WO2006103554A1

WO2006103554A1 - Shaking machine for harvesting fruit from rows

Info

Publication number: WO2006103554A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/000794
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sedulio Seri; Andrea Seri
Original assignee: Sedulio Seri; Andrea Seri
Priority date: 2005-03-31
Filing date: 2006-03-21
Publication date: 2006-10-05
Also published as: EP1887851A1; ITBO20050208A1; AU2006228421A1

Abstract

A shaking machine (1) for harvesting fruit from rows (3) , equipped with least one pair of shakers (6, 6', 6'') in the form of a vibrating brush, designed to be inserted and activated between the rows (3) and to be moved along the rows (3) so as to comb them and make the fruit fall .

Description

Shaking machine for harvesting fruit from rows

Technical field

The present invention relates to a shaking machine for harvesting fruit from rows .

Background art

The shaking machine in accordance with the present invention is particularly advantageously used as a harvesting machine in the harvesting of grapes from rows of vines, to which the following description makes specific reference without in any way limiting the scope of the invention.

Harvesting machines of the known type comprise a pair of shakers designed to be inserted and activated between the rows and to be moved along the rows to beat them and make the fruit fall. More precisely, the shakers are designed to be positioned at the side, one on the right and one on the left, of the row of vines and to be moved along the row by a portal of an agricultural vehicle.

Each shaker comprises a set of horizontal shaped bars called rods .

With reference to the direction of travel of the agricultural vehicle, the front ends of the rods are connected, like a comb, to respective extended vertical supports, which are driven with reciprocating rotating movements (by a connecting rod - crank system) about their longitudinal axes, whilst the rear ends are in contact with the respective sides of the row and apply a transversal beating movement to it.

The above-mentioned harvesting machines have various disadvantages .

The rods beat the rows violently and as a result detachment of the grapes is accompanied by the falling of a significant quantity of leaves and shoots, and in some cases the vines or the vineyard posts are broken. Summary of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a shaking machine for harvesting fruit from rows which is free of the above- mentioned disadvantages .

Accordingly, the present invention provides a shaking machine for harvesting fruit from rows comprising the characteristics in one or more of the claims herein.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention is now described, by way of example and without limiting its scope, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a portion of a first embodiment of the shaking machine in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a detail illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the detail illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-section of a detail illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-section according to the line V - V illustrated in Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sections corresponding to that in Figure 5 of respective alternative embodiments of the detail illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a cross-section according to the line VIII - VIII illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a cross-section according to the line IX - IX illustrated in Figure 4; Figures 10a to 1Of are views of a detail illustrated in Figure 8 at different moments of its operation;

Figure 11 is a view of a third alternative embodiment of the detail illustrated in Figure 4;

Figures 12 and 13 are cross-sections corresponding to those in Figure 8 and, respectively, Figure 9, of a fourth alternative embodiment of the detail illustrated in Figure 4; Figures 14 and 15 are cross-sections corresponding to those in Figure 8 and, respectively, Figure 9, of a fifth alternative embodiment of the detail illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 16 is a schematic side view of a portion of a second embodiment of the shaking machine in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 17 is a plan view of the portion illustrated in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a front view of the portion illustrated in Figure 16;

Figure 19 is a schematic side view of a portion of a third embodiment of the shaking machine in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 20 is a plan view of the portion illustrated in Figure 19;

Figure 21 is a front view of the portion illustrated in Figure 19.

Description of the preferred embodiments of the invention With reference to Figures 1 - 3, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole a shaking machine for harvesting fruit from rows, in particular a harvesting machine for harvesting grapes from rows of vines .

The machine 1 comprises an agricultural vehicle 2 which has the shape of a bridge and is motor-driven so that it runs along the rows 3 in a direction of travel D.

The agricultural vehicle 2, of the known type and not forming part of the present invention, is not described in detail below.

