Smith, Dave :

Rosa, Uriel A

Ferguson, Louise

California Olive Committee 2007 Annual Report Redesign & Retrofit - Korvan Olive Harvester Project leaders : Dave Smith , Dave Smith Engineering Uriel Rosa , UC Davis Ag Engineering Cooperators : Louise Ferguson , UC Davis Don Forester , Labco Steven Splawn , Splawn Belting Jeff Morrow , VIP Rubber Robert Gonzales , Hydraulic Controls Alfred , C.I.R . Ron Sandusky , Morgan & Slates Reporting period : March 1 , 2007 , thru September 30 , 2007 OBJECTIVES To address the mechanical olive harvesterâ??s deficient areas : 1 ) Harvesting efficiency , 2 ) Fruit catching system , and 3 ) Fruit bruise PROCEDURES â?¢ Reconstruction commenced after removing all components down to the bare chassis and drive . â?¢ Remount three picking heads to achieve downward tilt to drive harvested fruit to catcher frame . â?¢ Install concave 160 degree padded covers on middle and bottom heads . This confines fruit and prevents it from being damaged by slamming into the harvesterâ??s superstructure . â?¢ Modification of control arms and related hydraulics to allow two feet of additional penetration into the trees . â?¢ Install new catching conveyor directly under picking heads and reverse direction of existing padded collector belt resulting in limited fruit handling . â?¢ Fabricate and install new design padded catching paddles extending collector length to twenty feet . â?¢ After extensive research into rod extrusion materials , the final decision material was installed with heat shrink tips . Thus reducing the amount of energy force transmitted into the trees and help eliminate olive bruising . â?¢ Redesign and implementation of front and rear wheel skirts with padded open style frame to reduce fruit bounce and subsequent fruit bruise . â?¢ Installation of new RPM meters and transducers for more accurate speed control of picking heads . â?¢ All exposed steel surfaces were fitted with cushioned padding to guard against fruit bruise . â?¢ Redesign of horizontal slider catch frame from deficient , poorly designed mechanical operation to more reliable hydraulic control . RESULTS The harvester performed well in our field trials , although to optimize the mechanical harvester an orchard should be pruned with that concept in mind . CONCLUSIONS As far as the mechanical aspect is concerned we are definitely on the right track . The 2008 season brings with it the opportunity to implement additional improvements and perfect the operation of the mechanical olive harvester . Funding Sources The 2007 Mechanical Harvester R & D project was funded by the California Olive Committee .