NZ702455B - Double-stream stripping device - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of vine-stripping machines. With known vine-stripping machines, it was difficult to achieve optimal suction, prevent damages to grape bunches, and/or to make the stripping head reversible in order to orient the head in different directions. This invention is directed to a double-stream stripping device comprising at least one stripping head (1) equipped with a first perforated (2a) drum (2) and a second drum (3) working in rotation with the first drum (2) a suction system (4) capable of creating negative air pressure in said first drum (2) and a system for driving drums (2) and (3) in rotation. The suction system comprises two main suction openings and a turbine system and channelling means (8, 9) making it possible to connect the latter to said main suction openings. Each open free end of the first drum is connected at one of said main suction openings in such a way as to create negative pressure, with a double air stream, constant and uniform, in the first drum, essentially over its entire length. ted to a double-stream stripping device comprising at least one stripping head (1) equipped with a first perforated (2a) drum (2) and a second drum (3) working in rotation with the first drum (2) a suction system (4) capable of creating negative air pressure in said first drum (2) and a system for driving drums (2) and (3) in rotation. The suction system comprises two main suction openings and a turbine system and channelling means (8, 9) making it possible to connect the latter to said main suction openings. Each open free end of the first drum is connected at one of said main suction openings in such a way as to create negative pressure, with a double air stream, constant and uniform, in the first drum, essentially over its entire length.

Description

DOUBLE-STREAM STRIPPING DEVICE DESCRIPTION This invention relates to the field of viticulture and more particularly the vine- stripping machines, and it has as its object a double-stream stripping device.

It is known that in the specific field of the vine, it is very important, and even crucial, to reduce the quantity of leaves present in the fruit-bearing zone of vine plants, and this is done several times per season for the purposes of promoting or achieving the following objectives: - The aeration of grape bunches to limit the appearance of rot and to accelerate their drying, - The exposure of grape bunches to the sun for accelerating and improving their maturation, in particular the coloring (thicker skin of the grape), - The penetration of phytosanitary treatments for improving their effectiveness, - Manual clearing or harvesting to ensure better visibility of bunches and a singularly reduced labor time, - If necessary, mechanical harvesting by a limitation of green waste in harvesting and the loss of juice due to the suction of leaves, - Having respect for the grape bunches regardless of their degree of maturation.

The stripping of vines has been done manually for many years and although this is still sometimes the case, it is currently generally done mechanically using machines provided for this purpose.

However, although these machines have made it possible to provide numerous solutions making it possible to facilitate the vine-stripping operations, they do not make it possible to ensure an optimal stripping quality to meet the above-mentioned objectives.

Such machines are described and illustrated in particular in the following documents: The document WO 2005022985 has as its object a stripping device comprising a chamber whose proximal end rests on the plant carpet, and its opposite distal end comprises a turbine sucking in the leaves at the proximal end that are then clamped by two rollers driven by a counter-rotating movement, i.e., each rotating in a direction opposite to the one of the other roller, so as to exert an adequate force for detaching the leaf.

However, with a device of the type of the one described in the document WO 2005022985, the suction of the plant carpet is hampered by the presence of rollers that form a screen to the stream of air sucking in the leaves, which requires a significant suction power generating a high energy cost. In addition, with such a device, the grape bunches can be sucked in or damaged. In addition, all of the waste passes through the turbine, clogging the blades of the latter and reducing its suction yield.

The general technical principle used in a large majority of these machines thus relies on a suction of leaves by an air suctioning-in stream or air suction stream generated by, or associated with, a suction system from a single turbine, and then on a cutting and evacuation of the latter. Such machines are described in particular in the following documents: The document FR 2 842 069 relates to a stripping machine intended for the selective stripping of the vine comprising at least one stripping head equipped with a rotating drum comprising a perforated cylindrical side wall made of a flexible and deformable material and connecting its two free ends to means for driving the latter in rotation, a suction turbine making it possible to generate an air suction stream through the perforated wall, and a deflector for channeling the air stream and whose shape is determined for optimizing the suction yield. The suction turbine is placed at one of the ends or on top of the drum along a shaft that is parallel to the shaft of the latter or vertical.

With this stripping machine, the leaves are then flattened on the side wall of the drum and then directed to a cutting device making it possible to sever them close to the branch of the vine.

However, with a stripping machine of the type of the one described in the document FR 2 842 069, the position of the turbine does not make possible here a uniform suction and flattening of the leaves along the rotary drum.

