Abstract: The invention includes the steps of disposing at least a portion of the stream containing leafstalks (P) and berries (G) on a continuous conveyor belt (5) in a longitudinal direction (L2), disposing the portion on a discontinuous conveyor belt (6) longitudinally aligned with the continuous belt. The discontinuous belt has vertical (7) openings with a geometry that is configured for enabling berries (G) to pass through them and to retain leafstalks (P) on the discontinuous belt, thereby eliminating leafstalks (P) remaining on the discontinuous belt.

Abstract: An easily adjustable grader for sizing and sorting food products, especially shellfish such as shrimp. The grader includes a series of parallel rotating rollers attached at either end to drive chains. The drive chains include adjustment levers attached rotatably at each roller position. The levers have a first arm terminating in a rolling wheel and a second arm whose end conforms to the chain. An adjustment rail is positioned above each chain along the length of the grader. The wheels of the levers ride along cam surface on the underside of the rail. Rail adjusters at each end of the rail raise and lower each end of the rail to change the spacing between the cam surface and the chain along the length of the grader. The pressure exerted by the cam surface on the lever causes the chain to kink in proportion to the distance between the cam surface and the chain, which adjusts the gap between consecutive rollers. The widths of the gaps determine the size gradations of the grader.

Abstract: A die stamp formed disc construction including a toothed plate and a two-stepped sleeve integrally formed thereon. The sleeve has coined or stamped interior and exterior forty-five degree flats. The flats are accurately positioned so that, with the discs received through their central openings and clamped together onto the rotation shaft, the interior flat of one disc is held directly against the exterior flat of the adjacent disc thereby accurately and consistently positioning and holding the toothed plates of adjacent discs in spaced relation and preventing disc wobble.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting articles according to size comprising an endless conveyor (13) including a plurality of elongate conveyor members (16) pivotally linked to a pair of continuous chains (22) by rigid rods (24) located at each end of members (16). Chains (22) are driven by sprocket (21) in a circuitous path defined by rigid tracks (60) and (63), idler sprocket (23) and catenary (76). Conveyor members (16) move in a substantially oval path (15) having a flattened upper portion (17) defining an article support surface (18), and a flattened lower portion (67). Members (16) within support surface (18) are spaced from one another by variable amounts by virtue of the circuitous path followed by chains (22), and the spacings permit selected size articles to pass therethrough and be sorted from articles of different sizes.

Abstract: In method for the dewatering of naturally moist, coarse lump peat or of a similar material, the material is continuously fractured into particles to approximately 2-3 cm diameter and is dispersed onto a lower screen belt. With the leading in of a provided upper screen belt the material is conveyed between the two screen belts through a preliminary dewatering zone, where at a pressure which is only given through the tension of the screen belts in a loop on at least one pair of rolls, a homogeneous filter cake is produced. The latter is pressed in a subsequent dewatering zone of a number of pairs of nip rolls at a pressure increasing along the zone between screen belts, whereby in each case between the screen belt and the nip roll a pressure belt, equal in width to the screen belt, is carried long, consisting of an elastic, watertight material, but which is designed to receive and carry away the filtrate and to stabilize the material which is to be pressed.