The present invention relates to a strawberry cutting machine that can cut off the calyces of strawberries for subsequent use of the remaining fruit, either for the preparation of jam, compote or for consumption, wherein said machine enables the cutting of the calyces of strawberries to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof and automatically regardless of the size of the strawberry.

The present invention relates to a strawberry cutting machine that can cut off the calyces of strawberries for subsequent use of the remaining fruit, either for the preparation of jam, compote or for consumption, wherein said machine enables the cutting of the calyces of strawberries to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof and automatically regardless of the size of the strawberry.

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.

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 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 way of dealing with challenges to the pepper processing industry and pepper growers is to mechanize pepper processing, including the de-stemming of whole peppers. The present example provides a method for mechanically de-stemming whole peppers. The method provides for the recognition of a pepper's shoulder and or interior regions and stem in order to generate a control signal to initiate a process to de-stem the pepper. In particular, several implementations of the method are provided that may include a mechanical system, a laser system, a machine vision system, a combination of a machine vision system and the laser system, and other equivalent implementations. Additionally disclosed, are methods of processing whole peppers utilizing automated de-stemming.