Abstract: The present invention discloses a leaf snatcher consisting of a protective grille, a blade activated by a motor. The blade is shaped so as to have vacuum capabilities to suck the unwanted leaves and debris. The leaf snatcher is generally setup over a waste container to receive the leaves and debris sucked by the blade. When the grille is lifted, it automatically stops the blade for increased safety.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for harvesting cranberries, the method including moving frame-mounted transverse dislodging rods over cranberry plants with each rod moving at the speed of the frame, thereby to dislodge cranberries from the cranberry plants. The apparatus includes a plurality of dislodging rods secured below the frame, the dislodging rods positioned substantially parallel to the field surface and generally perpendicular to the direction of movement whereby each dislodging rod is moved through the cranberry plants at the speed of the frame to dislodge the cranberries from the plants. Certain preferred embodiments use follower assemblies to configure an array of dislodging rods in an advantageous arrangement.

Abstract: A leaf stripper which is intended more specifically for stripping vine leaves includes a stripping head which is equipped with a rotary drum with an open-work cylindrical side wall, rotator device for the drum, suction device which can be used to generate a suction air stream that passes through the aforementioned open-work cylindrical side wall of the drum, and a mechanism of channeling the air stream through a portion modifying the side wall. There is a cutting device which is installed close to the side wall portion of the rotating suction drum and which is positioned parallel or essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum. The open-work cylindrical wall of the drum is made from a flexible, deformable material which is permeable to the air stream.

Abstract: 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).

Abstract: A harvester incorporating at least one force balanced shaker vibratory brush as the harvesting apparatus uses a sensing system connected to spring feelers to generate a signal responsive to the location, shape and position of a tree.

Abstract: A crop picking head assembly has a known oscillation generating head supported in a head support frame suspended from a harvester framework by two pairs of depending arms. One pair of arms is variable in length to adjust picking head height and the other pair is fixed in length. The picking head has a variety of crop contacting rod arrays to accommodate various cordon types supporting extended rows of crop foliage, such as grape vines. The harvester may carry one such picking head on one side of the vine row or may carry mirror image heads, one on each side of the vine row.

Abstract: Apparatus for raking berries, particularly blueberries. The apparatus has a frame supported on wheels, a rake head, a berry conveyor, support for a berry box, and a side support for stacking additional empty berry boxes. The motor-driven apparatus provides independent operation of ground travel and berry collecting operation. The rakes maintain a constant orientation relative to the vertical throughout the rotation of the rake head.

Abstract: A harvesting device, in particular for fruit harvesting machines, which includes a straddling chassis, two shaker assemblies mounted face-to-face on the chassis to shake the fruit trees or bushes and detach the fruits, berries or the like from them. Each shaker assembly includes a drive mechanism having a vertical shaft oscillating about a vertical axis, and a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal extending flexible rods. Each rod includes a first end detachably coupled to the drive mechanism, a median part and a second end connected to the chassis. The first end of each rod is mounted on the vertical shaft so that it can rotate relative to the vertical shaft and is coupled to the drive mechanism.

Abstract: An leaf stripping apparatus for stripping vines has a stripping head with a grid-type rotating suction drum rotatably mounted about a generally vertical axis, a suction cooperative with the stripping head for generating an air flow through the perforated cylindrical side wall of the suction drum, a channeling structure formed on the stripping head for channeling the air flow through the changing portion of the side of the suction drum, and a cutter affixed to the stripping head adjacent the changing portion of the side wall. The cutter is arranged generally parallel to the vertical axis of rotation of the rotating suction drum. The drum is suitable for positioning directly against the vine during movement of the stripping head therealong.

Abstract: A harvester incorporating at least one force balanced shaker vibratory brush as the harvesting apparatus uses a sensing system connected to a plurality of spring feelers carried on a shaft to generate a torque value responsive to the location of the shape and position of a tree. The feeler springs may be of differing lengths to assist in tuning the harvester. Apparatus and a method for mounting the shaker head on the vehicle as well as system of steering the harvester are disclosed.

