Crop transfer device (4) for transferring crop to a receptacle, the device comprising a conveyor (8) for transferring the crop and the conveyor defining a conveyor plane (CP). The conveyor has a conveyor outlet (10) defining an outlet direction (OD) which is the direction of the crop falling from the conveyor at the conveyor outlet. The crop transfer device (4) comprises a scanning device (12) adapted to scan the surface of crop situated below the conveyor outlet and the crop transfer device (4) comprises a mounting device (14) by which the scanning device is mounted to the conveyor (8) with a translational mobility of the scanning device with respect to the conveyor along a path (20).

A device configured to collect and dispel pinecones is provided. The device includes a handle, and a collecting head. The collecting head includes a plurality of prongs extending outwardly from an outer surface of the head. A sliding block having a plurality of holes configured to receive a corresponding prong is slidingly attached to the shaft. A biasing member having one end fixedly attached to the shaft and the other end attached to the sliding block continuously urges the sliding block against the head so as to allow the prongs to protrude through the respective holes. Accordingly, the device is configured to stick a plurality of pinecones wherein the sliding block may be pushed so as to displace the sliding block forward of the head pushing the pinecones off the prongs and into the receptacle.

A device configured to collect and dispel pinecones is provided. The device includes a handle, and a collecting head. The collecting head includes a plurality of prongs extending outwardly from an outer surface of the head. A sliding block having a plurality of holes configured to receive a corresponding prong is slidingly attached to the shaft. A biasing member having one end fixedly attached to the shaft and the other end attached to the sliding block continuously urges the sliding block against the head so as to allow the prongs to protrude through the respective holes. Accordingly, the device is configured to stick a plurality of pinecones wherein the sliding block may be pushed so as to displace the sliding block forward of the head pushing the pinecones off the prongs and into the receptacle.

An impact processing system (10) having a central opening (12) enabling material flow into a primary impact zone (14) in which is located an impact mechanism (16) rotatable about a rotation axis (18). An impact structure (20) provided with a plurality of holes (22) surrounds the impact mechanism (16). The rotatable impact mechanism (16) impacts material entering the primary impact zone (14) from the central opening (12) and accelerate the impacted material in a radial outward direction toward the impact structure (20) to effect fragmentation of the impacted material so that when sufficiently fragmented the material is able to pass through the holes (22). An optional outer structure (30) is radially spaced from the impact structure (20) and may comprise one or more segments that cumulatively extend about the axis of rotation (18) for an angle from 30 and 270 inclusive. A rotatable set of impact members (50) may be located between the impact structure and the outer structure. One or more gaps (28) may be provided in the impact structure (20) to allow the passage of large and/or hard objects that cannot otherwise be fragmented. The outer structure (30) is positioned to span across the gaps (28) so that material passing there thought is directed onto the outer structure (30).

A harvesting machine comprising a shaking mechanism operable to shake fruit or nuts from a tree or bush; a deflection plate for directing the fruit or nuts to an area away from the base of the tree or bush; and a device for moving fruit or nuts from the base of the tree or bush to the area away from the base of the tree or bush is disclosed. The deflection plate may be positioned at an angle of between 0 to about 75 relative to the horizontal.

A device usable for picking up puncturevine burrs comprises a cylindrical roller member, a scraper, a catch, a support member, and a handle member. The cylindrical roller member has a rotational axis and has an outside surface layer made of a resilient material such that the burrs will readily stick into the material. The scraper scrapes the surface of the roller member when the roller member rotates about its rotational axis. The support member holds the scraper and catch so that the scraper scrapes over the surface of the roller member during rotation. In operation, a user pushes the device over the area of the ground with burrs. Under the weight of the device itself, the burrs are picked up by the roller member and are scraped off of the roller member by the scraper, and are retained by the catch. Burrs that collect in the catch are disposed of.

A nut gatherer device includes a cage formed by a plurality of wires and a pair of hubs. Each hub includes first and second annular sets of spaced teeth, with portions of the wires secured in the radially-aligned spaces. In use, the wire cage is rolled on the ground into contact with a bulky object, such as a nut, so that the object forces the wires to separate and permit the nut to pass into the cage where it is retained until emptying.

A modular gathering platform for grain harvesters, for coupling to the front of a grain harvester or processor, with means to gather plants previously prepared in one or more rows by at least one central belt conveyor with functional side by side coupling means to other equal harvesting conveyor belts, all of them positioned with their variable inclination, with their front extremity stays level with the ground to gather a row that was previously prepared, while their opposite extremities are also equally aligned with their respective anti jamming roll, these rolls and the upper extremities of the conveyors belts are assembled on the front of a transversal mounting structure that, by its outer rear, has an ample exit for harvested plants, as it also equipped with articulated means for coupling to the front of a general machine that will process the harvested plants.

A harvesting apparatus and method for efficient fruit and nut collection in orchards. The apparatus comprises a shaker head with three axes of motion for engaging and shaking tree trunks to dislodge produce, and a blower for clearing fallen fruit or nuts from beneath the trees to an adjacent path for easy collection. The apparatus operates by moving between rows of trees, shaking each tree, and blowing the fallen produce into the next path in a single pass of the apparatus down the orchard row. This method ensures thorough and efficient harvesting, reducing labor and increasing productivity. The invention is suitable for various tree sizes and orchard layouts, enhancing operational efficiency and simplifying the harvesting process.

A method and a harvesting machine for harvesting fruit from the ground, according to which fruit is harvested by means of a harvesting device, which is configured to form a harvested material flow consisting of fruit and foreign bodies, to move the harvested material along a cleaning path and to clean the harvested material by removing the foreign bodies from the fruit; the cleaning being carried out by sending an airflow coming from above the moving path towards the harvested material.