The document FR 2 897 752 has as its object a stripping machine comprising a head equipped with two counter-rotating drums, namely a first perforated drum and a second drum working with said first drum that comprises suction means at one of its ends in such a way as to be able to suck in the leaves of the plant carpet with which it is in contact. The leaves are then clamped between the two counter-rotating drums and detached from their branches.

However, with a machine of the type of the one of the document FR 2 897 752, the suction of the leaves is not done uniformly from one side to the other of the drum, i.e., the suction at the end opposite to the one comprising the suction means is weaker, which does not make it possible to achieve an effective suction over the entire length of the first drum and, starting, an effective inlay of the vine leaves over the entire length of this drum. Thus, numerous leaves are not clamped or are poorly clamped between the two counter-rotating drums, which does not make it possible to ensure an optimal quality of the stripping.

In addition, with the systems of the prior art such as those that are the object of the above-referenced documents and that comprise a head equipped with drums, it is difficult to conceive making the stripping head reversible relative to its longitudinal shaft that is parallel to the drums, i.e., to be able to orient the latter in the opposite direction by inverting it, i.e., by making it pivot by 180°, from its basic position, in the plane containing its longitudinal shaft. Actually, taking into account the variable air suction over the height or along the perforated drum making possible the inlay of leaves, these systems cannot make it possible to achieve a uniformity of work when the stripping head is thus inverted or made to go backwards, relative to its longitudinal shaft that is parallel to the shafts of the drums, to carry out in particular stripping in an opposite vine row.

This invention has as its object to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a double- stream stripping device that makes it possible to achieve an optimal quality of stripping, either in a basic position or inverted position.

The present invention provides a double-stream stripping device for stripping leaves from vines, comprising at least one stripping head equipped with two counter- rotating drums, namely a first drum comprising a perforated cylindrical side wall connecting two free ends and a second drum adapted to rotate with the first drum, an air suction system capable of creating negative air pressure in said first drum, the air suction system comprising two main suction openings, namely a first main suction opening and a second main suction opening, a turbine system and air channeling means connecting the turbine system to said two main suction openings, and a system for driving the first and second drums in rotation, and a power plant system, comprising at least one motor capable of actuating the system for driving the first and second drums and the turbine system, wherein the two free ends of the first drum are open, each open free end of the first drum is connected to one of said main suction openings to generate, using said turbine system, two air suction streams in the first drum, one passing through one of said main suction openings and the other passing through the other main suction opening, having the effect of creating together a negative pressure, with double air streams, uniform within said first drum, over its entire length.

Such a device according to this invention makes it possible to improve significantly the quality of the inlay of vine leaves over all or almost all of the length of the first drum or perforated drum when the latter is in contact with the plant carpet inducing a more effective clamping between the two drums than with the known machines.

It is well understood that the term turbine, according to this invention, is defined as a means that makes it possible to generate negative air pressure and can consist of, for example, an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, a combination of these two techniques, or a number of fans combined in series and then driven by the same motor means.

The invention will be better understood owing to the description below, which relates to a preferred embodiment, provided by way of nonlimiting example and explained with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a ¾ perspective view, front side, of a stripping device according to this invention in a preferred embodiment and in a preferred embodiment of the turbine system and the power plant system, and comprising a single stripping head, - Figure 2 shows a rear view of the device shown in Figure 1, in a vertically inverted position, - Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the device shown in Figure 2, - Figure 4 shows a profile view of the device shown in Figure 2, side opposite to the air discharge opening, - Figure 5 shows a transverse cutaway view, along N-N, of the device shown in Figure 4, - Figure 6 shows a partial view of the device shown in Figure 3, - Figure 7 shows a transverse cutaway view, along S-S, of the device shown in Figure 6, - Figure 8 shows a transverse cutaway view, along T-T, of the device shown in Figure 3.

The figures show a double-stream stripping device, more particularly designed for the stripping of leaves from the vine, comprising at least one stripping head 1 equipped with two counter-rotating drums 2 and 3, namely a first drum 2 comprising a perforated cylindrical side wall 2a connecting its two free ends and a second drum 3 that is able to work in rotation with the first drum 2, an air suction system 4 capable of creating negative air pressure in the internal space of the first drum 2, and a system 5 for driving drums 2 and 3 in rotation.

The second drum 3 can comprise a cylindrical side wall 3a (Figure 1), preferably solid but that can be perforated, connecting its two free ends. It can also be a solid cylinder (Figure 8).

