FIELD OF THE INVENTION -
Disclosed herein is a device for harvesting the black pepper. In particular, the present invention relates to harvesting of black pepper by employing a pepper plucking device which facilitates easy harvesting of black pepper. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. When dried, the fruit is known as a peppercorn. When fresh and fully mature, it is approximately 5 millimetres (0.20 in) in diameter, dark red, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed. Peppercorns, and the ground pepper derived from them, may be described simply as pepper, or more precisely as black pepper (cooked and dried unripe fruit), green pepper (dried unripe fruit) and white pepper (ripe fruit seeds). Black pepper is native to south India and is extensively cultivated there and elsewhere in tropical regions.
The pepper plant is a perennial woody vine growing up to 4 metres (13 ft) in height on supporting trees, poles, or trellises. It is a spreading vine, rooting readily where trailing stems touch the ground. The leaves are alternate, entire, 5 to 10 centimetres (2.0 to 3.9 in) long and 3 to 6 centimetres (1.2 to 2.4 in) across. The flowers are small, produced on pendulous spikes 4 to 8 centimetres (1.6 to 3.1 in) long at the leaf nodes, the spikes lengthening up to 7 to 15 centimetres (2.8 to 5.9 in) as the fruit matures.
Peppercorn (berry-like fruit) matures in 5 to 6 months. The whole spike is ready for picking when, peppercorn in a spike turns cherry-red, peppercorn turns from dark green to shiny yellowish green, peppercorn has brownish cotyledon when pinched. The farmers harvest the pepper by tying Open basket or sack used as container to the waist of harvester. He twirls the spike with one hand while he holds the peduncle with the other hand. The laborers climb on the EN^csO^ra^^^o^^fewrJ^^rs-G^i^ is a tedious, method and also involves

lot of risk such as chances of falling from the ladder or bamboo pole. This may cause severe physical and health problems. Also, continuous plucking of black pepper causes itching and other skin problems. Another practice of harvesting pepper berries is through netting practice. Rather than manually plucking, farmers lay a net little bit above the ground and wait for the berries to fall down and collect the berries once in every two to three days. These methods are very cumbersome and require more efforts as well as time. There is a scarcity of manpower these days and due to this acute problem of labor, conventional practices do not result in satisfactory harvest. Hence, it is very essential to have a pepper plucking device in order to ease the harvesting of pepper.
There are catena prior arts in the field of devices used for harvesting the black pepper. However these devices are practical failures as those are sophisticated machines even run by engines.
The D. G. Walker & Sons of Olive, North Carolina, have proposed a self-propelled device for the harvesting of many vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, strawberries and peppers. Several devices have been proposed, however, for the harvesting of cotton and for the harvesting of tomatoes and particularly for the harvesting of tobacco. Thus, for example, Stark in 1918 patented a device in U.S. Pat. No. 1,275,781 for the harvesting of tobacco. This device was quite large and was self-propelled. It contained some low lying seats, for the pickers and was quite large and bulky, but suitable for the flat bottom lands on which tobacco was grown. Tarkington, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,504,846 proposed a tomato harvester having a pair of laterally disposed beams and a set of sling supported seats, for the provision of pickers who could move laterally of the device for picking the fruit. The tomatoes were then deposited onto a conveyor mechanism which conveyed the picked fruit to the wagon drawn by horses in the front. The tobacco harvesters, on the other hand, such as kl those, disclosed by W. E. Davis, et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,786,585 consisted of a

