lands on several well-padded, rotating blades that gently roll it into the bin one at a time, he said.

“The key is getting the velocity to change according to apple size,” Brown said. “We needed to keep single apples coming into the bin. It is the apple-to-apple contact that creates bruising.”

When the bin is full, an electronic eye notifies the operator, who disengages the bin. The full bin slides under the bin trailer and another empty bin lowers into place on the rack.

“It takes less than a minute or so to swap out a bin,” Brown said.

Some other key changes to the latest version include being driven off a tractor PTO.

“You need a 65- or 70-horsepower tractor at least, “ said Mike Rasch, a Conklin, Mich., grower who worked with Brown on the design. “If it is low geared or runs a hydrostatic transmission, you can just run along, picking as you go. The blower motor is also not as powerful as it was before, but it is now quieter and cheaper.”

Making the new machine quieter was a goal for Brown. The machine has a large muffler system that keeps decibel levels down and allows workers to communicate with each other, he said. Other features are a series of gauges that tell the operator if the machine is running efficiently or if the screen used to catch leaves and debris needs to be cleaned.

There are significant labor savings, Brown said. The harvester eliminates ladders, bags and walking to and from the bin, so time is saved and fewer workers are needed to harvest the crop. The platforms on each side of the machine raise and lower 4 feet, and swing out 2 feet to accommodate different trees and rows. The harvester also can be used for pruning and other tree maintenance.

Brown has been refining the machine for several years. He plans on selling models next year, he said. He hopes the cost to be $75,000 to $100,000, depending on how it is configured.

“This machine will change how we harvest apples and have as big of an impact as cold storage, CA storage and Smartfresh did,” he said. “Now, we have a harvesting machine that works.”

Click here to watch the Apple Harvester in action.

By Derrek Sigler, Associate Editor




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