An apparatus for the mechanical harvesting of tree fruits has been designed which has the capability of providing fruit suitable for the fresh market. The harvester features an impactor for dislodging fruit from a tree limb, a unique positioning system, a collecting conveyor utilizing energy-absorbing materials for minimizing fruit damage due to the impact of falling fruit, a transport conveyor
... [Show full abstract] which moves the harvested fruit to a revolving collecting bin, and bin-filling mechanisms which gently deposit harvested fruit in the collecting bin.