PLUCKING MACHINE, PLUCKING UNIT, ATTACHMENT ELEMENT, AND USE THEREOF

Abstract

Picking machine for picking plants, in particular flax or hemp, the picking machine comprising a self-propelled vehicle; and picking units, where at least one picking unit comprises: a frame; a number of guide rollers attached to the frame; and a number of endless conveyor belts or chains guided along the guide rollers, where that picking unit comprises several inlets, where on either side of each inlet the respective conveyor belt or chain runs around a respective front guide roller, where at least one inlet is provided with a deflector attached to the frame of the picking unit, where at least one deflector comprises an end that lies at least partially in the picking direction in front of the respective guide roller.

Description

BE2025 / 5120 2 It is a problem to provide an alternative approach to limit the loss of plant material. It is a further problem to provide a picking device whose front is shaped in a more favorable way for guiding plant material. It is yet another problem to adapt a picking device to limit the loss of plant material, while preventing or limiting the aforementioned disadvantages of existing approaches. In a first aspect, at least one of these problems is at least partially solved by a picking machine for picking plants rooted in the ground, in particular fiber plants such as flax or hemp, the picking machine comprising: 10 - a vehicle to drive over the ground, comprising a vehicle chassis; and - a picking assembly mounted at the front of the vehicle chassis comprising one or more picking units, where each of the picking units is designed for picking plants while driving over the ground and transporting the picked plants in a picking direction to the vehicle chassis,where at least one picking unit comprises:15 -a frame; -a number of guide rollers attached to the frame; and -a number of endless conveyor belts guided along guide rollers; -a number of inlets, where each inlet is defined between a first guide roller forming a picking roller and a conveyor belt guided by a second guide roller,20 for catching and picking plants at the location of a picking area between the picking rollers and conveyor belt; where each pair of adjacent inlets of the same picking unit or of different adjacent picking units is separated by a divider, where the divider is movably attached to the frame;25 further comprising a, arranged at at least one inletattached to the frame of the picking unit, the deflector equipped with one or more lateral arms designed to guide plants or parts thereof at least sideways to the picking area between the picking roller and the conveyor belt during driving; where a lateral arm of the deflector comprises a free end that lies at least partially in the picking direction in front of the respective guide roller. While the distributor can move during the vehicle's driving over the surface and thereby absorb any impacts when driving over a highly irregular surface,is the deflector permanently attached to the frame and therefore, in principle, cannot move relative to the frame. This reduces the risk of damage to the dividers, while one or more deflectors still always ensure correct guidance of the plant stems to the relevant picking area. Preferably, the deflector is fixed in a fixed position relative to the frame. This means that the deflector is mounted on the frame in a way that is immovable during use. The divider is attached in such a way that it has a variable position relative to the frame, whereby the divider is preferably designed to be movable within a fixed range in upward and downward directions relative to the frame. In certain versions, one or more lateral arms extend both sideways and upwards to guide the plants. This can occur sequentially, for example from the attachment point first sideways and then upwards, or simultaneously.thus immediately from 10 the attachment point sideways and upwards. The improved machine can better shield at least a part of the front of the front guide rollers and can guide plant material to an inlet between a pair of guide rollers and their conveyor belts. Entanglement and / or slipping of the stems of a plant (e.g. flax, hemp) during picking is reduced. The plant material can be pressed better against each other, which facilitates guidance. It can be prevented that plant material is pressed against the part of the conveyor belt at the front of a guide roller, which can cause adverse friction, that plant material ends up between two adjacent guide rollers of different inlets, and / or that plant material moves only laterally and not unambiguously towards the inlet due to the part of the conveyor belt at the front of a guide roller.which could disrupt the crop flow. All this contributes to a substantially higher crop yield because now more or even mainly all plants are picked. A deflector as a separate component of a distributor can ensure a favorable division of labor because, for example, one of the components can be mounted movably and the other fixed, because a guide roller can be approached closer and at a favorable angle, because even more precise adjustment becomes possible, and because different surface structures can be selected. In certain design forms, at least the respective front guide roller is positioned in the picking direction at an angle relative to the vehicle chassis, whereby the picking direction does not run parallel to the working direction, preferably where the picking direction is between 15 and 75 degrees, preferably between 30 and 60 degrees,for example, differs by 45 degrees from the working direction. In certain configurations, the end of the deflector is located in a width direction, viewed in a triangular area bounded by the first side of the respective guide roller, a line in the height direction that touches the 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 4 front point of the front guide roller, and a horizontal line that touches the bottom point of that front guide roller. In certain configurations, the deflector extends in the width direction beyond the imaginary rotation axis of the respective guide roller. In certain configurations, two deflectors attached to the frame of the picking unit are provided at the entrance to guide plant parts in use along another respective front guide roller. In certain versions, at least one deflector attached to the frame of the picking unit is provided at each entrance. In certain versions, the deflector comprises two ends,where those two ends are positioned at two respective adjacent guide rollers of different inlets. In certain designs, one side of the end of the deflector directed towards the respective guide roller has a curved surface that runs at a predominantly uniform distance around part of the circumference of the respective guide roller or, if a conveyor belt or chain runs around the respective guide roller, runs at a predominantly fixed distance from that conveyor belt or chain, preferably where that distance is 1 cm or less. In certain configurations, the deflector includes adjustment devices designed to determine that distance, preferably where the deflector adjustment devices are designed to limit that distance to 1 cm or less. 20 In certain configurations, the distance between the free end of an arm and the perimeter area of ​​the picking rollers / or between the free end of the arms and the outer surface of the conveyor belt guided around the second guide roller is between 3 mm and 30 mm,preferably between 5mm and 15mm. By not only placing the relevant free end directly in front of the relevant perimeter surface / outer surface, but also choosing a sufficiently small distance between the free ends and the relevant surface, the risk of plants (stems) straying off the guidance can be further reduced. In certain design forms, one or more free ends of the arms of a deflector extend substantially parallel to the working direction. The working direction is parallel to the surface. The surface is usually mainly horizontal, but of course this need not always be the case. The surface may, for example, include a slope. In other versions, at least part of the end of the deflector slopes gradually upwards or gradually downwards at an angle that lies in the range between the working direction and a picking direction of the picking unit, preferably an angle of at least 20, preferably at least 30, and almost always at least 40 degrees, for example 45 degrees,35 with respect to the direction of operation. 