Abstract: A holder for mounting a knife assembly, e.g., as used in a bean snipper or similar device, to a mounting rod or similar structure. The holder includes first and second plate members which are moveably joined together at first ends thereof (e.g., in a hinged relation), and which are sized and shaped to contact the mounting rod at a plurality of points when closed together around the mounting rod such that the second ends of the plate members are brought together. A knife assembly, including a knife head and a knife rod, is attached to the knife holder by extending an end of the knife rod through knife rod apertures formed in one of the plate members until the end of the knife rod contacts a knife rod stop. The knife rod apertures position a portion of the knife rod adjacent to the mounting rod at a contact point.

Abstract: A holder for mounting a knife assembly, e.g., as used in a bean snipper or similar device, to a mounting rod or similar structure. The holder includes first and second plate members which are moveably joined together at first ends thereof (e.g., in a hinged relation), and which are sized and shaped to contact the mounting rod at a plurality of points when closed together around the mounting rod such that the second ends of the plate members are brought together. A knife assembly, including a knife head and a knife rod, is attached to the knife holder by extending an end of the knife rod through knife rod apertures formed in one of the plate members until the end of the knife rod contacts a knife rod stop. The knife rod apertures position a portion of the knife rod adjacent to the mounting rod at a contact point.

Abstract: A holder for mounting a knife assembly, e.g., as used in a bean snipper or similar device, to a mounting rod or similar structure. The holder includes first and second plate members which are moveably joined together at first ends thereof (e.g., in a hinged relation), and which are sized and shaped to contact the mounting rod at a plurality of points when closed together around the mounting rod such that the second ends of the plate members are brought together. A knife assembly, including a knife head and a knife rod, is attached to the knife holder by extending an end of the knife rod through knife rod apertures formed in one of the plate members until the end of the knife rod contacts a knife rod stop. The knife rod apertures position a portion of the knife rod adjacent to the mounting rod at a contact point.

Abstract: A husker roll for use in an agricultural product separating apparatus, such as a corn husking apparatus. The husker roll includes a plurality of axially extending ridges or flights which protrude radially from a cylindrical base segment of the roll. The cylindrical base segment may have a circular or elliptical cross-section. The axially extending flights may extend substantially straight or in a helical fashion along the length of the roll. The flights are spaced apart around the circumference of the base segment so as to define grooves between the flights, wherein the circumferential width of the grooves is larger than the circumferential width of the flights themselves. Preferably, the circumferential width of the grooves between the flights is approximately three times the circumferential width of the base portion of the flights.

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 bean snipper has a rotatable drum with a central passage extending therethrough which has an opening adapted to admit beans and an opening adapted to allow the exit of beans. The surface of the drum has portions defining a plurality of slots which extend circumferentially and which permit the beans inserted therein to protrude outwardly of the drum. A plurality of planar baffles are axially spaced within the drum and have portions defining a central passage for beans therein. A plurality of bean support rods extend between adjacent planar baffles and the rods are spaced radially inwardly from the drum surface and extend substantially perpendicularly to the baffles. The rods are adapted to support a bean with its end inserted in a slot. A snipper knife is located outside the drum and is adapted to snip the end of a bean protruding beyond the surface of the drum.

Abstract: A husking roll section for use in combination with a second parallel husking roll section within a husking machine, includes a hollow core with an outside surface, and a husking sleeve affixed to and surrounding the outside surface of the core to form a husking surface. The sleeve includes at least one hardened sector comprising a rigid rib, and a resilient major portion which is formed from an elastic material and which is bonded to the rigid rib and core. The husking sleeve presents a plurality of helical lands and grooves. When the rigid rib is a metal rib which is affixed to the core outside surface, the elastic material which forms the resilient major portion is bonded to the rigid metal rib sides and to the core outside surface so that the rigid rib sides are completely covered by the elastic material, and the metal rib and the elastic material immediately adjacent thereto form the hardened sector.

Abstract: A machine for processing pod vegetables including a frame. A generally horizontal outer drum is rotatably mounted on the frame and is adapted to contain the pod vegetables being processed. The outer drum has an inwardly presented working surface adapted to interact with the pod vegetables to process them, the working surface having an ascending side and a descending side as the outer drum rotates. An inner drum is rotatably mounted on the frame, the longitudinal axis of the inner drum being oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer drum. The inner drum is adapted to rotate in the same direction as and at a higher rate of rotation than the outer drum, the inner drum having an outer surface.

Abstract: A declusterer disc assembly (8) is disclosed which is useable in conjunction with a partition (20) of the pod tumbling drum (18) of a declusterer machine to shear the stems of pod vegetables which are engaged and elevated by notches (17) in the inner edge (16) of the partition (20) when the drum (18) is rotated. The declusterer disc assembly (8) includes a rotatable hub (12) and a pair of interchangeable discs (9a, 9b) mounted on the hub (12) in parallel relation to define a gap (14) between the discs (9a, 9b) of sufficient width to receive the partition (20) in slideable relation. The discs (9a, 9b) each have a plurality of spaced spokes (11a, 11b) extending from an annular cutting ring (10a, 10b) to the hub (12) to define spaced discharge openings (23) of greater area than the spokes (11a, 11b ) for discharge of stem portions from between the discs (9a, 9b).

Abstract: A declusterer device for engaging and removing clusters of pod vegetables joined together by stem sections from a mass of such vegetables and presenting such clusters to knives for cutting. A plurality of axially spaced stiffener partitions are disposed in an inclined cylindrical drum constructed of connected cylindrical segments in a conventional manner. Each partition has a central passage through which pod vegetables pass which is defined by a plurality of substantially straight primary edges. Notches are defined between each adjacent pair of primary edges by the extended end of one primary edge and a retaining edge extending therefrom in trailing relation to the point of termination of the leading end of the adjacent primary edge. The adjacent primary edges are spaced sufficiently to permit the stem sections of the vegetable clusters to be received within the notches for engagement by the retaining edges when the drum and baffles are rotated to remove the clusters from the mass.