GB1562718A

GB1562718A - Machine for automatically sorting and trimming mushrooms

Info

Publication number: GB1562718A
Application number: GB5353176A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-01-08
Filing date: 1976-12-22
Publication date: 1980-03-12
Also published as: CH613849A5; NL183006C; DE2700480A1; NL7700122A; CA1085274A; AU2105077A; ATA8277A; DE2700480C2; ES454882A1; NL183006B; AT368364B; FR2337591A1; AU505244B2; FR2337591B1

Abstract

In order to avoid the use of manual operators, the machine consists of a tank (A) filled with water (306) on which the mushrooms float and, pushed by the circulating movement of water caused by a stirrer, are brought into contact with a pick-up/conveyor means (7', 7'') which conveys the mushrooms towards rotating cutting discs (323), there being provided a recovery chamber (328, 329) for the cut mushrooms and a storage chamber (327) for the waste material. The pick-up/conveyor means (7', 7'') consists of a track of belts movable between two drive pulleys (308, 309), one of which is immersed in the water and the other arranged outside the tank, there being provided two intermediate drive pulleys (313, 313') for adjusting the distance between the belts. Other drive pulleys (314, 314') are provided for inclining the track of belts, after the mushrooms have been picked out, firstly transversely in one direction and then in the other direction so that mushrooms irregularly arranged between the belts fall back into the water. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) IMPROVED MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SORTING AND TRIMMING MUSHROOMS (71 I, ANTONIO TURATTI, an Italian Citizen, of, No. 26/B Via Le R. Margherita, 30014 Cavarzere Prov., Veneza, Italy do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to a machine which automatically sorts mushrooms and cuts their stems. The mushrooms may be cultivated mushrooms and the cutting operation may consist of removing the end of the stem to which after uprooting, soil cloths and other similar impurities adhere.

The present invention provides a machine which sorts, and cuts the stems of, mushrooms, which machine has a conveyor which is arranged to draw mushrooms from a basin and comprises at least two endless belts which are disposed side by side for a common run of the belts, and which machine is disposed such that mushrooms of which the heads rest on adjacent belts and the stems hang between the belts are conveyed along the run, there being further provided means which automatically dislodge mushrooms not so carried from the conveyor, and a cutter disposed beneath the run such that the stems of mushrooms which are conveyed along the run are at least partly cut off by the cutter.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to and as illustrated in the attached drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal axial sectional view of an embodiment of a maching according to the invention taken along the line A-A of figure 2; Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine of figure 1 from above Figure 3 shows in its details B, C, D and E how the correct location and orientation of the mushrooms is achieved on the conveyor of the machine of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a machine according to this invention, in axial sectional view; Figure 5 is a view from above of thei machine of figure 4; Figures 6, 7 and 8 represent the section a! views taken along the planes III--III;; IV-IV and V-V of figure 4, respectively, in the case of figure 7 there is shown, superimposed, sectional views along the two planes indicated by IV-IV in figure 4.

With reference to figures 1 and 2, the machine consists of one or more similar units G1, G2, Gn, axially located side by side, having a common drive but otherwise operating independently from each other.

Each unit is continuously fed with mushrooms, which have been coarsely graded by another machine; the mushrooms reach a respective operative unit falling (arrow F) into a basin 4 filled with water, which is maintained in slow circulatory movement (arrow H) by means of a cross blade 5 oscillating (arrows L) about a pivot shaft. Said water circulation pushes the floating mushrooms towards an inclined endless conveyor running between two run reversal pulleys, one of which 106 is immersed in the water, while the other 206 is mounted to project outside the basin, above the surface of the water. The conveyor consists of a pair of spaced apart parallel belts 6 elastically stretched, which seizes and conveys mushrooms in the direction of the arrow M. The distance between said belts is selected according to the dimensions of the mushrooms.The mushrooms, when seized are usually located with their head on the belts and their stems turned downwards between the belts. An accompanying track consisting of a second pair of endless belts 7, runs parallel to but spaced on either side of belts 6, and the lower section of the belts 7 moves in the same direction as the upper section of the belts 6 (arrow M). The lower pulley 107 of this accompanying track is out of the water, but over the basin, while the upper pulley 207 projects beyond the corresponding pulley of the conveyor track 6. Further the belts 7 of the accompanying track slightly diverge when moving from the lower pulley 107 to the upper pulley 207. The plane containing the lower sections of the belts 7 is more steeply inclined than the plane containing the upper sections of belts 6, and the planes containing belts 6 and 7 intersect along a line N.Near this intersection the accompanying track 7, drives by friction a movable endless band 8 of elastic material, for instance of rubber, running between two rollers, mounted on respective shafts. This band 8 serves the function of pressing and holding mushrooms onto the conveyor track or, as the case may be pushing mushrooms between one of the belts 6, and one of the outer belts 7 of the accompanying track.