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 5 The gradual upward (or downward) curvature of the arms with respect to an attachment point of the deflector to the frame. Furthermore, the said part of the end of the deflector can be the free end itself, but can also, in other configurations—for example, configurations in which at least one of the two free ends of the deflector extends parallel to the direction of operation (in practice usually corresponding to the horizontal direction)—be an intermediate component located between the free end and the attachment point of the deflector with which it is firmly attached to the frame. In certain designs, the side of the end of the deflector that delimits the entrance runs parallel to an outer surface of the respective guide roller or, if a conveyor belt or chain runs around the respective guide roller, of that conveyor belt or chain, and lies in the extension of that outer surface. In certain designs, that side of the end of the deflector is provided with saw teeth,preferably saw teeth with rounded ends, where those saw teeth are designed to hinder plant parts when moving against the picking direction relative to the picking unit.15 In certain designs, the end of the deflector in the picking surface overlaps at least partially with the respective guide roller, where a part of the end of the deflector is positioned, for example, above or below a part of the respective guide roller. In certain designs, a driven20 main guide roller runs on one side of each inlet, around which a conveyor belt runs, and a non-driven auxiliary guide roller on the other side,where the deflector is positioned in front of an auxiliary guide roller. In certain design forms, each pair of adjacent inlets of the same processing assembly or of different adjacent processing units is separated by a distributor. 25 In certain design forms, the deflector is positioned such that, viewed in a working direction and / or picking direction, it overlaps with a distributor. In certain design forms, the deflector is fixed at a fixed position relative to the frame, whereby the distributor is mounted to move within a fixed range with at least one degree of freedom relative to the frame. 30 In certain design forms, the distributor is mounted pivotably at at least one first point and movably at at least one other point, whereby the first point preferably lies at the same point in the width direction, where the first point lies, for example, above or below the other point. In a second aspect, at least one of these problems is at least partially solved by an attachment element for the execution of a picking machine in this way,comprising a 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 6 deflectors / fasteners for attaching the attachment element to the frame of the picking unit, where the attachment element optionally includes a distributor and / or fasteners for a distributor. In a third aspect, at least one of these problems is at least partially solved by an interchangeable picking unit for the execution of a picking machine in this way, where the optional deep picking unit is part of an interchangeable picking assembly. In a fourth aspect, at least one of these problems is at least partially solved by the use of such a picking machine for picking plants rooted in the ground. Further details of execution forms, which should not be considered restrictive10,are described below using the accompanying figures. Figures 1A and 1C-1G show partially removed detail views, and Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a design of a processing machine equipped with two picking units. Figure 2 shows a design of a picking assembly. Figure 3 shows a detail of a design of a picking unit. Figure 4 shows a design of an attachment element with a distributor. Figures 5 and 6 show a design of an attachment element from different perspectives. Figures 7 and 8 show a confirmed design of an attachment element from 20 different perspectives. Figure 9 shows a detail of a guide roller and deflector according to a design. In the following, some examples are given of versions of a processing machine that is specifically suitable for picking fiber plants, for example relatively short fiber plants such as flax or relatively long fiber plants such as hemp. Such a processing machine is also called a fiber plant picking machine or, more specifically,called a flax picking machine or hemp picking machine. Another type of processing machine is, for example, a turning machine with the same or similar vehicle chassis, transport assembly and discharge assembly, but instead of a picking assembly, a picking assembly comprising picking units for picking up plants already lying in swaths on the ground or 30 plant parts. When reference is made herein to the picking or picking up of fiber plants from the ground, this may mean that the entire fiber plant is picked or picked up, or that one or more parts of the entire fiber plant are picked or picked up. Flax is a fiber crop that is cultivated for the making of, among other things, linen (clothing, 35 home decoration). The flax plant is usually between 40 and 130 cm,for example between 80 and 130 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 7 cm long and is harvested with the aid of a towed or self-propelled flax harvesting machine. Such a machine may also be suitable for harvesting other relatively short fiber plants such as ramie. Hemp is also a fiber crop that is cultivated for making textiles (clothing or home decoration), among other things. The hemp plant is considerably longer than the flax plant. The hemp plant is characterized by being between 140 cm and 350 cm long. Hemp is harvested with a hemp harvesting machine specially equipped for this purpose. Such a machine may also be suitable for harvesting other relatively long fiber plants such as chenille or jute. The fiber plant harvesting machine comprises a vehicle (usually a self-propelled vehicle,but a towed vehicle is also possible) and for this purpose has at the front a processing assembly40 (comprising one or more picking units) that is specially designed to harvest 10 fiber plants such as flax or hemp plants by pulling them out of the ground and / or cutting them loose. The fiber plants harvested by the picking assembly are transported by means of conveyors provided on the vehicle to a discharge assembly where the fiber plants are discharged, for example by laying them down in one or more swaths on the ground. The machine can be driven over a field to harvest 15 fiber plants in one pass across the width of the picking assembly40. As described above, the harvested or picked (and turned over) fiber plants are subsequently processed by the flax or hemp processing machine by moving them to the rear of the machine and laying the fiber plants on the ground while moving. The relatively long hemp plants must still be cut into two or more parts before they are suitable to be laid on the ground,while the relatively short flax plants can usually be laid directly on the ground. The fiber plants or the cut fiber plants are laid flat on the ground in long rows, also called "swaths", whereby the stalks of the harvested plants extend mainly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the swaths. This laying of the flax or hemp flat on the ground again, so that the said swaths are formed, is also called "slitting" or "plucking". When rowing or laying the flax or hemp plants in swaths, a space is left between neighboring rows. These spaces are provided to prevent the swaths from becoming entangled with each other. Harvested plants laid flat on the ground in swaths are subsequently retted under the influence of a combination of dew, rain, and sunlight. The retting of the flax or hemp by leaving it lying on the surface (i.e. a field or retting field) for some time, it is referred to in the field of flax processing as field retting or dew retting. In this description, types of machines are used,units and parts indicated by reference numbers. Multiple units or parts of the same type within the same figure are sometimes indicated by the same reference number, followed by a letter. 