Abstract: A mobile hop picking machine is provided with independently elevatable wheels. The picker straddles a trellis to position opposing picking cats on either side of the vines. Front and rear banks of picking hooks move upwardly to pick the hops. A bank of resilient raking tines comb the vines upwardly between the picking banks. The picking cats are pivoted about their front edges and are supported for transverse movement on their rear edges. Cylinders urge the rear of the cats toward the vines. A contact member connected to the cat moves the cat transversely, to avoid cat contact with poles, against a biased mounting provided for the hydraulic cylinder. Longitudinal conveyors transport the hops rearwardly and upwardly. A squeeze conveyor floats on a top support over the elevating end of the longitudinal conveyors. An alternate arrangement intersperses the raking tines and picking hooks.

Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting berries on low plants incorporating means enabling the machine to accommodate the rugged terrain often encountered during use. The apparatus efficiently picks low bush berries such as blueberries, with a minimum of damage both to the plants and the berries. The apparatus can be connected to and powered from a wide range of conventional farm tractors. The harvester is rugged and durable and reasonable in cost.

Abstract: An improved shaking mechanism for small fruits is described. The shaker comprises panels of radially spaced flexible rods which are oscillated by a positive displacement, direct drive that gives more uniform acceleration and displacement along the length of the rods than do conventional inertia and cam-drive shakers. Shaker design is mechanically simple and reliable.

Abstract: There is disclosed a seed-crop harvester which has been converted to provide elevation of the seed from the separation to a storage bin by a bucket-type elevator and discharge of the seeds from the storage bin laterally and downwardly into a hopper on a belt-type conveyor. The conversion eliminates or minimizes attrition which previously occurred when the seeds were dragged in contact with a metal surface in the screw- and drag-type conveyors and elevators previously used. Details of construction and mounting of the bucket-type elevator and the pivotal mounting of the belt-type conveyor with its hopper and flexible hood as well as other significant aspects of the invention are fully disclosed.

Abstract: A horizontal force balance shaker includes a horizontal shaking head supported for horizontal movement by parallelogram linkages. Counterweights are secured to concentric shafts for rotation at the same speed in opposite directions about an axis thereby causing the shaker head to oscillate horizontally. The axis may be oriented horizontally or vertically, and the shaking head may be advantageously used in row crop harvesters such as grape harvesters.

Abstract: A berry picker, especially for blueberries, is equipped with a plurality of picking units forming at least one row of picking units in a picking head movably carried by a mobile support chassis. Each picking unit has its own picking conveyor carrying a plurality of picking combs. Each picking conveyor is supported by its own picking frame. All the picking frames are carried by a mounting frame or carriage floatingly mounted on the mobile support chassis. Each picking frame is movably supported by the floating mounting frame or carriage for automatically lifting each picking frame individually by a respective first power lifter in response to an obstacle signal representing the ground condition. The ground condition signal is sensed by a ground sensor provided individually for each picking unit. The floating movement of the mounting frame is accomplished by separate second power lifters in response to further sensors or in response to a manual operator control.

Abstract: In order to enable the shaker members (11) of this harvesting machine to adapt to the thickness of the vegetation on fruit trees and bushes, each shaker member has both ends attached to a support (14) which reciprocates transversely relative to the longitudinal mid axis (12) of the machine, and is constituted by a rod (11) made of a highly flexible material suitable for being curved into an arcuate shape with the convex side of the arc being directed towards the longitudinal mid axis (12). At least one end of each flexible rod (11) is attached to its support (14) at a point (19) which is capable of moving a certain distance in a direction which is substantially parallel to said longitudinal mid axis.

Abstract: In order to ensure well controlled speed and amplitude of motion of the shaker members (11) of this harvesting machine, while still allowing said shaker members to adapt well individually to the thickness of the vegetation of fruit trees and bushes, the shaker members are constituted by rods (11) made of a material having a high degree of flexibility, and the rods are curved into an arcuate shape with its convex side facing towards the longitudinal mid axis (12) of the machine. The ends of the flexible rods (11) are held at a substantially constant distance from said longitudinal mid axis, and a control mechanism (20) is provided to cause the curvature of the flexible rods to vary cyclically about an average value of curvature in such a manner that one of said flexible rods has its maximum value of curvature when the corresponding flexible rod on the opposite side has its minimum value of curvature, and vice versa.

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.

