Alfalfa separator

Claim 1

An alfalfa separator apparatus for separating the stem portion of the alfalfa plant from the leaf portion, said apparatus comprising: a housing including an upper wall having a generally arcuate inner surface; intake means located on said housing for receiving alfalfa fed to the apparatus and comprising an inlet opening located centrally of the upper wall of the housing; means defining a chamber within said housing, said chamber defining means including the upper wall of the housing and a lowermost screen portion having holes therein of such a size as to permit fine leaf portions of the alfalfa plant to pass therethrough while preventing coarse stem portions of the alfalfa plant from passing therethrough; and a drum mounted for rotation within said chamber and including a plurality of radially extending hammers disposed about the periphery thereof; said chamber defining means further comprising means defining a passageway, located above said screen and including a separate, discrete outlet aperture located in the upper wall of the housing in communication with said chamber, through which coarse stem portions of the alfalfa plants can pass in response to the forces generated during the rotation of said drum, said outlet aperture being located closely adjacent to said drum laterally of said inlet opening in a position so as to receive the coarse stem portions of the alfalfa plants which are thrown off from the drum by centrifugal force, said apparatus further comprising suction means for drawing off the coarse portions of the alfalfa plants passing through said passageway and means controlling the suction time of said suction means so that a high percentage of the fine material is drawn off through said screen during an initial operating period and thereafter the coarse material is removed through said passageway.