The band 8 can be replaced by single roller, but in either case it extends over all operative units G of the machine.

Moving downstream of the intersection N (in the direction of arrow M)/ a cutting device 9 is mounted beneath the level of the conveying plane (belts 6) consisting of quickly rotating saw disc.

The structure of the machine further includes two collecting chambers one of which, denoted by 10 is located under the cutting device, while the other 11 is located under the upper pulleys 206 and 207 of the belts. Into the first chamber will fall the parts cut off mushroom stems, in the second chamber will fall the mushrooms to be recovered for their utilization.

Figure 2 shows how, independently from the number of the operative units G, all similar pulleys are mounted on a common shaft, namely the shaft 12 for the upper pulleys 206 and shaft 13 for the lower pulleys 106 of the conveyor track, and shaft 14 for the upper pulleys 207 and shaft 15 for the lower pulleys of the accompanying track, and all stirring blades 5 are mounted on a common shaft 16. The said shafts are driven by a single motor 17 which through a belt drive with pulleys 18, 19, 20 causes the movement (arrow M) of the belts. The blades 5 are oscillated (as indicated by arrows L) by a belt 21 from shaft 13 and an eccentric connection 22. The cutting devices 9 are connected to one another by a common drive 109 and rotated by a common motor 23.All operative units operate simultaneously in parallel and each of them processes the mushrooms which are fed into the respective basins 4. In each unit, downstream of the lower pulley 107 of the accompanying track is mounted a pipe 24, which delivers when actuated a jet of pressurized air coming (arrow P) from a common pneumatic supply. The air is delivered from a predetermined distance, from underneath and towards the plane of the conveyor track 6, and in all cases it is within the periphery of the basin 4. The pipe 24 contains one (or more) valves 124, which may be operated electrically.

Above the plane of the conveying belts 6, at a predetermined distance, a feeler device 25 is mounted, which is part of an electronic monitoring box 26, including a photoelectric sensor. The box 26 is in a circuit with the valve 124 of the pneumatic circuit.

The light ray of the photocell passes immediately beneath the plane of tracks 6 and 7.

The operation of the machine is as fillows: The mushrooms present in the basin 4, due to the circulation H created by the stirring blades 5, enhanced by an inclined bottom to the basin, are carried to a zone, where they are taken one by one by the conveyor track 6. The mushrooms are located on the track as will be described later, and when the mushrooms reach the intersection zone of the tracks, even if, as it will be described later, they are located on a side race between a belt 6 and a belt 7, they are held stable as they are pressed by the pressing band 8, and positioned so that the cutting device 9 will be able to cut off the end of their stem. The cut off part drops within the collecting chamber 10 for the discarded parts, and the mushrooms reach the upper pulley 206 of the track and then fall into the recovery chamber 11.

Figure 3 shows how selection is carried out and how the correct position of the mushrooms is obtained. The detail B shows a mushroom which has automatically located in its correct position on the track, when seized. If the mushroom is a small one it will slide down from the belts and obviously it will fall again into the water, while if its stem is deformed or long it may be located transversely with respect to the belts. The detail C shows a mushroom in its unstable transverse position; due to a slight trembling movement of the belts it will fall again into the water. In the illustrative detail D, the seized mushroom will rest transversely, but stably, on the track 6, and when reaching the lower pulleys 107 of the accompanying track 7, the said pulleys, directly, or by impact on either the stem or the head will move and turn the mushroom; as the belt 7 diverges from the continuous belt 6, the mushroom either falls into the water, or locates in the central race 6 or in the side race 67, but in any case in a correct position (detail B). The cutting device which operates simultaneously beneath the three races can then cut off its stem. If the mushroom does not fall into the water, it may remain in its stable irregular position, as shown in the detail E and in this case the electronic control box 26 is utilised.

The control device is so disposed that if a stem interrupts the ray R of the photocell, no action is taken. But if the mushroom is in an incorrect position for cutting and the circuit of the photocell is not interrupted yet a mushroom is detected by the feeler 25, the control box 26 causes the valve 124 to open and the corresponding air jet to blow away the mushroom which falls into the basin.

The rejection of a mushroom is a sorting effected by the machine in the course of its operation.