Abstract: A harvester for harvesting green peanuts is moved along a peanut bed. A plant conveyor using an angled pair of back-to-back V-belts is arranged to cause the belts to grip the stem area of peanut plants and, as the belts move rearward and the harvester moves forward, the plants are pulled from the bed. Picking elements having a plurality of toothed picking combs move laterally beneath the belts, contacting the plant root structure and removing the peanuts therefrom. Means are provided for removing dirt from the roots, transporting picked peanuts to a storage bin and storing the peanuts therein.

Abstract: A picking head for a mechanical grape harvester, the picking head having an oscillatable frame and a pair of opposed shaker rails supported on and below the picking head frame. Two sets of longitudinally spaced counterweights are mounted on the picking head frame for rotation about vertical axes, each set including upper and lower eccentric weights. The weights are rotated so that the longitudinal forces cancel out and the transverse forces are additive. The rotative forces of the upper and lower weights in each set are 180.degree. out of phase with each other and related to each other in magnitude so as to minimize the amount of transverse reactive force transmitted from the picking head to the main frame of the harvester. A link suspension enables the center of oscillation of the picking head to be below the picking head frame.

Abstract: An olive picker with a rotor of spaced hooked tines in a picking head, at the top of an elongated, manually manipulatable handle, is provided with a set of such rotors having tines of different dimensions and spacing. Quick release, spring biased shaft rods on each rotor enable easy substitution of rotors for different sized olives. A variable speed control is provided on the handle, within easy reach of the operator to produce a range of from 15 rpm to 75 rpm to conform to the age, skill or physical condition of the operator.

Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting field crops such as jojoba comprising a mobile chassis, an enclosure mounted on the chassis, at least one array of radially extending tines arranged for engagement with growing plants, apparatus for rotating the at least one array, apparatus for oscillating the at least one array, and apparatus mounted on the movable chassis for collecting produce separated from the growing plants by the action of the tines in engagement therewith.

Abstract: A stripper type harvesting machine has a forward harvesting header that carries a plurality of modular independently vertically shiftable stripping units at the front end of the header for engaging the upper seed bearing portions of a standing crop as the machine advances over the field. Each stripping unit comprises an axially transverse rotor having a plurality of disk-like stripping elements mounted side-by-side on the rotor, each stripping element including a hub and a relatively thin annular web portion coaxially mounted on the hub. A plurality of ribs project laterally from the opposite sides of the web portion and extend outwardly from the hub to the periphery of the stripping element.

Abstract: A vine stabilizing attachment for a vine row crop upright harvester comprises a pair of support beams configured for mounting on opposite sides of the infeed throat portion of the harvester, the support beams mounting a stabilizer apparatus arranged to engage a portion of a vine row forwardly of the shaker mechanism of the harvester and support said forward portion of the vine row against movement during shaking of vines rearwardly thereof by the shaking mechanism of the harvester. The stabilizer apparatus may be pairs of rods, or plates arranged to press vines between them to prevent them from shaking while adjacent rearward vines are being shaken to harvest the fruit. The stabilizer apparatus alternatively may be vine wire dampener rollers arranged to bear against the vine wire forwardly of the portion of the vine row being shaken.

Abstract: 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 a single hydraulic motor communicated with the 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.

Abstract: Cordon-trained grape vines are pruned by positioning circular saw blades to form a cutting path of predetermined size and shape above and on both sides of the horizontal trellis wire on which the cordons are trained and by translating the cutting path along the trellis wire while maintaining the size and shape of the cutting path substantially constant, while maintaining the sides of the cutting path centered on the cordons and maintaining the upper part of the cutting path at a desired height above the cordons.

Abstract: Cane-berry harvesting apparatus transportable relative to a generally vertically disposed row of vines. Beaters are pivotally mounted on a harvester frame for swinging in arcs toward and away from a vine-receiving zone disposed within the frame. A reciprocating driver, mounted for selectable position adjustment on the frame, is connected to the beater for reciprocatively swinging the latter in a known arc in the zone. Means are included for selectively adjusting the position of the drive means relative to the frame in a manner varying the position of the beater arc within the zone. Opposing sets of beaters may be disposed in the vine-receiving zone for reciprocating in arcs which are disposed in mirror-image relationship relative to the vertical plane of the vine-receiving zone. These beaters are adjustable by adjusting the driver relative to the frame for adjusting the distance between the corresponding opposing arcs.

