Patent ID: 8286798
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A corn cob cleaning conveyor system, comprising: a first conveyor and a second conveyor configured and operable for conveying corn residue including cobs and other material lighter than the cobs, each of the conveyors having a first end, an opposite second end, and an upwardly facing movable surface extending between the first end and the second end, the conveyors being disposed such that the second end of the first conveyor is spaced above the first end of the second conveyor and with other structure of the system defines an enclosed passage thereover through which corn residue conveyed over the second end of the first conveyor will fall in an airborne manner onto the first end of the second conveyor, the conveyors being spaced apart defining an opening therebetween at a lower end of the passage, and at least the second conveyor being inclined upwardly toward the second end thereof, such that, during operation of the conveyors, corn residue deposited on the first conveyor will be conveyed thereby over the second end thereof so as to fall through the passage onto the first end of the second conveyor and be conveyed upwardly thereby over the second end thereof; a fan disposed generally above the second conveyor and operable for generating a positive air flow output, the air flow output is directed downwardly and split in a pre-determined manner into first and second air flows, the first air flow passes downwardly over the upwardly facing surface of the first conveyor and the second air flow passes downwardly through the passage, such that the downward first air flow will remove at least some of the lighter other material from the residue flow conveyed by the first conveyor and the downward second air flow will cooperate with the operation of the second conveyor to agitate the airborne flow of the residue and the residue conveyed by the second conveyor so as to separate and remove at least some of the lighter other material therefrom.