Not sure if this is a bug or a changed feature but I think I remember the quarry picking up any "extra" items when breaking a block. E.g. picking up all dropped items when breaking a chest and stuff from mobs that die down there. I can see the drill head slowly pushing the items around but not picking them up.
1.11.2, latest Forge, my own build of 7.99.4 (no changes, just the build). SSP.