Abstract: A method and system for eliminating residue from a flow of harvest containing fruit, includes feeding with the flow of harvest an inclined surface that is arranged to allow said flow of harvest to travel over it, said surface including air passages, and blowing air through said passages in order to eject residue from the flow of harvest as it is routed over said surface.

Abstract: A system for cleaning a flow of harvested crop including a suction device between an inlet (1) and an outlet (3), the inlet being equipped with a hood (5) in which is formed a circulation path of the flow of suction air between the inlet and a suction opening (6). The suction device further including a drum (7) rotating relative to the hood, the hood being positioned in the drum to form a suction area (10) on the exterior of the wall, the suction area being delimited circumferentially by respective upstream (10a) and downstream (10b) edges. The system further including a conveyor (11) for the flow of crop, a device (12, 13) to recover the portion of the flow of crop that is not sucked up, and a device (14, 15) to recover the portion of the flow of crop that has been sucked up in the area. The circulation path of the hood (5) forms a deflector for the flow of suction air, the deflector is arranged to balance the speed of the flow of air along the suction opening (6).

Abstract: A rotary threshing and separation unit, comprising a rotor housing with a feeding zone, a separation zone and a discharge zone, parts of the circumferential housing being closed and other parts having openings, a rotary driven threshing and separation rotor arranged in the rotor housing, beater plates fixed on the threshing and separation rotor, and sucking air flow stream generating device sucking an air flow stream from the discharge zone through the rotor housing. Guiding elements arranged in the discharge zone, which are projecting over the inner surface of the rotor housing to an extent to which they allow chaff to be sucked out of the rotor housing but retain grain kernels inside. Helical vanes in at least the first half of the length of the rotor housing are projecting over the inner surface of the rotor housing and are at an angle or inclined towards the feeding direction of the harvested crop to support the feeding action.

Abstract: A rotary threshing and separation unit, comprising a rotor housing with a feeding zone, separation zone and is discharge zone, parts of the circumferential housing being closed and other parts having openings, rotary driven threshing and separation rotor arranged in the rotor housing, beater plates fixed on the threshing and separation rotor, fan to produce a main air flow stream and auxiliary air flow stream through the rotor housing, and wherein baffle plates are adjustable and located between the sieve and grain collection element wherein the baffle plates effect the auxiliary air flow stream. The baffle plates are adjustable in position, length and width parallel and traverse to the rotary threshing and separation unit axis.

Abstract: Harvested grain in the form of including ears, pods to be threshed are transported axially into an inclined threshing zone. Grain is liberated and falls through a sieve forming a bottom of the threshing zone. Most of the lightweight material or chaff is carried to an exit by a fan generated airflow stream. Grain and some chaff falling through the sieve are collected in a trough below the sieve. A fan generated auxiliary airflow stream carries most of the remaining chaff to the exit. The larger portion of the grain slides down the trough to exit. The balance of the grain with virtually no entrained chaff exits the trough via an auxiliary grain exit. Transverse baffles, in tandem, opposing relationship, cause airflow to be circuitous to promote grain in preference to chaff to enter the exit. A final cleaning step may be performed in a cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: A produce harvesting apparatus, such as for harvesting tomatoes, which includes apparatus for harvesting produce, such as tomatoes, which includes an enclosed vehicle and a first conveyor belt extending forward of the vehicle for moving produce and associated vines into the enclosed vehicle. The apparatus further includes a ventilation system for drawing air from within the enclosed vehicle and expelling that air through an outlet that is disposed in alignment with the first conveyer belt to direct exhaust air from the enclosed vehicle toward the produce on the first conveyor belt whereby some dirt is dislodged from the produce and vines disposed on the first conveyor belt. The apparatus may have the outlet disposed to direct a stream of air from the enclosed vehicle in a direction that is aligned with the axis of the first conveyor belt.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for preventing build-up of sheared material on a sickle-bar cutter assembly for use in removing unwanted tops from root or bulb crops, and an agricultural harvester embodying such an assembly. Stationary components of the assembly, including the knife guard mount bar and optionally an improved knife guard bar, are provided with a plurality of open passageways therethrough to permit process air to flow through the assembly to purge regions above the assembly in which sheared material would otherwise accumulate.

Abstract: The device has a first threshing rotor bearing a first number of radial blades, and a second counter-rotating loading rotor having a different number of radial blades. The rotors are arranged side by side and adapted to be driven in phase at different speeds. A fan generates a flow of air at a region of alignment of the radial blades of the first and second rotors, and the first rotor has a rear outlet for threshed leaves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for picking pulse crops, said device being provided with a frame, with a picking drum having teeth, which is supported by the frame and which is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, and with a guide plate extending around the drum and co-operating therewith, as well as with transport and cleaning means for the picked pulse crop. Furthermore the frame is provided with coupling means for coupling the frame to the three-point hitch of a tractor or the like. The construction is such that during operation the drum will be located beside the tractor, seen in the intended direction of movement, while the transport and cleaning means will be located at least largely behind the tractor.

Abstract: An automated ginseng root harvester having a feeder conveyor, an air flow for separating ginseng roots from various heavier and lighter objects, a pair of lateral separation conveyors, an inclined conveyor extending in the direction of the air flow and a plurality of further conveyors for inspection and collection of the ginseng roots. The implement of the present invention dramatically reduces the manual labor involved in ginseng root harvest and insures substantially complete collection of all roots in a single harvest operation.