Pre-processing of sugar cane

Abstract

A system for infield collection of substantially whole cane and delivering that cane to a mill via a trash separator and a washer. A harvester collects whole cane and throws billeted cane along with trash into an infield transporter which then transports this to a centralised trash separator. The trash separator may service any number of infield transporters and may be located at a mill or centralised location. Billets are then fed to a washer. The washing liquid from downstream process may be used in the washer. This liquid enters the washer. Mud and dirt is removed from the billets in return liquid which then passes to a mud removal unit. This juice is returned to the downstream process along a line. Whole cane is being transported to a dedicated trash separator providing very little loss in terms of juice carrying cane. The billets are moved on to the mill.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.