draaikorven

Draaikorven is a Dutch term used to describe a type of mechanical device consisting of rotating baskets or cages mounted in a frame, historically employed in processing agricultural products. The word blends draaien (to rotate) and korf (basket), reflecting its rotating, basket-based design.

The device typically comprises a frame with one or more perforated baskets that rotate around an axis. As the baskets turn, materials placed inside are subjected to centrifugal force and agitation, promoting separation, washing, or draining. Power could come from a hand crank, a belt-driven wheel, or an early motor, depending on the size and era of the equipment.

Historically, draaikorven were used in rural and market contexts to sort and rinse crops, seeds, and herbs, as well as to remove unwanted material such as sand, chaff, or debris from harvested produce. They also served to drain or partially dry items after washing by encouraging moisture to be flung outward from the basket through centrifugal action.

In modern practice, the term is largely historical and may be encountered in old manuals or regional catalogs. Contemporary processing often relies on rotary sieves, drum screens, centrifuges, or belt-based dryers, but draaikorven appear in discussions of traditional Dutch agricultural technology and the evolution of mechanical separation methods.

See also: rotary drum, centrifuge, rotary sieve, agricultural equipment.