US 12,389,830 B2
Method and harvesting machine for harvesting fruits from the ground
Massimo Monchiero, Bra (IT); and Giancarlo Rinero, Bra (IT)
Assigned to MONCHIERO & C. S.N.C., Bra (IT)
Filed by MONCHIERO & C. S.N.C., Bra (IT)
Filed on Sep. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/470,112.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000021472 (IT), filed on Sep. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0071094 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. A01D 51/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 51/002 (2013.01) 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A harvesting machine for harvesting fruits from the ground, the machine comprising:
a cart configured to advance on the ground for harvesting along a harvesting direction;
at least one picking member for picking up, from the ground, a harvested material consisting of the fruits and of foreign bodies mixed therewith, or arranged around, the fruits;
an outlet opening for the fruits; and
means for feeding the harvested material towards the outlet along a cleaning path for the harvested material and cleaning means arranged along the cleaning path to separate the foreign bodies from the fruits
wherein the cleaning means comprise blowing means configured to generate at least one cleaning airflow for cleaning the harvested material and comprising at least one outlet for the cleaning airflow;
wherein the outlet being arranged above and crosswise to the cleaning path and orientated to direct the cleaning airflow crosswise and towards the harvested material when the harvested material moves in the absence of mechanical support;
wherein the picking member is a pickup roller or a pickup conveyor rotatable around a horizontal axis orthogonal to the harvesting direction and in that the means for feeding comprise a feed conveyor having an inlet delimiting with the pickup roller a passage overpassed, in use, by the harvested material fed along the cleaning path of the foreign bodies downwards;
wherein the outlet is arranged above the passage and orientated to direct the cleaning airflow and the foreign bodies towards the passage; and
wherein the feed conveyor is higher than the pickup roller or pickup conveyor, the pickup roller or conveyor and feed conveyor advancing the fruits in the same direction.