Abstract: A grape processing apparatus and method is described and which includes a screen, a cleated conveyor belt with a bottom flight and which is spaced from the screen, and a source of bunches of grapes which have associated stems, and which are fed into a predetermined space between the bottom flight of the cleated conveyor belt and the screen, and wherein the bunches of grapes move along the screen in a rolling and tumbling motion to separate the individual grapes from the associated stems, and wherein the individual grapes are collected thereafter.

Abstract: A grape processing apparatus and method is described and which includes a screen, a cleated conveyor belt with a bottom flight and which is spaced from the screen, and a source of bunches of grapes which have associated stems, and which are fed into a predetermined space between the bottom flight of the cleated conveyor belt and the screen, and wherein the bunches of grapes move along the screen in a rolling and tumbling motion to separate the individual grapes from the associated stems, and wherein the individual grapes are collected thereafter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting is described and which includes an apparatus for forming a process stream and thereafter forcibly deforming the process stream in order to identify unacceptable portions of the process stream, and removing those unacceptable portions in a first step. Yet further the method and apparatus of the present invention further includes an inspection station which is operable to pass a beam of electromagnetic radiation through the resulting process stream which has been previously forcibly deformed to then identify unacceptable portions of the process stream which need further removal in order to provide a uniform resulting product.