Abstract: A chute apparatus is comprised of a guide member, an arched member, and a floor member. The guide member guides an object entering the chute apparatus. The arched member receives the object from the guide member and redirects the object toward an exit port of the chute apparatus. The floor member receives the object from the arched member and directs the object toward the exit port of the chute apparatus. It is contemplated that the object may comprise a fruit, such as a berry or the like.

Abstract: A chute apparatus is comprised of a guide member, an arched member, and a floor member. The guide member guides an object entering the chute apparatus. The arched member receives the object from the guide member and redirects the object toward an exit port of the chute apparatus. The floor member receives the object from the arched member and directs the object toward the exit port of the chute apparatus. It is contemplated that the object may comprise a fruit, such as a berry or the like.

Abstract: A harvester having a frame, an agitating system and a product gathering system. The frame has a central portion configured to receive and pass plants therethrough. The agitating system is positioned within the central portion that has a first side agitating assembly further comprising an axle with an axis of rotation and a plural of axial wands extending axially outwardly therefrom in a spaced apart configuration. The axle has a first end which is both above and outboard of the second end and the axle is angled relative to a vertical plane bisecting the frame body from front to back thereof. The axial wands can be agitated. The product gathering system includes an outer guide wall positioned below the rotary agitator assembly. The outer guide wall is angled relative to a vertical plane bisecting the frame body from front to back thereof.

Abstract: A “weigh/fill” type box filler for cherries, cherries and similar small produce that incrementally moves and fills an array of individual packaging bags within conventional packing boxes. The box filler includes a box conveyer, a producer conveyer, a metering gate, a weigh/fill scale assembly and three independent box lifters. The box conveyer moves the packing boxes incrementally over the weigh/fill scale assembly to position each row of bags within successive packing boxes beneath the metering gate. As one packing box is incrementally moved across the weigh/fill scale assembly and each row of bags is weigh/filled, the box lifters sequentially raise the adjacent preceding and following packing boxes out of contact with the weigh/fill scale assembly. The metering gate uses independently actuated gate paddles to selectively control the flow of produce into the individual bags first at a high volume “gross” fill rate and finishing with a lower volume or “fine” fill rate.

Abstract: A shaped conveyor assembly configured for use in association with a harvester comprising a first side lower conveyor sub-assembly and a second lower conveyor subassembly. One or both of the sub-assemblies having a frame structure, a discharge assembly and a conveyor assembly. The frame structure has a gathering portion, an outward portion and a terminating portion. The gathering portion is positioned proximate the first end and spaced apart from the second end. The terminating portion is positioned proximate the second end and spaced apart from the first end. The outward portion extends therebetween, the outward portion being inclined in an upward direction relative to the gathering portion, and directed in an outward direction, thereby extending away from the channel, and away from the other one of the first side and the second side lower conveyor sub-assemblies.

Abstract: A harvester having a frame, an agitating system and a product gathering system. The frame has a central portion configured to receive and pass plants therethrough. The agitating system is positioned within the central portion that has a first side agitating assembly further comprising an axle with an axis of rotation and a plural of axial wands extending axially outwardly therefrom in a spaced apart configuration. The axle has a first end which is both above and outboard of the second end and the axle is angled relative to a vertical plane bisecting the frame body from front to back thereof. The axial wands can be agitated. The product gathering system includes an outer guide wall positioned below the rotary agitator assembly. The outer guide wall is angled relative to a vertical plane bisecting the frame body from front to back thereof.

Abstract: A shaped conveyor assembly configured for use in association with a harvester comprising a first side lower conveyor sub-assembly and a second lower conveyor sub-assembly. One or both of the sub-assemblies having a frame structure, a discharge assembly and a conveyor assembly. The frame structure has a gathering portion, an outward portion and a terminating portion. The gathering portion is positioned proximate the first end and spaced apart from the second end. The terminating portion is positioned proximate the second end and spaced apart from the first end. The outward portion extends therebetween, the outward portion being inclined in an upward direction relative to the gathering portion, and directed in an outward direction, thereby extending away from the channel, and away from the other one of the first side and the second side lower conveyor sub-assemblies.