Abstract: A harvesting apparatus and method which are preferably employed for harvesting coffee berries are disclosed. The apparatus includes rotating spindles with helicoidal threads. In one embodiment, the spindles are driven by a motor, and in a second embodiment, the spindles rotate for engaging the berries or the branch as the operator moves the apparatus along a branch. The embodiment without a motor drive is ultra-light and may be operated without fatigue. The threads are designed to pull the fruit to be harvested off a branch and throw it free of the apparatus. The fruit may be collected by placing a net on the ground so that the fruit falls into it. In a preferred embodiment a small basket surrounds the rotating spindles to catch harvested berries.

Abstract: There is disclosed a crop harvester for strawberries or other fruits or vegetables including a wheeled vehicle, preferably self propelled, adapted to pass along beds or rows of the crop and having a rotating perforated support element with hollow retractible fingers mounted over its perforations; the peripheral speed of the support element is approximately the same as the vehicle wheels. A fan or other air mover supplies vacuum pressure and positive pressure to ducts connected through the interior of said support element to said fingers; those fingers in a direction to contact the crop are connected to vacuum pressure. Fingers preceding such fingers are connected to positive pressure to eject the collected crop onto a conveyor leading to a collection receptacle.

Abstract: A harvester for picking cucumbers that is effective and cost efficient on small, "pickling" cucumbers is mountable on a tractor frame for a conventional mechanical pickle harvester between a vine cutter and pinch roller mechanism. The harvester comprises a pickup mechanism at the front of the harvester for picking up severed cucumber vines and a conveying and fruit removal mechanism that conveys the vines rearwardly between the pick-up mechanism to the pinch roller mechanism, while at the same time gently dislodging fruit from the vines and thinning and defoliating the vines so as to improve the action of the pinch roller mechanism. The conveying and fruit removal mechanism includes a rotating paddle mechanism comprising cushioned gum rubber paddle blades that rotate in the direction of vine travel and strike the fruit as the vines are conveyed over the paddles.

Abstract: A process and apparatus applicable to solid-set fruit growth such as strawberries in which a single harvest applies to an entire solid-set field and the harvest does not destroy the plants but separates foliage and trash from the fruit in an aerodynamic sequence and subsequent singulation of the fruit occurs under conditions of aerodynamic levitation of the fruits and clusters at the point of cropping connective tendrils.

Abstract: Harvesting apparatus for produce such as paprika comprising a chassis, a pick-up and primary separation assembly mounted on the chassis and including first and second helical elements, each including an elongate helical portion and a tip portion, and side conveyors for raising separated produce; and separation means including rollers for grasping at least a portion of a plant and adjacent rotating apparatus for engaging the produce thereon for separation thereof from the plant.

Abstract: An apparatus primarily adapted for removing cranberries from vines in a flooded bog bed includes a self-propelled, wheeled chassis and at least a pair of forwardly mounted, transversely extending reel assemblies. Each reel assembly includes a support frame having a base portion and a pair of arms. A reel is rotatably supported on the arms of the support frame. The reel includes an elongated shaft and a plurality of spaced discs interconnected by rods. A trunnion drive motor is secured to one of the arms and is directly coupled to the shaft to rotate the reel during harvesting operations. The base portion of the frame is pivotally secured to a spindle support arm at a free end thereof. The opposite end of the spindle support arm is pivoted to the wheeled chassis. The reels may pivot about an axis transverse to the base portion of the frame and move vertically to conform to the bog bed.

Abstract: An apparatus for harvesting seed cones from a tree has a lower guide portion with an opening for freely embracing the trunk of the tree while permitting vertical movement of the apparatus with respect to the tree. There is an upper cone receiving portion having a rotatable cone remover with a plurality of outwardly extending members for separating cones from the tree. Preferably, the cone remover has a roll portion. The outwardly extending members extend generally radially from the roll portion and are resilient and wire-like.

Abstract: The method including the steps of growing plants supported on a structure with pendant portions of the plants extending downwardly therefrom and moving the pendant portions of the plants upwardly over the plants prior to harvest. The apparatus having a conveyor with a grasping section operable to introduce the pendant portions to the conveyor for transport therealong and a releasing section operable to release the pendant portions from the conveyor and a mount borne by the conveyor for securing the conveyor on a vehicle for transport along the plants with the grasping section deployed for contact with the pendant portions and the releasing section disposed above the plants for releasing the pendant portions on to the plants.

