Patent ID: 9730380
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: A01D,B07B

Claim:
1. An apparatus for separating usable crop from intermixed debris, the apparatus comprising: a conveying system configured to convey usable crop in a processing path from an upstream input location to a downstream output location, a first separating system configured to cause separation of debris intermixed with usable crop in a first manner as usable crop is conveyed in the processing path; a second separating system spaced along the processing path from the first separating system and configured to cause separation of debris intermixed with usable crop in a second manner that is different than the first manner, the conveying system comprising an upwardly facing conveying surface that supports usable crop and moves to advance supported usable crop along a portion of the processing path; and a vacuum system downstream of the first and second separating systems and configured to: a) generate a low pressure volume which causes additional debris intermixed with usable crop to be drawn away from usable crop by vacuum; b) cause drawn debris to be directed towards a collection location spaced from the output location while allowing usable crop to advance toward the output location; and c) cause usable crop supported on the conveying surface to be drawn upwardly off of and away from the conveying surface to move in another portion of the processing path, wherein the vacuum system comprises a housing defining a chamber through which the processing path extends, and in which the low pressure volume is generated, the housing defining an inlet through which the processing path extends.