METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE APERTURE BETWEEN SHAKER TOWERS OF A FRUIT HARVESTER AND HARVESTER

The present invention relates to a novel method to adjust the opening of the shakers of a citrus fruit harvester, which comprises technical and functional features designed to ensure that the shakers are in proper condition to obtain fruit removal in a productive manner, mainly avoiding and/or reducing damage to the branches and trunks of trees. More particularly, the present method may be summarized by the following steps: identifying and defining the type of configuration of the trees (A) to be harvested; measurement of the widths (W) of these trees; definition of the damage level considered adequate, desirable and acceptable; calculation of the opening factor (F); determination of the distance "X" between said shakers; and based on this distance "X", adjusting said opening (P). The present invention also relates to a harvesting machine (M) capable of performing the present method to adjust the opening between the shakers.