Abstract: At least one binder means (40,42) for tying together projecting parts (T,W) of the plants (p) each held in a retainer (30) and at least one cutter means (44,46) for shortening projecting parts (T,W) of the plants (P) are arranged beside a conveyor (12) which comprises retainers (30) for a plant (P) each. Each retainer (30) includes at least one upwardly open fork (26,28) into which a plant (P) can be put and at least one bow (64) to press down the plant (P). Each bow (64) is pivotable about a transverse axis, is biased by a spring (73) in the sense of an opening movement, and is adapted to be locked in various closing positions by a ratchet mechanism (66,68). In a starting range of the conveyor (12) there is an actuating member (74) which acts on a control member (72) at each bow (64) so as to pivot it in closing direction. In a final range of the conveyor (12) there is a control member (80) for release of the ratchet mechanism (66,68).

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting freshly harvested mushrooms from the farm to a gathering station has an endless conveyor which advances discrete receptacles for individual mushrooms or groups of mushrooms from the beds to the gathering station past a trimming device where the stems of the mushrooms are trimmed in automatic response to advancement past a knife. The receptacles on the conveyor are designed to permit the stems of mushrooms to enter upright sockets which enable smaller mushrooms to descend therein to a level below that of larger mushrooms in order to ensure that the knife can sever the stems at optimum distances from the pilei of the mushrooms. The receptacles are free to pivot relative to the conveyor or are mounted on the conveyor with a certain amount of friction. If the receptacles are not free to pivot, the apparatus employs devices serving to prevent changes of orientation of receptacles which carry mushrooms from the farm toward and past the trimming device.

Abstract: Cherries are transported by an array of side-by-side belts which are driven past cutters aligned with respective separating guides, each of which separates the cherries of a bunch before the bunch reaches a cutter, and locates the cherries on opposite sides of the cutter. The cutter can cooperate with an anvil to support the stalks while the stalks are separated by the cutter, usually at a node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for severing fragments (such as fleurettes) from a one-piece core of an article, such as a cauliflower, as the article is translated between stations along a process path. In a preferred embodiment, the article is loaded on a rotary table at a first station, then deleafed (or otherwise trimmed) at a second station, then aligned by a set of alignment rollers while translating through third and fourth alignment stations, then cored at a fifth coring station, and finally unloaded at a sixth station. At the coring station, the article is held in a fixed position by an impaling knife (or pin) while a set of rotating coring knives are lowered into engagement with the articles by a pivoting arm mechanism. The pivoting arm mechanism causes each rotating knife to trace out a generally helical path as it cores the article.

Abstract: In a bulb centering clamp apparatus, a plurality of first parallel swing links are angularly movable vertically and are mounted above a rotary table rotatable about a vertical axis. A plurality of second parallel swing links are angularly movable vertically and are mounted below the rotary table in facing relation to the first swing links. An upper gripper is movable angularly in facing relation to one ends of the respective first swing links. The upper gripper has a gripping surface maintained horizontal. A lower gripper is movable angularly in facing relation to one ends of the respective second swing links. The lower gripper has a gripping surface maintained horizontal. A first cam mechanism inlcudes a pair of cam followers and a pair of stationary cams, for moving the upper and lower grippers toward and away from each other. The cam followers are provided respectively at the other ends of the respective first and second swing links and are abutted respectively against the stationary cams.

Abstract: A cluster cutter apparatus and a snipping apparatus are similarly formed to increase the snipping efficiency of a bean processing line. Each apparatus includes a rotating drum having a circumferential slotted surface in combination with an internally elongated inclined orienting plate unit for orienting of the beans onto the lower interior periphery of the rotating drum. The plate unit may be an inclined fixed plate or a rotating paddle wheel and includes a plurality of plates which is located in the lower leading quadrant of the drum. The paddle wheel is rotated at an appropriate speed relative to the drum and contributes to a highly cost effective high volume bean processing system. The plate(s) supports the beans and provides gradual and controlled vertical transfer to the drum slots. The cluster cutter includes separating disc units to separate the clusters.

Abstract: A machine for destemming cherries has a base frame and a fruit transport frame. The fruit is moved over the transport frame on an endless belt. A stem wiper blade is rotated just above the surface of the fruit. A source of rapid horizontal motion is provided for the transport frame to cause the fruit to rotate so that the stems will be erected into the path of the blade during the passage of the fruit beneath the blade whereby the blade can detach the stems from the fruit. The transport frame is mounted on motion absorbing supports which also convert the circular movement of the motion source into ellipsoidal motion with the greater axis parallel to the direction of travel of the belt.