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 8 The same letter can refer to different instances of the same type of unit or part in different figures. A use of the reference number without the addition of a letter refers to units or parts of that type in general. If multiple units or parts in the same figure have the same number and a different letter, it will be clear to the expert from the context whether they must be executed in exactly the same way, or whether, for example, due to their different positions, they must be executed somewhat differently, for example mirrored, to fulfill a corresponding function. Figures 1A-1C show a self-propelled vehicle of a processing machine according to a specific design. The self-propelled vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis to which four wheels are attached in a known manner.that is to say two front wheels7 and two rear wheels8, is fitted. In certain versions the vehicle chassis6 comprises a rigid chassis where the front part of the chassis (located near the picking assembly40) is not swiveling (tiltable) relative to the rear part (located near the delivery assembly). The chassis comprises an essentially rigid chassis. In other versions the vehicle chassis6 comprises a number of chassis parts that are swiveling (tiltable) relative to each other15. An example of a vehicle chassis built up from multiple parts in which the chassis parts are tiltable relative to each other around an upright axle is described in the publication WO2022 / 106887A1, the content of which should be considered as incorporated herein. An example is the version shown in Figure 1B. In the version comprises the vehicle chassis6 a front chassis part110 and a rear chassis part111, where20 the rear chassis part111 via an articulated device112, for example comprising an upright swing axle,connected to the front chassis part 110. The front wheels of the vehicle are connected to the front chassis part 110, while the rear wheels are connected to the rear chassis part 111. By correct control of the (speeds and / or direction of travel) of the front and / or rear wheels, the vehicle can drive in a straight line (e.g. Figure 1B, 2A, 4A, 4B, 16A-16D) over the surface in which the rear chassis part 111 is aligned with the front chassis part 110, or for example in a crabwalk motion in which the rear chassis part 111 is tilted relative to the front chassis part (e.g. Figure 2B, 6). In Figure 1A, a part of the left front side of the vehicle has been removed (i.e., the left front wheel and the relevant part of the suspension) in order to obtain a better view of the construction of the vehicle at the front. The vehicle is self-propelled, which means that it is equipped with its own drive motor with which a number of the wheels, for example the two rear wheels,or all wheels can be driven. The self-propelled vehicle2 is preferably driven by a number of hydraulic motors, one for each wheel7,8, which hydraulic motors are connected to a hydraulic pump unit designed35 for providing a pressurized hydraulic medium via a hydraulic circuit provided in the vehicle 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 9. The hydraulic pump unit is driven by an internal combustion engine, for example a diesel engine. The internal combustion engine and hydraulic pump unit together are indicated schematically in Figure 1 with reference number9. The vehicle is operated from a driver's cab3 at the front of the 5 vehicle. The driver's cab3 is accessible from the ground via a ladder system10 provided on the side of the machine. This ladder system10 comprises a folding ladder which is attached via ladder fasteners11 to a support12 provided on the vehicle. The support12 can, for example, be part of the chassis of the vehicle,but can also be attached to, for example, the driver's cab. The ladder system 10 is constructed, among other things, from ladder sections 13, 14 that can swivel relative to each other. The ladder sections 13, 14 can swivel between a fully folded position and a fully unfolded position (and, in certain versions, can swivel into any intermediate position between the fully unfolded and fully folded positions). In the unfolded position (and in principle also in any of the intermediate positions), the relative orientation of the ladder sections 13, 14, that is to say the angle between the first, upper 15 ladder section 13 relative to the second, lower ladder section 14, can be fixed in such a way that the driver can safely climb onto or descend from the machine at all times. The pivot of the first ladder section13 around the support12 and a pivot of the second ladder section14 around the first ladder section13 can be coupled in such a way that the second ladder section14 always remains in the same orientation with respect to a surface,for example20 because those two swings are of equal size and opposite. The chassis6 of the vehicle further comprises a transport assembly80 comprising two transport units81 that mainly extend across one another (more specifically a first transport unit81a and a second transport unit81b). Each of the transport units81 comprises in certain configuration a flat support element83 (hereinafter also called25 a table) over which fiber blocks can slide and an endless conveyor belt85 provided above it for carrying the fiber blocks resting on the table83. In certain configurations, the tables of the two transport units81 are combined into a single, joint table83. At least one of the transport units81a,81b, in particular at least one of the 30 endless conveyor belts85, is preferably movable in the width direction of the vehicle chassis6 (hereinafter also referred to as the lateral direction) so that the distance between the two conveyor belts85 can be adjusted,to achieve a suitable spacing for narrower or wider swaths. Referring to the top view of Figure 1B, both transport units81a,81 are positioned along both longitudinal edges of the vehicle2 so that each35 of them can transport a quantity of fiber plants against the chassis direction C. Each of 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 10 the transport units81 comprises in the shown configuration an endless conveyor belt85 which runs on a front roller84a and a rear roller84b. At least one of the rollers84a,84b is driven via a drive not shown. In a specific configuration, the drive comprises a hydraulic motor which is installed in the rear (triple) pulley or roller 84b. Each of the distinct sub-rollers of the multiple (triple) pulley is separately5 but driven synchronously with each other, preferably according to a specific decimal. On the outside of each of the conveyor belts85 so-called carriers86 are provided. These can the on the table(s)83, or at least on guide rails87 of the table(s)83 (figure 1A),move the lying fiber plants in the mentioned chassis direction C to the rear of the vehicle chassis6. In this way, the fiber plants are thus enclosed between the relevant 10 conveyor belt85 and the guide rails87. At the rear of the vehicle2, a dispensing assembly is mounted comprising a corresponding dispensing unit91 for each transport unit81. In the configuration shown, the dispensing unit91 comprises an endless conveyor belt95. This endless conveyor belt may or may not be equipped with carriers96. The endless conveyor belt95 of each of the 15 dispensing units13 is guided around a roller94 and around the previously mentioned roller84b (which a dispensing unit91 thus shares with a transport unit81). The drive of the dispensing unit91 takes place via the first roller84b. This extends slightly diagonally backwards and is designed to move the fiber plants originating from