InterPom’24: Scotts Precision’s Evolution Separator and Terra-Siv Pre-cleaner on Display

It was recently revealed that Scotts Precision Manufacturing Ltd, a leading designer and manufacturer of root crop and vegetable cleaning and harvesting systems for global markets, would be attending InterPom’24.
The company’s Evolution Separator and Terra-Siv will be on display as part of the static machinery show for visitors to see.
The New Pre-cleaner Terra-Siv
The ‘Terra-Siv’ self-cleaning device is specifically made to quickly remove heaps of loose dirt and debris across a relatively short distance. It can be used as a standalone pre-cleaner or bolted straight onto the intake of any of the company’s second-generation ‘Evolution’ separators.
“The Terra-Siv is designed to break up and remove large amounts of loose soil and debris in a short distance which allows the following Evolution Separator to remove the remaining clods/stones/leaves much more effectively, resulting in a higher throughput. By utilizing the lateral gap adjustment of the two star shafts, it is also possible to remove undersized potatoes,” Trinity Scott told Potato Business.
“The main driver for this design is to assist customers dealing with high soil percentages in their crops. Most growers of overwintered carrots and parsnips already use our highly successful Evolution Separator. The Terra-Siv will turbocharge these separators by removing high levels of loose soil and smaller debris. By eliminating this debris beforehand, the separator can operate more efficiently, removing larger particles and leaf matter. The versatility of the system provides equal benefits for a wide variety of other crops, such as potatoes, onions, celeriac, and beets,” Derek Scott, company owner and manager mentioned.
How It Works
The crop is supported on the tips of the stars, allowing loose soil to immediately fall between the fingers, while larger particles are drawn down into the valley between the star shafts.
“We have found that by mismatching the star shaft speeds and adjusting the height of the second star shaft we can then effectively entrain irregularly shaped objects deeper into that valley without pulling the crop through. The key is to eliminate any flex or movement within the shafts and supporting chassis while keeping the star fingers open in the heaviest of soils. This was achieved by stabilizing the spacing between the stars. Having uniform star spacings allows us to maintain a very tight tolerance between the cleaning finger and adjacent stars. The use of a square-edged steel finger ensures the gap is repeatedly cleaned, and twin roller bearings mounted on a camshaft consistently flex the soft fingers, completing the self-cleaning cycle. The design is focused on low maintenance and tool-free adjustment. Direct drive electric motor/gearboxes, along with remote greasing, are fitted as standard. For operator ease, all adjustments are made via push button or turnbuckles,” the company engineers announced.
The unit consists of six individually direct-driven shafts. Thus it provides the first variable-speed ‘feed-on roller’ (height adjustable by turnbuckle) that offers a gentle landing for the crop and fixes the overall length of the separator.
The following star shaft, adjustable for speed, can be adjusted rearward by an electric linear ram to create a gap of up to 65mm (the ‘feed-on shaft’ moves vertically to allow this). The second star shaft is individually adjustable for speed and height. The final soft ‘feed-off roller’ is adjustable for speed and direction. Below each star shaft is a highly efficient cleaning system, comprising of a slowly rotating camshaft with single steel fingers passing between each pair of stars to constantly eliminate any buildup of soil. Between each steel finger, a double bearing mounted on a small hub rotates with each shaft, effortlessly flexing each finger to loosen compacted soil that builds up between the front and rear of each star finger.
“Be sure to visit our booth (R-74) to learn more about our latest innovations in root crop and vegetable cleaning technology,” the company’s representatives concluded.