Abstract: Cans are unloaded from pallets, utilizing an overhead first magnet which attracts the can units and holds them against the intercepting underside of a rotationally moving belt so as to be transported thereby to a station where the cans as they pass out of the influence of the first magnet are introduced to the influence of a second magnet which intercepts, guides and positively controls what would otherwise be the cans free-fall travel onto a conveyor which then delivers the cans enfile to a receptive station which has a positive requirement for this controlled can alignment.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cracking and/or deshelling nuts or seeds by feeding them between adjacent runs of clockwise and counterclockwise driven belts which carry them against and between vertically spaced pairs of rollers to effectively posture and then to apply cracking pressure to the nuts and seeds along their largest dimension. Similar operating apparatus also has utility for cracking naturally occuring clusters of garlic or shallot bulbs and the like into the individual bulbs.

Abstract: A whole fruit size grader comprising a horizontally oscillating table having a generally horizontal flat area on which fruit to be sized is loaded and a sorting area which slopes therefrom downwardly to a prime size fruit collecting area or station. Said sloped sorting area embodies closely spaced side-by-side troughs extending in the direction of the table oscillation. These troughs communicate at their upper ends with the loading area to receive the fruit in response to table oscillation, have oppositely sloped side walls for guiding the fruit to the lower discharge end thereof, and have tapered discharge openings upstream of their lower discharge ends for separating the undersize fruit from the prime size fruit and have associate means in the form of horizontal fins over said discharge openings which retard the fruit as it moves over said discharge openings to influence the separate collection of the undersize fruit.