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A machine for harvesting foodstuffs, such as nuts from the ground, uses compressed air passing through at least one venturi to create a vacuum at the inlet of a pickup conduit. Nuts are sucked into the pickup conduit which provides a straight flow path for the nuts. Compressed air is also discharged

A machine for harvesting foodstuffs, such as nuts from the ground, uses compressed air passing through at least one venturi to create a vacuum at the inlet of a pickup conduit. Nuts are sucked into the pickup conduit which provides a straight flow path for the nuts. Compressed air is also discharged near the pickup conduit inlet to blow nuts to the inlet of the pickup conduit. Additionally, the machine discharges air from laterally extending blower arms to move nuts from obstacles which cannot be easily reached by the pickup conduit to locations where the foodstuffs can be reached by the pickup conduit.

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1. A machine useful for harvesting foodstuffs such as nuts from the ground, comprising: (a) a pickup conduit having an inlet close to the ground for picking up foodstuffs directly from the ground, and an outlet for discharging the foodstuffs to a receptacle, the pickup conduit being open to the a

1. A machine useful for harvesting foodstuffs such as nuts from the ground, comprising: (a) a pickup conduit having an inlet close to the ground for picking up foodstuffs directly from the ground, and an outlet for discharging the foodstuffs to a receptacle, the pickup conduit being open to the atmosphere only at the inlet and the outlet, the conduit being substantially straight between the inlet and the outlet to prevent blockage of the conduit by foodstuffs and debris; (b) a gas source; (c) at least one venturi having (i) an inlet in fluid communication with the gas source, and (ii) an inlet for discharging the gas towards the pickup conduit outlet, the venturi being capable of discharging gas from the gas source into the pickup conduit and creating a vacuum at the pickup conduit inlet sufficient to lift foodstuffs from the ground into the pickup conduit; and (d) means for propelling the machine. 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the pickup conduit has means for controlling the distance between the pickup conduit inlet and the ground. 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein the outlet of the venturi discharges the compressed gas towards the pickup conduit outlet at an angle of less than 30° angle in relative to the longitudinal axis of the pickup conduit directed. 4. The machine of claim 1 comprising two such venturis wherein the outlet of a first one of the venturis is located proximate to the pickup conduit outlet, and the outlet of a second one of the venturis is located proximate to the pickup conduit inlet. 5. The machine of claim 4 comprising a blower arm extending away from the pickup conduit laterally and generally parallel to the ground, wherein the blower arm is in fluid communication with the gas source, the blower arm has means for releasing gas in a direction transverse to the ground for moving foodstuffs beyond the edge of the pickup conduit to where the foodstuffs can be harvested by the pickup conduit. 6. The machine of claim 5 wherein the blower arm comprises means for pivoting the arm away from obstacles. 7. The machine of claim 5 comprising two such blower arms wherein a first one of the blower arm extends farther away laterally from the pickup conduit than a second one of the blower arms, and at least the first blower arm comprises means for pivoting the first blower arm away from obstacles. 8. The machine of claim 1 or 7 comprising ground level blowing means for moving foodstuffs on the ground towards the pickup conduit inlet. 9. The machine of claim 8 wherein the ground level blowing means comprises a conduit located proximate to the pickup conduit inlet, the conduit having (i) an inlet which is in fluid communication with the gas source, and (ii) a plurality of nozzles for releasing gas towards the ground and toward the pickup conduit inlet. 10. The machine of claim 1 comprising a blower arm extending away from the pickup conduit laterally and generally parallel to the ground, wherein the blower arm is in fluid communication with the gas source, the blower arm has means for releasing gas in a direction transverse to the ground for moving foodstuffs beyond the edge of the pickup conduit to where the foodstuffs can be harvested by the pickup conduit. 11. The machine of claim 10 wherein the blower arm comprises means for pivoting the arm away from obstacles. 12. The machine of claim 10 comprising two such blower arms wherein a first one of the blower arm extends farther away laterally from the pickup conduit than a second one of the blower arms, and at least the first blower arm comprises means for pivoting the first blower arm away from obstacles. 