Abstract: A collector leaf construction for a grape harvester or the like including a generally planar body portion having an inner end, a concave leading edge, a convex trailing edge, and a convex outer edge, a pivot mounting at the inner end, a reinforcing plate at the inner end, and fasteners for securing the reinforcing plate to the body portion at the inner end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for mechanically removing loose debris from harvesters such as grape harvesters moving along a row of living plants from which it dislodges grapes along with elongated canes and other debris, all of which are collected and moved rearwardly of the harvester to a debris collecting point. The grapes and some debris are then moved transversely outward from the living plants. At least one vine engaging finger is moved through the collecting point for engaging long pieces of debris, such as canes, and deflecting the canes into snagging engagement with the plants which pull the canes and other debris attached thereto free of the harvester as the harvester moves away from the snagged canes.

Abstract: A device for harvesting fruits or berries, particularly grapes, for in-line crops is of the type formed by a vehicle on which are rotatably mounted "hedgehog" drums with fingers or whips penetrating into the vegetation and dislodging the fruits. The drums are subdivided into superimposed coaxial elements each comprising a hub fixed on a vertical drive shaft and forming a variable angle with this latter and sleeves mounted freely rotatable on these hubs and also sloping by the same angle, these hubs carrying fingers and a support for rotatably driven vibrating inertia blocks. This device causes vibration of said fingers, which is adjustable by adjusting the rotational speed of the shaft, by varying the angle and the clearance of the inertia blocks, which vibration is the resultant of the vertical component and a horizontal component adjustable independently of each other.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for harvesting a row of grapevines, a pair of opposed parallel striker bars are pivoted back and forth transversely of the row of grapevines about an axis that is situated over the plants and that extends parallel to the direction of travel of the harvester. The front ends of the striker bars are supported by a front shaker frame, and the rear ends of the striker bars are supported by a rear shaker frame that is free to pivot independently of the front shaker frame. Dual-eccentric-weight oscillatory drives are mounted to the front and rear shaker frames. Various drive arrangements are disclosed for rotating the eccentric weights on the front and rear shaker frames at different frequencies, amplitudes or phase relationships, as desired. Due to the different motions of the front and rear ends of the opposed striker bars, the bars impart a varying shaking action on the grapevines as the bars are translated forwardly relative to the grapevines.

Abstract: A multi-purpose harvester for plants such as grapes or the like is disclosed and utilizes front and rear force balanced shaker units for minimizing the weight and expense of the harvester. Depending upon the type and varieties of crops being harvested, the harvester may be easily modified to operate as a foliage shaker alone with the front and rear shakers being driven either by a single motor or by separate motors; or the harvester may be easily modified to operate as a combination foliage and trunk shaker which is powered by a single motor or by front and rear motors selectively driven at speeds found to be most effective to dislodge the crop from the plants.

Abstract: A machine for field harvesting of peppers or pepper fruit comprising a mobile frame movable over a field having spaced rows of pepper plants. A picking assembly is carried by the frame, comprising a structure formed to straddle a row of the plants. Means is carried adjacent the advancing end of the structure for upwardly straightening the plants. Dual means extends rearwardly of the straightening means for repeatedly impacting both sides of the plant as the structure advances over the same. Conveyor means receives the fruit that is removed from the plant and serves to convey the same to the rear of the structure. Additional means disposed between the plant straightening means and the advancing end of the conveyor means for picking up fruit located at or near the ground surface and for delivering the same to the conveying means.

Abstract: A harvester for shaking a grape vine to remove grapes therefrom. A harvesting vehicle includes a pivotally mounted picking head suspended over in straddling fashion a row of grape vines. A pair of swingably mounted and oppositely aligned contact members are reciprocated in unison back and forth against opposite sides of the grape vine. The contact members are driven by a pair of cranks in turn rotated by a motor. A pair of counterweights rotate in unison with but in an opposite direction by its associated crankshaft in turn driving the crank arm and contact member.

Abstract: A brushing machine for grapevines is disclosed made up of rotating brushes supported on a frame that is supported on a tractor. Each brushing mechanism has several brushes with radially extending bristles rotatably supported on a vertically and horizontally adjustable frame. The brushes are individually driven and pass along both sides of a grape trellis. The frame supporting the axles of the brushes may be swung to adjust the angle of the brushes to the ground for any particular tractor speed, so that as the tractor moves forward and the brushes rotate, the resultant motion relative to the trellis of the tips of the brush straws is in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A grape harvesting apparatus has a portal-type chassis adapted to travel along the ground in a predetermined direction and having two vertical supports elongated in the direction and at least limitedly horizontally movable on the chassis. These supports normally flank an upright median plane extending in the chassis travel direction. Respective pluralities of vertically spaced and horizontally extending beater wires on the supports each have relative to the travel direction a front wire end attached to the respective support, a forward wire portion inclined inward and backward toward the plane, a rear wire portion generally parallel to the plane, and a rear wire end attached to the respective support behind the respective front end. A drive is provided on the chassis for synchronously and oppositely displacing the supports with the respective beater wires transverse to the travel direction while maintaining the supports generally parallel. Thus grapes will be shaken from grape vines between the beater wires.

