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 fluid-based radial distribution system includes an internal passageway and a plurality of openings radially spaced around the internal passageway. A plurality of gate members are associated with at least some of the plurality of openings, with the gate members are configured to move between an open position that allows product to move through the opening associated with that gate member and a closed position that restricts product from moving through the opening associated with that gate member.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for the inspection and selection of food products contaminated by aflatoxins, in particular dried fruit, comprising a conveyor line (90), a first inspection station (20) with at least one ultraviolet light source (23a, 23b) and an RGB video camera (24) mounted in a housing (21), a first control unit, configured to analyse the images of the video camera to identify products with photoemissions compatible with that of aflatoxins, and a first selection unit (30), placed downstream of the first inspection unit (20), where said selection unit (30) is controlled by the first control unit and is configured to separate the uncontaminated food products from those potentially contaminated and to eject the former toward a collection point.

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.

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 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.

A sorter or sorter assembly for application to a rear-conveyor fruit harvester, being one that has a primary conveyor with a downstream, rear end located towards the rear of the rear-conveyor fruit harvester, the primary conveyor configured, in use, for collecting harvested material and conveying the harvested material downstream. The sorter can improve the ability of a rear-conveyor fruit harvester to separate waste from fruit, such as berries or nuts. The sorter or sorter assembly reduces the likelihood of fruit being damaged or destroyed by the rear-conveyor fruit harvester, may reduce the amount of energy the rear-conveyor fruit harvester must expend moving waste, and may reduce the likelihood of waste clogging downstream parts of the rear-conveyor fruit harvester. Therefore, the sorter or sorter assembly may increase the fruit-to-waste ratio of harvested material, increase harvester throughput, and/or increase the value of a fruit harvest.