13. A machine useful for harvesting foodstuffs such as nuts from the ground, comprising: (a) a pickup conduit having an inlet for picking up foodstuffs directly from the ground and an outlet for discharging the foodstuffs to a receptacle; (b) a gas source; (c) first and second venturis, each venturi having an inlet and an outlet wherein (i) the inlets of the two venturis are connected to the compressed gas source, (ii) the outlets of the two venturis discharge compressed gas towards the pickup conduit outlet, (iii) the outlet of the first venturi is proximate to the pickup conduit outlet, (iv) the outlet of the second venturi is proximate to the pickup conduit inlet, and (v) the venturis are capable of discharging the compressed gas from the compressed gas source into the conduit and creating a vacuum at the pickup conduit inlet; and (d) means for propelling the machine. 14. The machine of claim 13 comprising a blower arm extending away from the pickup conduit laterally and generally parallel to the ground, wherein the blower arm is in fluid communication with the gas source, the blower arm has means for releasing gas in a direction transverse to the ground for moving foodstuffs beyond the edge of the pickup conduit to where the foodstuffs can be harvested by the pickup conduit. 15. The machine of claim 14 wherein the blower arm comprises means for pivoting the arm away from obstacles. 16. The machine of claim 14 comprising two such blower arms wherein a first one of the blower arm extends farther away laterally from the pickup conduit than a second one of the blower arms, and at least the first blower arm comprises means for pivoting the first blower arm away from obstacles. 17. The machine of claim 13, 15, or 16 comprising ground level blowing means for moving foodstuffs on the ground towards the pickup conduit inlet. 18. A machine useful in harvesting foodstuffs from the ground comprising: (a) a pickup conduit having an inlet for picking up foodstuffs directly from the ground and an outlet for discharging the foodstuffs to a receptacle; (b) a source of gas; (c) at least one venturi capable of creating a vacuum at the inlet of the pickup conduit, the venturi inlet being connected to the source of gas and the venturi outlet being in the pickup conduit; (d) at least one blower arm extending laterally and generally parallel to the ground beyond the edge of the pickup conduit, wherein the blower arm is in fluid communication with the gas source, and the blower arm has means for releasing gas in a direction transverse to the ground for moving foodstuffs to where the foodstuffs can be harvested by the pickup conduit; (e) means for propelling the machine so that foodstuffs can be picked from the ground and simultaneously blown from obstacles. 19. The machine of claim 18 wherein the blower arm has means for pivoting the arm away from obstacles. 20. The machine of claim 18 comprising two such blower arms wherein a first one of the blower arm extends farther away laterally from the pickup conduit than a second one of the blower arms, and at least the first blower arm comprises means for pivoting the first blower arm away from obstacles. 21. The machine of claim 18 or 20 comprising ground level blowing means are for moving foodstuffs on the ground toward the pickup conduit inlet. 22. A machine useful for harvesting foodstuffs from the ground, comprising: (a) a pickup conduit having an inlet for picking up foodstuffs directly from the ground and an outlet for discharging the nuts to a receptacle, the conduit being substantially straight between the inlet and the outlet to prevent blockage of the conduit by foodstuffs and debris; (b) a gas source; (c) first and second venturis, each venturi having an inlet and an outlet, wherein (i) the inlet of each venturi is connected to the gas source, (ii) the outlet of each venturi can discharge gas towards the pickup conduit outlet, (iii) the outlet of the first venturi is located proximate to the pickup conduit outlet, (iv) the outlet of the second venturi is located proximate to the pickup conduit inlet, and (v) the venturis are capable of discharging the gas into the conduit to create a vacuum at the inlet of the pickup conduit; (d) ground level blowing means for moving foodstuffs on the ground towards the pickup conduit inlet; (e) at least one blower arm extending laterally and generally parallel to the ground from the edge of the pickup conduit, wherein (i) the blower arm is in fluid communication with the source of gas, (ii) the blower arm is capable of releasing gas in a direction transverse to the ground for moving foodstuffs to where they can be easily harvested by the pickup conduit, and (iii) the blower arm has means for pivoting the arm away from obstacles, such as trees when the arm contacts the obstacles; (f) connection means for connecting the source of gas to the inlets of the venturis, the ground level blowing means and the blower arm; and (g) means for propelling the machine so that foodstuffs can be harvested from the ground and simultaneously blown from obstacles. 