The water basin as described and illustrated, acts as a conveyer and also acts as a washer of the mushrooms but may be replaced by other purely mechanical means.

The cutting devices could be e.g. band saws, or blades with a linear reciprocation. The monitoring box could consist entirely of mechanical feelers.

Figures 4 to 8 show a second embodiment of the machine according to this invention, which is similar to the previously described one, however with certain changes. Said changes consist of: 1) the removal of one of the two tracks of conveying belts; 2) a different method of rejecting and screening the mushrooms when they are on the single track in irregular position, so that the feeler device is dispensed with. This different embodiment offers the advantage of rendering unnecessary pre-screening of the mushrooms, as the machine itself sorts the mushrooms when they are collected by the conveyor track.The sorting can be adjusted for the entire range of dimensions of the mushrooms; 3) the addition, if required, of a second cutting device, particularly for big mushrooms, or for mushrooms the stem of which is long in order to recover also the part of the stem not connected to the head; 4) collecting different parts of the mushrooms in three different containers.

With reference to figures 4 and 5, the machine consists of a load basin A for the mushrooms, containing stirred water 306.

Axially projecting, from said basin there is the part B of the machine, including the devices for cutting the stems of the mushrooms and for recovering the parts to be discarded and those to be utilized.

The mushrooms present in the load basin, and floating on the water, are seized by a conveyor belt consisting of a track of elastic belts 7' and 7" so that the stem of the mushrooms will be hanging between the belts with the head resting on the belts. In order to increase the rate of supply, the machine includes more pairs of tracks mounted side by side, all simultaneously operating. The belts 7'-7" move endlessly between a run reversal pulley 308 immersed in the water, and a pulley 309, out of the water and at an upper level. All idler pulleys 308 (in water) are mounted on the same shaft 310. The upper pulleys are mounted on a common shaft 311 rotated by a motor 312, through a drive 112.On the shaft 310, immersed in water, the pulleys 308 of a pair of belts are suitably spaced apart, in order to space apart the belts 7'-7". By means of an intermediate pair of pulleys 313-313' immersed in water, the belts 7' and 7" are caused to converge towards a second pair of intermediate pulleys 314--314' out of the water, and above the basin, in order that the belts may run parallel up to the higher pulleys 309. The intermediate pulleys of one of the belts, for instance the belt 7", namely the pulleys 313' and 314' have fixed positions: the first pulley on an upright 113' fixed to the bottom of the basin, and the second pulley on a cross bar 114'.The other pulleys 313 and 314, the pulleys related to the belt 7' can be moved transversely with respect to the machine (arrows E-E'). By displacing the pulley 314, the belt 7' can be moved to be parallel to the belt 7" (or, if wanted, a slight divergence can be obtained between the belts). By the displacement of the pulley 313, the distance between this pulley and the non displaceable pulley 313' can be altered. This divergence, at the level of the water, fdrms a wedge zone F for guiding (arrow G) the mushrooms towards the point where they will be seized when the belts leave the water. The distance between the pulleys 313-313' determines, substantially, the required sorting bf the mushrooms. Obviously, the adjustment of the second idle pulley 314 depends upon the required sorting.Said wedge zone F is delimited by stationary side members 324, connected to the support means for the pulleys, in order to obtain a correct conveyance of the mushrooms. The basin is provided with the same means as already described, for stirring the water (arrow G).

In the part B of the machine, along the path of the belts 7'-7", above and transversely with respect to them, are mounted at a suitable distance rollers 320, 321 and 322 of soft material, which bear on the head of the mushrooms, in order to hold them in engagement with the belts. Said rollers are idly mounted on respective shafts 420, 421 and 422. Also in said part B of the machine are mounted the devices for cutting the stems of the mushrooms.

If the mushrooms are big ones, or if they have a long stem, once collected from the basin, sequentially after one another and remaining engaged on the belt track 7'-7", they are submitted to two cutting operations: the first cutting operation, by a device 323, located immediately up-stream of the intermediate presser roller, removes the end of the stem in order to reject the root carrying the adherent soil and similar impurities, while the second cutting operation carried out by the device 430, located immediately downstream of the last presser roller 320, will cut the stems a little below the head. The two operations occur sequentially while the mushrooms are conveyed by the belts.The first cutting device 323 will be disclosed later on, with reference to figure 6, and for the moment it will be sufficient to say that it consists of a cutting member, a toothed wheel 325 located just upstream of the cutting member, said toothed wheel being slowly rotated (arrow H) in order to carry by its movement, the mushroom at the wanted level of cut. Said toothed wheel is mounted between and below the belts 7'-7" on a shaft 125 connected by the drive 225 to a prime mover 312. The second cut is made by a saw blade 430 quickly reciprocated (arrows M and M') located crosswise under the track. The movement of the blade 430 is obtained by a connecting rod 230 eccentrically engaged on a rotating disc 330, the movement of which is caused either by a motor, or through a drive, by the main motor 312.

