A way of dealing with challenges to the pepper processing industry and pepper growers is to mechanize pepper processing, including the de-stemming of whole peppers. The present example provides a method for mechanically de-stemming whole peppers. The method provides for the recognition of a pepper's shoulder and or interior regions and stem in order to generate a control signal to initiate a process to de-stem the pepper. In particular, several implementations of the method are provided that may include a mechanical system, a laser system, a machine vision system, a combination of a machine vision system and the laser system, and other equivalent implementations. Additionally disclosed, are methods of processing whole peppers utilizing automated de-stemming.

A way of dealing with challenges to the pepper processing industry and pepper growers is to mechanize pepper processing, including the de-stemming of whole peppers. The present example provides a method for mechanically de-stemming whole peppers. The method provides for the recognition of a pepper's shoulder and or interior regions and stem in order to generate a control signal to initiate a process to de-stem the pepper. In particular, several implementations of the method are provided that may include a mechanical system, a laser system, a machine vision system, a combination of a machine vision system and the laser system, and other equivalent implementations. Additionally disclosed, are methods of processing whole peppers utilizing automated de-stemming.

A method and apparatus for scarifying fruit by advancing at least one pair of opposed knives contemporaneously into an article of fruit (typically a frozen cranberry or other article of frozen fruit) through at least two locations on the surface of the fruit, such that none of the knives advances so far into the fruit that its tip protrudes out from the fruit. In embodiments which scarify frozen cranberries, each of the knives typically penetrates not more than about 7 mm, or in some cases not more than about 1 mm or 2 mm into the fruit. In some embodiments, each knife has a concave distal surface (for fitting against a convex article of fruit) with a pin protruding distally (e.g., by an amount in the range from about 1 mm to about 7 mm) from the distal surface.

A method and apparatus for scarifying fruit by advancing at least one pair of opposed knives contemporaneously into an article of fruit (typically a frozen cranberry or other article of frozen fruit) through at least two locations on the surface of the fruit, such that none of the knives advances so far into the fruit that its tip protrudes out from the fruit. In embodiments which scarify frozen cranberries, each of the knives typically penetrates not more than about 7 mm, or in some cases not more than about 1 mm or 2 mm into the fruit. In some embodiments, each knife has a concave distal surface (for fitting against a convex article of fruit) with a pin protruding distally (e.g., by an amount in the range from about 1 mm to about 7 mm) from the distal surface.

A system for eliminating residue from a flow of harvest containing fruit, includes a motorized conveyor for feeding the flow of harvest towards an inclined surface that is arranged to allow the flow of harvest to travel over it, the surface including air passages. The system further has a blower for blowing air through the passages in order to eject residue from the flow of harvest as it is routed over the surface.

A system for eliminating residue from a flow of harvest containing fruit, includes a motorized conveyor for feeding the flow of harvest towards an inclined surface that is arranged to allow the flow of harvest to travel over it, the surface including air passages. The system further has a blower for blowing air through the passages in order to eject residue from the flow of harvest as it is routed over the surface.

A selection machine for separating fruits from foreign bodies has a rigid support frame, a mobile frame connected to the fixed frame and having a longitudinal axis (A-A), a connection between the fixed frame and the mobile frame, actuation means of the mobile frame; the mobile frame has a rectangular section and upper wall and a lower wall with a plurality of holes; the mobile frame oscillating around a horizontal rotation axis (X-X) disposed transversally to the longitudinal axis (A-A); the connection being a horizontal connecting pivoting pin having a longitudinal axis that coincides with the horizontal rotation axis (X-X) of the mobile frame.

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.

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 separation apparatus for separating fruit from other plant matter from harvested plant material, the apparatus comprising a conveyor system that defines a first separation system, a second separation system located at least partially above the first separation system comprising an array of rotatable rollers to convey harvested plant material in an upstream to downstream direction, the rollers spaced apart to provide a plurality of openings permitting the transit of separated fruit therethrough while preventing the transit of other plant matter, a third separation system in the form of a de-stemming unit downstream of the second separation system, a plant matter distribution system, for distributing plant matter away from the collection apparatus, wherein fruit pass through any one or more of the first, second and third separation systems for collection in the collection unit.