Two counter-rotating drums 2 and 3 working together will be defined as two drums 2 and 3 that are capable of being actuated in rotation around their respective shafts 2b and 3b, each in a direction of reverse rotation or opposite to that of the other, for the purpose of allowing leaves to be detached by clamping the latter between the two drums 2 and 3.

In accordance with this invention, the two free ends of the first drum 2 are open, and the suction system 4 comprises, on the one hand, two main suction openings 6 and 7, namely a first main suction opening 6 and a second main suction opening 7, and, on the other hand, a turbine system 10 and channeling means 8, 9 making it possible to connect the latter to said main suction openings 6 and 7. In addition, each open free end of the first drum 2 is connected to one of said main suction openings 6 or 7 in such a way as to generate, owing to said turbine system, two air suction streams in the first drum 2, one passing through one of said openings and the other passing through the other opening, having the effect of creating together a negative pressure, with a double air stream, uniform overall in said first drum, essentially over its entire length, i.e., in a vertical orientation of the drum over its entire height.

Still in accordance with the invention, the device also comprises a power plant system, comprising at least one motor 13, capable of actuating the drive system 5 and the turbine system 10.

The - or each - motor 13 of the power plant system can be a hydraulic or electric motor or another drive motor.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the turbine system 10 can comprise one or two suction turbines 10c actuated by the power plant system. For this purpose, the turbine system 10 can comprise two intermediate suction openings 10a and 10b, namely a first intermediate suction opening 10a and a second intermediate suction opening 10b, making it possible to connect the turbine system 10 respectively to the main suction openings 6 and 7 via the air channeling means 8, 9 (Figure 7).

In a first embodiment as shown in the accompanying figures, the turbine system can comprise a suction turbine 10c, i.e., a single turbine, which is common to the two main suction openings 6 and 7. The turbine system can then be provided, from negative air pressure created by said turbine, to generate the two air suction streams.

In a second embodiment, not shown, in the accompanying figures, the turbine system 10 can comprise two suction turbines 10c. The turbine system can then be provided, on the one hand, from negative air pressure created by one of said turbines, to generate one of the two air suction streams, and, on the other hand, from negative air pressure created by the other turbine, to generate the other air suction stream.

It will then be understood that in the case where the turbine system comprises a single turbine, the two air suction streams in the first drum are associated with a single turbine and in the case where the turbine system comprises two turbines, each air suction stream in the first drum is associated with one of the two turbines.

In a preferred embodiment of the power plant system, as can be seen in particular in Figures 2, 4, and 8, the latter can comprise a unique motor 13, i.e., a single motor that is capable, by itself, of actuating both the drive system 5 and the - or each - turbine 10c of the turbine system 10.

In a preferred embodiment of the air channeling means 8, 9, the latter can consist of two pipes 8 and 9, namely a first pipe 8, of which one of the ends can form, directly or indirectly, the first main suction opening 6 and the other end may be able to be connected to the first intermediate suction opening 10a and a second pipe 9, of which one of the ends can form, directly or indirectly, the second main suction opening 7 and the other end may be able to be connected to the second intermediate suction opening 10b (Figure 7).

Preferably, the two pipes 8 and 9 can be of essentially identical length so as to preserve a balance of the suction loads between the two free ends of the first drum 2 connected to said respective pipes.

In a preferred form of the suction turbine 10c, the shaft 10e, i.e., the rotary shaft, of the latter can be provided to extend, preferably, essentially parallel to the respective shafts 2b and 3b of the drums 2 and 3 (Figures 3, 5, 6, 7, 8). Preferably, in the case where the turbine system comprises a suction turbine 10c, the latter can extend laterally in a plane perpendicularly cutting the shaft of the first drum 2 essentially equidistant between the free ends of the latter (see in particular Figures 7 and 8).

In the case where the turbine system 10 comprises a turbine, the latter can comprise a closed chamber 10d, and the suction turbine 10c can be housed in the chamber 10d that can comprise, on the one hand, two opposite walls extending on both sides of the suction turbine 10c preferably essentially perpendicular to the shaft 10e of the latter. In addition, the first intermediate suction opening 10a can be made in one of the opposite walls, and the second intermediate suction opening 10b can be made in the other opposite wall. On the other hand, an air discharge opening 10f can be made in one of said walls, or, preferably as can be seen in the figures, in another wall, preferably essentially perpendicular to said opposite walls (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5).

