Patent ID: 7694502

Claim:
A machine for processing vine-borne crops along a path on a vertical plane extending from front to rear inside the machine comprising: a. a movable shaker brush provided along said vertical plane; b. a removal conveyor provided along said vertical plane having a portion thereof located below said shaker brush for collecting dislodged crops and conveying them rearward along said path, said removal conveyor terminating inside said machine; c. a sorter conveyor provided along said vertical plane for conveying dislodged crops rearward along said path, one end of said sorter conveyor adjacent to the termination of said removal conveyor defining a gap therebetween, said gap extending across said path; d. a recovery conveyor having a plurality of openings therein provided along said vertical plane adjacent to said shaker brush and above said sorter conveyor for conveying vines rearward along said path; e. a fruit return conveyor having a plurality of openings therein provided along said vertical plane below a portion of said recovery conveyor and above a portion of said sorter conveyor for transporting crops dislodged from vines on said recovery conveyor forward along said path to said removal conveyor; f. an upwardly blowing airflow passing through said gap to separate unwanted materials from said dislodged crops, said airflow also passing through openings of said fruit return conveyor and through openings of said recovery conveyor for agitating vines on said recovery conveyor; and g. a removal surface provided along said vertical plane below a portion of said fruit return conveyor and above a portion of said sorter conveyor for urging unwanted materials out of at least one side of said machine.