A destemming device includes a housing, a motor, and a belt system configured to fit within the housing. The housing includes at least one cutting aperture. The belt system includes a first belt assembly and a second belt assembly. The first belt assembly includes a first plurality of rollers and a first gripper belt extending around the first plurality of rollers. The second belt assembly includes a second plurality of rollers and a second gripper belt extending around the second plurality of rollers. The first gripper belt and the second gripper belt define a nip. The at least one cutting aperture is aligned with the nip. The motor is operatively connected to the belt system.

A fruit decapping apparatus and method, particularly suited for strawberries. The fruits items (100) are placed by a robotic arm (200) in a lateral aperture (310) of a plate (300), leaving the calyx (120) and the main body (130) below the plate (300). When the robotic arm (200) pulls from the peduncle (110), the plate (300) also pulls from an elastic connection (500). This movement is detected by a sensor (600) which activates a pair of blades (800) solidarily disposed under the lateral aperture (310) of the plate (300).

A fruit decapping apparatus and method, particularly suited for strawberries. The fruits items (100) are placed by a robotic arm (200) in a lateral aperture (310) of a plate (300), leaving the calyx (120) and the main body (130) below the plate (300). When the robotic arm (200) pulls from the peduncle (110), the plate (300) also pulls from an elastic connection (500). This movement is detected by a sensor (600) which activates a pair of blades (800) solidarily disposed under the lateral aperture (310) of the plate (300).

A system and methods are provided for removal of undesired portions of a fruit or vegetable, such as removal of calyxes from strawberries before they are flash frozen. An automated process for high-throughput fruit or vegetable calyx removal includes a loading system, an identification system, and a removal system. The loading system is configured to transport the fruit or vegetable through the automated process. The loading system may also orient the fruits or vegetables along an axis of the fruit and or align the fruit or vegetables in a desired pattern, orientation, and/or arrangement. The identification system is configured to locate the calyx and determines calyx position data and an optimal cutting path for individual fruit. The removal system uses data received from the identification system to separate the calyx from the fruit or vegetable.

A system and methods are provided for removal of undesired portions of a fruit or vegetable, such as removal of calyxes from strawberries before they are flash frozen. An automated process for high-throughput fruit or vegetable calyx removal includes a loading system, an identification system, and a removal system. The loading system is configured to transport the fruit or vegetable through the automated process. The loading system may also orient the fruits or vegetables along an axis of the fruit and or align the fruit or vegetables in a desired pattern, orientation, and/or arrangement. The identification system is configured to locate the calyx and determines calyx position data and an optimal cutting path for individual fruit. The removal system uses data received from the identification system to separate the calyx from the fruit or vegetable.

A plant stem separating apparatus for separating a stem from plant portions extending from the stem is provided. The plant stem separating apparatus includes a cutter, and first and second rollers. The cutter includes a blocking member and apertures defined therein. The apertures are sized for receiving the stem therethrough and the blocking member is positioned and configured for blocking a passage of the plant portions through one of the apertures. The first and second rollers define an engagement region therebetween downstream of the aperture for receiving the stem, and are drivable to rotate in opposite directions in a forward feeding mode to grab the stem at the engagement region and pull the stem through the aperture, such that the plant portions are retained upstream of the blocking member while the stem is pulled through the aperture, thereby causing disengagement of the plant portions from the stem.

A plant stem separating apparatus for separating a stem from plant portions extending from the stem is provided. The plant stem separating apparatus includes a cutter, and first and second rollers. The cutter includes a blocking member and apertures defined therein. The apertures are sized for receiving the stem therethrough and the blocking member is positioned and configured for blocking a passage of the plant portions through one of the apertures. The first and second rollers define an engagement region therebetween downstream of the aperture for receiving the stem, and are drivable to rotate in opposite directions in a forward feeding mode to grab the stem at the engagement region and pull the stem through the aperture, such that the plant portions are retained upstream of the blocking member while the stem is pulled through the aperture, thereby causing disengagement of the plant portions from the stem.

An apparatus for separation of agricultural products, which are normally joined to each other by a stem or the like, includes a conveyor for carrying agricultural products; a plurality of cutting modules positioned above the conveyor, each having a plurality of blades spaced along a rotating shaft, the shafts of the respective cutting modules being parallel to one another and orthogonal to the direction of movement of the conveyor; a positioning ramp associated with each blade; and a mechanism for simultaneously adjusting the height of the cutting modules above the conveyor to thereby enable the apparatus to effectively process agricultural products of varying sizes.

An apparatus for separation of agricultural products, which are normally joined to each other by a stem or the like, includes a conveyor for carrying agricultural products; a plurality of cutting modules positioned above the conveyor, each having a plurality of blades spaced along a rotating shaft, the shafts of the respective cutting modules being parallel to one another and orthogonal to the direction of movement of the conveyor; a positioning ramp associated with each blade; and a mechanism for simultaneously adjusting the height of the cutting modules above the conveyor to thereby enable the apparatus to effectively process agricultural products of varying sizes.

The present invention is a fruit piercing assembly in which the drive assembly is located on the outside of the frame assembly to eliminate lubricants from the drive assembly contaminating the fruit as it was being pierced.