Separator apparatus for peanuts and other seed crops

In a system for separating peanuts and like articles from material commingled with said articles, a first separator apparatus including:

• means forming an endless flexible conveyor including a substantially horizontal run divided into a primary and secondary separator portion, respectively, said conveyor including means forming a screen defining a plurality of openings sized to permit said articles to fall through said horizontal run while said screen retains said material of a length greater than said openings;
• first hopper means disposed beneath said horizontal run for receiving articles separated from said material in both said primary and secondary separator portions;
• respective means for dispensing material including said articles to be separated onto said primary and secondary separator portions of said horizontal run at substantially one end thereof,
• second hopper means for receiving material from said primary separator portion;
• means for receiving material from said secondary separator portion for discharging material from said system;
• means for conveying material from said first hopper means to a second separator apparatus, said second separator apparatus including means forming an endless flexible conveyor including a substantially horizontal run, said conveyor of said second apparatus including means forming a screen defining a plurality of openings sized to permit said articles to fall through said horizontal run of said conveyor of said second apparatus while said screen retains material of a length greater than said openings;
• third hopper means for receiving articles separated on said horizontal run of said conveyor of said second apparatus;
• fourth hopper means for receiving material from said conveyor of said second apparatus;
• and
• means for returning material from said second and fourth hopper means, respectively, to said dispensing means for said secondary separator portion of said first separator apparatus.

Separator apparatus for separating articles such as peanuts and like commodities from material such as vine stems and other debris commingled therewith, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• means forming a endless flexible conveyor disposed on said frame for traversal with respect to said frame and including a substantially horizontal run, said horizontal run being divided into a primary separator portion and a secondary separator portion, said conveyor including means forming a screen defining a plurality of openings sized to permit said articles to fall through said horizontal run while said screen retains said stems and other debris of a length greater than said openings;
• first hopper means disposed beneath both of said separator portions of said horizontal run for receiving articles separated from said material;
• dispensing means for dispensing material including said articles to be separated onto each of said separator portions of said horizontal run at substantially one end thereof, said dispensing means including means forming an apron extending over a portion of said one end of said horizontal run for receiving material to be separated;
• said means forming said screen includes means for raking material off of said apron and onto said horizontal run of said conveyor to distribute said material over the surface of said horizontal run;
• and
• separate means for receiving material retained on said conveyor screen at the end of said primary and secondary separator portions, respectively.

Separator apparatus for separating articles such as peanuts and like commodities from material such as vine stems and other debris commingled therewith, said apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• means forming an endless flexible conveyor disposed on said frame for traversal with respect to said frame and including a substantially horizontal run, said horizontal run being divided into a primary separator portion and a secondary separator portion, said conveyor including means forming a screen defining a plurality of openings sized to permit said articles to fall through said horizontal run while said screen retains said material including stems and other debris of a length greater than said openings;
• first hopper means disposed beneath said horizontal run for receiving articles separated from said material;
• dispensing means for dispensing material including said articles to be separated onto each of said separator portions of said horizontal run;
• and
• separate means for receiving material retained on said screen at the end of said primary and secondary separator portions, respectively.