Under the conveying belts 7'-7" there are compartments 327-328-329 wherein are located the collecting containers. Into the first container 327 fall, after being cut, the ends to be discarded of the stem of the mushrooms. The second container 328 collects the central portion of the stem; the third container 329 collects the heads with the portion of stem, falling (arrow N) over the upper pulley 309.

In figure 6, the cross section III has been limited to the front illustration of the first cut device 323, of one belt track as the similar devices of the other units are identical. Said device consists of two identical rotating discs 323, horizontally cutting and overlaying on one another through a portion of circle. Said discs rotate in reverse direction (arrows Rand R') and operate under the belt track. Their shafts are journalled in a stationary support crossbar, 323' and are rotated by driven chains 423423' respectively, engaged with toothed wheels 523-523', obviously for simultaneously moving the cutting devices of the other tracks. The rotary cutting movement of the discs 323 can be operated by a common autonomous motor, or by means of a drive connection by the main motor 312.A box containing antifriction bearings has been denoted by 623. The level of the toothed wheel 325 is adjusted according to the length of the stems of the mushrooms; by its rotational movement (arrow H) when the mushrooms are presented for cutting, they are taken by the wheel and lifted so that the cutting discs 323 will cut off the root of the stem. The figure clearly shows this. This first cutting device can be dispensed with if the mushrooms are little, or their stem is very short, so that it would be impossible to recover a useful portion of central stem. In this case the first cutting device will be rendered inoperative, and only the second blade cutting device 430 will be used.

Figure 7 shows a double view uniting in a single figure the section IV taken along two vertical and close planes, and including the belt tracks 7'-7" of two operative units located side by side. In the right-hand part, the cross section shows the mounting of the pulleys 314' supported by an arm 514' rigid with the stationary cross member 114'. In the left hand part the mounting of the pulleys 314 is shown. This mounting can be transversely adjusted as the pulleys are mounted by means of the arm 514, on a bar 114 which can be crosswise displaced (arrows E-E') in order to pre-determine the distance between the parallel belts 7'-7", or their possible slight divergence (or convergence).In order to embody this displacement a device is provided substantially the same as that which will be described with reference to the following figure. Particularly, it is to be noted that the belts 7'-7" of each track at this point are not coplanar, but one is at a higher level than the other; while downstream of these mountings the belts are stretched in the same plane.

In figure 8 the sectional view taken along the line V restricted to the belt track 7'-7" closest to one side of the basin A, shows the device for the cross wise adjustment of the movable pulleys 313 with respect to the fixed position pulleys 313', which as aforesaid are mounted by an upright 113' on the bottom of the basin. Said upright arm engages also the side member 324 delimiting the wedge zone F. The pulleys 313 and their side member 324 are mounted at the upper end of the arm of a lever 331 the center of which is pivoted on a slot 131. The other arm of this bar is articulately connected on a cross-bar 332. One end of this bar is articulated to the arm of a second lever 333 the centre of which is pivoted in a slot 133, while the second arm thereof bears against a cam 334 (eccentric disc). By moving the cam angularly, the lever unit as described determines the simultaneous horizontal displacement of all the arms of the levers carrying the pulleys 313 (arrows E-E') and therefore the adjustment of the distance between the pulleys 313-313' (also 314-314') with the consequent narrowing or widening of the wedge zone F for conveying the mushrooms.

Operation; the mushrooms floating on the water 306, pushed by the stream, enter (arrow G) into the wedge zone F and one at the time are seized by the belt track 7'-7".

The mushrooms smaller than a predetermined size are not seized. The big or deformed mushrooms and those which will not locate with their stems between the belts will remain in an unstable position, see Figure 7, and due to a slight quiver of the belts, or due to the effect of the jolt when passing over the pulleys 314 or 314' (see figure 7) will fall back (arrow P) into the basin. The difference in level between the belts 7'-7" aids their fall. There are also means for enabling each belt track, after seizing the mushrooms, to be transversely inclined first in one direction and then in the other, and thereafter to continue horizontally up to the cutting devices. In this way, it is certain that mushrooms which are not properly located between the belts will fall down in the basin.

