Separator for tomato harvester and the like

Abstract

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