Abstract: A grape processing apparatus and method is described and which includes a screen, a cleated conveyor belt with a bottom flight and which is spaced from the screen, and a source of bunches of grapes which have associated stems, and which are fed into a predetermined space between the bottom flight of the cleated conveyor belt and the screen, and wherein the bunches of grapes move along the screen in a rolling and tumbling motion to separate the individual grapes from the associated stems, and wherein the individual grapes are collected thereafter.

Abstract: A straw walker for an agricultural combine includes a linear, elongated body having a lower, generally horizontal, sieve-like panel and a pair of spaced, generally vertical sidewalls. The upper edge of each of the spaced sidewalls is provided with a plurality of generally V-shaped teeth for agitating a chaff and grain mixture and moving the chaff rearward for discharge from the rear of the combine. Various elements are attached to the upper surface of the straw walker's lower panel for improving the separation of the grain from the chaff. Each of these elements includes at least one elongated, linear blade-like member having a plurality of spaced teeth on an upper edge thereof. Increased spacing of the teeth in the blade-like member allows the chaff and grain mixture along the center of the straw walker to be displaced rearwardly faster than the mixture along the edges of the walker for improved agitation of the mixture and separation of the grain from the chaff as well as faster chaff discharge.

Abstract: A rotary powered crankshaft affixed transversely underneath a plurality of endless spaced apart conveyor belts on a tomato harvester. The crankshaft having a plurality of offset journals covered with rotatable bearing sleeves equal in number to the belts is positioned to have each journal bearing sleeve strike a belt when the journal reaches a raised position. The striking of the belts causes shaking of tomato vines riding atop of the conveyor belting to dislodge tomatoes which then fall through the spacings between the belts. The bearing sleeves covering each journal are freely rotatable, being sized with an internal diameter larger than the external diameter of the journal to allow both eccentric movement and rotation about the journal. The bearing sleeves are split lengthwise and include snap locks to allow initial installation thereof, and replacement when worn.

Abstract: The invention provides a drum shaker apparatus for use in seed or vine crop harvesters with improved effectiveness in removing seeds or fruit from the plant portion of the crop. The drum shaker includes a rotatable drum to which is mounted a counterweight mechanism having at least three rotatable counterweights, each counterweight having an axis of rotation spaced apart from its center of mass, and means for rotating the counterweights in a phased relationship. Usually, the drum is rotated at a constant angular speed, onto which is superimposed the oscillatory movement caused by rotation of the counterweights. The drum shaker further includes tines extending outward from its surface for engaging the crop. The present invention provides tines of varied stiffness arranged on the drum so as to create relative movement of adjacent tines, which tends to shear the seeds or fruit from the plants.