Abstract A separator for mechanical harvesters of the type where the fruit or other heavy part of the crop is separated from the remainder of the plant by a shaking action. A generally rectangular frame has a front end where harvested plants are introduced and a rear end where they leave. A rockshaft supports the front end of the frame for substantially pure fore-and-aft movement, while crank means support the rear end of the frame and drive it as a unit in a generally circular motion involving both vertical and fore-and-aft components. There is a plurality of pulleys at each end of the frame, those on the rear end being mounted on the crank pin and driven by the crank means, those on the front end being idlers individually spring mounted. The pulleys cany a plurality of closed-loop belts with upwardly extending projections for engaging harvesting plants and moving them from the front to the rear of the frame. A collecting conveyor beneath the frame catches the fruit shaken from said plant and conveys it elsewhere. Thus, the more easily loosened fruit is shaken off by fore-and-aft shaking while the fruit more difficult to loosen is shaken off by the gradual introduction of vertical movement as the crop moves rearwardly. The belt, pulleys, and belt guides are also novel in structure.
Inventors
👤 Lauren W Gates
👤 Michael J Hartwig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-25 19:11
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D45/00; A01D45/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of mechanically separating fruit or other heavy element of a crop from the remainder of the plant by a shaking action while the plant rests on a generally rectangular frame, comprising the step of introducing harvested plants at the front end of the frame, rocking the front end of the frame and the plants supported thereby in substantially pure fore-and-aft reciprocating sliding movement, and driving the rear end of the frame as a unit in a generally circular motion involving both vertical and fore-and-aft components, while moving the harvested plants from the front to the rear of the frame, and dropping the plants from the rear end of said frame whereby the easily loosened fruit is shaken off by fore-and-aft shaking and the fruit more difficult to loosen is shaken off by the gradual introduction of vertical movement as the crop moves rearwardly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of mechanically separating fruit or other heavy element of a crop from the remainder of the plant by a shaking action while the plant rests on a generally rectangular frame, comprising the step of introducing harvested plants at the front end of the frame, rocking the front end of the frame and the plants supported thereby in substantially pure fore-and-aft reciprocating sliding movement, and driving the rear end of the frame as a unit in a generally circular motion involving both vertical and fore-and-aft components, while moving the harvested plants from the front to the rear of the frame, and dropping the plants from the rear end of said frame whereby the easily loosened fruit is shaken off by fore-and-aft shaking and the fruit more difficult to loosen is shaken off by the gradual introduction of vertical movement as the crop moves rearwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the harvested plants are at times swung rotatively about an off-center vertical axis during a portion of their movement from front to rear.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of mechanically separating fruit or other heavy element of a crop from the remainder of the plant in the field by a moving harvester, by shaking action comprising the steps of: rocking the harvested plants at first in substantially pure fore-and-aft reciprocating sliding movement, and then gradually changing the movement of the plants to a generally circular motion involving both vertical and fore-and-aft components, whereby the easily loosened fruit is shaken off by fore-and-aft shaking and the fruit more difficult to loosen is shaken off by the gradual introduction of vertical movement.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of mechanically separating fruit or other heavy element of a crop from the remainder of the plant in the field by a moving harvester, by shaking action comprising the steps of: rocking the harvested plants at first in substantially pure fore-and-aft reciprocating sliding movement, and then gradually changing the movement of the plants to a generally circular motion involving both vertical and fore-and-aft components, whereby the easily loosened fruit is shaken off by fore-and-aft shaking and the fruit more difficult to loosen is shaken off by the gradual introduction of vertical movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the harvested plants are swung around to different orientations at times during the shaking.