Abstract: An apparatus for automatically peeling fruit whereby a cutter blade is moved toward and away from the fruit as a function of the sensed impedance between the cutter blade and ground through the fruit so that substantially all of the peel is removed. In the preferred embodiment, a horizontal assembly presents a fruit to each of a plurality of fruit holders mounted on a vertical assembly so that each one of the presented fruit is impaled on a different spike of the vertical assembly. A plurality of cutter assemblies each mounting a cutter blade are moved toward and away from the fruit as it is rotated and moved upward to remove the peel. A control circuit includes a counter incremented by pulses from Hall Effect Switches which are energized by magnets mounted on the vertical and horizontal assemblies and controls movement of the assemblies to carry out a predetermined cycle.

Abstract: A sampler for extracting core samples from a mass of sugar cane. The sampler is mounted on a fixed or movable support which includes a plate member on which the cylinder of an operating jack is mounted.The piston of the jack is secured at one end of a rod which has at its other end another piston for expelling core samples. A sleeve extends around a portion of the length of the rod and rotatably mounts a hollow cylindrical core cutter with a toothed cutting edge. A motor is mounted on the sleeve for rotating the core cutter. Selectively operable temporary securing fingers are provided on the sleeve of alternate engagement with a collar on the rod so that the sleeve, core cutter and rod are displaceable in unison by the jack for lowering and raising the core cutter into and out of a mass, and with the plate member for preventing the axial movement of the core cutter with respect to the support so that displacement of the rod displaces the other piston in the core cutter to expel the core sample.

Abstract: A self-contained portable apparatus for cleaning a floor cover, such as a carpet. The apparatus comprises vacuum chambers; electric motor driven vacuum creating mechanisms; vacuum nozzles operatively associated with the vacuum chambers; a spray bar and nozzles operatively connected with a source of water; a source of emulsifying agent; a siphon device for extracting emulsifying agent from its source and introducing it into the water flowing to the spray nozzles; a heating element for heating the water as it flows to the spray bar; and appropriate valving and plumbing; all of which are included within a single housing. In addition, the housing includes a roller so that the apparatus may be easily rolled over the floor cover to be cleaned. There is also included a hand tool operatively connected with one of the vacuum chambers of the apparatus for cleaning the floor in hard to get at places too small or inconvenient to reach with the self-contained floor cover cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: A generally upright cylinder is secured at its upper neck by means of a gimbal mount; and its base is driven in circular motion at a substantially constant angular velocity. As a tube of fluid is inserted into the cylinder, the fluid is stirred by the motion of the cylinder; and the intensity of the stirring action increases with the depth to which the tube is inserted into the cylinder. An appliance removably attaches to the apparatus to provide a vibrating platform.

Abstract: A mixing and conveying apparatus for dry materials, such as granules and powders, which mixes these materials uniformly in desired proportions and conveys them after mixing to desired elevated locations such as feed or storage containers, or the intakes of processing machines. The apparatus includes first and second auger conveyors which are positioned parallel to one another and extend generally in an upright direction. The first auger conveyor has an inlet at the lower end thereof and an outlet near the upper end thereof. The second auger conveyor has its outlet near the upper end thereof. A chamber connects the outlet of the first auger conveyor with the inlet of the second auger conveyor and this chamber extends on an incline between the conveyors. An opening is provided into the chamber for the introduction of additional materials which mix with the first material by gravity before the comingled materials reach the inlet of the second auger conveyor.

Abstract: A freezing, defrosting and storage assembly for meat products and particularly turkeys is provided wherein a pallet having a plurality of vertically projecting spaced tubes supports the product during freezing and storage and operates during the defrosting period by passage of a defrosting fluid through the tubes and outwardly over the surface of the product to be thawed in a thin film.

Abstract: A completely sealed silo structure for animal feed which while excluding atmospheric oxygen will permit access by the operator for purposes of maintenance and repair. The sealed silo has the usual pressure compensation means but, instead of the common bottom unloading mechanism, has a top unloader which conveys feed through a sealed chute to the bottom. Sealed access doors are provided for both the feed chute and the service chute as well as between the two chutes.

Abstract: A foundry mold or core blowing premix nozzle for use in connection with the kold core process. The nozzle contains a mixing chamber that allows thorough mixing to occur during the blowing process. Immediately after the blowing operation the nozzle may be cleaned of any residual sand/catalyst/resin mixture which would ordinarily set up and clog the nozzle if allowed to remain within the nozzle. This cleaning feature is provided by a push through shuttle that sweeps the mixing chamber and moves a turbulence inducing baffle, normally positioned within the chamber, to a position external to the nozzle where it may readily be cleaned.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pitting needle and malfunction detector for use in automatic fruit pitting machinery. The needle has a bottom portion which is releasably fixed with respect to a holder. Movement of the bottom portion with respect to the holder as, for example, when a foreign object is struck, is sensed and, as a result thereof, an alarm is sensed and/or the machinery is stopped. In one embodiment, the needles are made in two parts and movement of one part with respect to the other is detected by a pressure sensor which is electrically connected to a power supply for the machinery to render it inoperative. In another embodiment, the needle is made in one part and the shank of the needle is releasably mounted in a holder bar which contains electrical, electro-mechanical, or pneumatic sensing means to detect movement of the needle with respect to the holder bar.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus including a mixing chamber with a reciprocating valve piston and a separate "recycle" chamber with a reciprocating grooved plunger. Piston and plunger are controlled in unison by a piston and cylinder assembly. In the "open" position of the valve piston pressurized components supplied through inlet conduits may enter the mixing chamber. In the "closing" position of the valve piston, the components supplied are by-passed across the grooved plunger back to their respective reservoirs.