Abstract: Stemming machine, particularly for horticultural products, comprising a conveyor belt composed of a plurality of individual containers which are swivelling and guided on counterposed and sequential inclined planes. The machine furthermore comprises stations for cutting at a selective depth, as well as means adapted to secure said products within said containers during the cutting steps.

Abstract: An improved broccoli trimming machine is provided for cutting or scalping broccoli heads in a manner yielding separated broccoli fleurettes of substantially uniform size and shape. The improved broccoli trimming machine includes an indexing mechanism with clamp units for holding and indexing broccoli heads to a scalping station. A bowl-shaped cutter at the scalping station is moved into cutting relation with the broccoli heads to scalp each head along a curved, substantially semi-spherical line to approximate the curved contour of the top of a broccoli head to be cut, thereby separating the head into individual fleurettes of substantially uniform size and shape.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and removing stems and roots of bulbs includes a carrying element for the bulb, a centering element, cutting elements for the stem and the root, and a holding element to hold the bulb. The central position, between an upper cutter and a lower cutter arranged in said cutting element, and the similar central position between the upper portion and the lower portion of the bulb are both arranged to be on a reference line located at a predetermined height above a base reference such as a floor. The holding part of the holding element is moved from the centering element to the cutting element, for cutting of the stem and the root thereby, along the base line while said holding part is holding the bulb.

Abstract: A device to remove the pod peanuts from the root thereof. The device mainly comprises a stem and leaf conveying mechanism and a pod peanut rubbing and conveying mechanism. The two mechanisms hold the stem and leaf portion and the pod peanut portion respectively, and twist the two portions simultaneously so as to cause the pod peanuts to separated from the root of peanut plant. The stem and leaf conveying mechanism includes a sliding member and a driving member; the pod peanut rubbing and conveying mechanism includes a fixed rubbing member and a rotary rubbing member. Both of the two mechanisms are driven with a driving power so as to provide almost an equal conveying speed for the stem and leaf portion and the pod peanut portion.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for cutting broccoli and other similar vegetables into a plurality of longitudinal sections wherein the head of the vegetable is firmly gripped with the stem thereof extending outwardly and then cut longitudinally through the stem and partially through the head. Broccoli can be sectioned in this manner at high production rates without generating an excessive amount of vegetable debris.

Abstract: Apparatus for trimming and slicing stem-type vegetables such as broccoli and the like. The apparatus is specifically adapted to slice the stem-type vegetable stalk into longitudinal sections and includes a pair of mutually opposed resilient close spaced surfaces on opposite sides of a first plane. Each of the surfaces is divided into two closely spaced parts on opposite sides of the second plane normal to the first plane. The resilient surface parts may comprise polyurethane foam surfaces on conveyor belts or conveyor pulleys which are moved synchronously with respect to each other in order to carry the vegetable stalk along a given path. A knife is mounted in the path of movement of the vegetable stalk with its knife edge forming its leading edge with respect to the vegetable stalk in order to slice it longitudinally. The knife may have two or more blades and the vegetable stalk is preferably gripped by the resilient surfaces throughout its length during the cutting process.

Abstract: Automated food processing apparatus and methods of the type adapted for coring food products wherein a constantly sized core is removed from all food products of a group independently of the product size variation from one member to another of the group.

Abstract: A cutting device for cutting deleaved and cored heads of cauliflower into predetermined smaller sizes comprises a cleated conveyor for conveying the cored cauliflower heads, a first series of circular knives equally spaced and transversely positioned along the conveyed path of the cauliflower, a first stripper bar associated with the first series of knives to remove cauliflower from between the knife edges, a rotating paddle extending transverely across the conveyor and immediately downstream from the stripper bar so as to settle cauliflower pieces back onto the conveyor between the cleats and ready the cauliflower chunks for further cutting, a second series of circular knives spaced transversely across the conveyor and a stripper bar associated with the second series of knives so as to clear the cauliflower that sticks between the circular knives.