Abstract: Harvesting methods and apparatus provide endless movable arrays of finger members for contacting and strippingly lifting fruits from plants in growing fields with each of the arrays being generally upstanding, longitudinally elongated and having at least a portion which is substantially planar along which the finger members endlessly move upwardly while strippingly lifting the fruits from the plants as the apparatus travels through the growing field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling a work object in movement relative thereto by transmitting electrical energy along a course along which the handling is to be performed sensing the position of the electrical energy transmitted along the course and moving a handling assembly relative to the positioned sensed to perform the handling of the work object.

Abstract: A vibratory shaker for mounting on a crop harvester framework for removing crops from vines, bushes, and trees has a crop foliage engaging brush that is driven directly about a brush rotation axis by a brush driving motor. The crop foliage engaging brush and the brush driving motor are supported for rotation on the crop harvester framework. The power for driving the brush driving motor is controlled to provide oscillatory motion subject to operator controlled frequency, amplitude and oscillatory wave shape.

Abstract: Agrotechnical method for Branch Cordon trained vine, for the mechanizable control of its growth, and yield; where in the branch cordon plantation a cordon arm supporting wire parallel with the direction of the stock row, preferably in 160-190 cm height is used; long canes are preferably cultivated every 10-30-40 cm from one another into producing twigs; characterised in that sprouting, yield and quality are regulated by the thinning of the main buds in the upper zone of the foliage wall, and the measure of thinning of the main buds thus producing twigs are cultivated having short shoots and short canes (which require no pruning), which appropriately reach near the ground, have off-shoots and sometimes grow higher than the cordon arm.

Abstract: A leaf stripper, more particularly for stripping vine leaves, includes a stripping head having an open-work rotary drum, a suction mechanism for generating a sucking air stream passing through the open-work cylindrical side wall of the drum, and mechanism for channeling the air stream through a portion modifying the wall. The invention is characterized in that a cutter is mounted proximate to the side wall portion of the rotary suction drum and oriented parallel or substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the latter, a guide track including an open-work endless belt winding on the rotary suction drum and on a second drum arranged in front of the suction drum.

Abstract: A mechanical harvester and harvesting method for harvesting crops grown on an overhead trellis system including a harvester frame having a top portion and opposing sides forming an open frame to allow crop bins or gondolas to pass under the top portion and through the harvester so that the harvester can continuously harvest an entire row of crops. The top portion of the harvester has crop separating mechanisms to dislodge the crop from the overhead plant canopy. The crop falls downward onto a conveyor belt assembly that transports the crop to the front of the harvester where it is deposited onto a pair of cross conveyor belts that conveys it to a central opening for depositing into the bin. A fan is utilized to blow air across the crop material to separate any plant debris from the crop prior to depositing the crop into the bin.

Abstract: A machine designed to remove grapes from the bunch before making wine. The machine contains a flat sieve capable of letting only the juice and the grapes pass therethrough by a toothed roller driven in axial rotation and containing separating fingers associated with the sieve and animated in relation to the sieve by a movement relative to translation in a direction parallel to the sieve allowing separation of grapes from the stalk by an ejection effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a beater rod assembly for a harvester comprising a central shaft configured at one end for attachment to a harvester and a plurality of beater rods, each comprising an elongated shaft having a first end attached to the central shaft and extending radially outward from the central shaft, wherein the elongated shaft of at least one of the beater rods comprises a rigid portion extending from the first end of the elongated shaft to an intermediate location along the elongated shaft and a flexible portion extending from the intermediate location to a second end of said elongated shaft.

Abstract: A system for removing a stem from fruit more quickly and safely than conventional stem removing systems. The system for removing a stem from fruit includes a head member for separating the stem from the fruit and a stand for holding the head member above a surface. The head member includes a base plate, a back plate and a pair of lateral side plates coupled together. The base plate includes at least one hole extending through an upper and lower surface of the base plate and at least one cutting portion formed over the hole. The back plate is removably coupled to the stand. The fruit is removably engaged in the cutting portion such that the fruit stem is removed from the fruit.

Abstract: In this harvesting machine using shaker members in the form of rods to shake the fruit-bearing bushes and harvest the fruit, each shaker rod has an elongate base part which has, in use, a required flexibility characteristic for the rod in a horizontal plane and which has an oblong cross-section whose height is greater than its width, said cross-section having two main geometrical axes which are respectively horizontal and vertical and dimensions of height and width such that its moment of area about the horizontal main axis is significantly greater than its moment of area about the vertical main axis and its height is less than a predefined value. The base part forms a core for the rod, which can further include a wear part which covers the core and which is made of a material and has a thickness such that the rod has flexibility characteristics in the horizontal and vertical planes that are practically unchanged relative to those of the core, even after substantial wear of the wear part.

