Soft cranberry and undersize cranberry separator and method

摘要

A cranberry separator, and method, to separate soft and undersize cranberries from hard, marketable cranberries. Mushy cranberries do not clog the separator.PPPressure is repeatedly applied to each cranberry, to a pressure less than 0.50 psi, as cranberries are transported from a loading hopper, along a roller conveyor, to an outlet. PPThe roller conveyor comprises an overhead soft roller, and a finned hard roller, mounted under the soft roller. Each cranberry passes between multiple pinch points, between the upper and lower rollers. PPEach cranberry is supported across two fins, at the pinch point. Soft cranberries are forced between the fins, and are stripped out from between the fins, by comb teeth, extending upwardly between the fins. After each pinch point, the cranberry is rotated randomly, to present a new surface to be tested.