Abstract: A machine for effecting an orientation of carrots or other elongate, tapered vegetables placed thereon, comprising a vibratory table of elongate configuration whose upper surface is principally constituted by a plurality of generally parallel members. These members are spaced along the longitudinal centerline of the table, with the spacing between members increasing incrementally such that the minimum spacing between members exists at one end of the table, and the maximum spacing exists at the other end. Alignment means are utilized such that elongate vegetables cuased to be individually aligned with the longitudinal axis of the table can travel for a substantial portion of the length of the table, bridging at least some of the spaces between members.

Abstract: Vegetables such as onions are rotated about their axes which are vertically oriented. As the vegetables move from an orienting unit to a cutting/notching mechanism, their rectilinear movement is ensured by engaging their opposite sides by opposed members which are linked so as to move equal lateral distances when they are deflected by the vegetables.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device in a machine for trimming vegetables, especially Brussels sprouts, by means of a rotary cutter forming the bottom of a trapezoidal groove (3), which is formed by the inclined sides (2) of a pair of rotary flanges, the vegetables being caused by the action of the rotary flanges and stationary holding means (5-12) to perform a rotary movement around themselves at the same time as they follow the rotary flanges in the groove (3) between them, and projecting parts of the vegetables are exposed to the cutter and trimmed off.

Abstract: An apparatus for trimming the top and the bottom from ears of corn to produce standardized size corn for packaging comprises a plurality of spring loaded clamps for holding individual corn pieces. The clamps are pivotally attached in a conveyor fashion and serve to transport the individual corn pieces past a pair of vertically spaced shearing blades. Each clamp includes an outer slidable member which rides on a cam surface. The cam surface pulls the sliding member away from a fixed member to release the corn cob after the slicing operation is completed. The cam surface holds the clamp open for insertion of additional corn pieces to be cut. A vertically adjustable gauge surface is disposed below the corn insertion position for determining the correct vertical trim position at which the corn is to be held.

Abstract: Onions are lifted and transported individually and are transferred in succession onto an orientation conveyor where the onions are made to roll along a belt conveyor driven in the opposite direction to align the stem axes transverse to the line of movement of the conveyor. Following orientation, the onions are gripped individually and carried into engagement with a pair of laterally spaced trimming blades which cleanly snip off the protrusions at the ends of each onion along the stem axis to prepare the onions for further processing. During their movement toward the trimming blades by the gripping and carrying means, the onions engage blade connected camming means which automatically adjusts the lateral spacing of the trimming blades responsive to variations in onion size. Following the trimming operation, the onions are released automatically into a collector means.

Abstract: There is described a stump removing tool particularly designed for separating cauliflower flowerets from the stump thereof. It may also be useful for coring cabbages. The tool comprises a cylinder having an upper cutting edge and a nose piece, the apex of which includes meridian blades having cutting edges. When the nose piece is penetrating into the cauliflower head, the base of which is placed on the cylinder, the cauliflower flowerets are spread while the meridian blades first cut the cauliflower head center into tapers; then, the inside cylinder cut the stump into tapers which fall. A machine is also described which comprises a conveyor belt adapted to be advanced step by step, the belt carrying regularly spaced tool cylinders, and a vertical frame. A slide is in the frame and over the mounted tool nose pieces.

Abstract: Onions are lifted and transported individually and are transferred in succession onto an orientation conveyor where the onions are made to roll on a path of least resistance until their stem axes are transverse to the line of movement of the conveyor. Following orientation, the onions are gripped individually and carried into engagement with a pair of laterally spaced trimming blades which cleanly snip off the protrusions at the ends of each onion along the stem axis to prepare the onions for further processing. During their movement toward the trimming blades by the gripping and carrying means, the onions engage blade connected camming means which automatically adjusts the lateral spacing of the trimming blades responsive to variations in onion size. Following the trimming operation, the onions are released automatically into a collector means.

Abstract: The machine consists of more operative equal and independent units located side-by-side, but operated by a single motor, and each predisposed according to the screening of the mushrooms to be carried out. In each unit, the mushrooms, approximately pre-selected in the wanted size by a screening machine are discharged into a loading basin. From said basin, sequentially, the mushrooms are taken by a conveyor means and thereby conveyed up to the outcome point from the machine. During this path, the mushrooms first are self-selected at the predisposed size, and simultaneously they self-orient, or are compelled to turn to their correct positions, and then they undergo the cutting off of the terminal part of their stems.

