Title of Invention	A NUTS DIGGER CUM SEPARATOR DEVICE
Abstract	A nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts comprising a vibrating unit connected pivotally with a vibrating frame adapted to be connected to the vibrating means, the vibrating means being mounted on the main fame of the device such that to receive the power from the power transfer unit of a tractor, a scooping chamber being provided at the front end of said main frame of the device for digging the soil and conveying the same to said vibrating unit provided for separating the nuts from the soil.

Title of Invention

A NUTS DIGGER CUM SEPARATOR DEVICE

Abstract

A nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts comprising a vibrating unit connected pivotally with a vibrating frame adapted to be connected to the vibrating means, the vibrating means being mounted on the main fame of the device such that to receive the power from the power transfer unit of a tractor, a scooping chamber being provided at the front end of said main frame of the device for digging the soil and conveying the same to said vibrating unit provided for separating the nuts from the soil.

Full Text	Field of the Invention This invention relates to a nuts digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts for example groundnuts or peanuts and separating the same from the soil. Specifically this invention relates to a groundnut digger cum separator wherein the process of digging and separation is a continuous process. Description of Prior Art The groundnut digging is usually done by the farmers manually. The groundnut plants are first taken out from the soil and then the nuts are separated manually from the plant as well as soil. The use of the groundnut diggers has been started by very few farmers. However it is needed to invent a simple and durable digger keeping in view the Indian conditions. There are various nut separator, digger are known in the art and disclosed in patents no. US2999547, US3469634 , US3260314 , US2999547, US3565178, US3613797, CN2500082U, IN 175864 and CN2520098U. A groundnut digging machine as disclosed at the FAO website comprises a cutting blade secured at the lower end of a semi circular frame. The upper end of this frame is adapted to be connected to a connector pivotally, provided to attach the digger with the power tiller during the use of the digger. Adjusting means are provided between the upper end of the frame and the connector so as to adjust the depth of the blade at which the digging is done. Another peanut digging machine as disclosed in the US patent No. 4934461 has a plurality of diggers in the form of modified discs, a tap root cutter for each row of diggers and means for positioning the vines on the ground with the peanuts upwardly to be sun dried. Yet another peanut digger as disclosed in the US patent no. 4230188 comprises two downwardly and inwardly inclined drums associated with a set of inverting tines. Each drum includes a plurality of equally spaced discs, each holding a plurality of curved finger rods with adjacent pairs of the inverting tines. The tines having portion straddling a disc and curving similarly thereto beneath the outer extremities of the curved finger rods so that peanut plants are subject to a positive force in moving along and through the set of inverting tines with the plants being bumped and agitated gentle prodding of the ends of the rods and thereby affording an additional cleaning or reshaking action which lets the loosened soil fall freely through the drums and not on the inverted peanut vines which have been deposited on the ground and also assuring proper drying conditions and minimum field losses of the peanuts. Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 3989111 comprises a digger-shaker adapted to dig two rows of growing peanut laden plants and shake soil therefrom is provided with two carrier belts disposed at the rear thereof and spaced transversely from each other adapted to intercept the peanut plants as they are discharged by the digger-shaker, support them nearer the root portions than the tops of the foliage, move them rearwardly from the digger-shaker while thus supported whereby the foliage of the plants falls inwardly between the spaced carriers until not above horizontal, and then discharge the plants to the ground with the peanuts spaced away from the ground. The digger-shaker is also provided with an improved conveyor for elevating the peanut laden plants in which a front idler wheel is not journaled on the frame with an outwardly projecting bearing and additional idler wheels direct the conveyor along an irregular path to improve its soil removing properties. Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 3976143 comprises a peanut digging apparatus having a quick-attach side delivery conveyor for the peanut crop. With said conveyor detached, crop can be deposited directly behind the apparatus. With said conveyor attached crop can be deposited at a laterally offset position. Using these two modes of operation successively, large windrows of crop can be built up in stages while allowing time between said stages for natural drying of the crop. Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 5980382 comprises a crop harvesting combine having a body with a feeder house at its front end. The feeder house carries a detachable header which may be wider than the body and can thus be detached when moving the combine. The feeder house is vertically moveable in an arcuate path from a header ground contacting position to an elevated position. A first thrashing cylinder is in the header and a second thrashing cylinder is at the front of the combine body. The arcuate path of the feeder house has its center approximately at the rotational axis of the second thrashing cylinder so the distance between the axes of the first and second cylinders remains approximately constant as the feeder house is moved vertically. Downstream of the thrashing cylinder are a plurality of separation cylinders, at least some of which have concaves thereunder for reorienting elongate trash before being discharged. Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 5675910 comprises a recirculating batch peanut drying apparatus including a drying station for heating the peanuts, a tempering station for cooling the peanuts after heating, and a recirculating device which transports the peanuts in a continuous flow between the drying station and the tempering station. Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4136507 comprises a peanut combine is provided with an improved thrashing or picking system having longitudinally spaced thrashing cylinders rotating at different speeds in combination with vine flow control apparatus for directing the vines through the thrashing chamber and for intercepting the vines as they are moved by the cylinders to cause greater shredding of the vines and more efficient detachment of the peanuts from the vines. Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 5205114 comprises a peanut combine having a header for lifting peanut laden vines off the ground, an auger for distributing the peanut laden vines, a series of picking or thrashing cylinders for thrashing the peanut laden vines and a series of separator cylinders for removing the peanuts from the peanut laden vines. The separator cylinders include fingers which propel the vines and which rotate at a variable flailing speed. The fingers include tips which vary in angle with respect to the path which the fingers define as they rotate on the separator cylinders. Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4696151 comprises a peanut combine having an improved separator system employing a series of parallel shafts all rotating in the same direction, each carrying a plurality of disks and a blower to separate the chaff from the peanuts. The disk assembly is substantially horizontal. The disks are offset relative to the disks on adjacent shafts so that disks on the two shafts interdigitate. The action of the rotating disks and the blower on the material flowing over the disks provides a more efficient cleaning mechanism for the peanuts. Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4687064 comprises a harvester for harvesting green peanuts is moved along a peanut bed. A plant conveyor using an angled pair of back-to-back V-belts is arranged to cause the belts to grip the stem area of peanut plants and, as the belts move rearward and the harvester moves forward, the plants are pulled from the bed. Picking elements having a plurality of toothed picking combs move laterally beneath the belts, contacting the plant root structure and removing the peanuts there from. Means are provided for removing dirt from the roots, transporting picked peanuts to a storage bin and storing the peanuts therein. Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4633955 comprises a digger for root crops, such as peanuts, includes two or more digger units depended from a frame drafted by a tractor. Each digger unit includes a screw conveyor, a guide pair helically wrapped 180.degree. around the screw conveyor, and a hydraulic motor to rotate the screw conveyor. Stem and leaf portions of the plants extending above the bed surface are engaged within and moved rearward by flights of the rotating screw conveyor. The stems slide within the helical guide slot, which lifts the peanuts from the soil, moves them outboard of the conveyor, and inverts the plants above the conveyor. The conveyors are angled to the direction of draft so that the inverted plants are discharged from the slots in a windrow on the center furrow between the dug beds. A toller between the conveyors forms a mound or hill in the center furrow to elevate the windrow above standing water. Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4232744 comprises an inverter section of a peanut digger-shaker-inverter comprises two downwardly and inwardly inclined squirrel cage reels and associated inverting tine sets. Each reel includes spaced discs having undulating peripheries and adjacent pairs of the tines have portions straddling a disc and curving similarly thereto opposite the valleys of the undulations so that peanut plants are bumped and agitated, and thereby cleaned, while being fed along and supported by these portions of the tines. Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4230188 comprises an inverter section of the present peanut digger-shaker-inverter may be used under all types of field conditions and comprises two downwardly and inwardly inclined drums, each drum being associated with a set of inverting tines. Each drum includes a plurality of equally spaced discs each holding a plurality of curved finger rods with adjacent pairs of the inverting tines having portions straddling a disc and curving similarly thereto beneath the outer extremities of the curved finger rods so that peanut plants are subject to a positive force in moving along and through the set of inverting tines with the plants being bumped and agitated by the gentle prodding of the ends of the rods and thereby affording an additional cleaning or reshaking action which lets the loosened soil fall freely through the drums and not on the inverted peanut vines which have been deposited on the ground and also assuring proper drying conditions and minimum field losses of the peanuts. Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4227538 comprises a peanut combine has a plurality of relatively large threshing cylinders arranged in series with a breastplate underneath having openings of a size to permit peanuts and some extraneous matter to fall therethrough, the vines being carried upwardly by the cylinders, and a conveyor beneath the forward threshing cylinder having openings of a size to permit the passage of some extraneous matter but of a size to retain the peanuts thereon for discharge into a shaker pan beneath an upper threshing cylinder. Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4205508 comprises a peanut combine has a pickup that is driven selectively and automatically above a predetermined rate from a ground wheel or a power takeoff, and has means for manually disengaging the ground wheel drive for transport purposes Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4,172,500 comprises a peanut combine pickup head, a plowshare supported by gage wheels delivers fallen loose peanuts to an inclined conveyor having rearwardly moving paddle bars which sweep the loose peanuts rearwardly and upwardly over a rod grate through which small debris is sifted. At the rear of the conveyor and grate, the loose peanuts are delivered into a cross auger having a trough formed by additional grate bars and from this auger trough the loose peanuts and remaining lightweight debris are blown pneumatically into the combine for final cleaning and separation. Heavier debris in the auger trough is forced through a spring loaded trap door at one end of the trough by the action of the auger. Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4142348 comprises a speed control unit associated with a peanut combine for driving and controlling the peripheral speed of a forwardly disposed crop engaging pick-up reel rotatively mounted transversely about the front of the peanut combine. The speed control unit basically includes a dual input drive system including a first drive operatively connected to at least one ground engaging wheel of the combine for providing an input drive corresponding to the ground speed of the peanut combine. A second generally constant input drive is provided from a power take-off source associated with the peanut combine. These two drives simultaneously drive a centrifugal clutch which includes an output drive member that is driven at a speed corresponding to the faster of the two input drives. In controlling the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel, the clutch assembly and speed control unit is so designed that the pick-up reel is driven from the output drive member of the clutch assembly such that the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel is generally equal the ground speed of the peanut combine as long as the ground speed of the combine is at least equal to or greater than a selected speed. Where the speed of the peanut combine falls below said selected speed, then the second generally constant input speed from the power take-off source is operative to drive the output drive member of the clutch assembly and consequently the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel is driven at a relatively constant speed in this case. Still another digger disclosed in GB patent no. 852,435 comprises a root-crop harvester comprises a share from which the crop is passed to two reciprocating grids in series, the grids being reciprocated in opposite phase and the share being connected to the rear grid so as to move there- with. The machine includes a wheeled frame from which the share and grids are suspended by links, the foremost links on the rear grid being connected to the links by connecting rods. The bars forming the base of the grids may be downwardly turned where the grids overlap, to assist the passage of the crop. Another digger disclosed in US patent no 4257486 comprises an apparatus adapted to dig four rows of growing peanut-laden plants and dispose them in turned position as two windrows, the apparatus having two sets of plows with the forward push of the leading end of the plows being away from the center of the front of the apparatus, and two elevating conveyors, one behind each set of plows, for removing as ribbons of peanut plants the four rows of plants, two ribbons of plants being elevated by each conveyor and dropped from the height of the conveyor to an inverting means to place the rows of plants from each conveyor in a windrow on the ground in a turned position. Disadvantages associated with the prior art There are disadvantages associated with the prier art. One of these disadvantages is that the conventional diggers only dig the plants but do not separate the groundnuts from the plants and soil. Another disadvantage is that the same digger cannot be used for digging and separating the different nuts like groundnuts, peanuts, as mentioned herein above and therefore different diggers are required. Yet another disadvantage is that some of the conventional diggers are costly, bulky and the maintenance thereof is very costly. Still another disadvantage is that the conventional diggers are not capable to dig all the nuts from the ground and avoid wastage of nuts. Another disadvantage is that some of the conventional diggers consume more power and efficiency is also very low. Advantages and Objects of the Invention Therefore the main object of the present invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device which obviates the disadvantages associated with the prior art. Another object of this invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device which can be used for digging the nut plants for example groundnuts and peanuts and separate the nuts from the plants as well as soil. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device which is simple in construction and maintenance thereof is easy. Still another object of this invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device which totally reduce the wastage of nuts. Another object of this invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device, which save power, and efficiency is also high. The following description contains many specifics but these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, rather these specifics are the exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof and many other variations are possible. Accordingly the scope of the invention should not be limited to the embodiment illustrated, and the alterations and variations are to be treated within the spirit and scope of this invention. Statement/Summary of the Invention According to this invention there is provided a nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts comprising a vibrating unit adapted to be connected to the vibrating means, said