Abstract: A fruit squeezing system, with a feed system and cutting and squeezing devices with a pair of cup assemblies that are vertically displaceable by vertical displacement device and rotationally, in opposite directions, by rotation device; below these a cutting assembly with a blade and peel extraction device; and one pair of fixed squeezer balls, each of these below one of the cup assemblies, for the vertical squeezing of the fruit halves by the vertical displacement of the cup assemblies. The system has a first motor exclusively for the operation of the vertical displacement device; device for the measurement of the intensity thereof, and a control unit which independently governs the first motor and halts it when the intensity measured exceeds a pre-set range of values.

Abstract: An automatic lemon squeezer comprises of a frame. A controller attaches to the frame. A top tray attaches to the frame, the top tray defines a plurality of paraboloid receivers. Four lead screw actuators attach to the bottom side of the frame and to the top side of the frame. Four motors attach to the four led screw actuators and are controlled by the controller. A press support mounts on the four led screw actuators. A rectangular pan rests on the press support and defines a plurality of paraboloids and a drain. A left spring system attaches to the left side of the rectangular pan. A right spring system attaches to the right side of the rectangular pan. A compressing tray rests above a middle support of the left spring system and a middle support of the right spring system. And, a cover attaches to the frame.

Abstract: A fruit press has shafts which are mounted in a frame for two pressing rollers, which can be driven in opposite directions, and for two ram heads, which are provided below the pressing rollers and form pressing rams that interact with pressing recesses of the pressing rollers. The fruit press has a blade, which is displaceable in a blade guide between the pressing rollers. The pressing rollers and the ram heads, which can be removed from their respective shafts, are held between a rear wall and a front mount of a handling unit detachably fastened to the frame. To achieve advantageous design conditions, the pressing rollers and the ram heads, which are supported axially on the front mount, are detachably held between bearing projections of the rear wall and receptacles in the region of the front mount.

Abstract: Juicing unit having a support for an automatic juicing machine of the type in which the juicing unit comprises one or more female drums that move synchronously with one or more male drums that allows easy removal of the juicing unit as a whole for cleaning, such that the support comprises two plates with different openings that sandwich between them the main elements of the juicing unit such as the male and female drums, both plates being joined by at least one removable rod that is fastened via an anchor that allows a strong coupling and easy opening, such plates additionally comprising elements for anchoring to other elements of the juicing unit as well as elements for anchoring to the main body of the juicing machine.

Abstract: A dough preparing machine for preparing dough is provided. The dough preparing machine includes a dough batching system for assembling dry ingredients, a dough mixing device, and a dough compressing and dividing device. The dough preparing machine is operable to produce customizable and discrete loaves of dough for baking. The dough preparing machine gathers necessary ingredients for making dough, mixes the dough to a desired consistency, and divides the dough. The mixing device is configured to mix the dough in a bowl and transfer the dough to a container for compressing and dividing operations. The compressing and dividing device includes a first plate having a plurality of blocks and a second plate having a plurality of blades. The blades are configured to slide between the blocks after compressing operations and divide the dough.

Abstract: Citrus juice machine with a fruit feed chute, fruit cutting and squeezing means and a peel collection tray. The cutting and squeezing means have a fruit reception cup, located below the fruit feed chute; devices to initiate the rotation of the cup between a vertical fruit reception position and an inverted position; a horizontal tilting blade facing the rotating trajectory of the cup to cut the fruit in an upper and lower half; a retaining stop for the upper half of the fruit; a ramp to support the lower half of the fruit during the rotation of the cup from its vertical position to an inverted position; a squeezing ball located below the cup.

Abstract: A process and a plant are proposed for producing dark chocolate which make it possible to produce dark chocolate, in particular also single-variety dark chocolate, having a high cocoa content without cocoa powder needing to be produced and/or added. By means of a partial defatting of the cocoa mass in a process step which is connected upstream of the mixing, grinding and/or conching, the fat content in the cocoa mass is reduced to the extent that dark chocolates can be produced having a high cocoa content without cocoa powder needing to be added. The partial defatting of the cocoa mass is preferably carried out using a decanter (50). The cocoa butter fraction (2) according to the invention occurs on decanting as a high-fat fraction which still contains a fraction of 17 to 21% by weight, a maximum of 30% by weight, of fat-free cocoa dry matter.