Abstract: A “weigh/fill” type box filler for cherries, cherries and similar small produce that incrementally moves and fills an array of individual packaging bags within conventional packing boxes. The box filler includes a box conveyer, a producer conveyer, a metering gate, a weigh/fill scale assembly and three independent box lifters. The box conveyer moves the packing boxes incrementally over the weigh/fill scale assembly to position each row of bags within successive packing boxes beneath the metering gate. As one packing box is incrementally moved across the weigh/fill scale assembly and each row of bags is weigh/filled, the box lifters sequentially raise the adjacent preceding and following packing boxes out of contact with the weigh/fill scale assembly. The metering gate uses independently actuated gate paddles to selectively control the flow of produce into the individual bags first at a high volume “gross” fill rate and finishing with a lower volume or “fine” fill rate.

Abstract: A conveyer belt having a plurality of raised crescent shaped protrusions extending upward from its flat body and arranged in an array of aligned vertical columns and horizontal rows. Each protrusion has rounded surfaces with no sharp edges, which helps prevent damage to produce as the produce falls upon the conveyer belt. The crescent shape of the protrusions along with the sloped and rounded surfaces form a plurality of pockets spaced and staggered across the conveying surface of the conveyer belt.

Abstract: A conveyer belt having a plurality of raised crescent shaped protrusions extending upward from its flat body and arranged in an array of aligned vertical columns and horizontal rows. Each protrusion has rounded surfaces with no sharp edges, which helps prevent damage to produce as the produce falls upon the conveyer belt. The crescent shape of the protrusions along with the sloped and rounded surfaces form a plurality of pockets spaced and staggered across the conveying surface of the conveyer belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing Japanese beetles and other insects from blueberries and other small produce without damaging or discarding any produce. The apparatus includes a produce conveyer formed by a plurality of elastic bands trained around four traverse rollers. A plurality of brushes are suspended above the top conveyer run and a plurality of rakes are supported between the top conveyer run. The brushes have soft, flexible bristles, which extend downward to contact the blueberries as it moves past the brushes carried atop the conveyer. The rakes have a plurality of spaced fingers that extend upward at an angle between adjacent conveyer bands. As the blueberries pass under the brushes, the bristles lightly contact the berries to gently turn the berries so that the beetles hang from the underside of the berries where they are knocked off the berries by the rake fingers.

Abstract: A blueberry drying apparatus is disclosed that includes a longitudinally extending produce conveyer and a drying chamber through which the conveyer passes. The conveyer belt is constructed of a wire mesh, which allows air flow through the conveyer. The drying chamber includes two separate sets of fans. One set of fans is mounted above the conveyer and blows air directly onto the berries carried atop the conveyer. The other set of fans is mounted below the conveyer and draws air through the conveyer and around the berries.

Abstract: A conveyer assembly used as part of an automated packaging system is disclosed. The conveyer assembly allows the container filling process and produce leveling process to be combined as a single process station in an automated packaging system. The conveyer assembly includes a pair of elastic belts trained about two pulleys, four vibration isolation rollers, and a vibrator mechanism. The vibration isolation rollers are mounted to the frame structure and positioned at incrementally higher positions, which creates a slight incline to the conveyer belts over the first half of the conveyer run. The highest isolation roller, which is located at the center of the conveyer assembly, isolates the first half of the conveyer run from the vibrations generated by the vibrator mechanism. Consequently, the first half of the conveyer run where the produce is deposited into the containers is stable and free from vibration, which reduces the loss of produce due to spillage.

