US 12,256,675 B2
Impact processing system and a machine and a method of improving nut or fruit orchard hygiene
Nicholas Kane Berry, Kingscote (AU)
Assigned to Seed Terminator Holdings Pty Ltd, Kingscote (AU)
Appl. No. 17/427,164
Filed by Seed Terminator Holdings Pty Ltd, Kingscote (AU)
PCT Filed Feb. 5, 2020, PCT No. PCT/AU2020/050097
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 30, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/160622, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019900354 (AU), filed on Feb. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0132741 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. A01D 82/00 (2006.01); A01D 46/26 (2006.01); A01D 51/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 82/00 (2013.01) [A01D 46/26 (2013.01); A01D 51/002 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A machine for improving nut or fruit orchard hygiene comprising: a mechanism for mechanically transferring nuts or fruit from an orchard ground or tree on which the nuts or fruit grow to an impact processing system, wherein the impact processing system is operable to fragment or otherwise pulverise the nuts or fruit, the 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;
wherein the impact mechanism, the impact structure and the outer structure are located within the housing; and
wherein the rotatable impact mechanism are 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.