Abstract: The present invention is a fruit piercing assembly in which the drive assembly is located on the outside of the frame assembly to eliminate lubricants from the drive assembly contaminating the fruit as it was being pierced.

Abstract: The present invention is a fruit piercing assembly in which the drive assembly is located on the outside of the frame assembly to eliminate lubricants from the drive assembly contaminating the fruit as it was being pierced.

Abstract: A machine for destemming cherries has a base frame and a fruit transport frame. The fruit is moved over the transport frame on an endless belt. A stem wiper blade is rotated just above the surface of the fruit. A source of rapid horizontal motion is provided for the transport frame to cause the fruit to rotate so that the stems will be erected into the path of the blade during the passage of the fruit beneath the blade whereby the blade can detach the stems from the fruit. The transport frame is mounted on motion absorbing supports which also convert the circular movement of the motion source into ellipsoidal motion with the greater axis parallel to the direction of travel of the belt.