vibrating means being mounted on the main fame of the such that to receive the power from the power transfer unit of a tractor, a scooping chamber being provided at the front end of said main frame of the for digging the soil and conveying the same to said vibrating unit provided for separating the nuts from the soil. Brief Description of the Invention In accordance with this invention the nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts form the soil and separating the same has a vibrating unit which is connected to the vibrating means. The vibrating unit is box having sieves provided on all the sides thereof. The vibrating means comprising a gear box having a driving pulley mounted on the output shaft thereof is mounted on the main frame of the device such that to receive to the drive from the PTU of the tractor with which the digger is attached for the digging operation. A scooping chamber having a plurality of vanes disposed therein is provided at the front end of the main frame of the device for digging the soil and conveying the same to the vibrating unit provided for separating the nuts from the soil. Detailed Description of the Invention A nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts form the soil and separating the same according to a preferred embodiment is herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig.l - shows the isometric view of the device, Fig.2 - shows the plan view of the device, Fig. 3 - shows the left side of the device, Fig.4 - shows the right side of the device, Referring to the drawing particularly fig. 1, the groundnut digging device has a vibrating unit (1). The vibrating unit (1) is in form of an open box having sieve (2) provided on all the sides of the box including the bottom surface thereof. A hatch window (3) is provided at the rear side of the vibrating unit (1). The vibrating unit (1) is secured with a vibrating frame (4) by means of plurality of connectors (5), provided on both the sides of the vibrating unit (1) pivotally. A plurality of connecting linkages (6) is provided on both the sides of the vibrating frame (1) for securing the same with a circular disc (7) of the vibrating means, eccentrically. The circular disc (7) is secured at one end of a shaft (8) which is supported on the main frame (9) of the device rotatably, with the help of bearings (10) mounted on the top of the main frame (9) and on both the sides thereof. A big pulley (11) is secured at the other end of the shaft (8) such that to receive the drive from a small pulley (12) (see figure 2) mounted on a second shaft (14) by means of a belt (13). Shaft (14) is supported on the main frame (9) of the device with the help of the bearing assemblies (15). Another small pulley (16) is mounted on the other end of the shaft (14) such that to receive the drive from a big pulley (17) mounted on the shaft (18) of the of the gear box (19) with the help of a belt (20). An input shaft (21) is provided with the gear box (19) such that to receive the rotational power from the power transfer unit of the tractor (not shown). Shaft (14) is passes through the scooping chamber (22) provided at the front end of the main frame (9) of the device. A plurality of vanes (23) are secured with the shaft (14) in an alternative manner such that to convey the soil along with the nuts to the vibrating unit (1) of the device. A conventional three pin linkage means (24) are provided with the main frame for connecting the device with the connecting means (not shown) of the tractor. During operation of the device, the device is attached with the tractor with the help of the three pin linkages. The device is pushed down by means of the lift system of the tractor and the tractor is started. Due to motion of the tractor and the pressure exerted on the device the front end of the scooping chamber is penetrated in the soil and dug the soil along with the nuts. The soil accumulated in the scooping chamber is conveyed to the vibrating chamber and the nuts are separated from the soil therein due to the vibrating action. I Claim. 1 - A nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts comprising a vibrating unit connected pivotally with a vibrating frame adapted to be connected to the vibrating means, the vibrating means being mounted on the main fame of the device such that to receive the power from the power transfer unit of a tractor, a scooping chamber being provided at the front end of said main frame of the device for digging the soil and conveying the same to said vibrating unit provided for separating the nuts from the soil. 2- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein vibrating unit comprises a box having sieve provided on all the sides thereof including the bottom surface, a sieved window is provided at the back side of the box. 3- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vibrating frame is connected to said vibrating means by means of linkages provided between said frame and eccentric discs mounted on a shaft adapted to receive the drive from the gear box of the vibrating means. 4- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vibrating means comprises a gear box mounted on the main frame of the device, an input shaft is provided with said gear box for receiving the power from the power transfer unit of a tractor, an output shaft having a pulley mounted at its free end is provided for driving a shaft disposed in said scooping chamber through a small pulley mounted on said shaft. 5- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 4 wherein a plurality of vanes are provided with said shaft disposed in the scooping chamber for conveying the soil to the vibrating unit, a small pulley is provided at the other end of said shaft for driving the shaft having the eccentric discs mounted thereon. 6- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said scooping chamber is semi circular housing provided for accommodating said shaft with the vanes and to store the soil therein. 7- A nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Full Text

