Critical components of the DBR harvester are the vacuum tubes (green ones carry apples), the decelerator wheels (circular steel), and the elephant-ear fruit distributor (fan-like device above apples). Here, a full bin is being lowered to the ground during a demonstration at Mike Rasch’s orchard in August. The vacuum system apple harvester invented at Phil Brown Welding in Conklin, Michigan, was tested this fall in the orchards at the Pennsylvania State Fruit Research and Extension Center in Biglerville, Pennsylvania—and passed with ­flying colors. “It was amazing how beautiful the fruit looked after coming through the vacuum tubes,” said Dr. Tara […]