Machine for treating vegetable plants

1,011,131. Removing Brussels sprouts from stalks. UNILEVER Ltd. Aug. 17, 1962 [Sept. 1, 1961], No. 31603/61. Heading A4C. A machine for removing Brussels sprouts from their stalks comprises a blade 14 rotated about a first axis xx along which the plant is passed, the blade 14 being pivoted about a second axis transverse to the first axis xx and the position of the blade 14 being determined by the stalk of the plant being passed along the first axis xx. An electric motor simultaneously rotates a table 5 carrying blades 14 and contra-rotates spiked, spring urged rollers 10, 11 acting as drawing means for plants fed along the axis xx into the machine through a funnel 2. Each of three blades 14 having curved, serrated cutting edges is carried on an arm 17 pivoted at 18 to a swinging arm 19 which is in turn pivoted 23 to the table 5. Springs 20 and 24 respectively urge the blade 14 about the pivot 18 and the swinging arm 19 inwardly about the pivot 23. The blades 14 when rotated form a funnel for receiving the leading end of the plant stalk which engages the trailing edges 26 of the blades thereby to pivot the blades 14 and bring the cutting edge inwards to sever the sprouts. A further blade or blades may be provided which rotates at a greater radius than the first mentioned blade, the arrangement being such that the further blade severs the sprouts and the first mentioned blade(s) sever the butts. A safety guard 3 is provided. Specification 1,010,953 is referred to.