Abstract: An apple coring apparatus (10) includes a first arm (16) which is pivotally connected to a base plate (12). A lever arm (20) is pivotally connected to the first arm (16). A sliding tube (36) is mounted on a guide rod (38) which is mounted normal to the base plate (12). A tubular knife (30) is pivotally connected to the lever arm (20). A blade (34) is rigidly connected to the tubular knife (30) and to the sliding tube (36). A blocking arm (54) is pivotally mounted to the plate (12) and rigidly connected to a handle (58). The blocking arm (54) includes a notch (54a) which is positioned to receive a pin (24) mounted longitudinally on the lever arm (20). When the lever arm (20) is forced downward, the pin (24) is received in the notch (54a) and the downward travel of the lever arm (20) is blocked.

Abstract: To prevent damaging the rotary reciprocating knives and/or the cups which hold the fruit in a pimento coring machine caused by non-synchronous operation of the fruit conveyor and the reciprocating knife carriage, a sensing probe on the carriage near its lower end engages a roller of the chain to prevent complete descent of the knife carriage, thus protecting the knives and cups when the non-synchronous condition exists. When the chain is properly synchronized with the knife carriage, the probe can enter a space between two rollers and two side links of the dwelling chain so as to allow full descent of the knife carriage and knives.

Abstract: A machine for processing pineapples, wherein the remaining blemishes and skin are trimmed from the top and butt portions of a sized and partially skinned cylinder of fruit automatically during processing through sizing, coring, and top and butt removal operations. The automatic top and butt trimming permits an increased yield of higher grade product through more precisely controlled cutting and trimming than have previously been accomplished by hand operations. Labor costs are also substantially reduced.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing a plurality of successive operations simultaneously at each one of a plurality of work stations arranged in a row, each station accommodating a fruit piece, or the like, such as a citrus fruit member. The fruit pieces are sequentially advanced to the work stations in a stop and go movement utilizing a closed loop conveyor system. At the working stations, a pair of pneumatically operated reciprocally movable carriages, which are provided with suitable processing apparatus, sequentially move towards and away therefrom. These carriages ride on linear bearing bars. For example, coring and core removal can be accomplished at all stations.

Abstract: A device for cutting out and extracting the pulp from a vegetable or fruit, particularly a pineapple, while leaving the peel or rind intact for later use. The device has a central coring tube depending from a handle and secured for rotation therewith. The coring tube enables the pulp to be severed from the hard, fibrous core of the fruit or vegetable as it is displaced axially. A vertically cutting blade also depends from the handle and is spaced radially from the axis of the device so that as the handle is rotated the cutting blade describes a cylindrical cut adapted to sever the pulp from a shell including the peel or rind. The device also comprises one or more radial cutting blades extending from the coring tube to the radial position of the vertical cutting blade depending on whether a cylindrical mass of pulp is desired or rather a stack of slices. A plurality of radial blades may be fixed to the coring tube.

Abstract: A tubular rotating blade assembly which can reciprocatorily cycle along the blade assembly axis. The assembly is incorporated into apparatus which sequentially functions to core a fruit member such as a grapefruit or the like after which the core member is removed from the fruit member before the blade assembly is withdrawn from such fruit member. A control means is also provided for synchronizing cycling and core removal operations of a blade assembly (or a gang of blade assemblies) relative to each of a successive plurality of fruit members to be cored.

Abstract: A device for extracting the stone of a drupe and simultaneously injecting a filling into the stone cavity comprises a claw member comprised of three to four hollow prongs through which a flowable filling can be injected. The prongs are adapted to be jabbed into a drupe such as a peach, to be closed about the stone thereof to firmly grip it, and to extract or tear the stone from the drupe while a filling is being injected via the prongs into the drupe.

Abstract: Apples which have been oriented, peeled and cored on the machine shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,081 are further processed to remove the fibrous carpel tissue providing the seed cell in the apple. Following removal of the seed cell, the apples may be discharged whole or passed through a slicing device to cut the apples into a plurality of segments.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coring potatoes which comprises the supporting framework upon which is mounted a potato coring knife and a conveyor for transporting potatoes toward the knife and through the plane of the knife. The framework has an inlet end and the conveyor is mounted between the coring knife and the inlet end of the framework. A drive means such as a motor is mounted on the framework and connected to the conveyor for running the conveyor in the proper direction to transport the potatoes to the coring knife. The conveyor includes potato contacting members adapted to engage the potatoes and advance them toward the knife. The coring knife is of annular or endless configuration with an opening in its center. As the potatoes are forced through the plane of the knife by the conveyor, the center or core portion is removed. The potatoes are then transferred to a potato core holding guide with at least one bore therethrough defining a pocket which is open at each end.