Abstract: Harvesting apparatus for harvesting fruit, berries, and similar produce, including at least on vibratable shaker head assembly positioned to each side of a central longitudinal axis of the apparatus so that the shaker head assemblies are not transversely aligned but are in staggered relationship with respect to each other to each side of the longitudinal horizontal axis. Each shaker head assembly has a plurality of harvesting fingers which are subjected to rotational and vibrational movement by the shaker heads and, in use of the apparatus, the harvesting fingers come into contact and penetrate produce bearing plants or bushes and remain substantially continuously in contact with the plants and bushes as the apparatus moves through or over the plants or bushes, thereby subjecting the plants or bushes to continuous vibrations and shaking to cause fruit, berries or like produce to be dislodged therefrom.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a coffee harvester incorporating a mobile frame having extendable and rotatable wheel supporting hydraulic struts; opposed tined shaker with successive shaker arrays being mounted in an offset relation so that the tips trace a helix; fruit catching conveyor being propelled so that the conveying reach moves in the opposite direction but at the same speed as the harvester advances; inclining selected arrays of tines to enhance bean removal and a cleaning arrangement for removing twigs and leaves from the fruit.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that in a vegetable harvesting machine, primarily a sweet pepper harvesting machine, comprising a frame which mounts lifters designed to align the plants being harvested and guide them onto a fruit remover provided with an eccentric drive, and further comprising a system of conveyers for delivering the removed fruits outside the machine, said fruit remover is constructed as two walkers installed some distance apart and arranged to oscillate in antiphase, said walkers being attached to the lifters at one end and to the eccentric drive at the other. Each of said walkers is constructed as a rigid plate tapering toward the lifters. The throat between the walkers is adjustable.

Abstract: In a method of and apparatus for harvesting a row of grapevines, a pair of opposed parallel striker bars are pivoted back and forth transversely of the row of grapevines about an axis that is situated over the plants and that extends parallel to the direction of travel of the harvester. The front ends of the striker bars are supported by a front shaker frame, and the rear ends of the striker bars are supported by a rear shaker frame that is free to pivot independently of the front shaker frame. Dual-eccentric-weight oscillatory drives are mounted to the front and rear shaker frames. Various drive arrangements are disclosed for rotating the eccentric weights on the front and rear shaker frames at different frequencies, amplitudes or phase relationships, as desired. Due to the different motions of the front and rear ends of the opposed striker bars, the bars impart a varying shaking action on the grapevines as the bars are translated forwardly relative to the grapevines.

Abstract: An improved direct-loading crop harvester for vine crops is disclosed as having a shaker head capable of being rotatively oscillated about its axis and having tines adapted to engage the vines of the crop to be harvested. A support conveyor is provided to support the vines while the tines of the shaker head shake the fruit therefrom. A collector conveyor is provided to collect the fruit as it falls from the vines and to transport the fruit for further processing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tractor drawn device for harvesting fruits such as berries and coffee. A harvesting device is mounted on a frame structure supporting a vertically disposed tined shaker unit and a power pack, preferably a hydraulic pump driven by a diesel engine, that imparts rotation to unbalanced weights by a hydraulic motor. The towed frame mounting the shaker unit includes levelling devices for maintaining the central axis of the shaker unit substantially vertical.

Abstract: A grape harvester for harvesting grapes from vines having cane thereon in shielding relationship to grape bearing portions of the vines including a frame, harvesting members mounted on the frame for effectively engaging the grape bearing portions of the vines to harvest grapes therefrom, and cane lifters on the frame for lifting the cane out of the path of the harvesting members to thereby permit direct access of the harvesting members to the grape bearing portions of the vines and/or to the cordon wires which support the grape bearing portions of the vines. The cane lifters can be in the form of a chain conveyor, or a walking beam arrangement, or a rotating screw-like member, or a lifting rod.

