DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUGER PICKING HEAD FOR SELECTIVELY HARVESTING FRESH MARKET ORANGES

摘要

Augers cast out of two different hardness elastomers and of different diameters and shapes were tested to determine an optimum auger design. Using the harder (60 durometer) elastomer tested, the best two auger types were used to determine the best auger spacing and arrangement. A 5 foot square prototype auger bank with eighty 5-3/8 inch diameter augers spaced 7-1/4 inches apart was built and tested. Approximately 65 percent of the fruit could be removed in 15 minutes with the prototype auger bank.