When the pulleys 313 and 314 have been passed, the mushrooms are submitted to the first cutting operation (cutting device 323) of the end of the stem falling into the container 327, then to the second cutting operation by the reciprocating saw 430, and the useful portion of the stem will fall into the container 328, while the head of the mushroom after the pulley 309 will fall into the container 329.

From the above disclosure it will be evident that the basin can be loaded with variously sized mushrooms, but only those corresponding to a certain size will be processed by the machine. The remainder can be then processed by adjusting the appropriate parts of the machine.

The present invention has been described by way of example with reference to specific embodiments, but variations or changes can be adopted without departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A machine which sorts, and cuts the stems of, mushrooms, which machine has a conveyor which is arranged to draw mushrooms from a basin and comprises at least two endless belts which are disposed side by side for a common run of the belts, and which machine is disposed such that mushrooms of which the heads rest on adjacent belts and the stems hang between the belts are conveyed along the run, there being further provided means which automatically dislodge mushrooms not so carried from the conveyor, and a cutter disposed beneath the run such that the stems of mushrooms which are conveyed along the run are at least partly cut off by the cutter.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the basin is adapted to contain water, and there is provided a stirrer which slowly circulates the water such that mushrooms which float on the water are brought into contact with the belts of the conveyor.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 2 in which the conveyor comprises first and second tracks each of two endless belts which are disposed side by side for a common run, the first pair of belts running inside the second pair of belts and rising from below the surface of the water in the basin to a point higher than the surface of the water in the basin and beyond the basin, the second track being more steeply inclined than the first track for the region of the common run so that the planes of the two tracks intersect along a line contained in the common run, the conveyor being arranged to deposit the cut parts of the stems of mushrooms into a container, and to deposit the remaining parts of the mushrooms into a second container.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the second track drives a movable roller which presses the heads of mushrooms against a pair of belts of the conveyor so that mushrooms are held while the stems are cut by a cutter disposed beneath the belts.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4 in which said cutter is a rotary disc or a circular blade or a linearly moving blade.

6. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 further comprising a feeler which senses the presence of a mushroom on the conveyor and photocell means which detects the presence of a stem projecting below the plane of the conveyor belts and a control arranged to cause a blast of air from a jet beneath the conveyor to be directed at any mushroom detected by the feeler which is not disposed with its stem hanging between and projecting below adjacent belts, the blast of air being capable of disloging a mushroom from the conveyor so that it falls into the basin.

7. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 in which the tracks of the conveyor and the stirrers, when present, are driven by a common motor.

8. A machine as claimed in any previous claim in which said cutters are driven by a single motor through suitable drive chain means.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 2 comprising at least one pair of endless belts which are disposed side by side for a common run, the belts of a pair converging for a portion of said common run during which portion the belts run inside the basin, the belts being substantially parallel for the remainder of said common run, part of which remainder is inside the basin.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9 in which vertical side pieces are provided, situated on each side of each pair of beltsfor the convergent portion of said common run, so that floating mushrooms are guided between the pair of belts.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

predetermined size are not seized. The big or deformed mushrooms and those which will not locate with their stems between the belts will remain in an unstable position, see Figure 7, and due to a slight quiver of the belts, or due to the effect of the jolt when passing over the pulleys 314 or 314' (see figure 7) will fall back (arrow P) into the basin. The difference in level between the belts 7'-7" aids their fall. There are also means for enabling each belt track, after seizing the mushrooms, to be transversely inclined first in one direction and then in the other, and thereafter to continue horizontally up to the cutting devices. In this way, it is certain that mushrooms which are not properly located between the belts will fall down in the basin.

When the pulleys 313 and 314 have been passed, the mushrooms are submitted to the first cutting operation (cutting device 323) of the end of the stem falling into the container 327, then to the second cutting operation by the reciprocating saw 430, and the useful portion of the stem will fall into the container 328, while the head of the mushroom after the pulley 309 will fall into the container 329.

From the above disclosure it will be evident that the basin can be loaded with variously sized mushrooms, but only those corresponding to a certain size will be processed by the machine. The remainder can be then processed by adjusting the appropriate parts of the machine.

