A picking finger assembly is insertable into and withdrawable from a canopy of a fruit tree during a mechanical harvesting. The picking finger assembly provides for, during the withdrawal, a gathering of fruit growing upon the fruit tree where a picking pressure may be applied during to sever the fruit from the tree. A finger extending from an arm producing this gathering and application of the picking pressure to the fruit. The finger is displaceable relative to the arm in response to engagement of an obstruction, such as a large branch. This displacement provides for an initial relatively strong resistance to displacement, then a significantly lesser resistance. In one embodiment a transfer shaft moves within a transfer channel to provide for this dual resistance pressure feature. An angular change in the transfer channel provides for immediate transfer of transfer shaft within transfer channel once such transfer commences. A guide path on the finger acts to ensure proper positioning of stems and branches relative to the finger during the withdrawal. A cutting edge adjacent the guide path provides for assistance in severing the stem of the fruit being harvested.

A mechanical fruit harvester employs a fruit-picking unit having plural, flexible probes which are extended into the foliage of the tree. Each probe has retractable fingers for separating the fruit from the stem. Each probe is significantly flexible, in order to avoid damage to the unit and to the tree being harvested. In one arrangement, the harvester is free-standing and has restricted dimensions, in order to permit movement about substantially all of an individual fruit tree among a plurality of densely-spaced fruit trees. The restricted-dimensioned arrangement employs hydraulic motor means for operating the drive, the probe extension and the probe elevation features.

A mechanical citrus and other fruit picking apparatus is defined with an improved method of picking fruit, using finger assemblies with tension producing and tension reducing abilities, with finger members protruding at intervals from sides of tubular arms. Arms are mounted on metal base frame that can be attached to various types of tractors or other propelling equipment. As arms of apparatus enter through limbs and foliage into tree, said fingers depress, then reposition to correct angle for picking fruit. Any said arm retracts upon any impact with larger limb. As apparatus is withdrawn from tree, said fingers engage stems of fruit, bringing fruit up into intersection of said arm and said finger, whereby pressure of said finger against stem causes separation of fruit from stem. During the backward motion, smaller limbs and leaves are pulled up and over the special shaping and slippery surface of said finger. The tension reduction device allows said finger to slip over larger limbs.

The collection of the olives is performed by a machinery, that has attached a telescopic rod (A.a), fixed from one side, and free to rotate hydraulically form the other side. This free side moves mechanically by the operator in order to come as close as possible to the olives. The strikers who drop the olives off the tree are on the free side of the rod. The machinery is either pulled and gets its power/motion through a compler by a tractor or it is as an independent automotive self-driven piece of machinery. The olives fall into a PVC foil top (A.b), which mechanically extends under the tree. The olives are transferred over a rotating belt (A.c) into the selected sacks, as the leaves have already been separated from the olives with the help of the absorber (A.d).

A compact fruit picker is mounted on the three-point lift of an agricultural tractor and utilizes the power take-off of the tractor to operate a reciprocating series of probe arms having spring-loaded picking fingers mounted on each arm to penetrate the tree canopy and remove fruit as the arm is withdrawn. The picked fruit is caught in a device positioned below the picker.