Article pickup apparatus

Abstract

An article pickup system includes a pickup vehicle having collector assemblies extending in a side by side configuration and engaging articles on the ground. The collector assemblies generally include a rotating drum with flexible fingers having widened ends extending outward there from. A separator assembly includes sprocket type devices to remove the collected articles from the collector assemblies. In one embodiment, the collector assemblies pivot independently from one another and the separator assemblies are mounted on a linkage to maintain spacing and move upward and downward with the collector assemblies. The collector assembly includes a series of conveyors for transporting the collected fruit. The collector assemblies may be utilized with a sweeper device having generally horizontally extending arms that engage fruit on the ground and move it toward the collector assemblies with the arms raising up to release the fruit in the desired location in the path of the collector assemblies.