Patent ID: 7543436

Claim:
A method of positioning a shaker head of a plant harvester relative to a frame of the harvester such that the shaker head is self-sensing to adjust the shaker head to the configuration of the plant being harvested, the shaker head having a shaker brush frame, a rotatable feeler spring shaft, a head sense valve, and a drive paddle supported on the rotatable feeler spring shaft to adjust the head sense valve, a hydraulic cylinder carried between the shaker brush frame and the frame of the harvester, the method of positioning the shaker head relative to the frame of the harvester comprising the acts of: moving the drive paddle in response to rotation of the rotatable feeler spring shaft; sensing movement of the drive paddle at the head sense valve; whereby the position of the shaker head relative to the frame of the harvester is controlled by the hydraulic cylinder responsive to adjustment of the head sense valve and the drive paddle to actuate the head sense valve controlling the hydraulic cylinder.