Abstract: A modular nut cleaning plant comprises a nut sizer and a stick remover mounted to the nut sizer. A vacuum unit is mounted to the stick remover. A nut product stream will pass on the stick remover through the vacuum unit which will vacuum light debris from the nut product stream. The nut product stream moves on a chain on the stick remover. Large debris and sticks that do not fall through openings in the chain will pass into a debris conveyor. Nuts and debris that fall through the openings in the chain will be delivered to the nut sizer. The nut sizer will rotate and tumble nuts and debris in the nut product stream. Nuts of an undesirable size and debris will pass into a debris conveyor. Nuts of a desired size will pass through the nut sizer into a chute or other conveyance to be delivered to further nut processing apparatus.

Abstract: A nut sizer includes a nut sizer frame and a rotatable nut sizer cage mounted therein. A motor is attached to the nut sizer frame at an intake end thereof. The motor will drive a drive sprocket which will in turn drive a reel sprocket that is connected to the rotatable sizer cage. A chain engages the drive sprocket and the reel sprocket. The sizer cage may be lifted from the nut sizer frame by removing the chain. The nut sizer cage is a sectioned sizer cage and includes a first sizer section and a second sizer section detachably connected thereto.

Abstract: A nut sorter includes a support frame with a rotatable cage connected thereto. The rotatable cage is comprised of support rings with a plurality of longitudinally extending rods connected thereto. The outer periphery of the longitudinally extending rods extends inwardly into a center space defined by the inner diameter of the support rings. The nut sorter also has a plurality of scrapers utilized to dislodge stuck debris and nuts as the cage rotates under the scrapers.

Abstract: A nut row harvester has a nut hopper attached to a conveyor system. The nut row harvester has first and second frame sections that are pivotable relative to each other. A delivery end of the conveyor is moveable from a lower or harvesting position to an upper or dumping position. The nut hopper moves between the upper and lower positions with the end of the delivery conveyor.

Abstract: A nut-cracking apparatus that is compact and efficient cracks nuts at high production rates. The nut-cracking apparatus includes an endless conveyor and delivers nuts from a hopper to a delivery point. The nuts are engaged at the delivery point by a nut-cracking unit which cracks the nuts. The endless conveyor includes nut pockets which are made up of separate nut pocket segments that are movable from open to closed positions. The nut pocket segments are in an open position where the nuts are cracked to provide ample room for cracking of the nut.

Abstract: A nut cracking apparatus includes a rotatable turret mounted to a frame. An endless conveyor delivers nuts to a pickup point at which nut cracking units engage nuts carried by the endless conveyor. The endless conveyor has a generally horizontal carrying portion for carrying nuts from the hopper to the pickup point.

Abstract: The current invention provides an improved sheller for removing the husk or shell from nuts, legumes and other similar plant products. The sheller of the current invention includes an improved ring assembly. The improved ring assembly comprises ring units having an inner ring and an outer ring. Each inner ring carries integrally formed spacers and each outer ring carries integrally formed spacers. Each inner ring directly contacts an adjunct inner ring and each outer ring directly contacts an adjacent outer ring. Through use of integrally formed spacers, the current invention significantly reduces the number of component requiring assembly during the manufacture of the sheller.

Abstract: A nut-cracking apparatus has an endless conveyor that delivers nuts from a hopper to a pickup point. A rotating turret is mounted to a frame and includes a plurality of nut-cracking units. The nut-cracking units engage nuts carried by the endless conveyor at the pickup point and remove nuts therefrom. The forward sprocket about which the endless conveyor rotates has an axis of rotation that is offset from the axis of rotation of the turret. The axis of rotation of the forward conveyor sprocket falls within a circular periphery defined by the nut-cracking units on the rotating turret.

Abstract: A trailer apparatus for lifting and transporting round hay bales. The trailer apparatus has a wheel support frame with lateral support members at each side. A lifting frame depends from each lateral support. A lifting beam extends from the forward end to the rear end of each lifting frame. The lifting frames are movable between an open position so that a round bale can be positioned therebetween, and a closed position. When the lifting frames move from the open to the closed position, the lifting frames move inwardly and upwardly to engage round hay bales and lift them from the ground. The lifting beam has a rotatable or rollable outer surface so that when the lifting beam engages the hay bale to move it upwardly from the ground, the beam will roll to prevent pinching of the hay bale.