The agricultural vehicle 2 supports in a known way a frame 4, also having the shape of a bridge so that it can run along the rows 3 in the direction D, with its uprights 4a at the side, one on the right and one on the left, of the rows 3, and with its crosspiece 4b positioned at a right angle to the uprights 4a and transversally above the rows 3. The uprights 4a are at a right angle to the ground and mirror one another relative to a middle plane A of the frame 4. Relative to the plane A, the crosspiece 4b has two symmetrical hinges for supporting two respective arms 5 which are parallel with the ground. The arms 5 are hinged to the crosspiece 4b to rotate and/or assume a predetermined angular position about respective axes at a right angle to the ground, with or against the action of elastic means, not illustrated, or controlled by respective motors, also not illustrated.

Each arm 5 rigidly supports a shaker 6 in the form of a vibrating brush, designed to be inserted on the respective side of the row 3 and activated between the foliage, that is to say the shoots, of the vines so as to comb them and make the grapes fall from the grape stalks.

It should be noticed that, in this case the term vibration refers to a periodic phenomenon which occurs with very high frequency and relatively low amplitude, unlike an oscillation which is defined here as a periodic phenomenon which occurs with very low frequency and relatively high amplitude.

Each shaker 6 is positioned a the rear of the frame 4 with reference to the direction D and comprises a shaft 7 from which a plurality of spokes 8 extend, the spokes having a predetermined stiffness and fineness ratio. In particular, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the spokes 8 are straight and extend radially from the shaft 7, to which they are rigidly fixed or with which they are produced in a single part.

The spokes 8 are distributed symmetrically and evenly about the central longitudinal axis 9 of the shaft 7, in a plurality of equidistant rows along the shaft.

Each shaker 6 is supported by the respective arm 5 so that the axis 9 of its shaft 7 is at a right angle to the ground.

In the alternative embodiment in Figure 6, the spokes 8 are straight but rather than extending radially from the shaft 7 they all slope in the same direction and are at the same angle to the respective radial directions. In other words, the spokes 8 are positioned tangentially relative to a circle with its centre on the axis 9 and having a radius smaller than the radius of the shaker 6.

In the alternative embodiment in Figure 7 , the spokes 8 are curved, with various curvatures provided that they are equal to one another, and they extend from the shaft 7 with their roots angled radially. In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the spokes 8, like those in Figure 7, are curved, with various curvatures provided that they are equal to one another, but like those in Figure 6, they all slope in the same direction and are at the same angle to the respective radial directions .

In another alternative embodiment not illustrated, the spokes 8, like those in Figure 7, are curved, with various curvatures provided that they are equal to one another, but they extend tangentialIy from the shaft 7. As illustrated in Figure 4, the shaft 7 is rigidly fixed to the outside of an end wall 10 of a substantially cylindrical box 11, whose central longitudinal axis 12 is aligned with the axis 9.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 8, the box 11 houses, supported by respective bearings, a motor-driven shaft 13, coaxial with the box 11, and two driven shaft 14, whose central axes 15 are positioned parallel with and opposite to the axis 12 and equidistant from it.

Each shaft 14 supports an eccentric mass 16 in a substantially central position and a gear wheel 17 at one of its axial ends . The two eccentric masses 16 are identical and are symmetrically positioned and angled relative to the axis 12.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 9, the two gears 17, also identical, are connected to a gear wheel 18 supported by an intermediate portion of the shaft 13. The shaft 13 comes out of an opening in the box 11 positioned on the opposite side to the shaft 7 and is supported, with bearings inserted in between, by a cylindrical tubular body 19, in turn rigidly supported by the above-mentioned arm 5 and supporting a motor 20, preferably hydraulic, which drives the shaft 13. On the side facing the box 11, the body 19 rigidly supports a flange 21, which is connected to the box 11 by a clutch 22.

The clutch 22 is calibrated to prevent the box 11 and the shaft

7 from being caused to rotate by the shaft 13 , and to allow the box

11 and the shaft 7 to rotate about the respective axes 12 and 9, both clockwise and anti-clockwise, when the spokes 8 are stressed by a resisting action of the shoots on the rows 3.

The following is a description of shaking machine 1 operation. Once the shakers 6 have been moved near to the row 3 , and with the agricultural vehicle 2 moving in the direction of travel D, the motors 20 are activated.

Relative to each of the two shakers 6, following activation of the motor 20, the two eccentric masses 16, symmetrically positioned and rotating in such a way that they are synchronised with one another at the same speed, produce a vibration on the substantially rigid unit consisting of the box 11, shaft 7 and spokes 8 assembly.

