Automatic orientation of fruit for mechanised size grading - partic. unsymmetrical fruit like apples pears and tomatoes

摘要

The device comprises two smooth, parallel jaws symmetrically spaced on opposite sides of a median, vertical plane towards which the lower edges of the jaws converge slightly. The jaws have a series of paired concavities, each pair providing a pocket in which a fruit lodges when loaded from above. The jaws are then progressively opened, first to suspend a pocketed fruit with its centre of gravity handing below the jaw-gripped dia., and then to release the fruit thus orientated. The tops of the concavities are pref. chamfered to provide a lead for fruit entering a pocket. Positioners can be fitted to a carrier chain to be run in alignment and synchronisation with a size-grading conveyor, the chain pref. being operated from the conveyor drive. The size-grading appts. is not misled by varied presentation of the fruits.