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a nuts digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts for example groundnuts or peanuts and separating the same from the soil. Specifically this invention relates to a groundnut digger cum separator wherein the process of digging and separation is a continuous process.
Description of Prior Art
The groundnut digging is usually done by the farmers manually. The groundnut plants are first taken out from the soil and then the nuts are separated manually from the plant as well as soil. The use of the groundnut diggers has been started by very few farmers. However it is needed to invent a simple and durable digger keeping in view the Indian conditions.
There are various nut separator, digger are known in the art and disclosed in patents no. US2999547, US3469634 , US3260314 , US2999547, US3565178, US3613797, CN2500082U, IN 175864 and CN2520098U.
A groundnut digging machine as disclosed at the FAO website comprises a cutting blade secured at the lower end of a semi circular frame. The upper end of this frame is adapted to be connected to a connector pivotally, provided to attach the digger with the power tiller during the use of the digger. Adjusting means are provided between the upper end of the frame and the connector so as to adjust the depth of the blade at which the digging is done.
Another peanut digging machine as disclosed in the US patent No. 4934461 has a plurality of diggers in the form of modified discs, a tap root cutter for each row of diggers and means for positioning the vines on the ground with the peanuts upwardly to be sun dried.
Yet another peanut digger as disclosed in the US patent no. 4230188 comprises two downwardly and inwardly inclined drums associated with a set of inverting tines.
Each drum includes a plurality of equally spaced discs, each holding a plurality of curved finger rods with adjacent pairs of the inverting tines. The tines having portion straddling a disc and curving similarly thereto beneath the outer extremities of the curved finger rods so that peanut plants are subject to a positive force in moving along and through the set of inverting tines with the plants being bumped and agitated gentle prodding of the ends of the rods and thereby affording an additional cleaning or reshaking action which lets the loosened soil fall freely through the drums and not on the inverted peanut vines which have been deposited on the ground and also assuring proper drying conditions and minimum field losses of the peanuts.
Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 3989111 comprises a digger-shaker adapted to dig two rows of growing peanut laden plants and shake soil therefrom is provided with two carrier belts disposed at the rear thereof and spaced transversely from each other adapted to intercept the peanut plants as they are discharged by the digger-shaker, support them nearer the root portions than the tops of the foliage, move them rearwardly from the digger-shaker while thus supported whereby the foliage of the plants falls inwardly between the spaced carriers until not above horizontal, and then discharge the plants to the ground with the peanuts spaced away from the ground. The digger-shaker is also provided with an improved conveyor for elevating the peanut laden plants in which a front idler wheel is not journaled on the frame with an outwardly projecting bearing and additional idler wheels direct the conveyor along an irregular path to improve its soil removing properties.
Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 3976143 comprises a peanut digging apparatus having a quick-attach side delivery conveyor for the peanut crop. With said conveyor detached, crop can be deposited directly behind the apparatus. With said conveyor attached crop can be deposited at a laterally offset position. Using these two modes of operation successively, large windrows of crop can be built up in stages while allowing time between said stages for natural drying of the crop.
Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 5980382 comprises a crop harvesting combine having a body with a feeder house at its front end. The feeder house carries a
detachable header which may be wider than the body and can thus be detached when moving the combine. The feeder house is vertically moveable in an arcuate path from a header ground contacting position to an elevated position. A first thrashing cylinder is in the header and a second thrashing cylinder is at the front of the combine body. The arcuate path of the feeder house has its center approximately at the rotational axis of the second thrashing cylinder so the distance between the axes of the first and second cylinders remains approximately constant as the feeder house is moved vertically. Downstream of the thrashing cylinder are a plurality of separation cylinders, at least some of which have concaves thereunder for reorienting elongate trash before being discharged.
Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 5675910 comprises a recirculating batch peanut drying apparatus including a drying station for heating the peanuts, a tempering station for cooling the peanuts after heating, and a recirculating device which transports the peanuts in a continuous flow between the drying station and the tempering station.
Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4136507 comprises a peanut combine is provided with an improved thrashing or picking system having longitudinally spaced thrashing cylinders rotating at different speeds in combination with vine flow control apparatus for directing the vines through the thrashing chamber and for intercepting the vines as they are moved by the cylinders to cause greater shredding of the vines and more efficient detachment of the peanuts from the vines.
Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 5205114 comprises a peanut combine having a header for lifting peanut laden vines off the ground, an auger for distributing the peanut laden vines, a series of picking or thrashing cylinders for thrashing the peanut laden vines and a series of separator cylinders for removing the peanuts from the peanut laden vines. The separator cylinders include fingers which propel the vines and which rotate at a variable flailing speed. The fingers include tips which vary in angle with respect to the path which the fingers define as they rotate on the separator cylinders.
Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4696151 comprises a peanut combine having an improved separator system employing a series of parallel shafts all rotating in the same direction, each carrying a plurality of disks and a blower to separate the chaff from the peanuts. The disk assembly is substantially horizontal. The disks are offset relative to the disks on adjacent shafts so that disks on the two shafts interdigitate. The action of the rotating disks and the blower on the material flowing over the disks provides a more efficient cleaning mechanism for the peanuts.
Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4687064 comprises a harvester for harvesting green peanuts is moved along a peanut bed. A plant conveyor using an angled pair of back-to-back V-belts is arranged to cause the belts to grip the stem area of peanut plants and, as the belts move rearward and the harvester moves forward, the plants are pulled from the bed. Picking elements having a plurality of toothed picking combs move laterally beneath the belts, contacting the plant root structure and removing the peanuts there from. Means are provided for removing dirt from the roots, transporting picked peanuts to a storage bin and storing the peanuts therein.
Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4633955 comprises a digger for root crops, such as peanuts, includes two or more digger units depended from a frame drafted by a tractor. Each digger unit includes a screw conveyor, a guide pair helically wrapped 180.degree. around the screw conveyor, and a hydraulic motor to rotate the screw conveyor. Stem and leaf portions of the plants extending above the bed surface are engaged within and moved rearward by flights of the rotating screw conveyor. The stems slide within the helical guide slot, which lifts the peanuts from the soil, moves them outboard of the conveyor, and inverts the plants above the conveyor. The conveyors are angled to the direction of draft so that the inverted plants are discharged from the slots in a windrow on the center furrow between the dug beds. A toller between the conveyors forms a mound or hill in the center furrow to elevate the windrow above standing water.
Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4232744 comprises an inverter section of a peanut digger-shaker-inverter comprises two downwardly and inwardly inclined
squirrel cage reels and associated inverting tine sets. Each reel includes spaced discs having undulating peripheries and adjacent pairs of the tines have portions straddling a disc and curving similarly thereto opposite the valleys of the undulations so that peanut plants are bumped and agitated, and thereby cleaned, while being fed along and supported by these portions of the tines.
Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4230188 comprises an inverter section of the present peanut digger-shaker-inverter may be used under all types of field conditions and comprises two downwardly and inwardly inclined drums, each drum being associated with a set of inverting tines. Each drum includes a plurality of equally spaced discs each holding a plurality of curved finger rods with adjacent pairs of the inverting tines having portions straddling a disc and curving similarly thereto beneath the outer extremities of the curved finger rods so that peanut plants are subject to a positive force in moving along and through the set of inverting tines with the plants being bumped and agitated by the gentle prodding of the ends of the rods and thereby affording an additional cleaning or reshaking action which lets the loosened soil fall freely through the drums and not on the inverted peanut vines which have been deposited on the ground and also assuring proper drying conditions and minimum field losses of the peanuts.
Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4227538 comprises a peanut combine has a plurality of relatively large threshing cylinders arranged in series with a breastplate underneath having openings of a size to permit peanuts and some extraneous matter to fall therethrough, the vines being carried upwardly by the cylinders, and a conveyor beneath the forward threshing cylinder having openings of a size to permit the passage of some extraneous matter but of a size to retain the peanuts thereon for discharge into a shaker pan beneath an upper threshing cylinder.
Still another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4205508 comprises a peanut combine has a pickup that is driven selectively and automatically above a predetermined rate from a ground wheel or a power takeoff, and has means for manually disengaging the ground wheel drive for transport purposes
Another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4,172,500 comprises a peanut combine pickup head, a plowshare supported by gage wheels delivers fallen loose peanuts to an inclined conveyor having rearwardly moving paddle bars which sweep the loose peanuts rearwardly and upwardly over a rod grate through which small debris is sifted. At the rear of the conveyor and grate, the loose peanuts are delivered into a cross auger having a trough formed by additional grate bars and from this auger trough the loose peanuts and remaining lightweight debris are blown pneumatically into the combine for final cleaning and separation. Heavier debris in the auger trough is forced through a spring loaded trap door at one end of the trough by the action of the auger.
Yet another digger disclosed in US patent no. 4142348 comprises a speed control unit associated with a peanut combine for driving and controlling the peripheral speed of a forwardly disposed crop engaging pick-up reel rotatively mounted transversely about the front of the peanut combine. The speed control unit basically includes a dual input drive system including a first drive operatively connected to at least one ground engaging wheel of the combine for providing an input drive corresponding to the ground speed of the peanut combine. A second generally constant input drive is provided from a power take-off source associated with the peanut combine. These two drives simultaneously drive a centrifugal clutch which includes an output drive member that is driven at a speed corresponding to the faster of the two input drives. In controlling the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel, the clutch assembly and speed control unit is so designed that the pick-up reel is driven from the output drive member of the clutch assembly such that the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel is generally equal the ground speed of the peanut combine as long as the ground speed of the combine is at least equal to or greater than a selected speed. Where the speed of the peanut combine falls below said selected speed, then the second generally constant input speed from the power take-off source is operative to drive the output drive member of the clutch assembly and consequently the peripheral speed of the pick-up reel is driven at a relatively constant speed in this case.
Still another digger disclosed in GB patent no. 852,435 comprises a root-crop harvester comprises a share from which the crop is passed to two reciprocating grids in series, the grids being reciprocated in opposite phase and the share being connected to the rear grid so as to move there- with. The machine includes a wheeled frame from which the share and grids are suspended by links, the foremost links on the rear grid being connected to the links by connecting rods. The bars forming the base of the grids may be downwardly turned where the grids overlap, to assist the passage of the crop.
