Abstract: The invention provides an improved peeler of fruits such as tomatoes. The peeler passes the tomatoes through a pressure inlet valve to a high temperature stem in a pressurized system. The tomatoes then are passed through a pressure outlet valve to a flexible cable peeler, which helps to remove the peels from the tomatoes. A chute passes the tomatoes from the flexible cable peeler to a pinch roller, which removes the remainder of the peels.

Abstract: A slip pallet formed as a square or rectangular sheet of a plastic material having a central body portion on which a load, such as an array of loaded cardboard boxes, is supported and a plurality of lip portions extending outwardly and upwardly from the central body portion wherein at least the central body portion is provided with a plurality of spaced apart dimples formed in the top surface of the central body portions so that a plurality of spaced apart projections extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the central body portion to provide a cushioning support for the load and wherein at least a portion of each projection is a segment of a sphere. In other embodiments, the dimples are integral solid projections, each of which may be provided with a cavity having an opening in the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a continuous stream of filled beverage bottles moving in a single row in one linear direction into a plurality of spaced apart rows of filled beverage bottles moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to such one linear direction using at least first, second and third continuously moving conveyors moving in spaced apart parallel linear directions and a continuously moving collection conveyor moving in a linear direction substantially perpendicular thereto wherein the middle filled beverage bottle of three successive filled beverage bottles is moved at spaced apart intervals over the second or third continuously moving conveyors and onto the continuously moving collection conveyor to form spaced streams of filled beverage bottles thereon and wherein the filled beverage bottles remaining on the third continuously moving conveyor are transferred to the continuously moving collection conveyor to form another stream of filled beverage bottles thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to rapidly and automatically scan the UPC, or bar code, from a series of containers and maintain talleys of the brands and types of containers processed. A guide is placed diagonally across the top of the conveyor to catch and direct any containers moving along the conveyor. Continued motion of the conveyor beneath the containers at an angle relative to the guide causes each container to rotate as it slides along the guide toward the edge of the conveyor. One or more UPC scanners are positioned to read the UPC from each container as it slides along the guide. Because of the rotation of the containers, the entire sidewall of each container is exposed to the scanners. Any containers that are not successfully read by the scanners are rejected for subsequent manual processing.

Abstract: A magnetic drum for separating ferrous and non-ferrous beverage containers having a plastic drum which rotates around a series of permanent magnets mounted on a structural support. The plastic drum has an inner cylindrical portion coupled to a power roller which induces rotational movement in the plastic drum. An input chute funnels ferrous and non-ferrous crushed beverage containers onto the outer cylindrical portion of the plastic drum such that crushed ferrous beverage containers are held against the outer cylindrical portion and traverse a predetermined distance around the circumference of the outer cylindrical portion until they are no longer within the influence of the magnetic force field produced by the permanent magnets mounted between the outer cylindrical portion and inner cylindrical portion of the plastic drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing used empty aluminum and steel cans wherein groups of empty cans are carried upwardly on an inclined conveyor between spaced inclined ribs and separately sequentially discharged therefrom into an air duct wherein empty cans are blown to a crusher whereat the empty cans are sequentially crushed and fall onto a magnetic separator whereat crushed aluminum cans are separated from crushed steel cans and fall into a weigh hopper whereat the weight of crushed aluminum cans is determined whereupon compensation is dispensed for the value of the crushed aluminum cans. Thereafter, the crushed aluminum cans are sequentially dropped into an air duct and blown to a storage bin.