the respective transport units81a,81b downwards in a metered and controlled manner.so that the 20 fiber plants can be laid down on the ground at the rear of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 1B, when the vehicle is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle chassis, herein also referred to as the chassis direction C, the fiber plants picked or picked up at the front of the vehicle (v) will be moved to the rear of the vehicle2 and laid down on the ground (o)25 via the discharge units13 each in a separate row (swath)15a,15b. In certain applications, the rows15a,15b fiber plants are composed of the same parts of the fiber plant, for example in the case of the relatively short flax plants. In other versions, however, one row is composed of the lower parts of the harvested fiber plants while the other row consists of the upper parts of the harvested fiber plants. This is, for example, the case when harvesting hemp plants. In both cases, the 30 fiber plants are laid flat on the ground, as parallel to each other as possible,after which the aforementioned rotting can commence. In order to be able to harvest the fiber plants, vehicle 2 is equipped at its front with a picking assembly 40 (comprising one or more picking units). This can be a first picking assembly 40 specially developed for harvesting long fiber plants (such as hemp) (also referred to herein as a hemp picking assembly 40) or a second picking assembly 4050 specially developed for harvesting short fiber plants (such as flax) (also referred to herein as a flax picking assembly 40). Depending on the length of the crop to be harvested, a different picking assembly 40 must therefore be attached to the vehicle. Various examples of a first picking assembly 40 for harvesting relatively long fiber plants are shown in figures 1 and 1. Various examples of a second picking assembly 4050 for the Clusters of relatively short-fiber plants are shown in figures 1F and 1G. Referring in particular to figures 1A and 1C, the chassis at the front of the chassis6 of the vehicle2 comprises a number of supporting chassis parts33a,33b. The first support chassis parts33b extend in line with the rest of the chassis6 of the vehicle2, while the second support chassis parts33a10 attached to the first support chassis parts33 and the rest of the chassis6 are positioned at an angle. Furthermore, chassis6 is equipped with a number of hinges39 to which two parallel lifting longitudinal arms35a,35b are attached. Both lifting longitudinal arms35a,35b are connected at the ends to a lifting crossarm36. Together, the support chassis parts33a,33b, lifting longitudinal arms35a,35 and lifting crossarm36 form a sturdy and stable support structure for attaching a number of actuators with which a coupled to the chassis6 of the vehicle215 plukassemblage40 swings upwards and downwards. The support structure forms, together with this actuator and the aforementioned lifting unit, the upward or downward swinging of the plukassemblage40 is achieved by a number of actuators, for example electric actuators (motors) or, preferably, lifting cylinders31,of the lifting unit (Figure 1C). In Figures 1A and 1C, the actuators are formed by two lifting cylinders. In the version shown, two lifting cylinders positioned laterally next to each other are provided. In other versions, however, only a single lifting cylinder is used, or three or more lifting cylinders are applied. The lifting cylinders are hinged to the support chassis parts.33a,33 and via a mounting bracket.32 to the lifting crossarm.36. Also, one or more lifting cylinders may be provided between a lower processing unit, such as a lower picking unit, and an upper processing unit, such as a top picking unit, for regulating the relative height, in particular regulating the height of the upper picking unit relative to a different lifting cylinders31 relative to the chassis6 lower picking unit41 placed at a certain height.A more detailed description of the construction of the lifting units and their operation30 will follow later. With further reference to figure 1C, is chassis6 on either side of the support chassis parts33a,33b provided with first fasteners30 for attaching a picking assembly40 to it in a hinged and detachable manner. The first fasteners30 can be designed in countless ways, but in the specific design shown, they comprise a number of flanges in which respective hinge shafts34 can be rotatably mounted. Each of the different picking assemblies40 comprises one or more frame parts of a support frame that can be attached to the said first fasteners30 in a hinged and detachable manner. In the designs shown in figures 1D, 1E, and 5, the picking assembly40 comprises a first, lower hemp picking unit41 and a second placed above it,upper hemp picking unit42. The lower hemp picking unit41 comprises a frame part51 that can be attached to the first fasteners30 of the vehicle by means of second fasteners54 and is easily detachable. The upper hemp picking unit42 comprises a frame part51b that is also designed to be hinged10 (and not necessarily easily detachable), although the frame part51b of the upper hemp picking unit42 is attached to the frame part51 of the lower hemp picking unit41 in the version shown, instead of directly to the chassis6 of the vehicle. In other versions not shown, however, the upper hemp picking unit is attached to the chassis6 of the vehicle2 and the lower hemp picking unit to the upper hemp picking unit15. In still other,In versions not shown, both hemp picking units are hinged and detachably attached to the vehicle. In certain versions, the lower and upper picking units can be adjusted in height independently of each other by swiveling the respective frame parts 51a and 51b. In yet other versions, only one picking unit is provided, whereby this picking unit is designed for picking shorter hemp plants, such as flax. A flax picking unit can in principle have a similar construction to one of the two hemp picking units, and in certain versions a flax picking unit is even virtually identical or entirely identical to a hemp picking unit. For attachment to the vehicle chassis6, more specifically to the first fastening devices30 thereof, such as the flanges positioned on or near the sides of the vehicle225 with the hinge pins mounted therein34, the picking assembly40, in the version shown, is the lower picking unit41,equipped with second fasteners54. The second fasteners54 are designed to be easily attached to the first fasteners30. The first and second fasteners 30,54 together form a fastening hinge between the picking assembly40 and the vehicle2,30 such that the picking assembly40 can be swiveled in an upward-downward direction around the horizontal swivel axles 34. To pivot the picking assembly40 relative to the vehicle2, the previously described lifting unit is deployed. As previously described, the lifting cylinders31 are mounted at one end on the chassis6 in a rotatable manner, for example on flanges38 of the chassis6.35 On their opposite sides, the lifting cylinders31 are coupled via mounting brackets32 to the lifting crossarm36. The lifting crossarm36 of the lifting unit has a predominantly U-shaped cross-section, which is particularly visible in figures 1A and 1C. The U-shape forms a catchment area for part of the frame section51 of the lower hemp picking unit41. In other words,The picking assembly can be easily connected to the lifting unit by inserting the frame part of the lower hemp picking unit from above into the lifting crossarm of the lifting unit, or vice versa by simply pressing the lifting crossarm against the frame part from below. Finally, the entire assembly is locked by a locking mechanism (Figure 1C), for example in the form of a remote-controlled extendable cylinder which, in the extended position, ensures that the picking assembly remains locked to the lifting unit, or manually with a locking pin. The lifting unit is then ready to lift the picking assembly. As indicated in Figure 1A with arrows (P1, P2), the length of each of the lifting cylinders31 can be controlled. It is clear that when the length