Abstract: An apparatus for easily removing excess moisture from blocks of tofu. The apparatus comprises a container which holds the tofu. A first substantially flat plate member is disposed within such container and placed on top of the tofu. A second substantially flat plate member which has a spring attached thereon engages a pair of arm like projections disposed on upper surfaces and on opposite sides of the container member. The other end of the spring engages the upper surface of the first flat plate member that sits on the top of the tofu so that as the spring exerts pressure on the first flat plate member water is removed from the tofu.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a food product that includes the steps of: delivering a protein and water-containing carrier material to a turboreactor which has a cylindrical reaction chamber with a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis and with a rotor equipped with blades and rotatable about its longitudinal axis provided in the reaction chamber. The rotor is rotated at a speed sufficient to centrifuge the carrier material against an inner wall of the reaction chamber and to form a dynamic, turbulent layer at the inner wall. The carrier material is heat treated and dried in the reaction chamber and is then advanced in the direction of an outlet from the turboreactor. The heat-treated and dried carrier material as a food product is withdrawn from the outlet, wherein an atmosphere of superheated steam is generated in the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A juice extractor (100), in particular for fruit and vegetable, comprising a rotatable grating disk (106), a filter sieve (108) surrounding the grating disk (106), a feed tube (114a, 114b) arranged above the grating disk (106), and a food pusher (116) insertable into the feed tube (114a, 114b) to press food, in particular fruit and vegetable, onto the grating disk (106), wherein the food pusher (116) is hollow with an opening on its side and the feed tube (114a, 114b) has an corresponding opening, such that pulp generated during grating food may enter the food pusher (116). Separate containers for collecting pulp become thus obsolete. This allows for a more compact design of juice extractors (100).

Abstract: There is provided a juicer for extracting juice from fruits and vegetables comprising a lower base, an upper base, a top cover with a hollow cylindrical feeding tube, a grating-disk and mesh filter assembly, a pulp collector, and a pusher. The upper base is mounted on a lower base and receives the grating-disk and mesh filter assembly. The grating disk is a concave shape and tooth-like cutters are arranged into rows on an inclined surface of the grating disk. The top cover is fitted on the upper base and houses a hollow cylindrical feeding tube. Inside the feeding tube is an anti-rotation protrusion, located at the bottom of the feeding tube made an integral part of the feeding tube to prevent the food from spinning inside the tube. The pusher is inserted into the feeding tube and contains a opening that matches the anti-rotation protrusion and into which rests the anti-rotation protrusion. The bottom of the pusher is convex-shaped and matches the concave grating disk.

Abstract: An apparatus for easily removing excess moisture from blocks of tofu. The apparatus comprises a container which holds the tofu. A first substantially flat plate member is disposed within such container and placed on top of the tofu. A second substantially flat plate member which has a spring attached thereon engages a pair of arm like projections disposed on upper surfaces and on opposite sides of the container member. The other end of the spring engages the upper surface of the first flat plate member that sits on the top of the tofu so that as the spring exerts pressure on the first flat plate member water is removed from the tofu.

Abstract: A juicer composed of: a housing provided to receive a rotatable element for extraction of juice; an arm that is mounted to the housing to pivot about an axis with respect to the housing; a pressing element for pressing a fruit half against the rotatable element; and a pivot element mounting the pressing element to the arm to pivot about a pivot axis with respect to the arm.

Abstract: A juice extractor includes pairs of opposing cups being relatively movable for squeezing fruit therebetween. The juice extractor may also include a pair of drive members extending along opposite sides of the pairs of opposing cups, a plurality of strainer tubes associated with respective pairs of opposing cups, and an orifice tube beam having opposing ends slidable along medial portions of respective drive members. A plurality of orifice tubes may extend from the orifice tube beam for reciprocal movement within respective strainer tubes. The juice extractor may also include a pair of orifice tube beam locks for selectively locking the orifice tube beam to the medial portions of the respective drive members, and a lift assist for moving the orifice tube beam between a lower maintenance position and an upper operating position.

Abstract: A fruit squeezer is disclosed. This fruit squeezer forms two transmission movements synchronously in two directions by means of a transmission member to drive the passive pressing cover and the passive rotating member of the fruit squeezer thereby squeezing the fruit by means of forces formed by more than two transmission movements and rotations for obtaining perfect fruit juice.

