Abstract: A plant processing system may include a plant stripping apparatus with a frame and a plurality of stripping fingers including at least two groups of the stripping fingers being movable relative to each other. Each group of fingers may extend from a respective working surface, and the working surfaces may be oriented in substantial opposition to each other with a gap being formed between the first and second working surfaces to provide a pathway for movement of plant materials between an input and an output of the stripping apparatus.

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: In some embodiments, a system for removing plant material from harvested crops includes a pinch roller conveyor including pairs of rotatable pinch rollers whose longitudinal axes are aligned with a length of the conveyor, the pinch rollers forming nips in which plant material can be caught and pulled down through the conveyor as the pinch rollers rotate, wherein first ends of the pinch rollers are laterally displaceable so that the pinch rollers can laterally separate from each other to facilitate passage of plant material.

Abstract: A device (1) for sorting a harvested stream of fruit in bunches is mounted in a harvesting machine. The sorting device includes at least two transverse sorter bars (3) driven with a cyclic relative movement, the cyclic relative movement enabling longitudinal displacement of the stream over the bars, while opening passages (4) between them. The passages allow detached berries to drop under the sorting device.

Abstract: A device for separating a harvested crop stream, the device being mounted in a fruit harvesting machine. The separator device includes longitudinal separator members (2) and a conveyor belt (3), which is driven in a longitudinal direction between an upstream roller (4) and a downstream roller (5). The separator members (2) are fastened, behind the upstream roller (4), by fixing the members to the frame (1) and, in front of the upstream roller, by a rotary member (12) mounted on the frame (1). The rotary member includes paddles (13), which are adapted to hold the separator members (2) in position during rotation of the member. The invention also relates to a cleaning system including this kind of separator device and a harvesting machine including this kind of cleaning system.

Abstract: A machine designed to remove grapes from the bunch before making wine. The machine contains a flat sieve capable of letting only the juice and the grapes pass therethrough by a toothed roller driven in axial rotation and containing separating fingers associated with the sieve and animated in relation to the sieve by a movement relative to translation in a direction parallel to the sieve allowing separation of grapes from the stalk by an ejection effect.

Abstract: A tomato harvester includes loading systems designed to receive cut plants and direct them into the harvester, shaker devices constituted by a number of sets of rods fitted radially on a common rotating support which are subject to the action of systems designed to make them vibrate and a feed belt designed to receive the plants from the loading systems and convey them to the shaker, following the route of the shaker rods. A number of support elements constituted by hoses or the like made of flexible material, guided by rings fitted to the ends of a set of arms integral with the conveyor belt are fitted in staggered positions in relation to the shaker rods so as to form a grid that supports the plants at a certain distance from the feed belt. Other systems for the harvester are designed to receive and discharge the plants that have been stripped of fruit.

Abstract: Sprouting beans refining apparatus is provided wherein refuse matters of hulls, trashes, small roots, etc. are removed of sprouting beans efficiently. Sprouting beans raked up by raking-up conveyor 1 are caused to fall down on endless flat belt 6 which is supported by vibration frame 3 inclinedly upwardly toward moving direction. Sprouting beans on the endless flat belt are sent downwardly by vibration of the vibration frame 3 to fall down on lower endless flat belt 6. Refuse matters of roots, trashes, etc. contained in the sprouting beans attach to surface of the endless flat belt 6 and are transferred together with the endless flat belt 6 to be removed off by scraper 12. Refined sprouting beans are discharged from lower end of the endless flat belt 6 of lowermost stage.

Abstract: A tomato harvester includes loading systems designed to introduce cut plants into the harvester. Further systems designed to shake the plants received from the loading systems detach the tomatoes. A number of parallel bars are situated below the loading systems and are oriented toward the shakers. A conveyor pulls the plants from the loading area towards the shakers and then from the shakers towards a discharge area. The route of the conveyor has at least one section which leads from the discharge area to the shakers. The harvester is configured to eliminate a number of components which can cause soil accumulation and clogging in known harvesters.