The present invention has been described by way of example with reference to specific embodiments, but variations or changes can be adopted without departing from the scope of protection of the appended claims.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A machine which sorts, and cuts the stems of, mushrooms, which machine has a conveyor which is arranged to draw mushrooms from a basin and comprises at least two endless belts which are disposed side by side for a common run of the belts, and which machine is disposed such that mushrooms of which the heads rest on adjacent belts and the stems hang between the belts are conveyed along the run, there being further provided means which automatically dislodge mushrooms not so carried from the conveyor, and a cutter disposed beneath the run such that the stems of mushrooms which are conveyed along the run are at least partly cut off by the cutter.
2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the basin is adapted to contain water, and there is provided a stirrer which slowly circulates the water such that mushrooms which float on the water are brought into contact with the belts of the conveyor.
3. A machine as claimed in claim 2 in which the conveyor comprises first and second tracks each of two endless belts which are disposed side by side for a common run, the first pair of belts running inside the second pair of belts and rising from below the surface of the water in the basin to a point higher than the surface of the water in the basin and beyond the basin, the second track being more steeply inclined than the first track for the region of the common run so that the planes of the two tracks intersect along a line contained in the common run, the conveyor being arranged to deposit the cut parts of the stems of mushrooms into a container, and to deposit the remaining parts of the mushrooms into a second container.
4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which the second track drives a movable roller which presses the heads of mushrooms against a pair of belts of the conveyor so that mushrooms are held while the stems are cut by a cutter disposed beneath the belts.
5. A machine as claimed in claim 4 in which said cutter is a rotary disc or a circular blade or a linearly moving blade.
6. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 further comprising a feeler which senses the presence of a mushroom on the conveyor and photocell means which detects the presence of a stem projecting below the plane of the conveyor belts and a control arranged to cause a blast of air from a jet beneath the conveyor to be directed at any mushroom detected by the feeler which is not disposed with its stem hanging between and projecting below adjacent belts, the blast of air being capable of disloging a mushroom from the conveyor so that it falls into the basin.
7. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 in which the tracks of the conveyor and the stirrers, when present, are driven by a common motor.
8. A machine as claimed in any previous claim in which said cutters are driven by a single motor through suitable drive chain means.
9. A machine as claimed in claim 2 comprising at least one pair of endless belts which are disposed side by side for a common run, the belts of a pair converging for a portion of said common run during which portion the belts run inside the basin, the belts being substantially parallel for the remainder of said common run, part of which remainder is inside the basin.
10. A machine as claimed in claim 9 in which vertical side pieces are provided, situated on each side of each pair of beltsfor the convergent portion of said common run, so that floating mushrooms are guided between the pair of belts.
11. A machine as claimed in claim 9 or

claim 10 in which each pair of belts is guided by at least two pairs of guide pulleys and two pairs of run reversal pulleys, the pulleys arranged to that for a pair of belts the converging portion of the common run is beneath the surface of the water in the basin and is between a first pair of run reversal pulleys and a first pair of guide pulleys, and the -substantially parallel portion of the common run is between said first pair of guide pulleys and a second pair of run reversal pulleys, there being a second pair of guide pulleys located along said substantially parallel portion.
12. A machine as claimed in claim 11 in which the at least one pulley of the second pair of guide pulleys is adjustable to alter the distance between the two belts of a pair of belts, the said guide pulley being linked to a corresponding pulley in the first pair of guide pulleys to cause a similar adjustment of distance between the two belts at the region of the first pair of guide pulleys.
13. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12 in which rotary disc cutters are provided in combination with levelling means located beneath each pair of conveyor belts to align mushrooms so that the rotary cutter cuts off the end of the stems of mushrooms.
14. A machine as claimed in claim 13 in which further to said rotary cutters there is a second cutter provided which cuts the stems, which have previously been cut by the rotary cutters, thereby detaching the stems from the heads of the mushrooms.
15. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 in which means are provided in proximity to said cutters to press the heads of mushrooms against the conveyor belts.
16. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15 in which cutters are disposed so that for mushrooms with stems of less than a certain length only the end of the stem is cut off, but for mushrooms with longer stems a second cut is made to separate the stems from the heads.
17. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 16 in which each pair of belt tracks is inclined for part of the run transversely in one direction and then transversely in the opposite direction and then continues horizontally for the region adjacent to the cutters, in order to dislodge mushrooms which are not located with heads resting on adjacent belts and stems hanging between the belts.
18. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 17 in which separate containers are provided to collect respectively the ends of the stems of mushrooms, the heads of mushrooms, and, if cut off, the central portions of the stems of mushrooms.
19. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 18 in which the cutters and the conveyors and, if present, the pressing means and the levelling means for the cutters are driven by a single motor.
20. A machine for sorting, and cutting the stems of, mushrooms substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in figures 1 to 3 or figures 4 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.