driving mechanism and seats for two pickers, seated low to the ground who could select leaves from the tobacco plants and place them onto a conveying mechanism whereby they could be conveyed to tobacco sticks suspended across the width of the top of the device. Another harvesting apparatus proposed by Kelly Dilday et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,526, comprised a movable trailer attached to a tractor of the device whereby the pickers seated on seats could select certain leaves of tobacco to be conveyed upwardly and then placed on the tobacco sticks located in the front portion of the trailer. The Dilday device required that the tobacco plants be planted in wide rows (two plants wide) for accommodation of the harvesting apparatus and a wide "middle" or "balk" through which the harvester could be driven.
Honeycutt, in 1974, patented in U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,446, a veritable factory for picking fruit, conveying it to work tables where the fruit was sorted and packed by persons seated adjacent the conveying apparatus on the inside of the trailer.
Again, Long, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,431 proposed a tobacco picker, useful for "priming" tobacco which consisted of two low slung seats positioned on a tractor and a series of conveyors for moving leaves selected to the proper position for suspension onto sticks alined across the top of the apparatus.
The Honeycutt again in his U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,176 proposed a large tobacco picking apparatus containing a plurality of conveying systems, sticks for suspending the tobacco leaves, etc.
The US grant US6058690A "Harvester" is a pepper harvester including a picking mechanism for picking peppers from pepper plants. One or more air outlets are located forward of the front end of the picking mechanism. An air supply provides compressed air to the air outlets, which direct air streams backwards towards the picking mechanism or other portion of the harvester which can collect the peppers. During operation of the harvester peppers which

fall from pepper plants ahead of the picking mechanism are blown backwards by the air streams onto the picking mechanism to be collected, ^thereby increasing the yield of the harvester. The harvester can be used for other fruits or vegetables in addition to peppers.
The US grant "Pepper harvesting apparatus" is a device is described suitable for harvesting peppers and other vegetables which grow on short bushes or vines close to the ground. Thus, a pepper picker sits on the seat in close proximity to the plants, while the device is in straddle position relative to the row. The pickers then are able to select the ripe fruits from the bush leaving the half-ripe or green fruit to mature further. A pair of belt conveyors are diagonally disposed with the inlet portion directly in front of the seat to a discharge portion near the top for discharge into a receptacle. Due to the extremely low profile of the device, the center of gravity is low so that the device can be used in rocky and hilly terrain. Further, through the means of the lift on the tractor, the device can be raised or lowered, depending upon the height of the plants, fulcruming around the axle of the wheel in the extreme rear of the device. Thus, the device can be lowered or raised so as to compensate for lower or taller plants. Because of the small size, the low profile and the extreme maneuverability of the device, the peppers or other fruits can be harvested with essentially no damage to the crop.
In US4546602A "Chili pepper harvester" is a harvester for chili peppers and the like including a frame structure supported from a tractor or similar vehicle for movement along one or more rows of plants with the frame including rotatably supported picking units for removing chili pods from the plants and depositing them onto adjacently oriented longitudinally extending conveyors with the picking operation leaving the plants substantially unharmed so that the plants can continue to grow additional pods. The picking units are rotatably driven by apSinglejl^ydr^ulig motor^comrriuniieated witlitfie"' hydraulic

system of the tractor and the picking units can be vertically adjusted by hydraulic rams or the like connected with the hydraulic system of the tractor to enable the operator to control operation of the harvester. Each of the picking units includes a rotatable shaft having a plurality of radially extending rods mounted thereon with each of the rods including an accurately curved hook-shaped end portion pointing in the direction of rotation with the rods being oriented in two spiral rows around the shaft with the two rows being 180° out of phase and with each row extending a full 360° around the shaft.
The problem with the above and akin machines is the level of sophistication and the cost incurred in procuring the machine. The Ordinary household growing 10 or 20 black pepper plant could never recoup the expense incurred to procuring thee above sought of machines.
Yet another US grant US3855760A relates to a harvester for use in harvesting crops such as peppers, beans and the like. The harvester includes a stripper head which will remove the fruit and foliage from a plant and a pneumatic conveying system which will entrain the fruit and foliage in the stripper head and transport it through a separator unit where the aggregate can be removed from the air stream. The separator deposits the aggregate on a mechanical conveyor to be transported to a collection means.
In the Indian patent published application "Black Pepper Plucking Device" comprises of a black pepper holding cup. Said cup being pentagonal in shape i.e. encompasses a combination of box shaped portion and a triangular shaped sharp edged portion. The black pepper holding cup is designed in such a manner to enable holding of some plucked black pepper spikes in it to some extent. Said black pepper holding cup is made up of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) or Steel or Gl or the like materials. Said cup comprising of a plurality of angular teeth projecting inwardly on the triangular shaped portion. Said plurality of angular teeth is made up of steel or the like^materliais..Saidipltiralityy0fcangular