Abstract: A plant engaging system comprising a rigid frame, a first drum assembly, a counterweight system, and a rotation system. The rigid frame assembly defines a reference axis. The first drum assembly comprises at least one drum member and at least one beater rod extending from the drum member. The drum member defines a first drum axis, and the first drum assembly is supported by the rigid frame such that the first drum axis is parallel to and spaced a first offset distance from the reference axis. The counterweight assembly has a center of gravity and is supported by the rigid frame such that the center of gravity is spaced a second offset distance from the reference axis. The rotation system causes the at least one drum member and the counterweight assembly to revolve around the reference axis. Revolution of the at least one drum member about the reference axis causes the beater rod to engage the plant to dislodge produce from the plant.

Abstract: A mechanical harvester and harvesting method for harvesting crops grown on an overhead trellis system including a harvester frame having a top portion and opposing sides forming an open frame to allow crop bins or gondolas to pass under the top portion and through the harvester so that the harvester can continuously harvest an entire row of crops. The top portion of the harvester has crop separating mechanisms to dislodge the crop from the overhead plant canopy. The crop falls downward onto a conveyor belt assembly that transports the crop to the front of the harvester where it is deposited onto a pair of cross conveyor belts that conveys it to a central opening for depositing into the bin. A fan is utilized to blow air across the crop material to separate any plant debris from the crop prior to depositing the crop into the bin.

Abstract: A fruit removal assembly forming part of a mobile fruit harvester has a single motor for orbiting two pairs of oppositely disposed panels to which are mounted a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers which penetrate a fruit tree canopy and dislodge fruit. The motor is coupled to the panels by a mechanical drive and thereby provides for synchronized simultaneous movement of the panels. The panels are coupled to a structural frame for supporting the panels and tethers fixed to an anchor positioned to space the tethers from the structural frame at an intermediate portion between the panels and the structural frame are provided to align the panels and mitigate the occurrence of collisions between orbiting panels.

Abstract: Machine for harvesting tree fruit comprising two parallel, vertical gantries joined at the bottom of their vertical side arms by longitudinal frames extending inward from the insides of the arms and joining the two arms on one side. A duct receives fruit conveyed by a screw container, to an end of the duct with a peeler. A rear storage container for peeled fruit is placed after the peeler. The two frames are separated by a distance slightly greater than the width of the trunk of the trees to be harvested. A longitudinally movably clamp for clamping a tree to be shaken is movable along a longitudinal guide on one of the frames. A feeler supported on one frame contacts the tree and activates the clamp to shake the tree.

Abstract: A vibratory shaker for mounting on a crop harvester framework for removing crops from vines, bushes, and trees has a crop foliage engaging brush that is driven directly about a brush rotation axis by a brush driving motor. The crop foliage engaging brush and the brush driving motor are supported for rotation on the crop harvester framework. The power for driving the brush driving motor is controlled to provide oscillatory motion subject to operator controlled frequency, amplitude and oscillatory wave shape.

Abstract: A harvesting apparatus for dislodging produce from trees comprising a support structure, a boom vertically placed where a first end is connected to the support structure, a positioning apparatus to position a second end of the boom radially from the first end, horizontal posts connected to the boom wherein a first post is positioned above a second post, crank arm rotatably connected between the horizontal posts along an axis where the crank arm has a plurality of elbows, one of a plurality of spools rotatably attached to the crank arm at each respective elbow whereby each spool is free to rotate axially, a plurality of wands axialy attached to each spool and spaced around each spool, and a rotating apparatus for rotating the crank arm about its axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides mobile agricultural machinery for use in the harvesting of root crops. The machinery (10) comprises a chassis (12) provided with wheels (14), root crop harvesting shares (18), and an elevator system (22) including at least one generally vertically extending portion for conveying tubers (40) or the like generally vertically upwards from a first level to a second level. The elevator system comprises first and second endless belts (24, 25) and drive means (30) therefor which drive said belts in counter-rotating directions so that opposed conveying surfaces of the belts are driven in a common direction so as to define a conveying passage (28) therebetween.

