Leaf and twig remover:
how to choose one.
What a leaf and twig remover is for, how it works and how to size it for the olive receiving line.
What it is for
Olives arrive at the mill with leaves, twigs, soil and the odd stone. Removing leaves and twigs before washing lightens the load on the washer and sends cleaner olives to extraction. The leaf remover is the first machine in the receiving line, ahead of the washer.
How it works
A hopper with an auger feeds the olives into the baskets. The olives travel forward through the first basket and back through the second, to the clean-olive discharge, while the rear fan blows away leaves and twigs. The leaves and twigs are separated and drop into an auger that carries them out of the machine.
Stones over 30 mm are rejected along with the leaves and twigs; those between 5 and 30 mm pass through with the olives and are separated in the washer.
How to size it
The rule is simple: the leaf remover must have the same throughput as the line after it.
- DRF-50: 5 t/h, to be paired with the LVT-50 washer and the 400 mm conveyor belt.
- DRF-100: 10 t/h, to be paired with the LVT-100 washer and the 500 mm conveyor belt.
The two models differ in every dimension, not just in throughput. They also work with washers from other manufacturers: in that case we choose the DRF-50 or DRF-100 based on the washer’s throughput.
Adjustment
Basket speed is set by the inverter (VFD) fitted as standard on the gearmotor, which also gives a soft start. The feed auger has a mechanical speed variator as standard; on request it can have an inverter, so the infeed rate can be adjusted from the control panel, even during processing. This lets the machine adapt to different varieties and harvesting conditions.
Construction and maintenance
The machine is made of AISI 304L stainless steel, with a pinion and gear-wheel drive in heavy-gauge stainless steel that only needs periodic greasing. No compressed air is required.
Options
They can also be added after installation:
- additional hopper holding 4 bins, from which the olives are tipped straight into the machine;
- leaf ejector with stone trap drawer, a blower that sends leaves and twigs away from the machine through a duct;
- on-board conveyor along the short side, up to the washer;
- video-detect, a camera over the hopper with a screen on the control panel;
- inverter on the feed auger, instead of the mechanical speed variator.
Full details on the leaf and twig remover page.
Frequently asked questions
Leaf and twig remover
Which model should I choose?
The one with the same throughput as your receiving line: the DRF-50 for 5 t/h, the DRF-100 for 10 t/h.
Does it work with a washer from another manufacturer?
Yes. We size it for the throughput of the washer you already have.
What happens to the stones?
Those over 30 mm are rejected with the leaves and twigs; those between 5 and 30 mm pass through with the olives and are separated in the washer.