EP1887850A1

EP1887850A1 - A shaking machine for pendulous fruit

Info

Publication number: EP1887850A1
Application number: EP05740447A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sedulio Seri; Andrea Seri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-31
Filing date: 2005-05-09
Publication date: 2008-02-20
Also published as: WO2006103492A1; AU2005329752A1; ITBO20050207A1

Abstract

A shaking machine for pendulous fruit such as olives, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, coffee and the like, is equipped with a shaker (6) in the form of a vibrating brush, designed for insertion and activation between the foliage of fruit plants so as to comb them and make the fruit fall.

Description

A shaking machine for pendulous fruit

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a shaking machine for pendulous fruit such as olives, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, coffee and the like. The shaking machine according to the present invention is intended for use in the industrial harvesting of pendulous fruit, in particular of olives, to which the following description specifically refers, without thereby limiting the scope of the invention.

Background Art

As is known, the industrial harvesting of olives is carried out by spreading sheets at the base of the plants or inserting mechanical umbrellas around the trunk and using shaking machines to detach the olives from the branches so that they fall, under the effect of gravity, onto the sheets or the umbrellas.

Amongst known shaking machines two types are most commonly used: trunk shaker machines and so-called mechanical harvesters.

Trunk shaker machines comprise a mechanical gripper which, connected and secured to the trunk of the plant by a mechanical arm, violently shakes the entire plant, including the roots, so that the oscillations induced on the branches cause the olives to fall.

Obviously, oscillation of the branches is dampened by their elasticity, especially the smaller and outermost branches.

Therefore, these machines are not very efficient and their use is limited to harvesting large olives, which are less resistant to detachment .

Moreover, violently shaking the entire plant may result in harmful lesions to the lymphatic fibres of the trunk and the roots, particularly if the plant is old and/or if the ground is hard or full of stones.

Mechanical harvesters comprise a shaker in the form of an oscillating brush (in this case the term oscillation referring to a periodic phenomenon which occurs with very low frequency and relatively high amplitude) , having a plurality of flexible radial teeth. The brush is supported by a mechanical arm and activated to perform an alternating angular rotation about its own axis by several dozen degrees . The brush is inserted between the foliage of the plants and its alternating rotation gives the teeth a "beating" motion which detaches not just the olives but also a large quantity of leaves and branches, as well as throwing many olives beyond the collection sheets. Moreover, many olives are damaged as they are beaten by the teeth, which as indicated above have a relatively high oscillating amplitude.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a shaking machine for pendulous fruit which is effective even in the case of small fruit, and which, at the same time, can handle the plants delicately.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a shaking machine for pendulous fruit with the characteristics described 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 the scope of application, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a portion of a shaking machine made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section of a detail illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section according to line III - III illustrated in Figure 2 ; Figure 4 is a cross-section according to line IV - IV illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross-section according to line V - V illustrated in Figure 2;

Figures 6a - 6f are views of a detail illustrated in Figure 4 at respective moments of operation;

Figure 7 is a view of a first alternative embodiment of the detail illustrated in Figure 2;

Figures 8 and 9 are cross-sections corresponding to those of Figure 4 and, respectively, Figure 5, of a second alternative embodiment of the detail illustrated in Figure 2; and

Figures 10 and 11 are cross-sections corresponding to those of Figure 4 and, respectively, Figure 5, of a third alternative embodiment of the detail illustrated in Figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

With reference to Figure 1, the numeral 1 denotes as a whole a shaking machine for pendulous fruit such as olives, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, coffee and the like.

The machine 1 comprises an articulated lifting unit 2, supported by an agricultural vehicle (not illustrated) , of the machine 1 at its first end 3 in such a way that it can rotate about a vertical axis 4.

The articulated lifting unit 2, being of the known type and not forming the subject matter of the present invention, is not described in detail below.

The articulated lifting unit 2 supports, with its second end 5 that can be angled, a shaker 6 in the form of a vibrating brush, designed to be inserted, angled and activated between the foliage of the fruit plants to comb them and make the fruit fall .

The shaker 6 comprises a shaft 7 from which there extends a plurality of rods 8, having a predetermined rigidity and fineness ratio. In particular the rods 8 are rigidly fixed to the shaft 7 or are made as a single piece with the shaft.

