destoner

A destoner is a piece of agricultural machinery designed to remove stones, clods of earth, and other heavy debris from harvested crops. These impurities are often mixed with crops like potatoes, carrots, onions, and grains during harvesting. Destoners are crucial for ensuring the quality and marketability of the final product.

The principle behind most destoners involves using a combination of gravity, air flow, and sometimes water. In a common configuration, the harvested crop is fed onto a vibrating screen or belt. Stones and heavier debris, due to their density and mass, tend to move differently than the lighter crop. Often, a stream of air is directed upwards through the material, lifting the lighter crop while allowing the stones to fall through. In some designs, a water bath is used, where the crop floats while stones sink.

Destoners can be integrated into harvesting equipment, such as potato harvesters, or operate as standalone units that process crops after they have been gathered. The type of destoner used depends on the crop being processed, the volume of material, and the level of impurity. Effective destoning reduces wear and tear on subsequent processing machinery, improves the visual appearance of the produce, and prevents damage to processing equipment.