Abstract: A harvester for shaking a grape vine to remove grapes therefrom. A harvesting vehicle includes a pivotally mounted picking head suspended over in straddling fashion a row of grape vines. A pair of swingably mounted and oppositely aligned contact members are reciprocated in unison back and forth against opposite sides of the grape vine. The contact members are driven by a pair of cranks in turn rotated via a belt and motor combination. A pair of counterweight shafts rotatably mounted within the head have off-centered counterweights with each shaft being rotated in unison with but in an opposite direction by its associated crankshaft in turn driving the crank arm and contact member. Horizontal force from the rotating counterweights are additive to forces from additional counterweights associated with the rotating crank arms to neutralize oppositely directed forces from the reciprocating contact members.

Abstract: An adjustable mechanism for the spoke-carrying shaft of a harvesting machine for blueberries and other plants including a first shaft for receiving rotary motion, a second shaft offset from and parallel to the first shaft, harvesting spokes mounted in tiers on and projecting radially from the second shaft, a first screw adjustment for varying the distance between the first and second shafts to thereby vary the orbit of the second shaft, counterweight members mounted relative to the second shaft, second screw adjustments for varying the positions of the counterweight members to correspond with the adjusted position of the second shaft to thereby balance the second shaft in all adjusted positions thereof, with certain of the spokes having their outer ends inclined upwardly relative to the horizontal while other spokes have their outer ends inclined downwardly relative to the horizontal so that the projection of the outer ends of the spokes in a vertical direction provides relatively great vertical coverage of t

Abstract: A method for harvesting fruit from a row crop trained on a trellis wire and an apparatus having a vehicle adapted for earth traversing movement along a row crop supported on a trellis wire, a striking member having an end portion, an assembly mounting the striking member on the vehicle with said end portion disposed for movement with the vehicle along a course adjacent to the trellis wire and for reciprocal movement in a path to and from engagement with the trellis wire, and a mechanism connected in driving relation to the striking member for reciprocating the striking member to move the end portion thereof in the path repeatedly to strike the trellis wire to shake the fruit from the row crop.

Abstract: A harvesting apparatus for plants grown in rows, such as grapes, includes a vehicle having a support frame of an inverted U-shape and a shaker frame that also has an inverted U-shape and that is pivotally mounted to the vehicle support frame about a single axis that is parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle. Striker bars are rigidly attached in spaced, opposing and parallel relation at the lower end of the shaker frame and at a height above ground level to engage the trunk of the plants. A non-positive oscillatory drive mechanism is attached to the upper end of the shaker frame to rock the frame about the single pivot axis to cause the striker bars to alternately impact opposite sides of the trunks. The drive mechanism consists of two eccentric weights rotatably mounted to the shaker frame above and equidistantly spaced from the pivot axis so that the center of gravity of the shaker frame, weights and other elements attached to the shaker frame is approximately coincidental with the pivot axis.

Abstract: A harvesting machine for berries and fruits such as coffee beans and blackcurrants includes at least one tined shaker oscillating about a vertical or substantially vertical axis. The shaker is oscillated by out-of-balance weights and a shaft supporting the weights is not itself driven, the drive to the weights being effected through a sleeve surrounding the shaft and toothed belts.

Abstract: A grape picking machine is disclosed which includes a device for detaching a grape harvest, a sealing device positioned at the level of grapevine trunks for recovering the grape harvest and preventing it from falling from the machine, and at least one device for evacuating the grape harvest from the machine. The machine includes a chassis carrying structure for driving each of the devices, the structure including towing apparatus raised at three points of a tractor having support blocks and a portico laterally positioned on the chassis. The portico has a front element inclined rearwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the chassis and beating means are positioned on the front element for removing the grape harvest. The sealing device comprises non-aligned rows of scales.

Abstract: A harvesting machine for berries and fruits such as coffee beans and blackcurrants includes at least one tined shaker oscillating about a vertical or substantially vertical axis. The shaker is oscillated by out-of-balance weights and a shaft supporting the weights is not itself driven, the drive to the weights being effected through a sleeve surrounding the shaft and toothed belts.

Abstract: A picking machine is described for harvesting hops from vines that have been trained over a low profile trellis. The machine includes two sets of vertical picking conveyors that straddle the vines. The conveyor sets are transversely adjustable toward or away from the vine. A forward picking conveyor set includes picking fingers that move continuously downwardly, stripping hops down from opposite sides of the vine downwardly onto horizontal receiving conveyors. A rearward set of picking conveyors follow the forward set with picking fingers moving upwardly. The upwardly moving picking fingers lift the vine, "stringing" the vine vertically and stripping the remaining hops so they will fall downwardly onto receiving conveyors below.