teeth have sharp edges on the triangular shaped portion. The angle and length of the plurality of angular teeth are designed in such a way to enable easy holding and plucking of black pepper spikes. Also, the black pepper holding cup comprises is a outlet/hole on the box shaped portion of the cup. A pre-defined provision encircling the outside of said outlet/hole is provided for easy connection of a removable hollow pipe. Said removable hollow pipe is made up of PVC of Gl or the like materials and acts like a handle to the black pepper plucking device. The purpose of outlet on the box shaped portion of the pentagonal black pepper holding cup is to enable passing of the plucked black pepper through the removable hollow pipe.
Even though the above device is not a complex device and could be made available for affordable prices the device lacks precision. The structure of the device would make it difficult to pluck the pepper with precision. The usage of the above device may result in the breakage of the stem of the plant and also will result in the loss of striped off peppercorns.
The specific problem identified by the inventor to the existing art is as follows
1. Even in the case of manual plucking or in case of using mechanical devices, when the force is applied to the pendulous spikes the ripen peppercorn starts breaking up from the spike and falls down unevenly. This is because if we put pressure at one end of the spike, before we completes the plucking the ripen peppercorns from the other side starts falling down. Even if an experienced farmer twirls the spike with one hand and he holds the peduncle with the other hand, it is sure that few peppercorn will fell down escaping his hand. This problem would be very well known to any person who is cultivating pepper.
| Once the stray peppercorn reach the ground, it would be extremely difficult to
' trace it out.

2. In these methods the human hands should be in contact with the peppercorns at least for picking the astray peppercorn from the ground. The chances of contmiantion are high and will affect the quality. The quality and cleanliness is very important for pepper since it is consumed directly. Further more if the pepper could harvested untouched by hands, it will result in value addition. Being untouched by hands is particularly important since the pepper is considered as precious and antique spice.
3. A perfect plucking device would be the one which exerts force or incision to the right position of the pendulous spike. Thus the device must have ability to train the spike in to the incision device at right angle. Such kind of precision cutting is not provided in any above devices. Much wastage of peppercorn could be avoided if such a device is made possible.
4. Even if we create a device which could train the spikes in to the incision device, it may not work in all case. If all the pendulous spikes hang vertically in a straight line it would work. But in reality many of the spikes may hide and lie twisted behind the leaves and stem. So there must be device like a pointer to straighten up the entangled spikes.
5. Finally in all the above invention a separate storage is required to stack
the harvested spikes and corns. For example the traditional farmers harvest the
pepper by tying Open basket or sack used as container to the waist of harvester.
Some other would tie up a net around the plant. At any rate we require a
separate storage for piling up the harvest. This again involves touching by
human hand and contamination.
These are the problems of the prior art which are sought to be solved in
the present invention. The objects of the invention will become apparent after
consideration of the following description of the invention and its preferred
embodiments detailed hereinafter. ___ i

SUMMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to develop a new pepper plucking device. The following presents a simplified summary of the specification in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the specification. This summary is not an extensive overview of the specification. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the specification nor delineate the scope of the specification. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the specification in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description presented later. Following are the objectives of the invention:
1. To develop a pepper plucker which would even prevent ripen peppercorn ripped and go astray when the force is applied to the pendulous spikes
2. To develop a device for plucking the pepper in which the pepper could be harvested untouched by hands.
3. To develop a plucking device which would which exerts force or incision to the right position of the pendulous spike; a device with ability to train the spike in to the incision device at right angle.
4. A pepper plucking device comprising of a device like a pointer to straighten up the entangled spikes.
5. A develop a pepper plucking device which does not require a separate storage to stack the harvested spikes and corns.
The following description and the annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects of the specification.
These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the specification may be employed. Other advantages and novel features of the specification will become apparent from the following