Abstract: A universal fruit-picking tool including a cage of a generally elliptical spheroid shape having a three-dimensional triangular opening in its upper half fitted with four cutters. Each cutter has a V-shaped gathering and cutting slot of unique design. The cage is supported by a tele-handle. The complex structure of the cage and cutters allows the new device to easily pick and, at the same time, safely catch the fruits, whatever the position of the tele-handle and the opening, which turn arbitrarily in three-dimensional coordination as the user desires. The general structure of the device is rigid, it does not dangle, it is aerodynamically shaped and agile and therefore it is possible to direct and push the device into the crown of fruit trees among close twigs, small branches and leaves in order to pick fruits easily.

Abstract: A tractor for over the row in line towing of a trailer along a row of plants, wherein either the trailer or the tractor itself has the capability of carrying mechanisms for performing certain operations on a row crop. Such mechanisms include crop harvesters, plant pruners, plant sprayers or device for tilling the ground adjacent the plant rows. Use of these mechanisms in sloping fields is specifically envisioned. A portion of the tractor is designed to carry these mechanisms and is maintained in a level configuration in fields of row crops without substantial elevation of the tractor center of gravity. The main elements of the tractor are kept near ground level for easy access in all types of row crop terrain, sloping or otherwise, so that fueling and maintenance tasks may be readily performed and ground access to an operator's station is always available.

Abstract: Machine for the selective harvest of berries, for example, machine for gathering grapes, of the type having a shaking system constituted by two berry picking assemblies each having a plurality of superposed gathering arms, characterized in that said shaking system is coupled to at least one driving electro-hydraulic device including at least one hydraulic jack controlled by a servovalve or by a proportional solenoid valve controlled by a microprocessor electronic control unit.

Abstract: A harvester especially for grapes wherein sets of beaters (4, 5) on each side of the harvester are adapted to be used in unison to effect a beating action to remove fruit from plants being harvested, with devices (35, 36) to change a relative position of respective pivot supports (29) for each respective set of the beaters (4, 5) while the sets of beaters (4, 5) are in a beating mode and operating. A hydraulic ram arrangement (35, 36) that facilitates this by being able to be over the grape collection area without hydraulic connection fittings and flywheels that are supported on sub frames in a way that will not unduly prejudice the beating action. An arrangement for detecting changes in pressure of the beaters and arranging for a change in position of support of the beaters in response.

Abstract: The harvester for picking up berries comprises a frame adapted to be driven in a field of berries, a comb mounted between opposite sides of the frame and comprising a plurality of teeth extending substantially in a horizontal position to seize branches of berries as the frame is driven in the field. The harvester is provided with a sweeping system mounted on the frame above the comb for sweeping the berries of the branches seized by the comb. The sweeping system preferably comprises a brush parallel to the comb and comprising a rotatable shaft operatively mounted between the opposite sides of the frame and a plurality of bristles circumferencially distributed around the shaft.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A harvester especially for grape harvesting that has a picking head which includes a support frame and picking rods of fingers to contact the leaves and stems in the canopy of a grape vine to thereby shake the vines to remove grapes. The picking head includes one or more oscillation aims pivotably connected to the support frame on a respective pivot axis to allow oscillation about the respective pivot axis. The oscillation arms are pivotably connected with a respective picking rod or ringer support by a connection, so that the respective picking rod support is driven by the oscillation arm to oscillate in a picking direction. An oscillation flywheel is mounted on the oscillation are to impart an oscillating moment on the oscillation arm and the oscillation flywheel connected solely with the one or each of the oscillation arms.

Abstract: A system for harvesting fruit from vertical plants arranged in rows. The system comprises a frame having two frame portions arranged on opposite sides of a given row during harvesting. A front wheel and one back wheel are mounted on one of the frame portions, and the other back wheel is mounted on the other wheel portion. A shaker system and collecting system are arranged on the frame to dislodge and collect the fruit. The collecting system defines an entryway through which the plants pass relative to the harvesting system during harvesting. The front wheel is arranged forward of the entryway and significantly increases the maneuverability of the harvesting system.

Abstract: A harvester (10) includes a separator (22) to help separate unwanted plant material from a crop. Separator (22) includes a series of paddles (46) which are rotated in unison by a drive system (50). The crop, which will often comprise a vine or tree crop, and which will ideally comprise raisins (14), falls between rotating paddles (46). Plant materials, such as cane (60), is transported by the tops of the rotating paddles from over cane separator (22).

