Impact processing system and a machine and a method of improving nut or fruit orchard hygiene

A method of improving nut or fruit orchard hygiene comprising:

• mechanically transferring nuts or fruit from an orchard ground or tree on which the nuts or fruit grow to an impact processing system;
• operating the impact processing system to fragment or otherwise pulverise the nuts or fruit;
• wherein the impact processing system is traversed along the ground while the nuts or fruit are transferred to the impact processing system;
• and
• depositing the nuts or fruit onto the ground after passage through the impact processing system.

A method of improving nut or fruit orchard hygiene comprising:

• mechanically transferring nuts or fruit from an orchard ground or tree on which the nuts or fruit grow to an impact processing system;
• operating the impact processing system to fragment or otherwise pulverise the nuts or fruit;
• wherein the impact processing system is traversed along the ground while the nuts or fruit are transferred to the impact processing system, and
• wherein the impact processing system comprises:
• a housing;
• a central feed opening enabling material flow into a primary impact zone of the impact processing system;
• an impact mechanism disposed in the primary impact zone and arranged to be rotatable about a rotation axis;
• an impact structure disposed about the impact mechanism the impact structure being provided with a plurality of holes;
• an outer structure radially spaced from the impact structure wherein the outer structure is formed of one or more segments wherein the one or more segments cumulatively extend about the axis of rotation for any angle from 30° to 270° inclusive wherein the outer structure does not completely encircle the impact structure;
• wherein the impact mechanism, the impact structure and the outer structure are located within the housing;
• and
• the rotatable impact mechanism being arranged to impact material entering the primary impact zone from the central opening and accelerate the impacted material in a radial outward direction toward the impact structure to effect fragmentation of the impacted material wherein the fragmented material is able to pass through the holes in the impact structure.

An impact processing system comprising:

• a housing;
• a central feed opening enabling material flow into a primary impact zone of the impact processing system;
• an impact mechanism disposed in the primary impact zone and arranged to be rotatable about a rotation axis;
• an impact structure disposed about the impact mechanism the impact structure being provided with a plurality of holes;
• an outer structure radially spaced from the impact structure wherein the outer structure is formed of one or more segments wherein the one or more segments cumulatively extend about the axis of rotation for any angle from 30° to 270° inclusive wherein the outer structure does not completely encircle the impact structure;
• the impact mechanism, the impact structure and the outer structure located within the housing;
• and
• the rotatable impact mechanism being arranged to impact material entering the primary impact zone from the central opening and accelerate the impacted material in a radial outward direction toward the impact structure to effect fragmentation of the impacted material wherein the fragmented material is able to pass through the holes in the impact structure.

An impact processing system comprising:

• a housing;
• a central feed opening enabling material flow into a primary impact zone of the impact processing system;
• an impact mechanism disposed in the primary impact zone and arranged to be rotatable about a rotation axis;
• an impact structure disposed about the impact mechanism the impact structure being provided with a plurality of holes;
• an outer structure radially spaced from the impact structure wherein the outer structure is formed of one or more segments wherein the one or more segments cumulatively extend about the axis of rotation for any angle from 30° to 270° inclusive wherein the outer structure does not completely encircle the impact structure;
• the impact mechanism, the impact structure and the outer structure located within the housing;
• and
• the rotatable impact mechanism being arranged to impact material entering the primary impact zone from the central opening and accelerate the impacted material in a radial outward direction toward the impact structure to effect fragmentation of the impacted material wherein the fragmented material is able to pass through the holes in the impact structure;
• a rotatable set of impact members arranged outside of the impact structure wherein at least a proportion of the material passing through the holes or gaps of the impact structure are impacted by and/or accelerated in a radial outer direction by the set of impact members;
• wherein the impact members comprise bars or rods arranged to pivot relative to the axis of rotation;
• a plate on which the impact mechanism and the set of impact members are coupled;
• and
• a plurality of arms pivotally coupled to the plate and wherein each impact member is connected to a respective arm.