detailed description of the specification when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
Other systems, methods, and/or devices according to the exemplary embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or devices be included within this description, be within the scope of the exemplary embodiments, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The objects of the invention will become apparent after consideration of the following description of the invention and its preferred embodiments detailed hereinafter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure lto 2 shows the shape configuration of the new apparatus.
Brief Description of Drawings Further features and advantages of this method and apparatus according to the invention, will be clearer with the description of some of its pattern realizations that follow, made to illustrate but limit, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
Figure 2 represents the sectional view of the inventive and the functional part of the device. As shown in the figures 1 and 2 top portion of the pipe is cut preferably above 0° and 90° slanting posture. The shape of the top of the pipe is marked as (1) (2) in the figures. This portion is named as hand by the inventor. Like the human hands train the spikes inside the fingers, the hands of the device train the spikes towards the teeth or the blade (6) the incision device. Depending upon the positioning of the pendulous spikes the spikes could be driven to the

incision device through either hand. It also makes the device easier to be operated by the either hands. The device comes with a pointing device on either sides is marked as (4). In both figures the pointer is shown in a raised up condition. The pointer should be generally lowered below the surface level of the pipe. It is difficult to operate the device with the pointer lifted above the surface of the pipe. The specific purpose of the pointer is to straighten or level the twisted or entangled spikes so as to enable the hands to train the spikes to the incision device. At the lowest end of the slanting posture a rectangular cut (5) is made which preferably 1 cm. breadth x up to 5cm length. The bottom part of the curve (3) which meets the rectangular cut is further curved downwards (3). This curve is arranged in such a manner wherein the upper part of the rectangle will be a curve. The lower curve (3) along with slanted curve (1) (2)which immediately precedes the rectangular cut helps to separate the leaves and stems being pulled inside the blade(6). Thus the lower curve (3) along with slanted curve (1) (2)helps to provide precision cutting and it also leaves the stem and the leaves harmless. The incision device (6) is position like a teeth, like a 'V and therefore the spikes could be incised precisely. Another embodiment would be a 'LP shaped incision device having an opening on the upper side.
The Figure 1 comprises additionally the extendible handle attachable to the functional device which enables the device to adjust the length. The spikes separated from the plant by using the blade will be falling inside the pipe. The length adjustable handle (8) (9) also acts as storage and at the lowest portion of the handle is cap. By removing the cap (10) the harvested pepper could be released untouched by human hands.
The Figure 3,4,5 explains the length adjustable handle mechanism of the device, wherein length adjustable pipes could be attached externally. It comprises of three pieces of hollow pipe. OneJiaving,8feet.and.the.other two

having 4 feet. The combination of pieces would provide the user the easiness to pluck the pepper at a periodical length of 4 feet each. For example, if two pieces having 4 feet is joined a length of 8 feet could be achieved. If one piece having 4 feet is removed and the piece having 8 feet is joined 12 feet length could be achieved. Thus at each periodical height of 4 feet the user can comfortable pluck the pepper without having the discomfort of carrying the entire weight. The device may otherwise may also be used as a single piece.
The Figure- 6 is the description of hand held pepper plucker which works in the same way. The handheld pepper plucker would be particularly useful for plucking pepper from Bush Pepper or pepper plants which are ideally not more that 8feets in height.
The above description of a basic design is able to show the invention from the conceptive point of view, in a way that others, by using the art, can easily modify and/or adapt in different applications this specific design without further research and without going apart from the invention concept, and therefore it is intended that these adaptations and transformations will be considered as equivalent to this specific realization. The means and materials to make the many described functions can be various in nature without exiting the area of the invention. It is intended that the expressions or the terminology use have a simple descriptive aim and therefore not limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the

invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
It is to be understood, that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a component surface" includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
The Figs.l to 2 discussed below, and the various embodiments used to
describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by
way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way that would limit
the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the
principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably
arranged communications system. The terms used to describe various
embodiments are exemplary. It should be understood that these are provided to
merely aid the understanding of the description, and that their use and
definitions in no way limit the scope of the invention. Terms first, second, and
the like are used to differentiate between objects having the same terminology
and are in no way intended to represent a chronological order, unless where
explicitly stated otherwise. A set is defined as a non-empty set including atleast
one element. T—\ c |