In the case where the turbine system 10 comprises two turbines, the latter can comprise either a closed chamber, or, if necessary, two closed chambers that are independent of one another. In addition, each suction turbine can be housed either in the chamber, or, if necessary, in one of the two chambers. The - or each - chamber can be closed by a wall and either the first and second intermediate suction openings can be made in the wall of the chamber, or, if necessary, the first intermediate suction opening can be made in the wall of one of the two chambers and the second intermediate suction opening can be made in the wall of the other chamber. On the other hand, either an air discharge opening can be made in the wall of the chamber or, if necessary, two air discharge openings each can be made respectively in the wall of one of the two chambers.

Furthermore, this invention can advantageously provide that the first drum 2 comprises a separating partition 11, solid or perforated, extending, preferably transversely, into the inside space of the first drum 2, preferably by extending into a plane located essentially equidistant between the free ends of the first drum 2, in such a way as to separate said inside space into two suction spaces, preferably, if necessary, of essentially equal dimensions, each connected to one of the main suction openings 6 or 7.

The separating partition 11 thus makes it possible to avoid or prevent the suction interactions of the two streams and to preserve the equilibrium of the suction loads of each side of the first drum 2 (Figure 7). More particularly, the separating partition 11 makes it possible to avoid or to reduce the interactions between the two air suction streams leading to the pumping phenomenon, i.e., cyclic variation of the negative pressure in this zone leading to an uneven suction stream.

On the other hand, the device according to this invention can also comprise an ejector 12 that is suitable for making frictional contact with the first drum 2 and optionally with the second drum 3 to make possible the ejection of detached leaves by a relative displacement of the ejector 12 relative to said first drum 2, if necessary the second drum 3. The ejector 12 makes it possible to prevent the detached leaves from obstructing the first perforated drum 2 (Figures 2, 4 and 8) and to evacuate the leaves by simple gravity, preventing the clogging of the turbine or the fan.

In a preferred embodiment of the ejector 12, the latter can be an elongated element, preferably of an overall cylindrical shape, such as, for example, a rotary brush, and it can be mounted in rotation around a shaft 12a that preferably extends essentially parallel to the respective shafts 2b and 3b of the two drums 2 and 3. The ejector can be actuated in rotation using the drive motor or one of the drive motors 13 via the first drive means 14 (Figures 2, 4, 7, 8).

In a preferred form, the drive system 5 of the drums 2 and 3 is activated by the rotation of the ejector 12. Thus, the drums 2 and 3 can be actuated in rotation via the drive system 5, under the action of the rotation of the ejector 12 that is itself activated directly or indirectly by the motor or of one of the motors 13. In addition, preferably, the shaft 12a of the ejector 12 can be connected, by one of its ends, to the first drive means 14 and, by its other end, to the drive system 5 (Figures 7 and 8).

Preferably, the drive system 5 can consist of a gear system with three cog-wheels 5a, 5b and 5c, namely a first cog-wheel 5a (Figure 7) driving the rotary shaft 2b of the first perforated drum 2, a second cog-wheel 5b (Figure 8) driving the rotary shaft 3b of the second drum 3, and a third cog-wheel 5c (Figure 8) driven in rotation by the rotary shaft 12a of the ejector 12. In addition, the cog-wheels 5a, 5b and 5c can be engaged with one another in such a way as to make possible the transmission of the rotational movement from the ejector 12 to the two drums 2 and 3 (Figures 5 and 7).

Preferably, the shaft 10e of the - or of each - suction turbine 10c can be actuated in rotation by means of the motor or of one of the motors 13 actuating the ejector 12 and the drums 2 and 3; this is done by means of second drive means 15 (Figures 2, 3, 6, 7, 8).

The first drive means 14 making possible the driving in rotation of the ejector 12 can consist of two pulleys 14a and 14b, namely a first pulley 14a and a second pulley 14b, connected together by a first drive belt 14c. The first pulley 14a can be mounted axially on the shaft 12a of the ejector 12, and the second pulley 14b can be mounted axially on the shaft 13a of the motor or of one of the motors 13 (Figures 2, 3, 6, 7, 8).

