Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sorting special items – and certain methods and apparatus for... – Separating means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-05-29
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...
Separating means
C209S667000, C209S671000, C209S672000, C209S673000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237778
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an agricultural separating device and an agricultural separator including such a device.
It is well-known in the agricultural field to use starwheels when separating materials, eg clod and/or stones from root vegetables or bulbs, eg during harvesting, in de-stoning machines and also in static cleaning or grading equipment. Starwheels have a plurality of resiliently deformable “fingers” arranged around a central hub or boss and are at present formed from polyurethane or rubber, but could be formed from any other suitable material. In use, a plurality of starwheels are mounted on a rotatable shaft, commonly known as a “starshaft”.
During use, damp soil may stick to the starwheels, or hard material, eg stones, may become jammed between the starwheels. This will reduce separation and produce wear of the starwheels.
GB 2 145 612 discloses two parallel starshafts arranged upstream of a counter rotating clod roller for use in separating clod and/or stones from root vegetables or bulbs. In practice, the fingers of the starwheels of adjacent starshafts are staggered and fit into the gaps between the starwheels of the adjacent starshaft. In such a position, the starshafts are said to be “interleaved”. When separating potatoes, potato haulm can become wrapped around the starshafts, and interleaving the starshafts provides a degree of self-cleaning.
It is also known from EP 0 410 808 to arrange starshafts in a lifting conveyor. Although the starwheels may be interleaved, it is particularly advantageous in a de-stoning machine for there to be a radial gap between the ends of the fingers of the starwheels of adjacent starshafts, ie the starwheels of adjacent starshafts are not interleaved. There is, therefore, no self-cleaning of the starshafts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide starshafts in which build up of material is reduced and, in certain applications, self-cleaning is facilitated.
The invention provides an agricultural separating device having a starshaft comprising a row of resilient starwheels mounted on a rotatable shaft, wherein rings formed of a rigid material, and having an outer diameter such that they extend radially along 40-80% of the radial length of the fingers of the starwheels, are mounted between adjacent starwheels so as to close off the radially inner space between the fingers without reducing the length and therefore flexibility of the fingers.
By in effect enlarging the boss diameter, the area between starwheels into which separated material (soil, small stones and plant material) can be lodged is reduced, thereby reducing the build up of material, and also allowing self-cleaning with a lesser degree of interleaving of the starwheels.
The agricultural separating device may be used in any agricultural separator, eg in a stone and/or clod separator, in a machine for separating soil and clod from root vegetables or bulbs, in a harvester and also in static cleaning equipment.
The invention also provides an agricultural separator including an agricultural separating device according to the invention. Preferably, the agricultural separator includes at least two agricultural separating devices according to the invention, wherein the starshafts are arranged adjacent and parallel to each other. Preferably, a clod roller is arranged adjacent and parallel to the downstream starshaft in the direction of movement, in use, of material being separated.
In a preferred embodiment, the clod roller and the downstream starshaft are movable as a unit relative to the adjacent upstream starshaft so as to vary the degree of interleaving between the starwheels of the said upstream and the downstream starshafts or to create or vary a radial spacing between the tips of the fingers of the starwheels of the said upstream and downstream starshafts.
Such a separator allows adjustment between a first position in which the starwheels are interleaved for self-cleaning, eg during separation of soil and clod from potatoes, and a second position in which the starwheels of adjacent starshafts are not interleaved, eg during harvesting carrots, or in a destoner, or when used merely as a separating conveyor.
The invention will be further described with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 1524360 (1925-01-01), Lauritzen
patent: 2670846 (1954-03-01), Rienks et al.
patent: 4972960 (1990-11-01), Bielagus
patent: 5425459 (1995-06-01), Ellis
patent: 511963 (1952-06-01), None
patent: 2 145 612A (1985-04-01), None
patent: 608375 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 97/38568 (1997-10-01), None
Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen, LLP
Richard Pearson Limited
Rodriguez Joseph C.
Walsh Donald P.
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