An aspect of the present invention is to address atleast the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide atleast the advantages described below.
The present invention comprises of a hollow PVC pipe which is having a preferable diameter between 1/2 and 2 inches. If a spike is lengthy or curvy the diameter of the pipe would be ideally 1 Vi inch, whereas if the spikes are small VA inch diameter pipe would be sufficient. The ideal length of the pipe would be Ito 25 feet. If the length of the pipe is extended further, it will be hard upon the user to hold by hand. The pipe need not be essentially made of PVC, it could be of any lightweight and hard martial, like steel, aluminum and alike materials. The pipe could be of any shape, circular, Oval, but if it is circular it would be easy to handle. As shown in the figures 1 and 2 top portion of the pipe is cut preferably above 0° and below 90° slanting posture. The shape of the top of the pipe is marked as (1) (2) in the figure (1) and (2). This portion is named as hand by the inventor. Like the human hands train the spikes inside the fingers, the hands of the device train the spikes towards the teeth or the blade (6). At the lowest end of the slanting posture a rectangular cut is made which preferably 1.5 cm. breadth upto 5cm in length.
Figure 1 represents the sectional view of the inventive and the functional part of the device. From the top it comprises of As shown in the figures 1 and 2 top portion of the pipe is cut preferably at 0° to 90 ° slanting posture. The shape of the top of the pipe is marked as (1) (2) in the figures. This portion is named as hand by the inventor. Like the human hands train the spikes inside the fingers, the hands of the device train the spikes towards the teeth or the blade (6) the incision device. Depending upon the positioning of the pendulous spikes the spikes could be driven to the incision device through either hand. It also makes the device easier to be operated by the either hands. The device comes with a pointing device on either sides is marked as (4). In_both figures the

pointer is shown in a raised up condition. The pointer should be generally lowered below the surface level of the pipe. It is difficult to operate the device with the pointer lifted above the surface of the pipe. The specific purpose of the pointer is to straighten or level the twisted or entangled spikes so as to enable the hands to train the spikes to the incision device. At the lowest end of the slanting posture a rectangular cut (5) is made which preferably 1.5 cm. breadth x 5cm length. The bottom part of the curve (3) which meets the rectangular cut is further curved downwards (3). This curve is arranged in such a manner wherein the upper part of the rectangle will be a curve. The space between the two curves should be in proportion with thickness of the spike. The space should be sufficient for the operation of the blade. The space could be rectangular, oval or any shape which enables the operation of the blade. The lower curve (3) which immediately precedes the rectangular cut helps to separate the leaves and stems being pulled inside the blade(6). Thus the lower curve along with the slanted curve (1) (2) helps to provide precision cutting and it also leaves the stem and the leaves harmless. The incision device (6) is position like a teeth, like a 'V and therefore the spikes could be incised precisely. Another embodiment would be a CU' shaped incision device having an opening on the upper side. The figure no. 6 is a holder for incision device which could be inserted inside the pipe.
The Figure 2 comprises additionally the extendible handle attachable to the functional device which enables the device to adjust the length. The spikes separated from the plant by using the blade will be falling inside the pipe. The length adjustable handle (8) (9) also acts as storage and at the lowest portion of the handle is cap(lO) . By removing the cap the harvested pepper could be released untouched by human hands.
Unlike the existing harvesters the present device is moved upwards and not downwards. Generally in these types of devices the spikes are trapped in

narrow cavity and pressure is applied in downward direction. But in the present invention the spikes are trapped inside the rectangular cutting and ultimately at the middle of the V shaped blade. The device has to be lifted upward direction to cut the spikes. The upper slanted curved surface (1 and 2) and lower curve (3) of the device would precisely train the spikes in to the cutting blade(6) therefore the device even prevent ripen peppercorn being ripped off and go astray when the force is applied to the pendulous spikes.
Since the harvested pepper falls directly inside the pipe and it could be released by opening the bottom cap, the pepper could be harvested untouched by hands. It has an advantage that the device does not require a separate storage to stack the harvested spikes and corns.
This device is particularly useful in harvesting the black pepper since, it has tender spikes and comparatively smaller in size. Similar crops like berries which are small in size may also be harvested by this device. It could be used for plucking small fruits and vegetables by increasing or decreasing proportionally the size of the device according to the size of the fruit or vegetable.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.