Abstract: Produce sorting systems and methods that utilize a conveyor system to move produce through stages such as singulation, camera inspection, weight, and sorting. The sorting systems and methods may utilize conveyor systems having carrier segments that provide for increased speed, efficiency, accuracy, reliability, durability, and lower maintenance.

Abstract: A tracking hitch assembly couples to the drawbar of the tractor in a conventional manner. To prevent the hitch from pivoting with respect to the drawbar, the hitch includes an adjustable hitch stabilizer which engages the lift arms of the tractor. When a pivoting force is exerted against the hitch, one lift arm is placed in tension, and the other lift arm is placed in compression. Thus the hitch is prevented from pivoting with respect to the drawbar.

Abstract: Hitch for interconnecting a tractor to a towed implement such as a sprayer, operated by a power takeoff (PTO) of the tractor. The hitch has a turning axis located close to the front of the implement, and a universal joint in the PTO shall be in vertical alignment with the turning axis. The towed implement thus more nearly tracks the tractor in turn, and the universal joint undergoes less vibration and thrust loading during turns.

Abstract: A sprayer reduces undissolved particulates in a liquid spray solution by pumping jets of the liquid toward an impact surface within the tank of the sprayer. The liquid jets and the impact plate are above the liquid in the tank, and the liquid drains into the tank after striking the plate. A screen keeps remaining undissolved particulates from the sprayer nozzles but not from the liquid flowing to the impact plate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for optical inspection of fruit without rotating or otherwise repositioning the article during inspection. Plural mirrors are positioned to view different surface portions of each article moving along a path, and those mirrors consolidated the partial images to form a composite image viewable at a common objective such as a video camera. The images from individual mirrors are directed toward a pyramid having reflective surfaces, aiming those partial images toward the common objective aligned with the vertex of the pyramid. A holder supports each article above a conveyor with minimal surface contact, thereby minimizing portions of the article not visible for optical inspection.

Abstract: Weighing and sorting apparatus for articles such as fruit or the like, and an improved weigh cup for use therewith. The weigh cups move along a predetermined path including a scale that weighs each cup and its contents. The cups are supported on the weigh scale only along a line coincident with the lateral center of gravity of the cup, allowing each weighing operation to commence as soon as that single support for the cup moves onto a weigh platform. Each cup includes a stabilizer arm to maintain the cup in an upright attitude notwithstanding the single support at the lateral center of gravity.

Abstract: An improved orchard or grove sprayer having a rigid tubular member arranged to receive the discharge from a blower, flexible upper and lower sleeves secured to the rigid member, and turning vanes secured in the rigid member to direct the majority of air discharged from the blower into the upper flexible sleeve. A clevis and pin located below the lower sleeve connect the sprayer to a trailer carrying a tank, and the flexible sleeve permits inserting and removing the pin while the blower is inoperative. A support post stabilizes the upper sleeve.

Abstract: In an article sorting apparatus with two parallel, spaced-apart continuous conveyors which pass through a loading zone, a weighing zone, and a discharge zone, having fabric flaps disposed on spaced-apart rods connected between the two conveyors for gently receiving articles selectively discharged for grouping with other articles having a similar determinable characteristic, an article-holding cup and scale providing such apparatus capability to select by weight. The cup includes an L-shaped arm extending outward and downward from one side and a pin extending outward from an opposite side. The free end of the arm extends to the scale below the horizontal plane in which the rods travel. The rods pass over the scale while the cups travel on rails in the weighing zone so that the weight of the article in each cup may be determined.

Abstract: An article-holding cup that has a pair of rotatable rollers for supporting an article thereon, an L-shaped arm extending outward and downward from one side, a second arm extending outward from an opposite side, and a pivotable connector for attaching the cup with others to one of a pair of conveyors in an article sorting apparatus for carrying in a direction of conveyance through a loading zone, a property-determining zone, and a discharge zone. The rollers rotate in response to a wheel rolling on a plate in a property-determining zone to expose different surface areas of the article to optical scanners. A scale and the optical sensor determine weight and color properties of each article during a single pass through the property-determining zone. The cups have lost motion in the vertical direction and travel on rails in the weighing zone, so that the weight of the article in each cup may be determined independently of the conveyor.

Abstract: A weighing and sorting apparatus which reduces the handling of articles during processing to group a plurality of such articles in a container such that the combined weight of the group is no less than a predetermined value, and which minimizes the excess weight in the container over the predetermined value. A continuous conveyor carries a plurality of cups in a horizontal plane. Each empty cup receives an article at a loading zone from a plurality of articles having varying weights. The cups pass in sequence through a weighing zone where the weight for the article in each cup is determined and registered with a controller. The cups then pass through a discharge zone where the controller selects articles to be discharged into a container with other selected articles.

Abstract: Successive pairs of rollers in a plurality of juxtaposed continuous feed chain conveyors receive articles, such as fruits and vegetables at an upstream portion of a sorting conveyor system and by movement of the rollers between inclined walls, position the articles in succession so as to pass the same through color sortors and, then, below pneumatic rollers to deposit them into successive cups of a sorting conveyor system. Excess articles on the feed conveyors are released near the downstream end of the feed conveyors and are returned to their upstream end for reprocessing. Adjustable synchronizing linkage tie the two systems together and permit the relative adjustment of the positions of the cups with respect to the positions of the rollers. Spinning of the rollers is accomplished by the rollers riding in the through assemblies for the upper flights of the feed conveyors. Rails lift the rollers when they are not to spin. The color sortor examines the articles as they are spun by the rollers.

Abstract: A pair of spaced parallel continuous conveyor chains, provided with equally spaced transverse tow bars, move along a continuous path so as to move the bars through a loading zone, then over a weighing platform of a scale and, then, successively over discharge zones in which receptacles are disposed. Each bar pulls a loosely pivoted article carrying cup having a support pin riding on a rail to hold the cup in a horizontal position. The cup has a central cavity, within which an article is deposited when the cup is in the loading zone, from which the article is discharged when the pin is released and the cup hangs suspended from its bar. Skids carried by the weighing scale receive and totally support the cup on the weighing scale. Movable bridge struts extend between segments of the rail and are movable to drop pin to pivot the cup in one of successive dump zones. A sensor, in combination with a microcomputer, dictates when each bridge strut is opened for dropping the article in a selected dump zone.