Abstract: A raisin harvesting machine adapted to harvest raisins from vines where the raisin bunches are positioned in an upwardly and outwardly extending growing plane. The machine has a beater rod assembly which is positioned at a lateral slant so as to have a substantial alignment component parallel to growing zone of the raisins. In some embodiments, the machine moves along one row, the beater rod assembly moves into and out of the crop row in a harvesting motion. When the harvesting machine moves at an opposite direction along an adjacent row, the beater assembly is moved to an opposite side of the harvesting machine so as to be properly positioned to engage the raisins in the second crop row.

Abstract: A crop tending machine and method to automatically steer a harvesting machine and provide warning to the operator when there is a gap sensed in a crop row. The machine comprises a chassis that moves along a crop row axis, a location sensing member, a steerable wheel, and a control mechanism. The sensing member senses a distance of the machine from the axis. The steerable wheel has first and second predetermined angular positions that are angularly displaced by predetermined amounts from a straight ahead steering position.

Abstract: A drive system to move a moveable beater assembly of a harvesting machine in a back and forth movement comprises a housing, a drive, and a drive compensating component. The drive drives the beater assembly in a back and forth movement so that a beater assembly force is exerted on the housing, this force being directed along an alignment axis. The drive compensating component comprises first and second eccentrically revolving weights mounted to the housing for rotation. It further comprises a drive transmission to rotate the first and second weights to produce a net compensating force that is colinear with the alignment axis. In a timed relationship with the back and forth movement of the beater assembly, the net compenating force opposes colinearly the beater assembly force, whereby an equilibrium of the housing is able to be maintained.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester for rowed crops, such as berry bushes, includes a wheeled chassis having an enclosure formed by a pair of upstanding fore and aft extending sidewalls. The harvester is driven in a manner that the berry bushes enter the front of the enclosure and exit from the rear. A stabilizing and displacing assembly is located toward the front of the enclosure to dislodge the fruit from the bushes when the bushes are within the enclosure, and to minimize any dislodging of fruit forward or rearward of the enclosure. The fruit is dislodged by a side-to-side transverse movement of the bush which is caused by a set of middle displacing rods. The bush is stabilized by forward and rearward stabilizing rods which act in opposition to the middle displacing rods. Such rods are independently adjustable at upper and lower ends thereof toward and away from the bushes.

Abstract: A system carried in a harvesting machine and adapted to align crops in a row so as to enhance harvesting, comprises a crop aggregating means which aggregates the crops by bringing first and second crop engaging means into engagement with right and left sides of the crops as the crops pass rearwardly. The system further comprises a locomotion means, which provides the main locomotion for the harvesting machine, an aggregating drive means to drive the crop engaging means rearwardly and a control means, connected together in a fluid circuit. The control means comprises a pressure differential valve, and first and second sensors. The pressure sensors are adapted to sense first and second fluid pressures, respectively, at first and second sides of the aggregating drive means and to actuate the pressure differential valve. The pressure differential valve relieves pressure in the fluid circuit when there is a pre-determined pressure difference between the first and second fluid pressures.