Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for agitating and thermally conditioning containers that are carried along a conveyor and engage agitating apparatus in the form of two rollers positioned above the conveyor and adjacent one another and rotatably drive to cause the container to roll against the conveyor and the rollers to effect agitation of the container and the contents while being engaged by a thermal conditioning fluid to effect a temperature change of the container and its contents. One of the two rollers is movable between such a container agitating position and a container passing position that will permit the container to pass over the rollers to move beyond the agitating station and toward an exit from the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables comprises a plurality of rotatably driven peeling elements having predetermined axes of rotation that are generally horizontal and substantially parallel to one another. The peeling elements have a provision for engaging the peel of the fruits and vegetables. A plurality of flexible, elongate, peeling enhancement fingers, each having a first end and a second end, are mounted to the apparatus above the peeling elements by their first ends. The first ends lie in a generally horizontal row that is generally parallel to the axes of rotation of the peeling elements. The fingers extend generally toward the peeling elements with the second end of each finger being proximal at least two peeling elements, so that the finger engages the item of fruit or vegetable being engaged by the adjacent peeling elements. A support structure provides support for the peeling elements, fingers and drive mechanism.

Abstract: A fruit gripper head assembly for use in a machine for pitting fruits of the drupe type includes a support structure receivable onto a pitting machine, a plurality of gripper arms spaced about the central axis of the assembly and mounted on the support structure for pivotal movement toward and away from the central axis, and fluid pressure operated actuating apparatus operatively connected to the gripper arm and to the support structure for urging pivotal movement of the arms toward the central axis upon introduction of pressurized fluid behind that actuating apparatus to provide for pivotal movement of the arms to grip fruit to be pitted.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for loosening the skin of moisture bearing fruit which have been heated at a first pressure to a predetermined temperature. This includes structure for introducing fruit into the apparatus, structure for holding the fruit and moving it along a predetermined path, equipment positioned along the path for reducing the pressure surrounding the fruit sufficiently below the first pressure to cause expansion of the moisture inside the skin of the fruit to loosen that skin, and finally structure for discharging the fruit from the holding and moving equipment at generally ambient pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for moving and thermally conditioning generally cylindrical containers in which the structure provides for movement of the containers about their axes and provides for a predetermined heat flow relative to the containers to change the temperature of the containers by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A fruit peeling machine comprising improved fruit peeling rollers in which at least one of each pair of rollers is provided with axially extending ribs projecting radially outwardly from the roller sufficiently to cause the fruit carried thereupon contact substantially only the outer portions of such ribs without substantial contact between the fruit and the portions of the rollers intermediate adjacent said axially extending ribs.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for loosening the skin of moisture bearing fruit which have been heated at a first pressure to a predetermined temperature. This includes structure for introducing fruit into the apparatus, structure for holding the fruit and moving it along a predetermined path, equipment positioned along the path for reducing the pressure surrounding the fruit sufficiently below the first pressure to cause expansion of the moisture inside the skin of the fruit to loosen that skin, and finally structure for discharging the fruit from the holding and moving equipment at generally ambient pressure.