Abstract: An apparatus for removing the husks from ears of corn has axially extending rotatable molded rubber rolls. Each roll has a plurality of aligned axially extending flights which protrude from a cylindrical base segment. The flights may extend exclusively axially, or may extend circumferentially as well to define a segment of a helix. The flights of adjacent rolls are meshed with one another, and the rolls are rotated toward one another to engage husks therebetween. Portions of one or both rolls define a helical recess which extends the length of a roll. A continuous rib may extend from the base segment and is aligned between two flights and extends above the base segment, the rib extends through the helical recess, and engages husks within the recess of an adjacent roll. The continuous rib may be internally reinforced with a metal blade. The roll recesses provide relief for larger diameter trash and stalks, alleviating the flexing of the roll axles which might otherwise occur.

Abstract: A corn husking machine has a hollow cylindrical drum defined by a circumferential wall rotatable about a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis. The drum wall has at least one aperture therethrough which is suitable for unhusked ears of corn to pass through from outside the drum to the hollow interior of the drum. A station is affixed to an interior portion of the drum wall adjacent each aperture and extends into the hollow of the drum. Each station has two elongated rollers positioned side by side, which are rotated in opposite directions, so that at a nip formed by adjacent surfaces of the rollers, husks of unhusked ears of corn passed through the adjacent aperture are seized by the rotating rollers and stripped off the ears and pulled between and through the nip. The husks are collected in a central portion of the hollow of the drum. For husking ears of minicorn, the rollers have a diameter of from 1 cm to 3 cm and are rotated at a speed of from 20 rpm to 250 rpm.