Vibrations analysis during the mechanical harvesting of olives

In this paper a study of the vibrating machine - tree interaction has been performed with the purpose to determine the proper vibrating modes of this system and its components. A methodology has been developed and by a filmed surveying performed to high speed with digital video camera JVC able to acquire up to 240 frames per second, it has been possible to obtain some files in AVI format (video) and to evaluate the frequency of vibration in the different parts of the tree considered. The geometry of the considered tree is constituted by a trunk with its principal claws. With reference to the vegetable morphology of the trunk, we have assigned the values of the characteristics of the material, using data available in literature; the material “wood” has been considered as a composite material. By this methodology, it has been possible to compare the behaviour of the different parts of the tree considered undergone to mechanical harvesting