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US 11,963,481 B2Granted
Separator for a grape collection unit
AssigneeAussie Wine Group Holdings Pty Ltd
InventorsMalcolm Villis, Peter Balnaves
Life of this patent
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Abstract
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.
Claims21
An apparatus, configured to be fitted to a collection unit, for separating berries from other plant matter from harvested plant material, the apparatus comprising:
- a first separating conveyor system comprising an array of rollers, rotatable to convey harvested plant material in an upstream to downstream direction, the rollers spaced apart to form a plurality of openings therebetween permitting the transit of separated berries therethrough while preventing the transit of other plant matter;
- a second separating conveyor system comprising a continuous belt mounted to rotate around an upstream shaft and a downstream shaft, the second separating conveyor system positioned below the first separating conveyor system, the continuous belt of the second conveyor system including a plurality of openings configured to permit the transit of berries therethrough while retaining other plant matter on the continuous belt, wherein the first and second separating conveyor systems are arranged such that berries and other plant matter from the first conveyor system are deposited onto the second conveyor system, wherein the entirety of the first separating conveyor system is positioned directly and vertically above the second separating conveyor system, and a direction of travel of harvested plant material on the first conveyor system and the second separating conveyor system is the same such that after separated berries transit through the first conveyor system, remaining berries and the other plant matter are conveyed along the first separating conveyor and are deposited onto the second separating conveyor for further separation of the berries from the other plant matter;
- and
- a de-stemming unit positioned above the second separating conveyor system downstream of the first separating conveyor system.
1 more element
A method for separating berries from other plant matter from harvested plant material, the method comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising:
- a first separating conveyor system comprising an array of rollers, rotatable to convey harvested plant material in an upstream to downstream direction, the rollers spaced apart to provide a plurality of openings therebetween permitting the transit of separated berries therethrough while preventing the transit of other plant matter;
- and
- a second separating conveyor system positioned below the first separating conveyor, for conveying harvested plant material in an upstream to downstream direction, the second separating conveyor system including a plurality of openings, wherein the entirety of the first separating conveyor system is positioned directly and vertically above the second separating conveyor system, and a direction of travel of harvested plant material on the first conveyor system and the second separating conveyor system is the same such that after separated berries transit through the first conveyor system, remaining berries and the other plant matter are conveyed along the first separating conveyor and are deposited onto the second separating conveyor for further separation of the berries from the other plant matter;
- providing a hopper positioned above the first separating conveyer system;
- providing a collection unit below the second separating conveyer system;
- wherein the hopper receives harvested plant material and directs it to an upstream end of the first separating conveyor system;
- and
- wherein the first and second separating conveyor systems are arranged such that berries and other plant matter from the first conveyor system are deposited onto the second conveyor system that conveys harvested plant material in an upstream to downstream direction and permits the transit of separated berries therethrough while preventing the transit of other plant matter, such that berries that pass through the second conveyer system are collected by the collection unit.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.