Abstract: A juicer includes a base, a column extending upright from the base, a head securely attached to an upper end of the column, a vertical rod extending vertically through the head, a Y-shaped handle having a main section and two arms branching from an end of the main section, and two connecting rods. A connecting member is securely attached to a lower end of the vertical rod. The distal ends of the arms of the handle are connected to the head by an axle. The lower ends of the connecting rods are pivotally connected to two ears respectively on two sides of the connecting member. The upper ends of the connecting rods are pivotally connected to two lugs formed on intermediate portions of the arms. Oil grooves are provided in the ears, in the lugs, and in two ends of the axle, allowing smooth operation of the juicer.

Abstract: A juicer comprises a base, a column extending upright from the base, a head securely attached to an upper end of the column, a vertical rod extending vertically through the head, a Y-shaped handle including a main section and two arms branching from an end of the main section, and a pair of connecting rods. A pressure cup is securely attached to a lower end of the vertical rod by a connecting member. The distal ends of the arms of the handle are connected to the head by an axle without threading connection. The lower ends of the connecting rods are pivotally connected to two ears on two ends of the connecting member without threading connection.

Abstract: A juice maker uses a handle to control an upper mold to move upward or downward, which corresponds to a lower mold at underneath, and the lower mold is controlled by the handle to turn, when the upper mold is driven to move upward or downward, the lower mold will turn to squeeze juice from a fruit seating in a barrel of the machine.

Abstract: A juice extractor for citrus fruits includes a base, a vertical column, a cylindrical element attached to the column, and a cone-shaped juice collecting tray placed on the cylindrical element. A lower fruit holder is located on the juice collecting tray, and a perforated cone-shaped vessel is placed over the lower fruit holder. An upper fruit holder, a pressing device and a handle are also provided, the pressing device consisting of a hollow body, a fixation sleeve member and a connecting rib.

Abstract: The automatic machine intended to dispense natural juices, has a functional assembly with a supply system with unit dosing of the fruit (7) from a supply hopper, and a pressing system which has a chopping-cutting mechanism (19). The presser-squeezer itself being formed by a rotary head included in a collector (25). The assembly has a residue removal system with a crusher (30) and an expulsion outlet (33). There is also an automatic cleaning system which has a water distribution system (36) with projection outlets at various points.

Abstract: The improvements to the automatic citrus juice squeezer consist of: a movement of the pressure cup (3) by means of a drive screw (5) and a guide column (6); the cup being removably-mounted and detachable from its holder (7) by raising a trip fastener (12) using a catch (13); it has five angularly equidistant blades (2); a squeezer-filter (16) and support assembly (1) can descend against the action of an axial spring (14), maintaining the dynamic connection with the drive shaft by means of gears (18) that may slide along an intermediate sprocket (19); the juice collector (17) empties into a dish (20) which opens/closes a tilting plug (21) as it is introduced/extracted: the blades (2) are connected to the fixed shaft (15) by elastic legs (23) with internal strengtheners (24) which fit into a peripheral neck (25) of the said shaft; and the cup's (3) profile has an enlarged lower curvature to prevent its separation from the squeezer support (1) from narrowing.

Abstract: A hand-operated juicer includes a base, an upright support mounted on the base, an upper squeeze unit that is connected to an upper end of the upright support, and a lower squeeze unit that is disposed below the upper squeeze unit above the base. The upper squeeze unit has a manually operable rod member and a squeeze cap that is connected to a lower end of the rod member. The rod member is movable vertically to enable the squeeze cap to abut against the lower squeeze unit. The squeeze cap is made of stainless steel, and has an upper socket portion, a lower skirt portion diverging downwardly from the upper socket portion, and a tubular adaptor that is mounted removably in the upper socket portion and that is connected detachably to the lower end of the rod member.

Abstract: A fruit feeder for vending machines includes a container for fruit storage, a fruit elevator and a horizontal fruit conveyor. The elevator is composed of two vertical endless chains between which are mounted horizontal vanes and which elevate and eject the fruit. The horizontal transporter is composed of two rollers turning in different directions and which have helical ribbings of opposite inclinations, receiving the fruit from the elevator to transport them to a collecting trough of the squeezer.

Abstract: A citrus fruit press with at least one pressing unit with a feed device having two hollow receptacle carriers, which can be moved symmetrically with respect to one another from a mutually facing receiving position, via a cutting position, into a pressing position and each has at least one fruit-half-receiving hollow receptacle, and with two pressing tools, which rotate about in each case one of two parallel spindles and are mounted on a carriage which can advance and return the pressing tools, in the pressing position, into and from the hollow receptacles by a thrusting device, wherein the thrusting device acts on the carriage via a compressive device on the advancement side.

