Shaker head and related methods

Abstract

A shaker head including bilateral eccentric weights connected to a single motor by a chain system that maintains the relative positioning and angular velocity of the eccentric weights without variance or slippage, where the relative position of the eccentric weights may be adjusted during non-operation to accommodate application of the shaker to head various tasks. The bilateral weights may be arranged in substantially symmetrical positions with respect to the midline of the shake head to improve balance of the shaker head. The shaker head may also include a third shaker head at third position to reduce undesired and inefficient shaking patterns in the shaker head during operations. The shaker head may be adaptable to various vehicles and machinery, such as trucks and tractors. The shaker head is operable to engage the trunk or limbs of a tree for purposes of harvesting fruit from the tree.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for adjusting a shaking pattern of a shaker head having two eccentric weights wherein said weights positioned bilaterally with respect to a central axis of a shaker head and on a same rotational plane, at least one central sprocket wheel located on said central axis of said shaker head, a motor for driving the rotation of said eccentric weights, and at least one drive chain or belt operable to engage with sprockets on the axes of said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights, wherein relative angular positions of the two bilaterally positioned eccentric weights are held constant by said at least one drive chain or belt, said method comprising:
 a. disengaging said at least one drive chain or belt from at least one of said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights;   b. rotating angular position of said one of said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights relative to the other said bilaterally positioned eccentric weight; and   c. re-engaging said at least one drive chain or belt with said at least one bilaterally positioned eccentric weight after rotating said angular position.   
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights have the same mass, size, and shape, and located on the same rotational plane at a same radius from their respective rotational axes. 
     
     
         26 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said shaker head includes a third eccentric weight. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said drive chain or belt is engaged with said third eccentric weight. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said third eccentric weight includes sprockets on a shaft thereof, and said at least one drive chain or belt engages with said sprockets such that there is no substantial variation in an angular velocity of the third eccentric weight relative to angular velocities of said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights during a shaking operation of said shaker mechanism. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising rotating angular position of said third eccentric weight relative to said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights. 
     
     
         34 . The method of claim  29 , wherein said third eccentric weight is positioned bilaterally to said central axis of said shaker mechanism 
     
     
         35 . The method of claim  29 , wherein said third eccentric weight is positioned on said central axis of said shaker mechanism. 
     
     
         36 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights are operable to rotate at the same angular velocity during operation. 
     
     
         45 . A method for operating a shaker head:
 a. spinning two eccentric weights, wherein said weights are positioned bilaterally with respect to a central axis of said shaker head and on a same rotational plane, wherein said two eccentric weights are both in mechanical communication with a drive chain or belt operable to engage with sprockets on axes of said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights, and relative angular positions of the two bilaterally positioned eccentric weights are held constant by said drive chain or belt;   b. disengaging said at least one drive chain or belt from at least one of said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights;   c. rotating angular position of said one of said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights relative to the other said bilaterally positioned eccentric weight; and   d. re-engaging said at least one drive chain or belt with said at least one bilaterally positioned eccentric weight after rotating said angular position.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said shaker head includes a third eccentric weight. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said drive chain or belt is engaged with said third eccentric weight. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said third eccentric weight includes sprockets on a shaft thereof, and said at least one drive chain or belt engages with said sprockets such that there is no substantial variation in an angular velocity of the third eccentric weight relative to angular velocities of said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights during a shaking operation of said shaker head. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising rotating angular position of said third eccentric weight relative to said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said third eccentric weight is positioned bilaterally to said central axis of said shaker head. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said third eccentric weight is positioned on said central axis of said shaker head. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said collateral eccentric weights and said third eccentric weight are located on a same horizontal plane. 
     
     
         53 . A method for operating a shaker head:
 a. spinning two eccentric weights, wherein said weights are positioned bilaterally with respect to a central axis of said shaker head and on a same rotational plane, wherein said two eccentric weights are both in mechanical communication with a drive chain or belt, and relative angular positions of the two bilaterally positioned eccentric weights are held constant by said drive chain or belt;   b. spinning a third eccentric weight, wherein said third eccentric weight is in mechanical communication with said drive chain or belt and the angular position of the third eccentric weight relative to the angular positions of the two bilaterally positioned eccentric weights is held constant by said drive chain or belt;   c. disengaging said at least one drive chain or belt from at least said third eccentric weight;   d. rotating angular position of said third eccentric weight relative to said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights; and   e. re-engaging said at least one drive chain or belt with said third eccentric weight after rotating said angular position of said third eccentric weight.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said third eccentric weight includes sprockets on a shaft thereof, and said drive chain or belt engages with said sprockets such that there is no substantial variation in an angular velocity of the third eccentric weight relative to angular velocities of said bilaterally positioned eccentric weights during a shaking operation of said shaker head. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said third eccentric weight is positioned bilaterally to said central axis of said shaker head. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said third eccentric weight is positioned on said central axis of said shaker head. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said collateral eccentric weights and said third eccentric weight are located on a same horizontal plane.