# US 11,297,769 B2 · Process and machine for conveying a flow of harvested crop > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,769 B2 - Document ID: US11297769B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/620,753 - Filed: 2018-06-08 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-08 - Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC - Applicants: CNH Industrial America LLC - Inventors: Vincent Rico; Cedric Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297769B2 ## CPC - A01D 61/00: Elevators or conveyors for binders or combines - A01D 61/02: Endless belts - A01D 46/28: Vintaging machines, i.e. grape harvesting machines - A01D 46/285: {with means for separating leaves and grapes, e.g. pneumatical means like blowing or aspirating devices} - B65G 47/31: by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series - A01D 46/264: {Devices for beating or vibrating the foliage; Fruit catching devices to be used therewith} - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A process for conveying a flow of harvested crop along a first conveyor, which is configured to convey the flow along a first direction, and a second conveyor arranged downstream of the first conveyor and which is configured to convey the flow along a second direction different from the first direction. The process includes operating the first conveyor at a variable conveyor speed presenting a cycle of acceleration and deceleration, the cycle being operable to ensure a spatial repartition of the flow of harvested crop on the second conveyor, which receives the flow at a location that is variable according to the first direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process comprising: conveying a flow of harvested crop along a first conveyor, which is configured to convey the flow along a first direction to a downstream end of the first conveyor; conveying the flow of the harvested crop along a second conveyor arranged downstream of the downstream end and which is configured to convey the flow along a second direction different from the first direction; and operating the first conveyor at a variable conveyor speed presenting a cycle of acceleration and deceleration, with an acceleration time differing from a subsequent declaration time, the cycle being operable to ensure a spatial reparation of the flow of harvested crop on the second conveyor, which receives the flow at a location that is variable according to the first direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the first conveying direction is substantially perpendicular to the second conveying direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, further comprising transferring the flow of harvested crop from the first conveyor to the second conveyor by ballistic effect. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the operating comprises operating the first conveyor to present a periodical variation of its conveyor speed on either side of a nominal speed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process according to claim 4, wherein the operating comprises operating the first conveyor to present a sinusoidal variation of its conveyor speed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting an amplitude or a cycle period of the cycle of acceleration and deceleration of the first conveyor speed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the operating comprises operating the first conveyor to present a cycle period of the cycle of acceleration and deceleration between 0.5 s and 2 s. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the operating comprises operating the first conveyor at a variable conveyor speed presenting a cycle wherein the acceleration time is shorter than the subsequent deceleration time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process according to claim 8, wherein the operating comprises operating the first conveyor to present a periodical variation of its conveyor speed on either side of a nominal speed, and wherein the acceleration time is between ¼ and ⅓ of the period of the variable conveyor speed, the deceleration time being between ¾ and ⅔ of the period. ### Claim 10 A harvesting machine comprising a harvesting unit, at least one crop processing unit for processing a crop harvested by the harvesting unit, and a device for conveying a flow of harvested crop between the units, the device comprising a first conveyor configured to convey the flow along a first direction to a downstream end of the first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged downstream of the downstream end and which is configured to convey the flow along a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the device is configured for operating the first conveyor at a variable conveyor speed presenting a cycle of acceleration and deceleration, with an acceleration time differing from a subsequent declaration time, the cycle being operable to ensure a spatial repartition of the flow of harvested crop on the second conveyor, which receives the flow at a location that is variable according to the first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The harvesting machine according to claim 10, wherein the flow of harvested crop comprises berries growing in bunches, the harvesting machine further comprising a destemming unit adapted to achieve a destemming process on the bunches, the second conveyor comprising a mesh conveyor of the destemming unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The harvesting machine according to claim 10, wherein the device further comprises a hydraulic system for operating the first conveyor at the variable conveyor speed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The harvesting machine according to claim 10, wherein the first conveyor comprises a belt conveyor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The harvesting machine according to claim 10, wherein the first conveyor extends along a first direction which is perpendicular to a moving direction of the machine, and the second conveyor extends along a second direction which is parallel to the moving direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The machine according to claim 10, wherein the second conveyor is arranged under an ejection zone of the first conveyor in order to be fed by the first conveyor by ballistic effect of the flow of harvested crop. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The harvesting machine according to claim 15, wherein the flow of harvested crop comprises material other than berries, wherein the harvesting machine further comprising a suction cleaning unit adapted to achieve a cleaning process on the flow by eliminating by suction the material from the flow, the suction cleaning unit being located above the ejection zone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The harvesting machine according to claim 10, wherein the device is configured for operating the first conveyor at a variable conveyor speed presenting a cycle wherein the acceleration time is shorter than the subsequent deceleration time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The harvesting machine according to claim 10, wherein the device is configured for operating the first conveyor to present a periodical variation of its conveyor speed on either side of a nominal speed, and wherein the acceleration time is between ¼ and ⅓ of the period of the variable conveyor speed, the deceleration time being between ¾ and ⅔ of the period. ### Claim 19 A harvesting machine comprising a harvesting unit, at least one crop processing unit for processing a crop harvested by the harvesting unit, and a device for conveying a flow of harvested crop between the units, the device comprising a first conveyor configured to convey the flow along a first direction to a downstream end of the first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged downstream of the downstream end and which is configured to convey the flow along a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the device is configured for operating the first conveyor at a variable conveyor speed presenting a cycle of acceleration and deceleration, the cycle being operable to ensure a spatial repartition of the flow of harvested crop on the second conveyor, which receives the flow at a location that is variable according to the first direction, wherein the first conveyor extends along a first direction which is perpendicular to a moving direction of the machine, and the second conveyor extends along a second direction which is parallel to the moving direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The harvesting machine according to claim 19, wherein the device is configured for operating the first conveyor at a variable conveyor speed presenting a cycle wherein the acceleration time is shorter than the subsequent deceleration time.