of the lifting cylinders31 is increased between a picking unit41,42 and the chassis6 or between two picking units41,42, the frame part51a and / or the frame part51b will pivot upwards respectively, whereas if15 the length of the lifting cylinders is reduced,the relevant frame part 51a and / or 51b swings downwards. In this way, the height of the free end of the picking assembly 40 can be varied, for example to adjust the position with which the picking assembly 40 grips the flax plants and pulls them out of the ground while the vehicle is driving. Figures 1 and 1 E show different configurations of a processing machine 20 1 in which the processing machine is equipped with an interchangeable picking assembly 40 comprising a first picking unit and a second picking unit placed above it. This configuration is designed for picking relatively long-fiber plants, such as hemp plants, as shown schematically in the figure. In the configuration shown, the processing machine 1 comprises the aforementioned self-propelled vehicle 2 as well as a specific 25 picking assembly 40,that is to say a hemp picking assembly40. The hemp picking assembly40 comprises a lower hemp picking unit41 and an upper hemp picking unit42 arranged above it. The lower picking unit25 is attached to the first fastening devices30 of the vehicle in the aforementioned manner, and in such a way that the first hemp picking unit25 can be pivoted in an upward-downward direction by operation of one or more of the aforementioned lifting cylinders31. The upper hemp picking unit42 is attached to the lower hemp picking unit41 in a hinged manner via hinge shafts34 so that the upper hemp picking unit42 can be pivoted relative to the first hemp picking unit25 (relative to the vehicle2 and the ground) (pivot directionsR2). The pivoting movement of the upper hemp picking unit42 relative to the lower35 hemp picking unit 41 is powered by a number of further lifting cylinders (not shown) mounted on the frame parts 30,33 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 14where increasing the length of the lifting cylinders leads to an upward rotation of the upper hemp picking unit42 relative to the lower hemp picking unit41, while decreasing the length leads to a downward rotation of the upper hemp picking unit42 relative to the lower hemp picking unit41. In Figure 1, it is schematically shown that the relatively long fiber plants (h), such as hemp, kenaf, jute, or similar fiber plants, have a total length (typically between 1.4 and 4.0 meters, 2.4 meters on average). The lower part (h1) of each of the fiber plants (h) has a length 1 (for example 110cm to 123cm), while the upper part (h2) has a length lb (for example 123 to 130cm). In the form shown, both lengths 1 and lb are approximately equal, but in practice these lengths can of course differ. Of importance is only that the fiber plants (h) have at least two parts (h1,h2) are cut to be subsequently further processed by the processing machine 1. To this end, the aforementioned lower hemp picking unit 41 has been made suitable for picking and processing the lower fiber plant parts (h1), while the upper hemp picking unit 42 is intended for picking the upper fiber plant parts (h2).15 The upper hemp picking unit 42 comprises a transport system 53b for grasping and transporting hemp plants to vehicle 2, while the lower hemp picking unit 41 comprises a (preferably wholly or virtually wholly identical) transport system 53a with which hemp plants can also be grasped and transported to vehicle 2. When vehicle 2 is driving in chassis direction C, the upper hemp picking unit 42 will first reach the hemp plants. After a short time interval, the lower also reaches hemp picking unit 41 the same hemp plants. In other words, the position of attachment where the top hemp picking unit 42 attaches to a specific hemp plant at a certain time,is shifted relative to the engagement position at which the lower hemp picking unit 41 engages an (other) fiber plant at the same time. This has the consequence that first the upper hemp picking unit 42 engages the upper part (h2) of the hemp plants and immediately cuts cutting element 58 (also referred to herein as mowing element 58) loose from the lower part (h1) at the front of the upper hemp picking unit 42, while afterwards, i.e. only when the upper part h2 has been cut loose and is already being carried away, the lower hemp picking unit 41 starts engaging the lower part (h1) of the same hemp plant. The lower hemp picking unit 41 is set up to engage the lower part (h1) of the hemp plant. As a result of the movement of the vehicle and / or as a result From displacement by means of the transport installation 53a, the hemp plants are pulled out of the ground, root and all. As shown in Figure 1,The upper part (h2) of a hemp plant (h) that was cut loose by the mowing element 58 is picked up by the upper hemp picking unit 42. This upper part (h2) of the fiber plant comprises a top, flower, or panicle section (h5) and a remaining upper section (h3). The top section (h5) of the upper part (h2) of the hemp plant (h) can be removed with the aid of a cutting unit 64. The top section (h5) is discharged here by means of discharge equipment comprising a discharge pipe 24 with an inlet nozzle 25 near the cutting unit, a centrifugal suction device 23 connected to the discharge pipe, and an outlet nozzle to a collection bin 21 mounted on the rear of the vehicle 2 via a frame 22. The discharge pipe 24 can be part of the picking unit42, or be permanently attached to the collection bin2, or be provided loose,and is attached between the picking unit 42 and the collection bin 21. An entry mouth 25 can be part of the picking unit 42 and / or attached to the discharge pipe 24. The collection bin 21 can be fixed or detachable to the frame 22 via coupling devices 26. 10 Plant parts are discharged via conveyors 61 of the hemp picking assembly 40 to a respective conveyor unit 81. These conveyors 61 comprise endless conveyor belts 62. The conveyor belts 62 are equipped with carriers 63. As explained elsewhere, in certain configurations, both discharge units 13 are arranged to lay a first row 15a with only the bottom-remaining parts (h4) of 15 the hemp plants and a second row 15b with only the top-remaining parts (h3) of the hemp plants (h) on the ground in order to subsequently subject them to the desired rotting process (Figure 1B). Figures 1 and 1 E show a side view of a first version of the hemp picking assembly40. Figures 1 and 1 E also show the transport installations53a,53b with which the 20 hemp plants are grasped and transported to vehicle 2. Each of the transport installations 53a, 53 contains a number of endless conveyor belts for grasping the crop, transporting the crop, turning or tilting the crop during transport (from a standing to a lying position, i.e. at an angle of approximately 90 degrees), and transporting the crop to the transport units on vehicle 2. 25 At the front of both the lower hemp picking unit 41 and the upper hemp picking unit 42, dividers 55 are provided. The purpose of these is to be able to push aside and guide the hemp plants (h) into a number (in Figure 1 six plants per hemp picking unit 40 and in Figure 2 eight plants (but this can be in other 30 execution forms (also a larger or smaller number) passages D1-D6 for the upper hemp picking unit 42 and passages D7-D12 for the lower hemp picking unit 41,all designed for receiving and gripping the hemp plants. These twelve passages are formed by a number of driven conveyor belts56 and a number of guide rollers57. The guide rollers57 can perform one or more different functions. For example, a guide roller5735 can be a support roller for supporting a conveyor belt56, a drive roller 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 16 for driving a conveyor belt56, and / or a picking roller65 (figure 3) for locally applying a pressing force against an adjacent conveyor belt56 for pinching plants (stems) between the picking roller65 and conveyor belt56 and thus picking the plants. Each drive roller is driven by a hydraulically fed roller drive. 