Abstract of the DisclosureA machine for detopping fruits and vegetables, speciallysuited for the decapping of strawberries by severing the toptherefrom, comprises an endless upwardly-inclined loop type con-veyor mounted on a sub-frame which is in turn mounted on a mainframe for horizontal orbital motion relative thereto. The con-veyor consists of a receiving station section inclined to thehorizontal so that already decapped produce discharges againstthe travel of the conveyor, and a severing station section at ahigher level than the receiving station section, a downwardly-extending discharge section and a return section. The conveyorconsists of parallel rollers alternate ones of which are posit-ively driven by pinion gears engaging rack members at the sideso that cooperating pairs will grip the tops. Only productthat has been so gripped can be conveyed upwards by the conveyorand presented to a transversely moving endless band severingknife at the severing station. The orbital motion causes theproduct to be orientated into a position which facilitatesgripping of the tops by the cooperating roller pairs.
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