Patent ID: 8146337
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for harvesting fruit-bearing hedges, the apparatus comprising: a self-propelled straddling vehicle having a chassis, said chassis of said self-propelled straddling vehicle having a straddling frame of an arch shape, said straddling frame being height-adjustable between a low position and a high position; and a harvesting head having a chassis of a scaffold carrier shape, said chassis of said harvesting head supporting a shaking system having at least a pair of fruit-detaching assemblies mounted opposite to each other and separated by vertical space, said harvesting head having a pair of receiving and transport systems suitable for receiving and transporting picked fruit, said pair of receiving and transport systems having lower horizontal portions forming lower portion of said harvesting head below said shaking system, said harvesting head having a mounting frame removably rigidly attached to a rear of said self-propelled straddling vehicle, said harvesting head connected to said mounting frame by a cooperative structure so as to cause a height adjustment of said harvesting head relative to said mounting frame such that said lower portion of said harvesting head is in a fixed position relative to the earth when said straddling frame of said self-propelled straddling vehicle is in either said high position or said low position, said mounting frame linked to said chassis of said harvesting head through said cooperative structure, said cooperative structure movable independently of the movement of said chassis of said self-propelled straddling vehicle between said high position and said low position.