As illustrated in Figures 1 - 3 , the rods 8 are distributed symmetrically and evenly about the central longitudinal axis 9 of the shaft 7, in a plurality of rows which are equidistant along the shaft.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the shaft 7 is rigidly fixed to the outside of an end wall 10 of a substantially cylindrical housing 11 whose central longitudinal axis 12 is aligned with the axis 9.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, inside the housing 11, supported by respective bearings, there is a motor-powered shaft 13, coaxial with the housing 11, and two driven shafts 14, whose central axes 15 are parallel with and on opposite sides of 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 axial end.

The two eccentric masses 16 are identical and are symmetrically arranged and angled relative to the axis 12.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, the two wheels 17, also identical, are connected to a gear wheel 18 supported by an intermediate portion of the shaft 13.

The shaft 13 projects from an opening in the housing 11 on the opposite side to that of the shaft 7 and is supported, with the insertion of bearings between them, by a cylindrical tubular body 19 , in turn rigidly supported by the above-mentioned end 5 of the articulated lifting unit 2 and supporting a motor 20, preferably hydraulic, which drives the shaft 13.

On the side facing the housing 11, the body 19 rigidly supports a flange 21, which is connected to the housing 11 by a clutch 22. The clutch 22 is calibrated to prevent the housing 11 and the shaft 7 from being rotated by the shaft 13, and to allow the housing 11 and the shaft 7 to rotate about the respective axes 12 and 9, both clockwise and anti-clockwise, when the rods 8 are subjected to stresses by the resistance of the foliage and/or branches.

Operation of the shaking machine 1 is described below.

Following activation of the motor 20, the two eccentric masses 16, positioned symmetrically and rotating in such a way that they are synchronised with one another at the same speed, cause the substantially rigid unit consisting of the assembly comprising the housing 11, the shaft 7 and the rods 8 to vibrate.

As illustrated in detail in Figures 6a - 6f, rotation of the eccentric masses 16 about their respective axes 15 generates for each of them a centrifugal force F which acts on the housing 11.

The eccentric masses 16 are synchronised and kept synchronised with one another by the gearing consisting of the gear wheels 17 and 18 so that their rotation about the respective axes 15 creates a torque with a sinusoidal trend on the housing 11. Figure 6f shows how the forces F can be broken down into the components Fr = F*cos α which act radially and cancel out one another, and components Ft = F*sen α which act tangentially and generate the above-mentioned torque which acts on the housing 11. The components Ft are null in the configurations in Figures 6a, 6c and 6e, whilst the components Fr are null in the configurations in Figures 6b and 6d.

When the shaker 6 is inserted between the foliage, the vibration of the rods 8 will cause the foliage and/or the branches with which they make contact to vibrate directly, making the fruit fall.

The vibration produced in the foliage, preferably high frequency (in this case the term vibration referring to a periodic phenomenon which occurs with a very high frequency and relatively small amplitude) , also detaches fruit which is small and difficult to detach due to the strength of the stalk, as is the case with olives, particularly the Caninese and Moraiolo types.

When the unit consisting of the assembly comprising the housing 11, the shaft 7 and the rods 8 makes contact with larger branches it overcomes the resistance of the clutch 22 and rolls around the branches without breaking them.

In other words, in the shaker 6 in the form of a vibrating brush the free end of the rods 8 , which are relatively rigid and integral with the shaft 7, performs a vibrating angular oscillation of several degrees, whilst the shaft 7 rotates idly about its own axis 9.

As a result, the vibration in the foliage is induced in situ, that is to say, from the outside without affecting the load- bearing branches and the trunk. The branches are not subjected to bending stresses, since the shaft 7 rolls around them until it meets resistance in the innermost and larger branches which stop it.

According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in

Figure 7, the unit consisting of the assembly comprising the housing 11, the shaft 7 and the rods 8 may be rotated either clockwise or anti-clockwise by a motor 23 controlled by the operator, remaining clutch-controlled so that it stops on the less flexible branches .

According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in

Figures 8 and 9, there are four rather than two eccentric masses 16 and gear wheels 17.

