A fruit harvesting machine comprises a harvesting assembly for detaching
crop material, comprising fruit and foliage from trees, shrubs and the
like standing on said field. A conveyor assembly receives the detached
fruit and foliage, together with juice from said fruit, and transports
the fruit either directly or indirectly to a container. An extraction fan
is installed adjacent a section of said conveyor assembly for separating
said foliage from said detached fruit. The conveyor assembly comprises a
grate for retaining thereon solid fruit portions and for allowing passage
therethrough of said juice and a conveyor for engaging and moving said
detached solid fruit portions and foliage along said grate mechanism
towards the extraction mechanism. The conveyor assembly further comprises
a channel installed below said grate mechanism for receiving said juice.
The fruit portions and foliage is subject to the air stream of the
extraction fan, while the juice has migrated directly to the bottom of
the channel such that it cannot be sucked into the fan.