23. The machine of claim 22 wherein the ground level blowing means comprises a conduit located proximate to the pickup conduit inlet, the conduit having (i) an inlet which is in fluid communication with the gas source, and (ii) a plurality of nozzles for releasing gas towards the ground and toward the pickup conduit inlet. 24. The machine of claim 22 comprising two such blower arms wherein a first one of the blower arm extends farther away laterally from the pickup conduit than a second one of the blower arms, and at least the first blower arm comprises means for pivoting the first blower arm away from obstacles. 25. A method for harvesting foodstuffs from the ground comprising the steps of: (a) propelling a pickup conduit along a path containing foodstuffs, the pickup conduit having an inlet and an outlet; (b) sucking foodstuffs in the path into the inlet of the pickup conduit; (c) passing the sucked-up foodstuffs through the pickup conduit to the outlet of the pickup conduit; (d) discharging the foodstuffs from the outlet of the pickup conduit into a receptacle; and (e) blowing foodstuffs in the path towards the inlet of the pickup conduit. 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of passing the sucked-up foodstuffs comprises passing the sucked-up foodstuffs along a substantially straight passage. 27. The method of claim 25 or 26 comprising the additional step of blowing foodstuffs that are not in the path of the pickup conduit into the path of the pickup conduit. 28. A machine for harvesting foodstuffs from the ground into a receptacle, the machine comprising: (a) a pickup conduit having an inlet and an outlet; (b) means for propelling the pickup conduit along a path containing foodstuffs; (c) means for sucking foodstuffs in the path into the inlet of the pickup conduit, passing the sucked-up foodstuffs through the pickup conduit to the outlet of the pickup conduit, and discharging the foodstuffs from the outlet of the pickup conduit into the receptacle; and (d) means for blowing foodstuffs in the path towards the pickup conduit. 29. The machine of claim 28 wherein the pickup conduit is substantially straight between the inlet and the outlet. 30. The machine of claim 28 or 29 including means for blowing foodstuffs that are not in the path of the pickup conduit into the path of the pickup conduit. 31. A machine useful for harvesting foodstuffs such as nuts from the ground, comprising: (a) a pickup conduit having an inlet for picking up foodstuffs directly from the ground and an outlet for discharging the foodstuffs to a receptacle; (b) a gas source; (c) at least one venturi having (i) an inlet in fluid communication with the gas source, and (ii) an outlet for discharging the gas towards the pickup conduit outlet, the venturi being capable of discharging gas from the gas source into the pickup conduit and creating a vacuum at the pickup conduit inlet; (d) ground level blowing means for moving foodstuffs on the ground towards the pickup conduit inlet; and (e) means for propelling the machine. 32. The machine of claim 31 wherein the ground level blowing means comprises a conduit located proximate to the pickup conduit inlet, the conduit having (i) an inlet which is in fluid communication with the gas source, and (ii) a plurality of nozzles for releasing gas towards the ground and toward the pickup conduit inlet. 33. The machine of claim 31 comprising two such venturis wherein the outlet of a first one of the venturis is located proximate to the pickup conduit outlet, and the outlet of a second one of the venturis is located proximate to the pickup conduit inlet. 34. The machine of claim 31 comprising a blower arm extending away from the pickup conduit laterally and generally parallel to the ground, wherein the blower arm is in fluid communication with the gas source, the blower arm has means for releasing gas in a direction transverse to the ground for moving foodstuffs beyond the edge of the pickup conduit to where the foodstuffs can be harvested by the pickup conduit. 35. The machine of claim 34 wherein the blower arm comprises means for pivoting the arm away from obstacles. 36. The machine of claim 34 comprising two such blower arms wherein a first one of the blower arm extends farther away laterally from the pickup conduit than a second one of the blower arms, and at least the first blower arm comprises means for pivoting the first blower arm away from obstacles.