59dieindegetoondeuitvoeringsvormnet onder debands56uitstekent.Elkeplukeenheid41,42is5 zoals in bedrijf,Two streams of plants originating from two adjacent inlets (see e.g. Figure 3) are merged to be transported further in a single stream towards the rear of the vehicle. This merging can be achieved, for example, by providing a suitably shaped guide piece97 (Figure 3) with which two streams can be combined into a single stream. More specifically, plants (stems) picked and subsequently transported further gradually come together in merging areas to form a gradual single stream of fiber plants. Instead of conveyor belts56, chains can also be provided. In the aforementioned configurations, processing machine 1 is designed for processing relatively tall crops, such as hemp. In other configurations, processing machine 1 can be very easily adapted for processing shorter / less tall crops, such as flax. To this end, hemp picking unit 3 is made available, consisting of at least the upper and lower hemp picking units 25,26 replaced by a flax picking unit43 which is specifically designed for processing this lower crop. The height of the crop, such as flax, is generally between 80cm and 123cm (ltot=80-123cm).20 As shown in figures 1F and 1G, the flax picking unit43 comprises a frame part43 that is equipped with essentially the same fasteners as the previously mentioned lower hemp picking unit41 of the hemp picking assembly40. The frame part130 can, for example, be easily attached to the hinge axis of the first fasteners30 of the vehicle2 using the previously mentioned fasteners54. In a similar manner as was the case25 with the hemp picking assembly40, this flax picking assembly40 can be placed on the lifting crossarm36 of the lifting assembly of the vehicle2 so that the lifting cylinders31 the frame130 the flax picking unit 43 can swivel in an upward and downward direction. Essentially, the present flax picking assembly 40 makes use of the same techniques to grasp this fiber plant, in this case flax, and pull it out of the ground,to transport in the direction of the vehicle230 and to change the position of the crop during transport in the direction of the vehicle2. For this purpose, use is again made of a transport installation which is again constructed from, among other things, the previously described endless conveyor belts. A difference with the hemp picking assembly40 is, however, that in the flax picking assembly40 there is the possibility and space to realize more passages next to each other. Whereas in the hemp picking assembly40 there are six passages per hemp picking unit (thus a total of twelve passages, although this number can also be increased or decreased in 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 17 other versions), in the version of figure 1E there are eight passages, all positioned next to each other. The left four passages catch flax opened via a first conveyor 61 to the first conveyor 11 onto the vehicle 2 guided,while the right-hand four passages are used to guide the remaining flax plants via a second conveyor61 towards the second conveyor12 of the 5 vehicle2. Both conveyors61a,61bbe are positioned next to each other here instead of one above the other, as was the case with conveyors61a,61b of the hemp picking assembly40. In Figure 1, it is further shown that in certain configurations, two crushing rollers60a,60bis are provided, which are designed to crush the flax, or at least the upper part thereof, for improved retting. In certain configurations, a cutting unit64 is present, which is designed to cut off the seed parts (specifically the seed pods, seed holders), but in other configurations, cutting does not take place. Furthermore, these crushing rollers60a,60ben / or this cutting assembly are also optional and are therefore omitted in certain configurations. The configurations described with regard to Figures 1A-1G concern processing machines1 for relatively flanged and / or relatively short fiber plants,for example hemp15 and / or flax. The forms of execution described with regard to the other figures concern processing machines1 that are suitable for processing at least relatively short fiber plants, such as flax. Units and parts with the same name, the same position and / or the same number in different forms generally correspond. In particular, the arrangement of the different types of picking units41-42 largely corresponds. For the sake of clarity, certain units, parts, and characteristics are described and / or shown for only some of the forms. However, it will be clear to the expert in the field that many units, parts, and characteristics can be applied in the same or similar way to other forms.25 The forms described with regard to figures 1A-1G concern processing machines1 consisting of two picking units41,42 and a chassis with two corresponding transport units81,82 and dispensing units91,92include. Instead, it is also possible to provide a version of a processing machine with other numbers of picking units41,42 and / or other numbers of transport units81,82 and dispensing units91,92,30 for example one, three, four, five, six, or more than six picking units41,42, transport units81, 82, and / or dispensing units91,92. In this case, the number of transport units81,82 and the number of dispensing units91,92 are preferably equal. The picking assembly40 can be permanently mounted as a whole and / or at least a part of the picking units41,42, such as step picking units41, can be permanently mounted. However, otherwise or 35 the picking assembly40, a group of non-interchangeable picking units41,42 after attachment, and / or individual picking units41,42 can also be mounted. Interchangeable picking assemblies40, groups of picking units41,42 and / or individual picking units41,42 can be delivered separately from the rest of the processing machine1. If all picking units41,42 are permanently mounted, the number of transport units is 81,82 preferably equal to the number of picking units41,42. In particular if at least part of the picking units41,42 is arranged interchangeably, the number of transport units81,82 may deviate from the number of picking units41,42. Picking units43 for picking relatively short fiber plants, such as flax, and lower picking units41 for picking relatively long fiber plants, such as hemp, may be identical or mutually interchangeable.10 Figure 2 shows a processing assembly40 comprising two processing units41, and an axis system. On each axis of an axis system, two opposing directions can be distinguished. To indicate an axis, one of the two directions lying on that axis will sometimes be used. The axis system comprises a working direction W, a height direction H, and a width direction15 B. These directions are perpendicular to each other. The processing machine 1 is designed to move in the working direction W during transport, for example along a public road. In the shown movement, the processing machine 1 will operate in the working direction W.This means that successive fiber plants will be processed in that direction. The height direction is the direction that points against gravity when the base of the chassis is horizontal (due to a horizontal surface). The width direction B is perpendicular to the height direction and work direction W. A picking surface is tensioned by the width direction and the picking direction P. The conveyor belts run in this picking surface. Furthermore, a picking direction P is shown. The picking direction is the direction in which the plants are transported and picked, and in the configuration shown, it is diagonally upwards and from front to back (Figure 2), in principle parallel to the conveyor belts of the relevant picking unit. The conveyor belts of a picking unit are configured to transport picked fiber plants in picking direction P. This processing direction P is preferably the same for all picking units. Processing direction P can be obtained by rotating working direction W; to be precise, by rotating working direction W around the width axis B so that it points into the ground.and subsequently mirror them. Preferably, the working direction W is