Abstract: A washing apparatus designed particularly for washing both sides of an aloe vera leaf. The apparatus comprises a pair of endless conveyor belts, one such pair of conveyor belts adapted to travel first in a horizontal line of travel with a leaf placed thereon. The leaf on the endless conveyor is subjected to a spray of water and simultaneously to a brushing operation to clean one side of the leaf. Following the cleaning of the one side of the leaf, the endless conveyor belt is caused to travel from a horizontal line of travel to a vertical line of travel. When the conveyor belt is caused to travel on a vertical line of travel, the leaf thereon then assumes a position on the belt where the same will be inverted from an edgewise position and to then fall on a second conveyor belt travelling alongside, thus exposing the other side of the leaf.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding an aloe vera plant leaf to a cutting knife. The apparatus is designed to transport the leaf on a first endless belt conveyor on which the leaf is laid lengthwise and flat on the conveyor belt. A second endless belt conveyor travels in the same direction and at the same speed as the first endless belt conveyor but is disposed at a right angle to the first endless belt conveyor at the feed end of the apparatus. The first endless belt conveyor in its travel is slowly twisted towards the second endless belt conveyor and by the time the first endless belt conveyor has reached the end of its travel, the leaf has been turned from a flat condition to a now vertical position and is sandwiched between the two sets of endless conveyor belts.