Another digger disclosed in US patent no 4257486 comprises an apparatus adapted to dig four rows of growing peanut-laden plants and dispose them in turned position as two windrows, the apparatus having two sets of plows with the forward push of the leading end of the plows being away from the center of the front of the apparatus, and two elevating conveyors, one behind each set of plows, for removing as ribbons of peanut plants the four rows of plants, two ribbons of plants being elevated by each conveyor and dropped from the height of the conveyor to an inverting means to place the rows of plants from each conveyor in a windrow on the ground in a turned position.
Disadvantages associated with the prior art
There are disadvantages associated with the prier art. One of these disadvantages is that the conventional diggers only dig the plants but do not separate the groundnuts from the plants and soil.
Another disadvantage is that the same digger cannot be used for digging and separating the different nuts like groundnuts, peanuts, as mentioned herein above and therefore different diggers are required.
Yet another disadvantage is that some of the conventional diggers are costly, bulky and the maintenance thereof is very costly.
Still another disadvantage is that the conventional diggers are not capable to dig all the nuts from the ground and avoid wastage of nuts.
Another disadvantage is that some of the conventional diggers consume more power and efficiency is also very low.
Advantages and Objects of the Invention
Therefore the main object of the present invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device which obviates the disadvantages associated with the prior art.
Another object of this invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device which can be used for digging the nut plants for example groundnuts and peanuts and separate the nuts from the plants as well as soil.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device which is simple in construction and maintenance thereof is easy.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device which totally reduce the wastage of nuts.
Another object of this invention is to provide a nut digger cum separator device, which save power, and efficiency is also high.
The following description contains many specifics but these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, rather these specifics are the exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof and many other variations are possible. Accordingly the scope of the invention should not be limited to the embodiment illustrated, and the alterations and variations are to be treated within the spirit and scope of this invention.
Statement/Summary of the Invention
According to this invention there is provided a nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts comprising a vibrating unit adapted to be connected to the vibrating means, said vibrating means being mounted on the main fame of the such that to receive the power from the power transfer unit of a tractor, a scooping chamber being provided at the front end of said main frame of the for digging the soil and conveying the same to said vibrating unit provided for separating the nuts from the soil.
Brief Description of the Invention
In accordance with this invention the nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts form the soil and separating the same has a vibrating unit which is connected to the vibrating means. The vibrating unit is box having sieves provided on all the sides thereof. The vibrating means comprising a gear box having a driving pulley mounted on the output shaft thereof is mounted on the main frame of the device such that to receive to the drive from the PTU of the tractor with which the digger is attached for the digging operation. A scooping chamber having a plurality of vanes disposed therein is provided at the front end of the main frame of the device for digging the soil and conveying the same to the vibrating unit provided for separating the nuts from the soil.
Detailed Description of the Invention
A nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts form the soil and separating the same according to a preferred embodiment is herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig.l - shows the isometric view of the device, Fig.2 - shows the plan view of the device, Fig. 3 - shows the left side of the device, Fig.4 - shows the right side of the device,
Referring to the drawing particularly fig. 1, the groundnut digging device has a vibrating unit (1). The vibrating unit (1) is in form of an open box having sieve (2) provided on all the sides of the box including the bottom surface thereof. A hatch window (3) is provided at the rear side of the vibrating unit (1). The vibrating unit (1) is secured with a vibrating frame (4) by means of plurality of connectors (5), provided on both the sides of the vibrating unit (1) pivotally. A plurality of connecting linkages (6) is provided on both the sides of the vibrating frame (1) for securing the same with a circular disc (7) of the vibrating means, eccentrically. The circular disc (7) is secured at one end of a shaft (8) which is supported on the main frame (9) of the device rotatably, with the help of bearings (10) mounted on the top of the main frame (9) and on both the sides thereof. A big pulley (11) is secured at the other end of the shaft (8) such that to receive the drive from a small pulley (12) (see figure 2) mounted on a second shaft (14) by means of a belt (13). Shaft (14) is supported on the main frame (9) of the device with the help of the bearing assemblies (15). Another small pulley (16) is mounted on the other end of the shaft (14) such that to receive the drive from a big pulley (17) mounted on the shaft (18) of the of the gear box (19) with the help of a belt (20). An input shaft (21) is provided with the gear box (19) such that to receive the rotational power from the power transfer unit of the tractor (not shown). Shaft (14) is passes through the scooping chamber (22) provided at the front end of the main frame (9) of the device. A plurality of vanes (23) are secured with the shaft (14) in an alternative manner such that to convey the soil along with the nuts to the vibrating unit (1) of the device. A conventional three pin linkage means (24) are provided with the main frame for connecting the device with the connecting means (not shown) of the tractor.
During operation of the device, the device is attached with the tractor with the help of the three pin linkages. The device is pushed down by means of the lift system of the tractor and the tractor is started. Due to motion of the tractor and the pressure exerted on the device the front end of the scooping chamber is penetrated in the soil and dug the soil along with the nuts. The soil accumulated in the scooping chamber is
conveyed to the vibrating chamber and the nuts are separated from the soil therein due to the vibrating action.