rotated between 15 and 75 degrees, or more preferably between 30 and 60 degrees, for example 45 degrees around the second width axis B. The axes of the rollers of the picking units are not oriented in the vertical direction H, but perpendicular to the picking direction P. Figure 2 shows a design of a picking assembly 40. The picking assembly 4035 comprises two picking units 41. The picking units 41 are suitable for picking 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 19 plant parts, in particular whole plants and / or stem parts, that are in a substrate,for example by pulling it out of the ground or by working together with an (not shown) cutting beam. Each picking unit41 comprises a frame that is equipped with guide rollers57. No conveyor belt56 is tensioned around the indicated guide rollers57. A conveyor belt56 is tensioned around certain other guide rollers57. In other versions of picking units41, conveyor belts56 are tensioned around all guide rollers57. Certain guide rollers57 are driven to make conveyor belts56 move. The guide rollers57 and associated conveyor belts56 define a row of adjacent entrances in the width direction B (figure 2) of the picking unit41. An entrance is an area bounded by the components of the picking unit41 in the picking surface. An entrance is relatively wide towards the front of the picking unit41 and becomes progressively narrower in the picking direction P until it ends at the pickup point, herein also called the picking area99.where a guide roller57 (or conveyor belt56 running around it) touches another guide roller57 (or conveyor belt56 running around it). The conveyor belts56 are designed and15 attached in such a way that they have sufficient space and flexibility to pick up and transport plant parts via the pickup point. A distributor55 is provided between each pair of two inlets. A number of deflectors100 are also visible. These will be explained further with reference to the following figures.20 Figure 3 shows a detail of a design of a processing unit41. An inlet is visible between a guide roller57 and a conveyor belt56 that runs around another adjacent guide roller57. Next to the inlet, a distributor55 is provided to guide plant parts towards the inlet. A deflector 100 is also on display. A deflector 100 can be attached directly or indirectly to the frame 25. The deflector can be mainly fixed (e.g. welded or blind-screwed) or removable (e.g. by means of pliers, screwdriver,or key-releaseable) are attached. The deflector can also be formed integrally with the frame. The deflector shown is part of an attachment element 200 and comprises a first end 102 and a second end 103 which are positioned at different entrances. The ends of the deflector are located at one hundred of the corresponding guide rollers 57. The first end 102 comprises a side that borders the entrance,where that side runs parallel to a nearby point on the outer surface of the respective guide roller57. The end of the deflector100 lies closer to the pickup point than the distributor. It is advisable to place the deflector100 with an inner side104 close enough to the surface of the corresponding guide roller57 or the conveyor belt56 running around it such that there is no space between the two for a plant stem. Figure 4 shows a design of an add-on element 200 with divider 55. The add-on element comprises a base 201 to which various parts are attached or integrally formed. 5 The deflector 100 is located in a fixed position and in a fixed orientation. Optionally, the deflector 100 can be mounted adjustably, for example to adjust the distance between the inner surface 104 of an end 102, 103 of the deflector 100 to different plant species or conditions. The divider 55 is attached to the base 201 with some movability. It is also possible 10 to fixedly position a divider 55,However, when picking, it proves advantageous if the distributor can move somewhat along with the crops being picked and / or with a rough surface. The distributor is designed to move within a limited range from a resting position. Preferably, the distributor is designed to move in a plane perpendicular to width direction B. Alternatively, a distributor can also be designed to swivel in width direction B. Preferably, the distributor is designed to move with a single degree of freedom. A distributor is also called a crop lifter, particularly if it is mounted in such a way that it can move partially along with the plant material of the crop being picked. The current invention is compatible with several types of crop lifters. The distributor can be a hook, either curved or straight, preferably pyramid-shaped,20 preferably having a skeletal structure. The shown design of a distributor55 comprises a number of bars220, in this case five bars220, which in a tapering shape, in this case a pyramid shape,are arranged to guide plants towards the respective inlets. It is also possible to provide plates next to, or instead of, bars220, for example. The distributor220 ends at the front in a point221 to split a mass of plants still standing in a substrate25. A part of the distributor220, comprising at least the point 221, is equipped with a distributor-ski222. The distributor-ski222 is a predominantly flat element on the underside that is designed to reduce friction when the distributor55 drags across the ground during operation. In this specific case, the divider55 is movably attached to the base201 because it encloses a shaft206 which is supported at a first point by a bearing element207 of the mounting element200. Shaft206 and bearing element207 can also be reversed. With such a fastening, the divider55 can be pivoted around the shaft206. The bearing element207 can, for example, comprise a first, fixed part and a second part that is removable, for example with the aid of pliers, a screwdriver, or a wrench.to bring the shaft 206 into the bearing-35 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 21 element 207, whereby the first part and the second part together form a bearing space with openings on both sides. At a second point, the distributor 55 is attached via a connecting element 210, for example a hydraulic connecting rod which is coupled via a sliding element 200 to a sliding opening 208 in the mounting element 200. The sliding opening 208 is elongated. The connecting element 210 can be designed to offer some resistance to displacement by pressure from plant material. The sliding element 209 and the sliding opening 208 can also be reversed. The second attachment point is preferably provided directly above or below the first attachment point. A distributor 55 attached in this way can be removed or exchanged relatively easily during initial assembly, road transport, or changes in picking conditions. The first attachment point can be above, below,or be located at the same height as the deflector. In a preferred configuration, each deflector is positioned in such a way that it partially overlaps with a distributor within a certain range of the working and / or picking directions, so that the entrance is continuously bounded.15 Figures 5 and 6 show a design of an add-on element200 from different perspectives. The base201 of an add-on element200 can comprise various components, such as a plate213 and fastening elements202 for attachment to a picking unit41 and a superstructure 214 to provide a favorable position for further components. Various functional20 components may or may not be attached to the base in a detachable manner or be formed integrally with it, for example the following components. It is also possible to provide only one or a part of these components or to add other components. The shown attachment element 200 comprises a deflector 100. The deflector 100 comprises a middle part 101, a first end 102 and a second end 103. In this case, the two ends are 25 102,103 symmetrically executed. One end comprises several surfaces, including an inner surface104 that is oriented towards a corresponding guide roller57 and an outer surface105 that is oriented towards the inlet. One end102,103 of the shown deflector100 comprises several parts, in this case