Systems and methods of de-stemming produce are provided. An apparatus can process an item of produce having a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion. The apparatus can include at least one first conveyor unit that can convey the first portion of the item of produce in a first direction. The apparatus can include at least one second conveyor unit that can convey the second portion of the item of produce in a second direction that differs from the first linear direction by between zero and 90 degrees to generate a separation force between the first portion of the item of produce and the second portion of the item of produce that separates the first portion from the second portion.

A method of peeling tubers includes providing a peeler device defining a cavity surrounded by a peeling mechanism, inputting tubers to be peeled into the cavity, directing electromagnetic radiation from an illumination device into the cavity, detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected into lens of a camera from tubers located in the cavity during a peeling operation by the peeling mechanism, and operating the peeler device based on the reflected electromagnetic radiation detected by the camera. Also disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the method.

A method of peeling tubers includes providing a peeler device defining a cavity surrounded by a peeling mechanism, inputting tubers to be peeled into the cavity, directing electromagnetic radiation from an illumination device into the cavity,-detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected into lens of a camera from tubers located in the cavity during a peeling operation by the peeling mechanism, and operating the peeler device based on the reflected electromagnetic radiation detected by the camera. Also disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the method.

A hazelnut processing plant provides separation of unshelled hazelnut as shell and as decorticated hazelnut by means of breaking the shells thereof. The hazelnut processing plant includes at least one calibration sieve where the unshelled hazelnut is transferred in order to be categorized in accordance with the dimensions thereof, at least one calibration line which has at least one each calibration silos for each category of the unshelled hazelnut separated according to dimensions in said calibration sieve, at least one stone, where the unshelled hazelnut is transferred in order to be separated from the shell thereof, at the continuation of said calibration line, at least one charger sieve which can separate the hazelnut broken at said stone by sieving the dust of said hazelnut, at least one breaking line, which has at least one ventilator in order to provide separation of decorticated hazelnuts, shells and creased hazelnuts.

Systems and methods of de-stemming produce are provided. An apparatus can process an item of produce having a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion. The apparatus can include at least one first conveyor unit that can convey the first portion of the item of produce in a first direction. The apparatus can include at least one second conveyor unit that can convey the second portion of the item of produce in a second direction that differs from the first linear direction by between zero and 90 degrees to generate a separation force between the first portion of the item of produce and the second portion of the item of produce that separates the first portion from the second portion.

An apparatus for processing horticultural products, pushed along a tank of a respective processing line by a fluid current, on which the horticultural products can float freely. The apparatus includes at least one floating alignment matrix, provided with a base platform, which in turn can be submerged at a predefined section of the tank, and with a plurality of mutually parallel partitions extended at right angles from the upper face of the platform and, when the platform is submerged in the predefined section, at least rise above the free surface of the predefined section. Each pair of adjacent partitions can be arranged along the movement direction of the fluid current, thus defines a respective channel for automatic forced alignment for the horticultural products, pushed toward the predefined section by the fluid current.

A fruit sorting apparatus and method are provided. The fruit sorting apparatus includes: a control unit, a conveying assembly, a detection assembly, fruit cups, a plurality of fixing assemblies and a plurality of detection units, wherein the control unit is configured to receive a plurality of pieces of detection information, and match detection information corresponding to a fruit cup of the in-place signal according to a running speed of the conveying assembly, a starting point time of an in-place signal, the distance between the detection unit and the detection assembly and time information of the detection information.

A method and system for air classification of a milled feed stock includes generating a feed stream by combining the milled feed stock with at least one gasflow element, wherein the milled feed stock includes a plurality of particle sizes. The method and system includes directing the feed stream across a curvilinear surface, such that the milled feed stock in the feed stream separates into a plurality of classification streams, each of the plurality of classification streams based on the particle sizes of the milled feed stock. Therein, the method and system separates the plurality of classification streams and collects each of the plurality of classification streams, thereby classifying the milled feed stock contained therein based on the particle sizes for each of the plurality of classification streams.

A station for the conveyance and measurement of horticultural products, having elements for the movement and support, along a predefined trajectory, of a horticultural products, which can be arranged in series so that they rest on the movement and support elements. The conveyance and measurement station includes at least one primary dispenser of pressurized fluid, configured to direct a continuous or intermittent jet of the fluid toward the predefined trajectory, and an apparatus for measuring at least one parameter which represents the extent of the deviation imposed by the jet on each product in transit, with respect to the predefined trajectory, for the consequent indirect verification of the weight and/or of the specific gravity of the respective product, correlated with the extent of the deviation.

The present invention relates to a method for processing potatoes, comprising the provision of potatoes and the possible removal of the skin from said potatoes before further processing of the potatoes takes place. In this method potatoes are visually monitored for defects and then subdivided into good and bad potatoes, after which the potatoes are separated and additionally treated to selectively remove defective elements such as wireworms, rust, blackening, scab and eyes.