Abstract: A conveyer assembly used as part of an automated packaging system is disclosed. The conveyer assembly allows the container filling process and produce leveling process to be combined as a single process station in an automated packaging system. The conveyer assembly includes a pair of elastic belts trained about two pulleys, four vibration isolation rollers, and a vibrator mechanism. The vibration isolation rollers are mounted to the frame structure and positioned at incrementally higher positions, which creates a slight incline to the conveyer belts over the first half of the conveyer run. The highest isolation roller, which is located at the center of the conveyer assembly, isolates the first half of the conveyer run from the vibrations generated by the vibrator mechanism. Consequently, the first half of the conveyer run where the produce is deposited into the containers is stable and free from vibration, which reduces the loss of produce due to spillage.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism for metering produce into “clam shell” type containers carried past the dispensing mechanism by a conveyer, as part of an automated conveyer driven packaging system. The dispensing mechanism includes a side mounted hopper, a guide shoot, and a pair of elongated produce stops. The interior of the hopper is divided by internal partitions into a large bin and a dispensing queue. The body of the hopper has an inclined floor, and converging side and end walls that funnel produce toward two vertically oriented metering gates. One gate meters produce from the large bin into the queue and the second gate meters produce from the hopper into the containers. The guide shoot is pivotally connected to the hopper beneath the second gate. The guide shoot directs the produce from the hopper into the moving containers as they are carried along the conveyer.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting round produce by diameter size using a conventional transport conveyer assembly and including a sorting size adjustment mechanism to automatically adjust the produce sorting size and an anti-pinch mechanism to prevent damaging the produce during the sorting process is disclosed. The conveyer assembly has a horizontal top run and a V-shaped bottom return run formed by a plurality of elastic conveyer bands trained about three elongated roller shafts. The conveyer bands are spaced across the width of the roller shafts at a fixed horizontal distance. As the produce is transported across the top conveyer run, the produce, whose diameter is smaller than the spacing between the adjacent conveyer bands, falls between adjacent conveyer bands for collection and the remaining produce travels to the end of the top conveyer run for separate collection.

Abstract: A machine for packaging product, such as blueberries and other similar small fruits in a container having a receptacle and a lid connected to the receptacle includes a hopper suspended over a conveying mechanism which conveys the container beneath the dispensing opening of the hopper to fill the container. The size of the dispensing opening is set for the speed of the line and the size of the container by adjusting the position of a movable wall of the hopper. The containers are then conveyed to a closing station at which the lids are closed and latched by applying pressure to the lid while one side of the container is deflected to move the corners away from the lid to thereby permit closing of the container.

Abstract: The present invention defines a power lift-assist apparatus that includes a base platform and a load-support platform adapted to move in parallel relation to the base platform. Mounted to the base platform is a pneumatic motor comprising a substantially stationary piston formed with an internal pressure chamber therein and a slidable cylinder which is provided with a pair of cam rollers that are positioned to engage respective cam recesses formed in a carriage-lift framework whereby the load-support framework is activated from a retracted position to a fully extended position.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite plain bearing is shown comprising the steps of forming, through pressing and sintering of powdered-metal, a porous base member defining a bearing surface having a height greater than four times its wall thickness, disposing the porous member in intimate engagement with a backing member, and infiltrating an anti-galling metal alloy into the pores to substantially fill the pores and concomitantly braze the members into an integral unit, subsequent steps of finishing the integral unit prior to assembly as a bearing surface in a rock bit, include machining the I.D. and O.D. thereof, and heat treating to harden the base member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automatic animal-feeding device adapted to be selectively controlled for dispensing measured amounts of food at pre-selected time intervals. The device includes a base-support member having a rotatable tray which is provided with a plurality of food compartments, the tray being mounted on a central drive which is defined by a fixed hub having a driven rotatable cap member placed under a continuous load by means of a spring drive. The tray is releasably held in place by a latch mechanism actuated by a programmable timing device which is adapted to be selectively set for the controlled dispensing of food contained in the individual compartments. A hinged cover is included having an aperture through which food is released as each compartment is positioned thereunder at the pre-selected time.