Patent ID: 6502380
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A machine for harvesting fruits and berries from fruit trees and bushes planted in rows, said machine including a straddling chassis capable of moving across a field, a shaker assembly mounted on the chassis and including at least one pair of elongate shaker members which have active parts extending in a first direction, generally in the longitudinal direction of the machine, and which are spaced transversely from each other and situated on respective opposite sides of the longitudinal median axis of the machine, each shaker member consisting of a flexible material rod, which has a required flexibility characteristic, and a drive mechanism connected to the rods to drive them synchronously with a reciprocating motion in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction and defining therewith an oscillation plane for each rod, wherein each rod of said at least one pair of shaker members has an elongate base part which has said required flexibility characteristic for the rod in its plane of oscillation and which has an oblong cross-section which is larger in a third direction, perpendicular to said plane of oscillation, than in said second direction, said cross-section having two main geometrical axes respectively oriented in the second and third directions and dimensions such that its moment of area (Ix) about the main axis oriented in the second direction is significantly greater than its moment of area (Iy) about the main axis oriented in the third direction.