Described is a separation apparatus for a harvester, for separating berries 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 berries through the berries 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 berries pass through any one or more of the first, second and third separation systems for collection in the collection unit.

The present invention relates to a separator for separating harvested berries from other plant matter. The invention particularly relates to a separator that can be fitted to, positioned above, or integrated with, a collection bin and as such allows for material harvested by an automatic berry harvester to be process prior to deposition of the berries in the collection bin. In particular the berry harvester can be a grape harvester.

Provided is a separator for separating harvested berries from other plant matter, particularly to a separator that can be fitted to, positioned above, or integrated with, a collection bin and as such allows for material harvested by an automatic berry harvester to be processed prior to deposition of the berries in the collection bin. In particular the berry harvester can be a grape harvester.

A destemmer for use in a fruit harvester includes a frame, a box carried by the frame, and an eccentric drive connected with the box. The box includes an inlet for receiving berries clusters. At least one top link interconnects the box and the frame. The top link include a first end pivotally connected to the frame, and a second end pivotally connected to the box. At least one bottom link interconnects the box and the frame. The bottom link include a first end pivotally connected to the frame, and a second end pivotally connected to the box. The longitudinal axis of each of the top link and the bottom link intersects at a virtual pivot axis, when viewed from a side of the box, which is located upstream from the inlet to the box, relative to a travel direction of the berries and MOG through the box.

A device including at least one motorized conveyor for conveying a flow of harvested crop between an upstream end and a downstream end of the conveyor along a longitudinal direction. The device further including at least one sensor that monitors a longitudinal inclination of the device relative to a nominal orientation of the device. The device computes a conveyor speed based on the monitored longitudinal inclination, the conveyor speed being adapted to maintain conveying kinematics of the harvested crop independent from the longitudinal inclination; and the device operates the motorized conveyor at the computed conveyor speed.

A field harvesting device for small fruits having a harvesting header, a hitching pole and framework on wheels so as to be pulled by a moving motorized machine and the harvesting header is a single assembly comprised of a frame, conveyor, dividing cones, and a plurality of assemblies formed at first by worm screws, from each of which individual worm screw extends a rotating separator from which extends a shaft extending into a sprocket wheel. Two of the assemblies working as a pair of axially parallel aligned assemblies such that when one rotating separator, forming part of the pair, rotates clockwise and faces the other rotating separator forming part of the same pair rotates counterclockwise. The counter rotating separator having paddles which are configured for stripping fruits off of fruit plants; the stripped fruits are projected upwards by the action of the paddles rotating in an upward direction; the fruits fall onto U shaped cups located on the underneath supports, and roll off onto a primary conveyor. The primary conveyor conveys the fruits to an elevator conveyor which directs the fruits into a container. The assemblies are linked together at the back of the harvesting header by way of a roller chain connected to the sprocket wheels which are rotationally connected to pillow bearings mounted to the harvesting header frame and covered by a back cover. The assemblies are hold at the front end of the device by supports brackets mounted on a header frame member, which are rotationally connected by way of bearings that allow rotational movements of the assemblies.

An agricultural leaf stripper which can adopt numerous configurations allowing leaf stripping of bushes and trees of varying shapes and sizes consists of a structure capable of being transported along a horizontal axis parallel to the ground and consisting of a structure formed of two parts one of which is fixed to the transporter vehicle and the other of which can slide vertically on the fixed part and supports a rectilinear rail generally parallel to the structure and able to be moved horizontally towards and away from the structure and tilted with respect thereto, the rail carrying at least two pneumatic leaf stripping heads, each stripping head being able to be set to a desired position on the rail independently of the other leaf stripping heads, and each being able to be set to a desired orientation about its working axis on the rail.

A cleaning fan system for use in a fruit harvester includes at least one cleaning fan having an inlet and an outlet. The at least one cleaning fan is configured as a mixed flow fan with a rotor having a frustroconical shaped hub and a plurality of blades. The hub includes a smaller diameter inlet end and a larger diameter outlet end. Each blade is attached to the hub and curves forward from the inlet end toward the outlet end, relative to a direction of rotation of the rotor, whereby air is blown during operation both axially and radially. At least one intake duct includes at least one inlet and an outlet. The inlet is positioned in association with an area to be cleaned on the fruit harvester, and the outlet is coupled with an inlet of a corresponding cleaning fan.

An agricultural leaf stripper which can adopt numerous configurations allowing leaf stripping of bushes and trees of varying shapes and sizes consists of a structure capable of being transported along a horizontal axis parallel to the ground and consisting of a structure formed of two parts one of which is fixed to the transporter vehicle and the other of which can slide vertically on the fixed part and supports a rectilinear rail generally parallel to the structure and able to be moved horizontally towards and away from the structure and tilted with respect thereto, the rail carrying at least two pneumatic leaf stripping heads, each stripping head being able to be set to a desired position on the rail independently of the other leaf stripping heads, and each being able to be set to a desired orientation about its working axis on the rail.

A cleaning fan for use in a cleaning system of a fruit harvester includes a housing and a rotor disposed within the housing. The rotor includes a hub and a plurality of blades. The cleaning fan is configured as a mixed flow fan combining high-volume flow characteristics with increased pressure delivery characteristics. The hub is a frustroconical shaped hub with an axis of rotation, a smaller diameter inlet end, and a larger diameter outlet end. Each of the blades is attached to the hub and curves from the inlet end toward the outlet end, relative to a direction of rotation of the rotor, whereby air is blown during operation both axially and radially.