Abstract: A harvester (10) includes a harvester head (12) to harvest a crop from a crop plant. Harvester head (12) includes a series of rods (32) which orbit about associated shafts (52) when driven by a drive system (50). The crop, which will often comprise a vine or tree crop, and which will ideally comprise raisins (14), is detached from a plant such as vines (16) by translating harvester head (12) along the vines so that orbiting rods (32) comb laterally through the plant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for harvesting fruit determines the proportion of fruit in a mixture of products containing fruit and bodies foreign to the fruit by capturing at least one initial image of a surface of the mixture to be examined. The device then assigns to each image pixel of one of two extreme grey levels according to the initial grey level of the pixel relative to a set threshold and then records the number of pixels of at least one extreme grey level to determine a area ratio between areas occupied by fruit and foreign bodies in the image. The invention has particular application to the harvesting of fruit, berries and the like produced on trees or bushes grown in rows to use the calculated proportion of fruit to adapt at least one of the functioning parameters of the machine.

Abstract: A coupling assembly is provided which allows for a dual pressure release during impaction of an obstruction during insertion of a picking arm into a canopy of a fruit tree. A first yielding occurs when a predetermined first level of resistance is encountered. If the obstruction is cleared and the resistance pressure falls below the first level of resistance the picking arm is returned to the normal deployed position. If the resistance level continues to climb and exceeds a predetermined second level of resistance the coupling assembly releases the arm to reduce the resistance pressure previously obtained while preventing any further resistance pressure from being generated. This acts to significantly reduce the opportunity that damage will occur to either the machinery or to the fruit tree. The possibility of multiple picking members is explained.

Abstract: The pepper harvester has a harvester head with a head frame that is attached to a harvester frame. Each row unit has a right row frame that is pivotally attached to the head frame and a left row unit that is pivotally attached to the head frame. Both row frames carry a helical bar assembly that rotates about a fore and aft axis and forms a slot for the passage of pepper plants, forward ground engaging members, and a forward plant feeder with fingers that rotate about a generally vertical axis and extend through vertically spaced slots in a cylindrical member. Snout assemblies with lower edge ledges for lifting low fruit, direct plants into the feeder fingers and the helical bars. The harvesting head has conveyor assemblies that convey fruit to a shredder for shredding stems, a roller bed for removing stems, a fanning mill and a fruit sizer.

Abstract: An array of foliage contacting rods having a certain stiffness and trunk contacting rods having a greater stiffness is assembled in combination for mounting on an oscillatory shaker head configured to be carried over row cultivated crops by a mobile harvester to effect crop harvesting by both foliage shaking and trunk shaking using a single shaker head. Moreover, the number of rods of each type may be varied to suit harvesting conditions while the oscillatory shaker head remains in place in the mobile harvester and the stiffness of each rod is adjustable within limits to further conform to harvesting conditions. The rod array in one embodiment provides simultaneous harvesting of multiple rows of a crop cultivated in parallel row configuration.

Abstract: A blueberry harvester comprising a platform mountable behind an agricultural tractor. The platform has a post near the harvesting side thereof with a jib-boom crane mounted on that post. There is also provided a blueberry picking head having riggings connected to the jib-boom crane and a pair of conveyors connected to the picking head for conveying the blueberries withdrawn from blueberry plants, from the picking head to a region over the platform. A hinged frame is pivotally mounted on the post, and connected to the conveyors for supporting the conveyors. The hinged frame with the conveyors supported thereon are movable from a harvesting position alongside the harvesting side of the tractor to a stowed position over the platform near the harvesting side. The jib-boom crane is movable with the picking head suspended thereto from a position along the harvesting side of the tractor, to a space over the platform between the stowed position of the conveyors and the harvested side of the platform.

Abstract: A fruit harvesting machine is provided which may mechanically harvest fruit from fruit trees. Means are provided for a transport assembly to carry an arm housing member which has installed thereon a plurality of arms. The arm housing member provides for repetitive displacement of the arms into and out of a canopy of the fruit trees. Means are provided for arms to deflect during insertion and withdrawal relative to the arm housing member in the event that the respective arm encounters a deflecting obstruction. Means are provided for arms to yield during insertion relative to the arm housing member in the event that the respective arm encounters an impacting obstruction. These actions, both the deflecting and the yielding, act to prevent damage to either the fruit tree or the machine. A plurality of picking fingers, each having unique engaging qualities, extend from each arm.

