| 摘要 |
Provided is an apparatus for topping bulb crops having a plurality of longitudinal, parallel, generally horizontal, spaced-apart moving belts (64, 66, 68, 70, 72) for conveying bulbs through the apparatus. Adjacent belts are driven at different linear speeds. In a preferred embodiment, alternate belts are replaced by stationary rails (56) to maximize the speed differential. Below and adjustably close to the belts is a driven rotating blade (80) for cutting the bulb stems and also exerting a downwards draft of air through the belts. Bulbs introduced onto the belts are conveyed through the apparatus by the belts, and the differential in speed between the moving belts and stationary rails causes the bulbs to rotate and gyrate randomly as they are being conveyed. Because the belts are spaced apart, the bulbs assume momentarily an attitude to permit the uncut stems of bulbs to extend downwardly between the belts.
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