Abstract: Mixer for molding sand and the like having a stationary smooth mixer bowl with a central tool located at the bottom thereof for imparting rotational movement to the sand being mixed in the bowl. Extending downwardly from above into the sand being mixed are a plurality of centrifugal tools located eccentrically with respect to the axis of the bowl. These centrifugal tools are rotated in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the central tool. The radially extending vanes of the central tool are configured with respect to the plurality of centrifugal tools such that only one vane is in simultaneous facing relationship to any of the centrifugal tools during mixing operations. The centrifugal tools are rotated about axes extending obliquely with respect to the axis of rotation of the central tool so that the spacing of the centrifugal tools from the axis of the central tool is larger at the top than at the bottom.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus is disclosed that is particularly suitable for the gravity feed mixing of granular materials. The apparatus comprises a main conduit divided into sub-conduits having substantially constant cross-sectional areas. The sub-conduits mix and re-mix sub-streams of material flowing through the apparatus. The sub-conduits are described by planar surfaces, and the cross-sectional area of the main conduit is substantially constant throughout the length of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing food packaged in flexible pouches in a contius process employing microwaves for heating the food within the sealed flexible pouches to sterilizing temperatures. The pouches of food are conveyed thru the apparatus between a pair of conveyor belts which are permeable to microwaves and which comprise a layer of thermal insulation which is also permeable to microwaves. The pouches are also permeable to microwaves. The apparatus is pressurized to prevent bursting of the flexible pouches at the high sterilizing temperatures attained.

Abstract: A mechanical stirring device for agitating and mixing fluids in a container, such as a cooking pot or pan, includes a self-contained drive mechanism which is releasably attachable to a stirrer element projecting into and resting on the bottom of the container. The drive mechanism includes a rotatable drive element which seats on the edge of the container rim to impart motion to the entire stirring device about a vertical axis through the midpoint of the container. The stirrer element includes a main frame member having a pair of spaced, generally parallel uprights and a mixing frame region. A pair of lateral stabilizer legs is attached to the stirrer frame and rests on the bottom of the container to laterally stabilize the stirring device as it rotates about the container axis. A wiper element in the shape of an inverted-V is also attached to the stirrer frame and rests on the container bottom to agitate and skim fluid from the container bottom to prevent scorching.

Abstract: An egg cracking machine is provided wherein a first conveyor moves a plurality of eggs past a stationary blade which severs the top portion of the egg. The top portions of the eggs are carried away by a second conveyor. The egg bottoms are emptied as the egg bottoms are inverted. The egg shells are prevented from intermixing with the emptied contents by guide rails. The egg contents are collected for use in collector means beneath the first conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing fluent materials, especially components for foundry molding compositions, affording a pluralities of containers feeding serially one to another or in parallel discharging to a common acceptor, for batch or continuous operations, permitting simultaneous mixing of all components, either all brought together at once or, as for reactive component mixing, in parallel diverse component group mixing flows, joined for final mixing bringing the reactive components together; and an agitated shooter injector vessel receiving the mixed material, pneumatically actuated to expel material into a mold or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating particulate heat and pressure reactive food material. The food material is fed into an elongated treating chamber which is under pressure. The chamber has an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end. The food material is fed into a continuous flow of gaseous fluid from the direction of the inlet and propelled through the elongated chamber and out of the outlet.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising hulling means, winnowing means, sorting means, and conveyor means. Said hulling and winnowing means are housed in a platform-like box having longer longitudinal sides and shorter transverse sides. The sorting means is operated to move along the longitudinal sides of box, and the path of circulation of grain through the hulling means, conveyor means and sorting means is made short by locating them adjacently to each other.

Abstract: The apparatus is comprised of a frame which supports a plurality of conveying troughs, an upper rotating drum, a lower rotating drum and a stationary decapping blade. The strawberries are first deposited in the troughs which then convey the strawberries to the lower rotating drum. The strawberries are then deposited singly into one of a plurality of cylindrical carrier pockets which are disposed in a spaced relationship upon the lower rotating drum. Each of the pockets communicates with a source of sequentially applied air pressure. The upper rotating drum is in a closely spaced and parallel relationship with the lower rotating drum. A plurality of spaced ports are located in the upper drum and communicate with a sequentially applied vaccum source. The two drums are rotated in a timed relationship so that the pockets and ports come into sequential communication with each other at the same time a pressure and a vacuum is sequentially applied to the respective pockets and ports.

Abstract: A machine for the transverse folding of dough band sections comprising a multiplicity of conveying tables each equipped with a driven conveying band, namely, a receiving conveying table which always conveys in the same direction, a first reversing conveying table subsequently arranged thereafter while leaving free a gap and a second reversing conveying table arranged at a spacing beneath both of the first mentioned conveying tables.