In this case too, the eccentric masses 16 are identical and are symmetrically arranged 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 10 and 11, there are six rather than two eccentric masses

16 and gear wheels 17.

Again the eccentric masses 16 are identical and are symmetrically arranged 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 not illustrated, the rotation and timing of the eccentric masses 16 is guaranteed by chains, toothed belts or other transmission means equivalent to the gearing described above.

According to another alternative embodiment not illustrated, the gearing described above, the shaft 13 and the motor 20 are absent and the shafts 14 are driven by respective electric motors kept in phase electronically. According to yet another alternative embodiment not illustrated, vibration of the shaft 7 and the relative rods 8 may be produced, not mechanically with the vibrating housing 11, but with a vibrating electromagnetic or electropneumatic unit connected to the shaft 7. Overall the advantages deriving from use of the shaker in the form of a vibrating brush, described above in its various forms and alternative embodiments and described in the claims below, are:

- increased harvesting speed and hourly productivity;

- increased harvesting quality due to the absence of leaves and twigs; - safeguarding of buds and the following year's production;

- possibility of productive operation on varieties of fruit that are difficult to detach;

- possibility of operating on any plant spacing plantation layout according to variety, size and age; - possibility, for olive groves, of operating on plants with very old trunks which are therefore more fragile;

- possibility, for olive groves, of also operating on table varieties;

- no loss of product, since the fruit falls vertically without being flung out of the collection sheets or umbrellas at the base of the plants;

- reduction in personnel required for the harvest;

- reduction in the costs of the harvest .

The invention described has evident industrial applications and may be subject to variations and modifications without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by other technically equivalent elements .

It should be noticed that the two eccentric masses 16 symmetrically arranged and angled relative to the axis 12, may be substituted by three masses 16, identical to one another, and arranged at equidistant angles of 120° from one another about the axis 12.

Claims

1. A shaking machine for pendulous fruit, comprising a shaker

(6) in the form of a brush designed for insertion and activation between the foliage of the fruit plants so as to comb them and make the fruit fall, characterised in that the shaker (6) has the form of a vibrating brush.

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

3. The machine according to claim 2 , characterised in that the rods (8) are relatively rigid and are integral with the first shaft (7) in such a way that they perform a vibrating angular oscillation driven by the vibrating means (11, 14, 16) .

4. The machine according to claim 2 or 3, comprising supporting 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 housing (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 a pair of second shafts (14) having respective eccentric masses (16) and contained in the housing (11) by which the second shafts (14) are supported, there being bearings inserted between the shafts and the housing, allowing the shafts to rotate about respective second axes (15) formed by their central longitudinal axes .

7. The machine according to claim 5, 6 characterised in that the vibrating means (11, 14, 16) comprise at least a pair of second shafts (14) equipped with respective eccentric masses (16) and contained in the housing (11) by which the second shafts (14) are supported, there being bearings inserted between the shafts and the housing, allowing the shafts to rotate in a synchronised fashion about respective second axes (15) formed by their central longitudinal axes, being arranged at equidistant angles of 120° from one another about the axis (12) .

8. The machine according to claims 4 e 7, characterised in that the second axes (15) are arranged so that they are parallel with and on opposite sides of the direction of the first axis (9) 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 are symmetrically arranged 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) , driving the rotation of the eccentric masses

(16) about the second axes (15) at the same speed and synchronised in such a way as to produce a sinusoidal torque on the housing (11) •

11. The machine according to any of the claims from 6 to 9, comprising timing means which are alternative and equidistant to the gearing (17 - 18) such as chains, toothed belts or other means, for driving the rotation of the shafts (14) and the relative eccentric masses (16) about the second axes (15) with the same speed and synchronised in such a way as to produce a sinusoidal torque on the housing (11) .

12. The machine according to claims 10 e 11, characterised in that the actuator and timing means (13, 17, 18, 20) comprise a third, motor-powered 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 of the second shafts (14) ; the electric motors being kept in phase electronically.

15. The machine according to claim 2 o 3, comprising actuator means (23) for the first shaft (7) for rotating the first shaft

(7) about its central longitudinal axis (9) , controlled by an operator, both clockwise and anti-clockwise.

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