Recommendations for Using Vibrope Rope Tree Shaking Machines
How to Use Rope Tree Shaking Machines?
The belt at the end of the steel rope is attached to the flexible main branches of the tree or, if the tree is young, to a part of the trunk where the crown begins and can bend.
Move the tractor forward to take up the slack in the rope.
When the PTO shaft is engaged, the tree starts to shake, causing the fruit to detach and fall from the branch.
The shaking intensity and speed are adjusted using the tractor.
Vibrope MasterVibropeVibrope XVibrope S (EKO)
Tree Shaking Recommendations:
Using a shorter steel rope increases the success of shaking. As the length of the rope increases, it may start to sag, negatively affecting shaking performance. You can adjust the length of the rope to your desired measurement with the machine. A rope length that won’t crush the harvested crop under the tractor is sufficient. This length can range from 4-6 meters for young trees to 8-10 meters for older trees.
The belt should not be wrapped around the tree like throwing a lasso; it should be thrown and released like throwing a pitchfork. If the belt is wrapped, the ends may not align equally, causing pressure on the tree bark, which can be aligned by scraping. Therefore, to eliminate this risk, we recommend attaching the belt to the tree before it wraps around.
Whether it’s a branch, main branch, or trunk of the tree, the point where the belt is attached should be a part of the tree that can flex easily. If you attach it just before a branch split, the movement will affect not the branch but the main branch or trunk to which the branches are attached. If it’s too strong to sway, you may experience breakage at the branch split.
Rope Attachment Point Recommendations:
The length of the rope and the point where it is attached are crucial for the shaking performance of the tree.
-1-
For small-scale trees with flexible trunks, the correct shaking point is where the tree’s crown begins.
-2-
For medium-sized trees where the crown starts from below, select parts away from the branch splits of the main branches (parts that can flex easily even in the wind).
-3-
In large-scale trees, select parts of the branches that can flex easily. The thickness of the branches is not important; some branches may be thin but difficult to flex because they are close to the branch split, while some main branches may be very thick but flex easily because they are away from the branch split.
Harvesting Pecans with Vibrope
Harvesting Young Walnut Trees with Vibrope S
Olive Harvesting with Vibrope
Machinery Maintenance Tips for Longevity and Preventing Breakdowns:
The parts of the machines that require lubrication should never be neglected. In roller models, the roller part, and in mandrel or straight models, the parts where the rope is connected, should be lubricated with suitable greases. If left unlubricated, these areas will heat up due to friction, causing them to lose their steel properties and leading to breakages or failures in a short period.
Before attaching the rope to the tree, check whether there are any folds or tangles in the steel rope. If there is a folded or knotted section in the steel rope, it will be subjected to high tensile forces during shaking, causing it to wear out quickly and shorten the rope’s lifespan.
Maximum care should be taken in selecting the flexible areas of the trees. Rope shaking machines are not flexible in structure. When shaking with a tractor, the part that moves is the one that is most relaxed. If a non-flexible part of the tree trunk is attempted to be shaken, it’s not the tree trunk that shakes but the tractor. If this mistake is repeated several times, the machine rope may break, the tractor shaft may break, or there may be a mechanical failure in the machine.
