1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to vine crop harvesting apparatus and more particularly concerns an improved oscillatory fruit-vine separator adapted for use with a vine crop harvester.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,071,196 to Scheidenhelm discloses a tomato harvester having an oscillatory fruit-vine separator which includes a plurality of endless parallel conveyor chains that are transversely spaced to permit the tomatoes to drop therebetween to an underlying delivery conveyor. The chains are supported by a pair of parallelogram frameworks and are continuously driven while a crankshaft drive mechanism is provided for oscillating the parallelogram frameworks, and thus the conveyor chains. The conveyor chains are provided with outwardly extending fingers which become entangled in the vines to both propel and transmit shaking forces to the vines.
A problem with the oscillating separators of the aforedescribed type is that the vines tend to become so densely matted adjacent to the conveyor chains that some tomatoes shaken from the vines become entrapped on top of the mat of vines and are thereby prevented from penetrating the vines and falling between the conveyor chains onto the underlying delivery conveyor. It will be appreciated that such entrapped tomatoes will be discharged from the separator onto the field, thereby reducing the yield of the harvester from what it should be.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,618,617 to Gates et al discloses an oscillatory fruit-vine separator having a plurality of spaced endless belt conveyors mounted on a frame which is supported at its front end by a rockshaft and at its rear end by crank means. The rockshaft provides a fore-and-aft movement to the front end of the frame, and the crank means drives the rear end of the frame in a generally circular motion involving both vertical and fore-and-aft components. To impart a rotary movement to the vines as they are conveyed by the belt conveyors, the Gates et al separator further includes a plurality of tines which are mounted so as to project downwardly from above the separator into upper portions of the vines carried on the belt conveyors. The rods are mounted so that they do not oscillate with the frame carrying the belt conveyors. The patent states that the tines act to impale a vine and slow the progress of part of it, while the rest of the vine continues to be pulled along by the belts of the separator. The rods thereby rotate the vines as they are conveyed.