Today in 1915, US Patent 1132011 A was issued, an invention of Emil Clemens Horst, for his “Hop Separator.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to hop separators employing upwardly traveling endless separating belts; and the objects of the invention-are first, to provide a simple, substantial, easily regulated apparatus in which the hops may be quickly separated from the leaves and trash with which they are commingled after being stripped from the vines; second, to provide an adjustable deflecting plate between the separator and the source of supply by which a portion of the hops may be deflected out of reach of the separating apparatus, and third, a plurality of tackle is operable in connection with the separator to prevent any hops from passing through the separator with the leaves.