Abstract: An endless conveyor for conveying tuberous agricultural products has at least two parallel and spaced apart, pull-resistant, flexible belts circulating in the conveying direction of the conveyor and followers distributed over the entire length of the endless conveyor. The followers are arranged transversely to the conveying direction and project from the conveying plane of the endless conveyor. The followers have rigid rods with end portions connected to the belts. The followers have posts extending to essentially a projecting height of the followers. The followers have a flexible strip essentially extending between the at least two belts. The flexible strip consists of a web and has ends connected to the posts.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for separating fruits, such as tomatoes, from vines. The invention uses feeder bars to provide tomatoes to a shaker brush a first time. The vines are allowed to fall out of the shaker brush to a shaker conveyor. The shaker conveyor conveys the vines into the shaker brush a second time, and then to a vine reel, thus providing an improved separation of tomatoes from the vine.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating produce from a produce vine comprising: a frame (28); a substantially cylindrical shaker brush assembly (21) mounted to the frame for rotation about an axis of rotation (32), the shaker brush assembly having a plurality of spaced-apart tines (27) extending radially outwardly from the axis of rotation and terminating in free ends (31), the shaker brush assembly further being formed for vibration of the free ends of the tines as the shaker brush assembly rotates; a conveyor assembly (22) mounted for movement to the frame in a direction of rotation of the shaker brush assembly along a substantially arcuate path (37) substantially concentric to the axis of rotation of the shaker brush assembly at a radial distance therefrom positioning the free ends of the tines in close proximity to the conveyor assembly along the arcuate path; and a drive assembly (43) coupled to drive the conveyor assembly in the direction of movement.

Abstract: A device for separating vegetables and root-crops from admixtures, comprising a transporter mounted on a frame and a device mounted on the exit end of the transporter for removing the vegetables from the transporter. The transporter has a plurality of protruding fingers for receiving separation products comprised of vegetables and admixtures and an upper bed with at least one bent part so as to create upwardly and downwardly inclined parts. The bent part causes the protruding fingers to move apart and allow the separation products to drop therebetween, wherein after the fingers pass through the bent part, the fingers clamp together and destroy at least a portion of the admixtures.

Abstract: A roller assembly is disclosed for an agricultural conveyor apparatus including an endless conveyor supported on one or more roller assemblies mounted on a support frame. The roller assembly includes a conveyor support roller having a central bore formed therein and bearing supports formed on the roller for receiving a clamping force imparted by a pair of opposing bearings that support the roller. An axle is mountable to a frame portion of an agricultural conveyor apparatus and extends through the central bore of the roller. A clamping bearing assembly is provided for rotably securing the conveyor support roller to the axle. The bearing assembly includes a pair of bearings having radial inner portions secured for axial adjustment on the axle and radial outer portions configured to apply a clamping force on the bearing support portions of the roller.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for separating fruits, such as tomatoes, from vines. The invention uses feeder bars to provide tomatoes to a shaker brush a first time. The vines are allowed to fall out of the shaker brush to a shaker conveyor. The shaker conveyor conveys the vines into the shaker brush a second time, and then to a vine reel, thus providing an improved separation of tomatoes from the vine.

Abstract: The screen conveyor for root crop harvesters comprises an endless screen belt conveyor, which consists of at least two conveyor belts and transverse conveying rods fastened to the conveyor belts and rotates about deflection rollers, which are rotatably mounted in a housing and of which at least one group can be driven by a driving mechanism by coaxially disposed deflection rollers. For this purpose, at least one adjuster is provided, which can be shifted into position against the working half of the screen conveyor belt and specifies a changing course for the working half of the conveyor belt by forming a step.

Abstract: A rod conveyor for a harvesting machine, such as a beet or potato harvester, includes a plurality of spaced apart, substantially parallel rods having flattened ends. The rods are interconnected at their flattened ends to a pair of elongate cables by clamping brackets or U-shaped bolts. The rods are trained over sprockets and support crops thereon such as potatoes or beets for movement in a harvesting machine. The means for attaching the rods to the flexible cables permits ready removal and replacement of damaged rods.

Abstract: A nut harvest trailer having a hopper with a rotatable loop of flexible screen affixed over the top of the hopper extending from the front to the rear thereof. A solid panel is affixed between an upper and lower layer of the loop of screen. The solid panel extends from the front of the hopper toward the rear thereof. The solid panel terminates to leave a narrow opening between the end of the solid panel and the rear of the hopper. The structure allows a mixture of nuts and small limbs to be deposited onto the upper layer of screen and solid panel at the front of the trailer. The mixture is then moved by the upper layer of screen on the solid panel toward the rear of the trailer where the nuts fall through the screen, through the narrow opening and into the hopper of the trailer. The sticks remain on the screen and are deposited off the rear of the trailer. The lower layer of the screen loop moves from the rear of the hopper toward the front thereof.

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.

Abstract: Method and apparatus remove the seed membrane from fava bean seeds and similar beans. The apparatus has a pair of continuous belts which define a fixed space, into which space said seeds are fed. The seeds travel between said belts, which are engaged in the same direction but at differential speeds. The frictional movement caused by the moving belts tears the seed membrane from the seed and splits the seed into component halves.