Abstract: An apparatus for harvesting food from plants comprising a housing with drive mechanisms. Such mechanisms are provided with at least one shaft rotatable with respect to the housing about a first axis, each shaft having a plurality of fingers mounted thereon. Further provided are components for linearly reciprocating each shaft along a second axis generally perpendicular with respect to the first axis.

Abstract: A fruit harvester comprising a plurality of oscillating fruit removal heads to selectively engage and vibrate the periphery of selected fruit-bearing sections of a fruit tree canopy thereby causing the fruit to break away from the fruit tree canopy wherein the oscillating fruit removal heads are pivotally coupled to an articulated telescoping boom mounted on a self propelled chassis including a plurality of fruit collection aprons and an internal fruit storage bin such that manipulation of the articulated telescoping boom permits engagement of isolated areas of the outer peripheral fruit-bearing sections of the fruit tree canopy by the oscillating fruit removal heads, each oscillating fruit removal head comprising a plurality of agitation wands rotatably and eccentrically coupled to a drive shaft of a motor such that rotation of the drive shaft is translated into lateral orbital motion of the oscillating fruit removal heads and a corresponding periodic motion of the isolated area of the peripheral fruit-beari

Abstract: A self-propelled mechanical harvester for harvesting above ground crops includes a shaker assembly that operates in a single plane. The shaker will oscillate from side to side in the plane without pivoting of the plane around a pivot point. The assembly includes crop contacting rods in one embodiment and crop contacting striker bars in another embodiment. The force used to impart the oscillatory motion to the shaker is supplied by a force balance shaker using two weights operating at the same frequency of rotation, in opposite directions. The weights are timed and maintained in time by a geared relationship to produce maximum force laterally outboard and no force in a direction corresponding to the machine's direction of travel.

Abstract: The invention provides a picker attachment and apparatus having the attachment for picking olives. The picker attachment includes a base and a plurality of longitudinally-extending spindles carried by and extending forwardly therefrom. Each spindle is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The spindles are caused to rotate in unison by a spindle coupler. Each of the spindles has at least one longitudinally-extending elongate flat portion, each elongate flat portion having a longitudinally-extending edge being a radially peripheral edge of the spindle, the edge defining a longitudinally-extending flange disposed generally perpendicularly to the plane of the planar flat portion, whereby the spindles can receive a transversely-extending olive-bearing branch therebetween and engage and remove olives from the branch while rotating.

Abstract: A harvester for tree borne fruit is disclosed wherein a power driven vehicle is provided for following a course adjacent and parallel to a row of fruit trees. The vehicle carries a vibratory brush having tines for engaging and shaking the tree's fruit bearing branches. The brush is yieldably held in engagement with the fruit bearing branches and is adjustable in three aspects, elevation, tilt angle and lateral position, to assume an optimum position relative to the row of trees. A brake is provided to control a net rotation speed of the vibratory brush within the branches. A resilient screen deflects randomly projected harvested fruit toward a harvested fruit catch apparatus. The tines are covered with an optimally designed resilient cover for reducing cullage in the harvested fruit.

Abstract: A cranberry harvesting machine (20) including a main frame (22) supported by a wheel assembly (24) is provided. A harvesting assembly (26) is attached to the forward end of the main frame (22). A motor (M) is supported by the main frame (22) and includes a rotational output via a drive wheel (30). The drive wheel (30) drives both the harvesting assembly (26) and the wheel assembly (24). To accomplish this, a separate drive assembly (32) is interconnected between the drive wheel (30) and the wheel assembly (24) in order to operate the wheel assembly (24) independently of the harvesting assembly (26). The separate drive assembly (32) includes a transmission (34) having multiple operative modes and variable rotational output speeds.

Abstract: The invention provides a harvester that applies continuous contact between the plant to be harvested and harvesting rails, which thus reduces damage to the plant. The harvester uses a hydraulic system which causes the rails to provide a constant gripping force against the plants when in a float position of the hydraulic system. The system also has a spread setting and may or may not have a third static setting.