Ray D Anderson

US Patent:

48152617, Mar 28, 1989

Filed:

May 26, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/054791

Inventors:

Ray W. Anderson - Burley ID

International Classification:

A01D 4500

US Classification:

56126

Abstract:

An elongate housing is provided for removable attachment to either a self-propelled windrower or conventional farm tractor. A flexible-bristle brush is adjustably secured to the housing such that when the housing is moved through a field of seed-bearing plants, the rotating brush interacts with the housing to strip seeds from the plants. The seeds are deposited in an auger trough and moved by the auger to one end of the housing. An impeller or blower located outside the housing creates a vacuum such that the seeds are drawn through a screened opening in the housing and conveyed to a seed storage area. In order to break apart agglomerations of seeds or seed bearing pods, the blower/impeller is preferably provided in the form of a fan having blades which rotate about a shaft aligned such that the harvested seeds strike the fan blades, thereby breaking apart the seed agglomerates and seed pods. The flexible bristle brush is adjustable so that varying forces may be applied to varying plants having greater or lesser force required to remove seeds therefrom.