Potato Review

50 POTATO REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 MACHINERY A new Spirit with optional bunker THE new Spirit 7200 has joined the AVR Spirit family as a trailed, two-row o set potato harvester which can be equipped with the new Clean & Go bunker. e new Clean & Go bunker provides additional cleaning by means of a cleaning roller mounted between the bunker oor and the elevator. Opting for a rod web as an elevator web also brings additional sieving capacity. ere 6.5 ton bunker provides enough of a bu er to continue harvesting if the trailer is not present, and ensures smooth deployment in the eld and it is possible to unload while driving. e elevator can rotate independently of the bunker oor and the bunker can be used at full capacity. ere is a capacity control function for unloading the bunker. To be able to empty the bunker as e ciently as possible, the speed of the elevator is automatically adjusted based on the product ow in the elevator. anks to three articulations in the elevator, it is possible to unload deep inside the trailer. If desired, an optional shock absorber can be installed to further break the fall or for lling crates while driving. e Spirit 7200 with Clean & Go bunker was displayed for the rst time at SIMA Paris and Belgian Interpom trade show. Harvesters covering for protection from damage GROWERS of sensitive potato varieties can bene t from AVR’s C-pro le covering which is being o ered on the Puma 4.0 and Lynx harvesters As an option, the Varioweb web can now be tted with a C-pro le covering. is can be useful for very sensitive potato varieties or when harvesting for the fresh market, to further minimise risk of potato damage. anks to the softness of the C-pro le covering, the impact of the movement from the pintle belt to the ring elevator is reduced to a minimum. Larger funnel thanks to additional attachment FOR dumpers with little overhang at the rear side, for example where there is an underride guard, an intake plate attachment has been developed by Belgian company AVR. This attachment moves the intake plate about 15 cm forward, making the funnel in which the product is unloaded larger to prevent potato loss. Improvement to digging unit’s depth control mechanism FOR season 2023, AVR is planning a major upgrade of the actuation method of the All Conditions Control (ACC) on its Puma 4.0 four- row self-propelled harvester. e ACC digging unit’s depth control mechanism enables users to harvest using either diabolos or using probes, without exerting pressure on the ridge. e control technology responsible for depth control when harvesting using probes has been thoroughly reviewed. Control is now a lot more accurate, which means the digging unit, and as a consequence the whole machine, can be operated more stable than ever and a more precise control will improve the harvesting quality, the Dutch manufacturer claims. Each Puma 4.0 is equipped with the necessary modules for machine connectivity. AVR Connect is an online reporting tool for all machine activities and an online repository for both on and o eld machine data. AVR Connect o ers users more data, and as a result a more e ective use of machines and resources. e pre-installed unit (with SIM card) collects data and transmits it wirelessly and in real time via the internet to the AVR Connect platform. Users can monitor machines remotely, and there are also options for remote diagnosis. AVR also o ers an optional Trimble NAV900 GPS sphere ex factory.