Patent ID: 6012276
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A device for separating a crop from plant material, the device comprising:a frame;a plurality of paddles rotatably mounted to the frame, each paddle being rotatable about an axis, the axes of the paddles being aligned to define a path, each paddle having a width perpendicular to the axis and a thickness perpendicular to the width and to the axis, the thickness being less than the width so that each paddle defines first and second opposed major surfaces separated by the thickness, wherein the axes are substantially parallel, and wherein the widths of the paddles are larger than a separation distance between the axes, the major surfaces of adjacent paddles being maintained at an offset angle;a drive system drivingly coupled to the paddles for rotating the paddles in unison so that the rotating paddles transport the plant material along the path, the paddles being sized and positioned along the path so as to detach the crop from the plant material, and such that the detached crop will fall from the path between the rotating paddles; anda system disposed below the paddles to gather the crop which falls from the path.