Patent ID: 6854254
Filing Date: 2005-02-15
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A harvesting device for a machine for harvesting fruits, berries and the like, growing on fruit trees or bushes planted in rows, the device including: a) a straddling chassis; b) two shaker assemblies mounted face-to-face on the chassis and that co-operate to shake the fruit trees or bushes passing between the two shaker assemblies to detach the fruits, berries or the like therefrom, each shaker assembly including: i) drive mechanism including a vertical shaft oscillating about a vertical axis; ii) a plurality of vertically spaced shaker members, each shaker member consisting of a flexible material rod that extends substantially horizontally and that has a curved shape, at least one rod having a first end closest to the drive mechanism, the first end of the at least one rod detachably coupled to the drive mechanism, a median part adapted to act on the fruit trees or bushes to shake them, and a second end connected to the chassis; characterised in that the first end of said at least one rod is mounted on the vertical shaft so that it can rotate relative to said vertical shaft and is coupled to the drive mechanism so that, in a coupled state, said at least one rod assumes a working position in which the median part of the rod is relatively close to a median vertical plane of symmetry and is able to operate on the fruit trees or bushes, whereas, in an uncoupled state, said rod is able, because of said rotation relative to said vertical shaft, to assume an inactive rest position in which the median part of the rod is substantially farther away from the vertical median plane of symmetry of the chassis than in the working position and is unable to operate on the fruit trees or bushes.