Patent ID: 7051505
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. In a harvester for vine crops, such as tomatoes, wherein the vines are severed near ground level and removed from the ground with severing means, where the harvester has a wheel-mounted frame having a forward end, a rear end, a right side, a left side and a center, means for moving said harvester forwardly in a field, pickup means adjacent said forward end for picking up crops and attached vines from the field and carrying the crops and vines rearwardly and upwardly, and separating means for separating crops from the vines, an improved separating means comprising: (a) a drum housing; (b) a drum assembly disposed within the drum housing, the drum assembly comprising: (i) a drum having a first end and a second end, the first and second end defining a longitudinal axis oriented transverse to the travel direction of the harvester, and a multiplicity of tines extending radially from the outer peripheral surface of the drum; (ii) a first shaft extending through the drum; (iii) a first weight housing adjacent and coupled to the first end, the first shaft extending through the first weight housing; (iv) a second weight housing adjacent and coupled to the second end; (v) a first hydraulic motor coupled to the first shaft; and (vi) a second hydraulic motor for rotating the drum connected to the second weight housing with a spring coupling, the spring coupling comprising a plurality of springs disposed between two end plates, the end plates on either side of a center plate which supports the first shaft; and (c) a plurality of stationary rods mounted adjacent to the tines of the drum such that the tines pass through the stationary rods as the drum rotates.