Abstract: A device for applying lotions, creams and similar substances to any part of the body, particularly to the back and other difficult-to-reach areas is provided. The applicating device comprises three basic components: a one-piece frame having an elongated handle portion at one end and a reservoir retaining means at the distal end thereof, a pressure applying lid having top, central and bottom portions and a removable flexible reservoir having a porous, permeable or perforated applicator surface. The pressure applying lid and retaining means are configured to interact thereby advancing the lotion through the applicator surface. The applicator surface has a convex curvature which is substantially identical to the curvature of the bottom portion of the pressure applying lid, thereby minimizing waste of the lotion.

Abstract: A fruit juice extracting machine has a pair of opposing endless cup chains extending around a rotatable reamer wheel. The peel guide or retainer holds reamed peel halves in cup until ejector directs peel half into peel chute. A filler plate panel substantially closes off the reamer wheel to help to prevent the accumulation of stagnant juice or pulp. A peel chute behind the reamer wheel has a back surface with slotted opening to recover additional juice and pulp as the peels are ejected from the cup chain and collide against the back surface of the peel chute. The new cup track is a stiffer structure for maintaining the cup chain in proper engagement to the reamers, for improved yield and reduced wear. A full width bulkhead divides the juicing area from the peel chute area.

Abstract: A fruit juice extracting machine has a pair of opposing endless cup chains extending around a rotatable reamer wheel. The peel guide or retainer holds reamed peel halves in cup until ejector directs peel half into peel chute. A filler plate panel substantially closes off the reamer wheel to help to prevent the accumulation of stagnant juice or pulp. A peel chute behind the reamer wheel has a back surface with slotted opening to recover additional juice and pulp as the peels are ejected from the cup chain and collide against the back surface of the peel chute. The new cup track is a stiffer structure for maintaining the cup chain in proper engagement to the reamers, for improved yield and reduced wear. A full width bulkhead divides the juicing area from the peel chute area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in machines for squeezing citrus fruits. These improved machines incorporate a novel, high capacity "revolver" system in which oranges or other pieces of fruit are placed. They also include an innovative mechanism for squeezing each piece of fruit, whereby extraction of the juice is carried out by means of a small vertical displacement whereby each half of the piece of fruit, located in an individual alveolus, presses against a corresponding squeezing cone. Conventionally, the extraction of the juice is carried out by means of a simultaneous and coincident rotating motion of the cones and the corresponding alveoli.By means of the improvements introduced by the present invention, it is possible to achieve very clear fruit juices, taking full advantage of the fruit. Furthermore, the fruit juices can be obtained at room temperature or at colder temperatures.

Abstract: A fruit juice extracting machine has a pair of opposing endless cup chains extending around a rotatable reamer wheel. The peel guide or retainer holds reamed peel halves in cup until ejector directs peel half into peel chute. A filler plate panel substantially closes off the reamer wheel to help to prevent the accumulation of stagnant juice or pulp. A peel chute behind the reamer wheel has a back surface with slotted opening to recover additional juice and pulp as the peels are ejected from the cup chain and collide against the back surface of the peel chute. The new cup track is a stiffer structure for maintaining the cup chain in proper engagement to the reamers, for improved yield and reduced wear. A full width bulkhead divides the juicing area from the peel chute area.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting the juice from whole fruit having a rind comprising axially aligned, spaced-apart piston and pressing head arranged to move reciprocally toward and away from each other, for loading a fruit therebetween, at least one perforated coring knife slidingly received in the pressing head for advancing into the fruit in preparation of collecting the extracted juice separate from the rind, and including an elastomeric head positioned over the front portion of the piston, defined by a circular concave portion centered over the piston and extending forward about its circumferencial edge an upstanding rim, and a skirt portion extending from the rim rearward along the outside of the piston to a terminal edge, wherein a ram, slidingly carried in the piston is hydraulically driven to advance beyond the piston to avert the center portion of the elastomeric head against the fruit during compression of the fruit between the ram and the pressing head, the improvement comprising at least one groove for

Abstract: An improved juice extracting machine having an upper structure inside of which is housed a gear box connected to a motor reducer assembly, a feeding cone positioned within a fruit receptacle located over the upper structure, a protector covering a front face of the upper structure and including upper cylindrical and lower prismatic heads of the motor reducer assembly, a worm positioned within the protector, a juice reservoir received under a duct of the protector, and a lower structure attached to the upper structure. The lower structure receives a container therein for receiving solid and liquid residues of the juice extracting process. A collector is positioned adjacent the worm for receiving residues of a screen associated with the protector.