As illustrated in detail in Figures 10a to 1Of, the rotation of the eccentric masses 16 about the respective axes 15 generates for each of them a centrifugal force F which acts on the box 11.

The eccentric masses 16 are synchronised and this timing maintained by the gearing consisting of the gear wheels 17 and 18 so that their rotation about the respective axes 15 produces a torque with a sinusoidal trend on the box 11. As illustrated in Figure 1Of, the forces F can be broken down into the components Fr = F*cos α which act radially and cancel one another out, and the components Ft

= F*sen α which act tangentially and generate the above-mentioned torque which acts on the box 11. The components Ft are null in the configurations in Figures 10a, 10c and 1Oe, whilst the components Fr are null in the configurations in Figures 10b and 1Od.

If both shakers 6 are inserted between the shoots, the vibration of the spokes 8 causes direct vibration of the shoots and/or branches with which they make contact, causing the grapes to fall from the grape stalks.

It should be noticed that the grapes fall without the leaves falling, since, given the lightness of the leaves relative to their length and their flexibility, they do not break the leaf stalk.

The vibration produced in the shoots is preferably high frequency so that it even detaches small grapes.

Relative to each of the two shakers 6, after the machine has moved forward, when the unit consisting of the box 11, shaft 7 and spokes 8 assembly makes contact with the row as a whole it overcomes the resistance of the clutch 22 and rolls on the row 3 without applying too much stress to the shoots and, above all, without breaking them.

In other words, in the shaker 6 in the form of a vibrating brush the free end of the spokes 8, which are relatively rigid and integral with the shaft 7, performs an angular vibrating oscillation of several degrees, whilst the shaft 7 is idle about its own axis 9. As a result, the vibration in the shoots is induced in situ, that is to say, from the outside without affecting the stem of the vines or the supporting posts .

According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 11, the unit consisting of the box 11, shaft 7 and spokes 8 assembly can be made to rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise by a motor 23 controlled by the operator, remaining subject to the action of the clutch in both cases so that it stops if it encounters resistance from the row 3 or obstacles consisting, for example, of supporting posts.

According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 , each shaker 6 has four rather than two eccentric masses 16 and gear wheels 17.

In this case too, the eccentric masses 16 are identical and are symmetrically positioned and angled relative to the axis 12, and the gear wheels 17, also identical, are symmetrically connected to the above-mentioned gear wheel 18. According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figures 14 and 15, each shaker 6 has six rather than two eccentric masses 16 and gear wheels 17.

In this case too, the eccentric masses 16 are identical and are symmetrically positioned and angled relative to the axis 12, and the gear wheels 17, also identical, are symmetrically connected to the above-mentioned gear wheel 18.

According to an alternative embodiment which is not illustrated, the rotation and timing of the eccentric masses 16 of each shaker 6 is guaranteed by chains, toothed belts or other transmission means equivalent to the gearing described above.

According to another alternative embodiment not illustrated of each shaker 6, the gearing described above, the shaft 13 and the motor 20 are absent and the shafts 14 are driven by respective electric motors whose timing is maintained electronically. According to another alternative embodiment not illustrated of each shaker 6, the vibration of the shaft 7 and of the relative spokes 8 can be produced by means of a vibrating electromagnetic or electropneumatic unit connected to the shaft 7 , rather than mechanically by means of the vibrating box 11.

Figures 16 to 18 show an alternative embodiment of the shaking machine 1 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and described above. In said alternative embodiment, particularly suitable for rows with a T- shaped or L-shaped cross-section, there are not just the two shakers

6 described above, but two additional shakers 6', each supported by a respective arm 5' so that the axis 9 of its shaft 7 is parallel with the ground and at a right angle to the direction of travel D. Each arm 5' is hinged to a slider 24 and each slider 24 is connected to a respective upright 4a in such a way that it can slide in a direction parallel with the upright 4b.

The angular position of the arms 5' and the linear position of the sliders 24 are assumed with or against the action of elastic means not illustrated or controlled by the respective motors, also not illustrated, in such a way that each shaker 6' is inserted and kept on the upper part of the row as the agricultural vehicle 2 moves forward.

