Patent ID: 11911795
Assignee: AUSSIE WINE GROUP HOLDINGS PTY LTD
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC A  B

Claim 0:
1. A separation apparatus for a harvester, for separating berries from other plant matter from harvested plant material, the apparatus comprising:
a conveyer system that defines a first separation system moveable to define an upstream and downstream position relative to the conveyer system, the conveyer system comprising a plurality of apertures to permit the transit of berries thereto,
a second separator system that only partially overlaps the first separation system, the second separation system defined by a series of adjacent shafts, each shaft comprising an array of spaced apart rollers to provide a plurality of openings permitting the transit of separated berries through the openings while preventing the transit of other plant matter, the array of rollers rotatable to convey harvested plant material in an upstream to downstream direction, the series of adjacent shafts defined by:
a first part, and
a second part configured to receive harvested plant material from vertically above the second part, and further configured such that transiting separated berries passing through the rollers of the second part do not transit to the first separation system, and berries that do not transit through the rollers of the second part pass to an upstream portion of the first separation system, wherein at least a portion of the second part is further configured such that harvested plant material must work against gravity in order to transit along the rollers, and

a third separation system being a de-stemming unit downstream of the second separation system and positioned above the first separation system.