Patent ID: 9730388
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: A01D

Claim:
1. A harvester, comprising: a first, second, third and fourth oscillating member configured to reciprocate about a first, second, third and fourth vertical axis, respectively; a substantially rigid first shaker rail having at least one substantially linear portion adapted to impart a force on a trunk, the first shaker rail affixed to first and second rail supports via first and second hinged fasteners, respectively, and the first and second rail supports affixed to the first and second oscillating members via first and second rigid fasteners, respectively, such that reciprocation of the first and second oscillating members about their respective vertical axes cause the first shaker rail to move from a first position to a second position and from the second position back to the first position, wherein the first shaker rail moves, relative to a frame of the harvester, in a first arcuate path located in a two-dimensional plane, a first dimension of the two-dimensional plane being parallel to a path of the harvester and a second dimension of the two-dimensional plane being perpendicular to the path of the harvester; and a substantially rigid second shaker rail having at least one substantially linear portion adapted to impart a force on the trunk, the second shaker rail affixed to third and fourth rail supports via third and fourth hinged fasteners, respectively, and the third and fourth rail supports affixed to the third and fourth oscillating members via third and fourth rigid fasteners, respectively, such that reciprocation of the third and fourth oscillating members about their respective vertical axes cause the second shaker rail to move from a third position to a fourth position and from the fourth position back to the third position, wherein the second shaker rail moves, relative to the frame of the harvester, in a second arcuate path located in the two-dimensional plane, wherein the harvester is configured such that the first and second shaker rails move, relative to the frame of the harvester, in opposite directions along the first dimension parallel to the path of the harvester.