The shakers 6 ' are positioned in front of the frame 4 with reference to the direction D and are very similar to the shakers 6 described above in the various alternative embodiments, differing from them only in that the shaft 7 is shorter and the spokes 8 are further from the box 11, in particular those of the row furthest from the box 11, diverging from the spokes 8 closest to the box 11 starting from the shaft 7.

According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the shakers 6' differ from the shakers 6 only because of the shorter shaft 7.

Figures 19 to 21 illustrate another embodiment of the shaking machine disclosed, particularly suitable for systems with vines trained on trellises . For the sake of simplicity, this embodiment is also labelled 1.

In this case, the agricultural vehicle 2 used for the machine 1 does not have the shape of a bridge, since it is designed to run underneath the trellises, and it supports a different frame 4, in turn supporting two shakers 6'' similar to the shakers 6' described above by means of two crosspieces 4b parallel with the ground and at right angles to the direction of travel D. Each shaker 6 ' ' is supported by a respective arm 5 ' ' in such a way that the axis 9 of its shaft 7 is parallel with the ground and at a right angle to the direction of travel D. Each arm 5'' is hinged to the respective crosspiece 4b and the angular position of the arms 5 ' ' is assumed with or against the action of elastic means not illustrated or controlled by respective motors, also not illustrated, in such a way that each shaker 6'' is inserted and kept on the lower part of the trellis as the agricultural vehicle 2 moves forward. The two shakers 6'' are offset and opposite one another so that their respective motors 20 are on different sides of the agricultural vehicle 2.

Overall the advantages deriving from use of shakers in the form of a vibrating brush, described above in the various embodiments and alternative embodiments and in the claims herein, are as follows:

- an increase in the quality of the harvest, thanks to the absence of leaves, shoots and grape stalks;

- less damage to the grapes harvested;

- less damage to the vines thanks to fewer broken shoots; - less damage to the vineyards, such as loosened supporting posts and wires;

- no broken concrete supporting posts;

- possibility of working on young systems of vines;

- a reduction in harvesting costs . The invention described has evident industrial applications and can be modified and adapted without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. All the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements . To this end, it should be noticed that the two eccentric masses 16 symmetrically positioned and angled relative to the axis 12 can be substituted by three masses 16, identical to one another, and separated from each other by equal angles of 120° about the axis 12.

Claims

1. A shaking machine for harvesting fruit from rows, comprising at least one pair of shakers (6, 6', 6'') designed to be inserted and activated between the rows (3) and to be moved along the rows (3) so as to comb them and make the fruit fall, the machine being characterised in that the shakers (6, 6', 6'') are in the form of a vibrating brush.

2. The machine according to claim 1, characterised in that each shaker (6, 6', 6'') comprises a first shaft (7), from which there extends a plurality of spokes (8), and vibrating means (11, 14, 16) directly connected to the first shaft (7) .

3. The machine according to claim 2, characterised in that the spokes (8) are relatively rigid and are integral with the first shaft (7) so as to perform a vibrating angular oscillation when subjected to the action of the vibrating means (11, 14, 16) .

4. The machine according to claim 2 or 3 , characterised in that it comprises support means (11, 19) for the first shaft (7) which allow the first shaft (7) to rotate idly about a first axis (9) formed by its central longitudinal axis.

5. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 4, characterised in that the vibrating means (11, 14, 16) comprise a box (11) to which the first shaft (7) is rigidly fixed.

6. The machine according to claim 5, characterised in that the vibrating means (11, 14, 16) comprise at least one pair of second shafts (14) with respective eccentric masses (16) and housed in the box (11) which supports the second shafts (14) , with bearings inserted in between, in such a way that they can rotate about respective second axes (15) formed by their central longitudinal axes.

7. The machine according to claim 6, characterised in that the vibrating means (11, 14, 16) comprise at least one pair of second shafts (14) with respective eccentric masses (16) and housed in the box (11) which supports the second shafts (14) , with bearings inserted in between, in such a way that they can rotate in a synchronised fashion about respective second axes (15) formed by their central longitudinal axes, being separated from each other by equal angles of 120° about the axis (12) .