Abstract: A rotary fruit and juice extractor has pairs of holding cups pivotally mounted to a rotating frame. A rotatable reamer is associated with each cup. Cams pivot the cups from a fruit loading position, to a fruit slicing position and then to a reaming position as the frame rotates. Reamer cams drive the reamers into and out of the fruit halves held within the cups as the frame rotates.

Abstract: A processing station is encased by a wall of a housing and lever pivot axes project from opposite sides thereof into the processing station which carry at their respective ends an arm with a clamping jaw for holding a citrus fruit. The clamping jaws guide the citrus fruit in a movement along a quarter of a circle over a horizontally and upstanding positioned knife in order to bisect the fruit. A double side rasping head is located under the knife which is rotatably driven and against which the fruit halves held in the clamping jaws are moved from opposite sides. Pins which are located inside at the wall of the housing push during the movement of the clamping jaws away from each other through these jaws the rasped rinds to eject same. The juice dripping downwards is collected and the rinds are transported by means of a wiper arm into a laterally positioned outlet chute.

Abstract: A machine for preparing fruit juice has a storage compartment in which the fruit is rack mounted, the machine having a transfer mechanism for removing groups of whole fruit from the storage racks, and then feeding the fruits sequentially to a cutting and juicing mechanism, that mechanism including a stationary blade and a pusher mechanism, for pushing an individual fruit past the blade to divide it into halves, subsequent to which the respective halves are processed in a juice extractor.

Abstract: A rotary fruit and juice extractor has pairs of holding cups pivotally mounted to a rotating frame. A rotatable reamer is associated with each cup. Cams pivot the cups from a fruit loading position, to a fruit slicing position and then to a reaming position as the frame rotates. Reamer cams drive the reamers into and out of the fruit halves held within the cups as the frame rotates.

Abstract: A machine for extracting juice from citrus fruits, has at least two first cylinders each having a plurality of substantially semi-spherical cavities for accommodating fruits rotatable in opposite directions to transport the fruits, a cutter located downstream of the first cylinders so as to bisect the fruits into two halves which remain lodged in the cavities of the first cylinders, at least two second cylinders located downstream of the first cylinder and each provided with a plurality of substantially spherical protrusions and rotatable so that during rotation the protrusions extend into each fruit embedded in the cavities of the first cylinders with a gap which remains between the protrusions and the cavities and is substantially equivalent to a thickness of a peel of the fruits thereby preventing excessive crushing of the peel. The first cylinders and the second cylinders are rotatable synchronously so that the peel remains sticking to the protrusions. The protrusions are provided with grooves.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for extracting juice is disclosed. The apparatus disclosed provide a novel safety switch arranged such that the apparatus may be operated only when fully closed, thereby precluding injury to the operator or damage due to objects being placed in the path of the downwardly descending squeezer. In a preferred embodiment the juice extraction cycle is carried out automatically by means of limit switches, once the safety switch enables the motor. Embodiments are disclosed wherein the limit switches which govern the extraction cycle operate by determining the amount of pressure placed on an object, the level of pressure being adjustable, thus allowing the complete and efficient squeezing of objects of different sizes and firmness. Also disclosed are embodiments incorporating a feeder tube and actuation device whereby the juice extraction apparatus is automatically fed.

Abstract: In a juicer, a level has a shaft member inserted into a horizontal cylindrical mounting member formed on the top of a support body and a prolonged radial lever arm whose terminating end can be turned to below the bottom end of the support body. An annular partition plate is fixed in the cylindrical mounting member and a locking sleeve is fitted in the partition plate. The locking sleeve has radial flanges to abut with the partition plate so that the locking sleeve does not move away from the partition plate when it is moved axially. However, a notch is provided in the partition plate at a predetermined position to permit one of the radial flanges to pass therethrough. The lever shaft which carries a gear is inserted into the locking sleeve. A rack is connected to a pressing member and inserted into the support body, engaging with the gear. The rack can be easily drawn out of the support body for cleaning when the lever arm is turned to below the bottom end of the support body.