The second drive means 15 making possible the driving in rotation of the shaft 10e of the – or of each – turbine 10 can consist of two additional pulleys 15a and 15b, namely a third pulley 15a and a fourth pulley 15b, connected together by a second drive belt 15c. The third pulley 15a can be mounted axially, directly or indirectly, on the shaft 10e of the – or of each – turbine 10, and the fourth pulley 15b can be mounted axially, directly or indirectly, on the shaft 13a of the – or of each – motor 13.

It will be understood that in the case of two turbines, the third pulley can be mounted directly on the shaft of the two turbines if their shafts are combined, or indirectly, for example, by means of one or more pulleys or another return element, on each shaft of the turbines if their shafts are not combined. It is the same for the fourth pulley 15b in the case where the power plant system comprises one or more motors.

It is also possible to see, in particular in Figures 1, 2 and 4, that this invention can provide two protective hoods 16 and 17 for protecting the different above-mentioned drive and gear means. For an example, a first hood 16 can be provided for protecting the first and second drive means 14 and 15, and a second hood 17 can be provided for protecting the drive system 5 of the drums 2 and 3.

As can be seen in all of the figures, such a device, according to this invention, can comprise a frame or another support structure 18 that makes it possible to support and to keep the constituent elements of said device in a suitable arrangement. It can also comprise two support plates 19 and 20 attached directly or indirectly to the frame 18 and making it possible to support in particular the shafts of 2b, 3b, 10e, 12a and 13a respectively of the first drum 2, the second drum 3, the suction turbine 10c, the ejector 12, and the motor or motors 13.

Such an arrangement can provide that the turbine system 10 is located essentially at the median shafts of the drums 2 and 3, and this in particular when this invention preferably provides that the first and second pipes 8 and 9 are essentially of the same length. This arrangement can also provide that the shaft of the outlet opening 10f extends essentially in the median plane of the turbine system 10. Preferably, it can provide that the median plane of the turbine system 10 transversely cuts the drums 2 and 3 essentially in their center. It can also provide that the first and second drive means 14 and 15 and the drive system 5 are preferably located on both sides of the unit consisting of the turbine system 10, drums 2 and 3, and pipes 8 and 9, i.e., at the two ends of said unit, along a shaft that is parallel to the rotary shafts of the drums 2 and 3. Each end of said unit can then comprise one of the two support plates 19 and 20.

Such an arrangement then makes it possible to offer a compact and economical device, while making possible a reversibility of the device that is both functional owing to two air streams originating from two suction cycles of air at each of the ends of the first drum 2 and visual owing to the overall symmetry obtained by said arrangement.

The stripping device according to this invention therefore makes it possible, in addition to the advantages already cited above, to obtain the following results and advantages, in particular relative to the current machines, such as, for example, those of the above-mentioned prior art: - Uniform stripping over the entire surface of the plant carpet in contact with the perforated drum or the first drum, - A uniformity of work when the stripping device is inverted, i.e., pivoted by approximately 180° in an essentially vertical plane, for stripping the opposite row of vegetation and more particularly the vine, - Improvement, owing to the reversibility of the device, of the cleaning of the head by eliminating in this operation the leaves that would have been able to accumulate in the machine, - A suction power that is significantly lower than that required by the current systems and the prior art and in particular compared to the systems that implement suction through a grid with an axial fan, and this is accomplished owing to a suction surface that is reduced according to this invention, smaller than that of said systems, promoting the effectiveness and the quickness of the stripping.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the standpoint of the composition of various elements or by substitution of equivalent techniques, without thereby exceeding the scope of protection of the invention.

WE

Claims (18)

CLAIM 1.:

1) A double-stream stripping device for stripping leaves from vines, comprising: at least one stripping head equipped with two counter-rotating drums, namely a 5 first drum comprising a perforated cylindrical side wall connecting two free ends and a second drum adapted to rotate with the first drum; an air suction system capable of creating negative air pressure in said first drum, the air suction system comprising two main suction openings, namely a first main suction opening and a second main suction opening; 10 a turbine system and air channeling means connecting the turbine system to said two main suction openings, a system for driving the first and second drums in rotation; and a power plant system, comprising at least one motor capable of actuating the system for driving the first and second drums and the turbine system; 15 wherein the two free ends of the first drum are open, each free end is connected to one of said main suction openings to generate, using said turbine system, two air suction streams in the first drum, one passing through one of said main suction openings and the other passing through the other main suctioning opening, having the effect of creating together a negative pressure, with double air streams, uniform within said first drum, over 20 its entire length.