three parts: a first part108, a second part107 and an outer part106. Other numbers of parts are also possible. The different parts can be assembled or formed integrally. Different parts can have different or the same shape and can only indicate a conceptual arrangement. The first part shown is bent backwards and slopes gradually upwards, the second part shown is curved horizontally from an upward direction, and the outer part shown106 slopes less steeply upwards. The outer part108 can be axially rotated in a certain design,but in other versions this is not the case 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 22. The outermost part106 mainly has a point shape because the aforementioned inner surface104 and outer surface105 converge towards each other. A deflector can have a tubular, honeycomb, truss, or, most preferably, solid structure, and a part that is mainly circular, elliptical, arc-shaped, or teardrop-shaped, most preferably rectangular. In general, it is the inner and outer shape of the deflector that is important for properly fulfilling the deflection function. The internal structure of the deflector can vary. For example, the deflector can be hollow or hollow with honeycomb-shaped internal reinforcement. A deflector100 can be bent, for example curved or kinked, to guide plants in the picking direction. It is advantageous if the extreme point of an end102,103 higher in the height direction H than the middle part101. It is advantageous if at least the outer surface105 of at least the extreme part108 of an end102,103 of the deflector 100 gradually rises at an angle equal to the picking direction P or that lies between the picking direction P and the opposite of the working direction W. The attachment element shown 200 comprises a scraper 211 with ends that lie in front of one or more front guide rollers in a 15 picking direction P or working direction W, whereby the scraper is designed to scrape clean the picking roller 65 and / or the conveyor belts 56 when the vehicle is in use. The scraper 211 is attached via the third mounting elements 204. The attachment element shown 200 also comprises the previously described bearing element 207 and sliding opening 208 for attaching a distributor 55. The bearing element is attached via 20 fourth mounting elements 205. By one or more of the aforementioned first, second, third or fourth mounting elements 202, 203, 204,205 By executing the relevant fastening in two copies, rotation can be prevented efficiently. Figures 7 and 8 show a confirmed design of an attachment element 200 from 25 different perspectives. The attachment element 200 is attached to the machine here. In addition to the previously mentioned parts, the following can be seen here. The attachment element 200 is attached via first fastening elements 202 to a cover plate 212 for a guide roller 57, in this case a shared cover plate 212 of two adjacent guide rollers 57 from different inlets. Preferably, the position is 30 a first fastening element 202 designed to be attached to fastening elements of the machine that are already provided for the ends of a shaft of a guide roller 57. By executing an attachment element 200 with a small number of discrete, detachable fastening points 202, for example to a plate 213,can the attachment element 200 be added relatively easily to existing machine models or replaced.35 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 23 An outer surface 105 of a deflector 100 is in a certain version evenly finished so that the stems of the plants can slide smoothly along the edge of the deflector. In other versions, however, the edge of the deflector 100 can be finished with elements that have the effect of stimulating the plant stems in a first direction to slide smoothly, but in a second, opposite direction have difficulty sliding along the deflector edge. In the alternative version shown in Figure 7, indicated by dotted lines, the relevant edge of the deflector can, for example, be provided with saw teeth 109 (these are only on one of the two edges for the simplicity of the drawing provided with deflector100,However, in practice, the saw teeth will usually be provided on both edges. The saw teeth are oriented in the working direction to achieve the above-mentioned effect. This design of the deflector can prevent a stem from moving out of the entrance against the picking direction. The saw teeth can be sharp, but are preferably rounded in shape so as not to damage valuable fibers of the stems to be collected. The saw teeth are preferably at least as long as 50% of the diameter of a plant stem, preferably 80% of the diameter of a plant stem, but preferably at least 120% of the diameter of a plant stem. The shown inner surface104 lies at an angle of R from the circumference of the guide roller57 at a uniform distance σ from that guide roller. In the case shown, the inner surface104 is curved for this purpose, but the same effect can be achieved, for example, by a number of kinks. This distance is preferably small,for example 1 cm. This prevents 20 plant stems from slipping out of the inlet between the guide roller 57 and the deflector 100. In certain configurations, the deflector is designed to be position-adjustable, for example by means of at least one slot provided on the attachment element 200 or on the deflector 100 itself. This allows the distance σ to be adjusted to, for example, different plant thicknesses, belt thicknesses, and / or roller diameters. 25 Figure 9 shows a detail of a guide roller 57 and deflector 100 according to a configuration. The attachment shown comprises a lower element 207 for a distributor and a deflector 100 of which one end 102 is visible. The axis system gives height direction H,plucking direction Pen working direction Waan shows that the detail is viewed in the width direction B. The guide roller 57 is attached around a shaft that is attached at the top and bottom 30 to a respective cover plate 212 of the guide roller 57. In this case, the top attachment point of the shaft also serves as an attachment point for a fastening element 202 of an add-on element 200. Another possible attachment point for the fastening element 202 of the add-on element 200 is the other, bottom attachment point of the shaft. A deflector 100 and / or add-on element 200 can also be attached upside down, 35 depending on the desired positioning of the ends 102, 103. 2025 / 5120 BE2025 / 5120 24 A triangular area 224 is hatched. This area 224 is bounded by a first line Y in the height direction H which touches the front point of the guide roller in the working direction W, a second line X in the working direction W which touches the bottom point of the guide roller in the height direction H,and one in the picking direction Peestezijde223ofthe guide roller57. The end 102ofthe deflector100 lies partially in the area224 to get close to the guide roller5 and in the extension thereof to lie in the picking surface. This is generally the most favorable position for guiding plants. In a preferred configuration, the distance(a) between the free end of the deflectors and the perimeter surface93ofthe guide roller(57, picking roller65) is between 3mm and 30mm, preferably between 5mm and 15mm, so that the risk of plants not getting caught between the picking roller65and the conveyor belt is minimal.10 In an alternative configuration, particularly when using narrower belts, an end102,103ofthe deflector100 is located at a lower position, partly or wholly below the respective guide roller57, thus below line X. In another alternative embodiment, one end 102, 103 of the deflector 100 is located at a higher position, partly or wholly above the upper surface of the respective guide roller57,thus above the 15 leading point of the guide roller in the working direction W. In yet another alternative design, two, three or more deflectors are provided in such a way that several ends 102,103 of the deflectors 100 are located above each other: partly or wholly above the upper surface of the respective guide roller57, partly or wholly below the respective guide roller57, and / or in the position which,