Abstract: An automatic juice extraction machine for squeezing juice from one or more pieces of fruit in accordance with this invention comprises at least one pair of cups disposed in a vertically aligned relationship, with the lower of each related pair of cups utilizing a series of spaced, upwardly extending fingers and a centrally disposed fruit piercing tube. This tube defines part of a passageway located directly below each lower cup, in which passageway a strainer is disposed. Each upper cup, defined by spaced, downwardly extending fingers, is mounted on a vertically movable member movable between spaced vertical positions. The spacing of the fingers allows the fingers of the upper and lower cups to mesh, to bring about squeezing of the fruit. We utilize a pneumatic device for causing a single piece of fruit to be inserted into each lower cup subsequent to the raising of the vertically movable member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for squeezing citrus fruits, which comprises an ejector formed by a circular grille whose radial arms are slidably engaged in slots made in an ogive-shaped body to allow lowering of the grille, whose return is effected by a helical spring interposed between the base of the body and the arms.

Abstract: A collector tray and a cut fruit support for an automatic juicing apparatus are provided. The collector tray comprises a bottom wall, a pair of opposed upstanding end walls and opposed upstanding front and rear walls to define an open top tray for collecting fruit juices. A pair of cones extend upwardly from the bottom wall and define structures against which generally hemispherical sections of fruit are urged to express the juices therefrom. Mounting brackets extend outwardly from the front and rear walls. An elastomeric cut fruit support is mounted to the mounting brackets of the front and rear walls and extend substantially continuously between the front and rear walls such that portions of the front and rear walls disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the collector tray are angularly aligned to the front and rear walls and to portions of the cut fruit support disposed between the front and rear walls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a two piece juicer which can be assembled by hand. This comprises one section which holds a horizontal pin which, when properly aligned with the other section which carries an extension to accept the pin, results in a pivot enabling closing and opening the respective parts.

Abstract: An elastic sheet support means (3) is held over the open portion of a juice collector means (1) of an automatic fruit juice extractor. The elastic support means (3) is held to the front wall (21) and rear wall (20) of the juice collector means by reinforcing rods (11, 12) held within lugs (15, 16) on the front and rear walls (21, 20). The direction in which the elastic sheet support means (3) is held is such that there are no openings adjacent the platform (2) from which cut fruit is fed onto the elastic sheet support means (3). The elastic sheet support means (3) is also formed with reinforcing ridges (32), parallel to the sidewalls (27, 28) of the juice collector means (1), and generally overlying the male cone members (22) which form a portion of the juice extracting means. Additionally, slits (33) are formed between the reinforcing ribs (32), overlying the male cones (22), to allow for movement of the elastic sheet support means (3) over the cones (22) during the expressing operation.

Abstract: A cutter to halve citrus fruit in an automatic citrus fruit juicing machine is described. The advance is the sloping of cutting knife (2) and its supporting cam pedestal (3) at an angle of 45.degree. to 80.degree. to the horizontal. Fruit is fed to the knife (2) via a sloped chute (1) and the cut fruit, after passing over the cam pedestal (3), where the fruit gradually and fully opens, is placed on a mechanism for expressing the juice. Other portions of the automatic juicer are, generally, as described in the prior art.

Abstract: A feeder mechanism for controlling delivery of fruits to a processing apparatus such as a juice extractor and wherein the delivered fruits must be of a size equal to or less than a predetermined size, and in particular where the fruits from the feeder are to be delivered to a hopper of the rotary type having magazines or other restrictive passages through which the fruits must pass en route to the processing apparatus, the feeder mechanism being arranged to provide a gating roll for limiting the maximum size of fruit admitted from a supply source to a feed path which contains an adjustable discharge opening for limiting the minimum size of fruit to be fed to the processing apparatus and also discharge unwanted foreign objects, the feed path at its delivery end having a feed roll for moving fruits which are within the predetermined maximum and minimum size limitations from the feed path to a delivery path, and in the case of delivery to a hopper having a control for sensing the fruit level in the hopper, and b

Abstract: Kernel corn is dried by piercing the pericarp prior to drying. Apparatus for doing this comprises means to feed the kernels in uniformly oriented relation to a needle cylinder with a stripping comb. The kernels are resiliently pressed against the needle cylinder by a resilient surface which may be either on a cylinder or an endless belt. Orientation of the kernels may be effected either between that endless belt and another endless belt, or else in a vibrating chute.