Today in 1952, US Patent 2620064 A was issued, an invention of Edouard Thys, for his “Hop Stem Remover.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a novel apparatus for removing free stems or twigs from hops during the course of `processing the latter after harvest; the hops having been detached from but remaining intermingled with such stems or twigs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hop `stem remover which is operative to remove both forked or crooked and straight stems from the hops; straight stems being the most difficult to separate from the hops.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hop stem remover which includes a novel assembly of a table, a foraminous conveyor having a run thereof working along the top of the table, and a feeder positioned to deliver mixed hops and stems or twigs on the conveyor; the stems or twigs remaining on. the conveyor, while the hops pass through the forminations onto the table. whence they feed to one edge of the latter and discharge downwardly therefrom.