Patent ID: 7131254
Filing Date: 2006-11-07
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A mobile apparatus for cleaning and conditioning a harvested produce, the mobile apparatus including: an unprocessed stream, the unprocessed stream including the harvested produce and a debris; a separation conveyor for receiving the unprocessed stream, the separation conveyor enclosed within a plenum, the separation conveyor including a discharge end and a separation belt, and the separation belt including a mesh; an airstream flowable through the mesh of the separation belt, the harvested produce retained on the separation belt, and the debris removed from the separation belt by action of the airstream; a fan for generating the airstream, the fan having a supply side and a suction side; an air return routed to the suction side of the fan, the air return connected to the plenum at a plenum outlet, the airstream pulled from the plenum through the air return, and the plenum sized to maintain a substantially homogenous and consistent flow of the airstream throughout the plenum; an air supply routed from the supply side of the fan to an air pollution control device, and the debris removed from the separation belt by action of the air stream and carried into the air pollution control device; a cleaned airstream generated by the air pollution control device; and a cleaned product discharged from the discharge end of the separation conveyor, the cleaned product including the harvested product.