8. The machine according to claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the second axes (15) are parallel with and opposite the direction of the first axis (12) and equidistant from said direction.

9. The machine according to claim 8, characterised in that the eccentric masses (16) are identical to one another and symmetrically positioned and angled relative to said direction.

10. The machine according to any of the claims from 6 to 9, comprising actuator and timing means (13, 17, 18, 20) for the second shafts (14) so that the eccentric masses (16) are caused to rotate about the second axes (15) at the same speed and with timing which produces a sinusoidal torque on the box (11) .

11. The machine according to any of the claims from 6 to 9, comprising timing means equidistant and alternative to the gearing (17 - 18) such as chains, toothed belts or other items, so that the shafts (14) and the relative eccentric masses (16) are caused to rotate about the second axes (15) at the same speed and with timing which produces a sinusoidal torque on the box (11) .

12. The machine according to claims 10 or 11, characterised in that the actuator and timing means (13, 17, 18, 20) comprise a third motor-driven shaft (13) and transmission means (17, 18) inserted between the third shaft (13) and the pair of second shafts (14) .

13. The machine according to claim 12, characterised in that the transmission means (17, 18) comprise a plurality of gear wheels (17,

18) .

14. The machine according to claim 10, characterised in that the actuator and timing means comprise an electric motor for driving each second shaft (14) ; the timing of the electric motors being maintained electronically.

15. The machine according to claim 2 or 3, comprising means (23) for driving the first shaft (7) so that the first shaft (7) rotates about its central longitudinal axis (9) , the means being controlled by an operator and allowing both clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation.

16. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 4, characterised in that the vibrating means comprise an electromagnetic vibrating unit connected to the first shaft (7) .

17. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 4, characterised in that the vibrating means comprise an electropneumatic vibrating unit connected to the first shaft (7) .

18. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 17, characterised in that the spokes (8) are straight and extend radially from the first shaft (7) .

19. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 17 , characterised in that the spokes (8) are straight and extend from the first shaft (7) all sloping in the same direction and at the same angle to the respective radial directions .

20. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 17, characterised in that the spokes (8) are curved and extend from the first shaft (7) with their roots angled radially.

21. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 17, characterised in that the spokes (8) are curved and extend from the first shaft (7) all sloping in the same direction and at the same angle to the respective radial directions .

22. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 17, characterised in that the spokes (8) are curved and extend tangentially from the first shaft (7) .

23. The machine according to any of the claims from 18 to 22, characterised in that the spokes (8) are distributed symmetrically and evenly about a first axis (9) formed by the central longitudinal axis of the first shaft (7) , in a plurality of equidistant rows along the first shaft.

24. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 23, comprising support means (4, 5) for the shakers (6) for supporting each shaker (6) in such a way that a first axis (9) formed by the central longitudinal axis of the first shaft (7) is at a right angle to the ground.

25. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 23, comprising support means (4, 5'; 4, 5'') for the shakers (6'; 6'') for supporting each shaker (6'; 6'') in such a way that a first axis (9) formed by the central longitudinal axis of the first shaft (7) is parallel with the ground and at a right angle to the machine (1) direction of travel (D) .

26. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 23, comprising first support means (4, 5) for a first pair of shakers

(6) for supporting each shaker (6) in such a way that a first axis (9) formed by the central longitudinal axis of the first shaft (7) is at a right angle to the ground, and second support means (4, 5') for a second pair of shakers (6') for supporting each shaker (6') in such a way that a first axis (9) formed by the central longitudinal axis of the first shaft (7) is parallel with the ground and at a right angle to the machine (1) direction of travel (D) (suitable for T-shaped or L-shaped systems of vines) .

27. The machine according to any of the claims from 2 to 23, comprising first support means (4, 5") for at least one pair of shakers (6") for supporting each shaker (6") in such a way that a first axis (9) formed by the central longitudinal axis of the first shaft (7) is parallel with the ground and at a right angle to the machine (1) direction of travel (D) , suitable for systems with vines trained on trellises.

28. Use of a machine according to any of the claims from 1 to 27 as a harvesting machine for harvesting grapes from rows (3) of vines .