2) The device, according to Claim 1, wherein the turbine system comprises one or two suction turbines actuated by the power plant system and wherein the turbine system comprises two intermediate suction openings, namely a first intermediate suction 25 opening and a second intermediate suction opening, making it possible to connect the turbine system respectively to said two main suction openings via the air channeling means.

3) The device, according to Claim 2, wherein the turbine system comprises one 30 suction turbine that is common to the two main suction openings and wherein the turbine system is provided, with negative air pressure created by said turbine, for generating the two air suction streams.

4) The device, according to Claim 2, wherein the turbine system comprises two

5 suction turbines and wherein said turbine system is provided with negative air pressure created by one of said turbines, for generating one of the two air suction streams and, with negative air pressure created by the other turbine, for generating the other air suction stream. 10 5) The device, according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the power plant system comprises a unique motor that is capable, by itself, of activating both the drive system and the (or each) suction turbine of the turbine system.

6) The device, according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the air channeling 15 means consists of two pipes, namely a first pipe, of which one of the ends forms the first main suction opening and the other end is able to be connected to the first intermediate suction opening, and a second pipe, of which one of the ends forms the second main suction opening and the other end is able to be connected to the second intermediate suction opening.

7) The device, according to Claim 6, wherein the two pipes are generally the same length.

8) The device, according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, wherein a shaft of the (or 25 each) suction turbine extends generally parallel to respective shafts of the first and second drums.

9) The device, according to Claim 8, wherein the turbine system comprises one suction turbine and wherein the suction tube extends laterally in a plane perpendicularly 30 cutting the shaft of the first drum generally equidistant between the free ends of the first drum.

10) The device, according to any one of Claims 2 to 9, wherein the turbine system comprises one suction turbine and wherein said turbine system comprises a closed 5 chamber, the suction turbine being housed in the chamber that comprises two opposing walls extending on both sides of said suction turbine that are generally perpendicular to the shaft of the suction turbine, and wherein the first intermediate suction opening is made in one of said opposing walls, and the second intermediate suction opening is made in the other opposing wall, and an air discharge opening is made in one of said walls or in 10 another wall of the chamber, preferably generally perpendicular to said opposing walls.

11) The device, according to any one of Claims 2 to 8, wherein the turbine system comprises two suction turbines, further wherein said turbine system comprises a closed chamber, with each suction turbine being housed in the closed chamber, further 15 wherein the chamber is closed by a wall, and wherein the first and second intermediate suction openings are formed in the wall of the closed chamber.

12) The device, according to any one of Claims 2 to 8, wherein the turbine system comprises two suction turbines, further wherein said turbine system comprises 20 two closed chambers that are independent of each other, with each suction turbine being housed in one of the two closed chambers, wherein each chamber is closed by a wall, and the first intermediate suction opening is formed in the wall of a first of the two chambers and the second intermediate suction opening is formed in the wall of a second of the two chambers.

13) The device, according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the first drum comprises a separating partition, solid or perforated, extending transversely into an internal space of the first drum in such a way as to separate said internal space into two suction spaces, each connected to one of the main suction openings.

14) The device, according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, further comprising an ejector that is suitable for making frictional contact with the first drum and optionally with the second drum to permit the ejection of detached leaves by a relative displacement of the ejector relative to said first drum, and if necessary said second drum.

15) The device, according to Claim 14, wherein the ejector is an elongated element, preferably of an overall cylindrical shape, mounted in rotation around an ejector shaft that extends generally parallel to respective shafts of the first and second drums and wherein said element is actuated in rotation using a drive motor or one of the drive 10 motors via a first drive means.

16) The device, according to Claim 15, wherein the system for driving the first and second drums is activated by the rotation of the ejector, with the shaft of the ejector is connected, at one of its ends, to the first drive means, and, at its other end, to said system 15 for driving the first and second drums.

17) The device, according to Claim 16, wherein the system for driving the first and second drums of the turbine or turbines consists of a gear system with three cog- wheels, namely a first cog-wheel driving a rotary shaft of the first drum, a second cog- 20 wheel driving a rotary shaft of the second drum, and a third cog-wheel driven in rotation by the ejector shaft, and wherein said cog-wheels are engaged with one another in such a way as to permit transmission of rotational movement from the ejector to the first and second drums. 25

18) The device, according to any one of Claims 15 to 17, wherein the shaft of the (or each) suction turbine is actuated in rotation, directly or indirectly, by means of the motor, or of one of the motors by means of a second drive means.