Multiple weight drum shaker

A shaker for use in a crop harvester for disengaging fruit from stem portions of the crop, the shaker comprising:

• a drum rotatable about a first axis;
• a plurality of tines extending form the drum;
• and
• means coupled to the drum for rotationally oscillating the drum, said oscillation means comprising:
• at least three rotatable counterweights disposed in a common plane perpendicular to the first axis, each counterweight having an axis of rotation spaced apart from the first axis and spaced apart from a center of mass of the counterweight;
• and
• means for rotating the counterweights in a phased relationship;
• wherein rotating the counterweights causes cyclical rotational acceleration and deceleration of the drum and tines, thereby disengaging the fruit.

A shaker for use in a crop harvester for disengaging fruit from stem portions of the crop, the shaker comprising:

• a rotatable drum;
• a plurality of tines of equal length and of varied stiffness extending radially from the drum;
• and
• means for rotationally oscillating the drum, wherein oscillation of the drum causes some of said tines to move relative to others of said tines, facilitating disengagement of the fruit.

An apparatus for disengaging fruit from stem portions of a harvested crop, the apparatus comprising:

• a drum rotatable about a first axis;
• a plurality of tines of varied stiffness extending radially from the drum;
• means coupled to the drum for rotationally oscillating the drum, said oscillation means comprising:
• at least three rotatable counterweights at a given axial end of the drum and arranged in a common plane, each counterweight having an axis of rotation spaced part form the first axis and spaced apart from a center of mass of the counterweight;
• and
• means for rotating the counterweights in a phased relationship;
• wherein rotating the counterweights causes cyclical rotational acceleration and deceleration of the drum and tines, thereby disengaging the fruit.

A shaker for use in a crop harvester for disengaging fruit from stem portions of the crop, the shaker comprising:

• a drum mounted to a first shaft and rotatable about a first axis;
• a plurality of tines extending form the drum;
• means for rotationally oscillating the drum, said oscillation means comprising:
• a frame coupled to the first shaft;
• at least three counterweights rotatably coupled to the frame and being disposed in a common plane which is perpendicular to the first axis, each counterweight having an axis of rotation spaced apart from the first axis and spaced apart from a center of mass of the counterweight;
• a plurality of pulleys, one of the pulleys being mounted to each counterweight;
• a first motor for rotating the counterweights;
• and
• a plurality of belts coupling said pulleys to the first motor such that the counterweights rotate in a phased relationship;
• a second motor for rotating the drum;
• and
• a coupling between the second motor to the first shaft allowing the rum to rotate independently of the oscillation;
• wherein said drum rotates continuously while oscillating cyclically, the tines engaging said stem portions and disengaging the fruit.