Mog remover
OwnerScott Messengerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the separation of fruit from other plant matter. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for the separation of Material Other than Grapes (MOG) from viable berries during the harvesting of wine grapes. The improved MOG remover is able to be used in conjunction with conventional harvesting machinery and ensures that the harvested material is in contact with a separation conveyer for a long enough period of time to result in the full separation of the berries from the MOG. The separation conveyer is able to be adjusted to compensate for variations in terrain and the degree of difficulty of separating the berries from bunches. This ensures that the apparatus 10 is able to function effectively whilst the loss of viable berries is minimised.
Claims9
An apparatus for separating fruit from other plant matter, comprising:
- a first conveyer disposed at a first angle for transporting said fruit and other plant matter from an outlet duct of a fruit harvesting machine to a separation conveyer;
- said separation conveyer being disposed at a second angle and having separation means for separating said fruit from said other plant matter;
- fruit/other plant matter separation conveyer angle adjustment means at least a first portion of which is operably connected to said separation conveyer for adjusting said second angle relative to said first angle of said first conveyer;
- and
- said apparatus includes sensors which measure said second angle from horizontal of said separation conveyer.
An apparatus for separating fruit from other plant matter, comprising:
- a first conveyer disposed at a first angle for transporting said fruit and other plant matter from an outlet duct of a fruit harvesting machine to a separation conveyer;
- said separation conveyer being disposed at a second angle and having separation means for separating said fruit from said other plant matter;
- fruit/other plant matter separation conveyer angle adjustment means at least a first portion of which is operably connected to said separation conveyer for adjusting said second angle relative to said first angle of said first conveyer;
- and
- said separation conveyer includes spaces which allow the passage therethrough of said fruit without permitting the passage therethrough of said other plant matter.
An apparatus for separating fruit from other plant matter, comprising:
- a first conveyer disposed at a first angle for transporting said fruit and other plant matter from an outlet duct of a fruit harvesting machine to a separation conveyer;
- said separation conveyer being disposed at a second angle and having separation means for separating said fruit from said other plant matter;
- fruit/other plant matter separation conveyer angle adjustment means at least a first portion of which is operably connected to said separation conveyer for adjusting said second angle relative to said first angle of said first conveyer;
- a discharge device;
- said separation conveyer deposits said other plant matter onto said discharge device;
- and
- said discharge device removes said other plant matter from said apparatus.
A fruit harvesting machine incorporating an apparatus for separating fruit from other plant matter comprising a first conveyer disposed at a first angle for transporting said fruit and other plant matter from an outlet duct of a fruit harvesting machine to a separation conveyer;
- said separation conveyer being disposed at a second angle and having separation means for separating said fruit from said other plant matter, and fruit/other plant matter separation conveyer angle adjustment means at least a first portion of which is operably connected to said separation conveyer for adjusting said second angle relative to said first angle of said first conveyer, including:
- fruit harvesting means for delivering harvested material to said outlet duct;
- said first conveyer transports said harvested material from said outlet duct to said separation conveyer which is adjustable;
- said adjustable separation conveyer separates said bit and said other plant matter from said harvested material;
- and
- said conveyer angle adjustment means adjusts the angle of said separation conveyer with respect to said first conveyer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.