I Claim.
1 - A nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts comprising a vibrating unit connected pivotally with a vibrating frame adapted to be connected to the vibrating means, the vibrating means being mounted on the main fame of the device such that to receive the power from the power transfer unit of a tractor, a scooping chamber being provided at the front end of said main frame of the device for digging the soil and conveying the same to said vibrating unit provided for separating the nuts from the soil.
2- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein vibrating unit comprises a box having sieve provided on all the sides thereof including the bottom surface, a sieved window is provided at the back side of the box.
3- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vibrating frame is connected to said vibrating means by means of linkages provided between said frame and eccentric discs mounted on a shaft adapted to receive the drive from the gear box of the vibrating means.
4- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vibrating means comprises a gear box mounted on the main frame of the device, an input shaft is provided with said gear box for receiving the power from the power transfer unit of a tractor, an output shaft having a pulley mounted at its free end is provided for driving a shaft disposed in said scooping chamber through a small pulley mounted on said shaft.
5- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 4 wherein a plurality of vanes are provided with said shaft disposed in the scooping chamber for conveying the soil to the vibrating unit, a small pulley is provided at the other end of said shaft for driving the shaft having the eccentric discs mounted thereon.
6- A nut digger cum separator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
scooping chamber is semi circular housing provided for accommodating said
shaft with the vanes and to store the soil therein.
7- A nut digger cum separator device for use by the farmers for digging the nuts substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

http://ipindiaonline.gov.in/patentsearch/GrantedSearch/viewdoc.aspx?id=2MMpYTpupNhoJJ9EaPgWMg==&loc=+mN2fYxnTC4l0fUd8W4CAA==

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Patent Number

268860

Indian Patent Application Number

1806/DEL/2004

PG Journal Number

39/2015

Publication Date

25-Sep-2015

Grant Date

21-Sep-2015

Date of Filing

23-Sep-2004

Name of Patentee

MOHD.YUSUF KHAN

Applicant Address

VILL.& P.O.-JEVALI VIA GANEDI-NECHHWA, DISTT.-SIKAR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	MOHD.YUSUF KHAN	VILL.& P.O.-JEVALI VIA GANEDI-NECHHWA, DISTT.-SIKAR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

PCT International Classification Number

A01D 13/00

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1			NA