Patent ID: 8479484

Claim:
A method for eliminating leafstalks (P) from a harvested stream in a berry (G) harvesting machine, said method comprising the steps of: disposing at least a portion of the stream containing leafstalks (P) and berries (G) on a continuous conveyor belt ( 5 ) for transport in a longitudinal direction (L 2 ); disposing said portion on a discontinuous conveyor belt ( 6 ) that is longitudinally aligned with said continuous belt, wherein the discontinuous belt ( 6 ) includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced bars ( 11 ) and, around said bars, transversely spaced longitudinal bands ( 12 ), said longitudinal bands extending along both the continuous and discontinuous conveyor belts between an upstream transverse shaft ( 13 ) and a downstream transverse shaft ( 14 ), said discontinuous belt having vertical openings ( 7 ) with a geometry that is configured to enable the passage of berries (G) therethrough and to retain leafstalks (P) on said discontinuous belt, such that leafstalks P are first taken up on the continuous belt 5 and conveyed conjointly by the bands 12 and said continuous belt, and then the leafstalks P are conveyed only by said bands along the discontinuous belt 6 ; and eliminating leafstalks (P) remaining on said discontinuous belt, wherein the conveyor planes of the continuous and discontinuous belts are substantially coincident.