Abstract: A cauliflower coring apparatus and method in which cauliflower heads are fed one-by-one into a housing by a conveyor having bowls for receiving the heads, each bowl having a number of spikes on which the heads are impaled. A shiftable beam in the housing carries a first rotary cutter and a vertically adjustable hold-down ring for engaging a head to keep it from moving out of its bowl as the first cutter rotates and removes the culls from the head by a coring effect. After its culls have been removed, the head is engaged and cut by a second rotary cutter which disintegrates the head and separates it into curds. The culls and curds drop into respective first and second chutes and onto first and second conveyors for movement away from the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for trimming the ends of edible elongate roots, such as carrots, comprises a carrousel with upstanding upright partitions along which the centrally deposited roots move under centrifugal force into a set of ascending radial guide channels, coming to rest with their leading ends against a first peripheral barrier. Upon reaching a gap in that barrier, the roots approach a stationary first blade which cuts off their leading ends. Having passed the blade, the roots are centrifugally propelled into a set of steeply descending guide channels which they enter with their uncut ends facing down, coming to rest against a second peripheral barrier until they reach a gap at which a stationary second blade cuts off these latter ends.

Abstract: Several pairs of slender rolls having metal core shafts and resiliently soft outer coverings are disposed parallelly to each other and with an inclination in their longitudinal direction relative to the horizontal direction and submerged in water in a tank, into which berries with adhering calyxes are fed, guided toward the tank bottom, and released to float upward and along the lower surfaces of the rolls, each pair of which is pressed against each other and driven to rotate in opposite directions such that their surfaces in contact move upward. The calyxes of the berries, which are easily dispersed and rotated in the water, are caught between the pairs of rolls and are completely clamped thereby and finally plucked off from the pericarps of their berries.

Abstract: A machine for washing, sizing and cutting the stems of mushrooms, comprises a tub full of water into which the fresh mushrooms to be treated are poured in bulk and conveyed in water into a second tub from which they are raised by suitable means to be carried on a selector device from which they fall in different positions according to their dimensions. Then they are conveyed on guides where they are arranged with their stems downwards and subsequently they are carried to the cutting device constituted by endless rotating toothed belts which provide for cutting. The first dirty end of the stem is thrown away and then a section of stem intended to be used as food is cut off so as to reduce the length of the stem to predetermined sizes. In this manner, the washed mushrooms are classified on the basis of their size and with the stem reduced to predetermined dimensions.

Abstract: A machine for detopping fruits and vegetables, specially suited for the decapping of strawberries by severing the top therefrom, comprises an endless upwardly-inclined loop type conveyor mounted on a sub-frame which is in turn mounted on a main frame for horizontal orbital motion relative thereto. The conveyor consists of a receiving station section inclined to the horizontal so that already decapped product discharges against the travel of the conveyor, and a severing station section at a higher level than the receiving station section, a downwardly-extending discharge section and a return section. The conveyor consists of parallel rollers alternate ones of which are positively driven by pinion gears engaging rack members at the side, so that co-operating pairs will grip the tops. Only product that has been so gripped can be conveyed upwards by the conveyor and presented to a transversly moving endless band severing knife at the severing station.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for cutting for example florets from cauliflower heads or leaves from cabbages cleanly so as to avoid damage to the florets or leaves. As a tubular knife follows a path encircling the stalk, so a divider member parts the florets or leaves to facilitate a clean cut.

Abstract: A lettuce harvester is provided having a positive means for engaging the stems of lettuce to be trimmed whereby the trim cut is caused to take place at right angles to the stem and the lettuce is left ready for packing.

Abstract: A machine for cutting off the heads of carrots in which the beginning of a carrot and its direction of taper are sensed electro-optically as it is carried by a conveyor and the time of operation of a cutter associated with the conveyor is controlled accordingly.

Abstract: The apparatus is comprised of a frame which supports a plurality of conveying troughs, an upper rotating drum, a lower rotating drum and a stationary decapping blade. The strawberries are first deposited in the troughs which then convey the strawberries to the lower rotating drum. The strawberries are then deposited singly into one of a plurality of cylindrical carrier pockets which are disposed in a spaced relationship upon the lower rotating drum. Each of the pockets communicates with a source of sequentially applied air pressure. The upper rotating drum is in a closely spaced and parallel relationship with the lower rotating drum. A plurality of spaced ports are located in the upper drum and communicate with a sequentially applied vaccum source. The two drums are rotated in a timed relationship so that the pockets and ports come into sequential communication with each other at the same time a pressure and a vacuum is sequentially applied to the respective pockets and ports.