A shaft for a rotary star screen apparatus has a shaft body having a series of axially spaced star connectors and a series of stars, mounted to the star connectors. Each one of these stars has a plurality of circumferentially distributed star members each elongate in a direction having a component radially away from the shaft body. The star connectors each have a plurality of circumferentially distributed star member connectors. Each of these star members is a separate part, individually and detachably mounted to one of the star member connectors. An apparatus equipped with such shafts is also described.

A separation apparatus for separating fruit from other plant matter from harvested plant material, the apparatus comprising a conveyor system that defines a first separation system, a second separation system located at least partially above the first separation system comprising an array of rotatable rollers to convey harvested plant material in an upstream to downstream direction, the rollers spaced apart to provide a plurality of openings permitting the transit of separated fruit therethrough while preventing the transit of other plant matter, a third separation system in the form of a de-stemming unit downstream of the second separation system, a plant matter distribution system, for distributing plant matter away from the collection apparatus, wherein fruit pass through any one or more of the first, second and third separation systems for collection in the collection unit.

A separator for separating harvested fruit from other plant matter. The separator can be fitted to, positioned above, or integrated with, a collection bin and as such allows for material harvested by an automatic fruit harvester to be processed prior to deposition of the fruit in the collection bin.