Patent ID: 8123598

Claim:
A device for separating a harvested crop stream, said device being intended to be mounted in a fruit harvesting machine, said device comprising: a frame ( 1 ) and longitudinal separator members ( 2 ) that are fastened longitudinally to said frame and spaced transversely from each other to form an array ( 7 ) for separating the crop stream between a portion retained on said array and a portion passing through said array; and a conveyor belt ( 3 ) that is driven in a longitudinal direction between an upstream roller ( 4 ) and a downstream roller ( 5 ) fastened to said frame, said belt being disposed under the separator members ( 2 ) to provide between the belt and the separator members a space ( 10 ) for receiving the portion passing through, said belt being provided with teeth ( 11 ) having a base part ( 11 a ) that extends into the receiving space ( 10 ) and a projecting part ( 11 b ) that extends above the separator members ( 2 ), passing through the spaces formed between said separator members, wherein the separator members ( 2 ) are restrained relative to the frame ( 1 ), adjacent the upstream roller ( 4 ), by affixing said separator members to the frame ( 1 ) and, ahead of said upstream roller, by a rotary member ( 12 ) mounted on the frame ( 1 ), said rotary member including paddles ( 13 ) that are adapted to hold the separator ( 2 ) members in position on rotation of said rotary member.