Patent ID: 7818953
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A harvesting apparatus comprising: a harvesting head suitable for connection to a traveling carrier and suitable for straddling a single row of fruit-bearing plants, said harvesting head formed of a pair of subassemblies assembled together at an upper end thereof, said pair of subassemblies defining a channel therebetween suitable for allowing the row of fruit-bearing plants to pass therebetween, each of said pair of subassemblies comprising: a straddling carrier on which said harvesting head is mounted, said straddling carrier having a median vertical plane; a centering means cooperative with said harvesting head for moving said harvesting head on either side thereof in relation to said median vertical plane of said straddling carrier so as to center a lower portion of said harvesting head in relation to the row of fruit-bearing plants, said centering means comprising: a control means cooperative with said centering means for activating said pair of lateral jacks and said central jack in relation to a sensed position of the row of fruit-bearing plants.