Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a moveable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance). Embodiments may receive product items pre-packaged in tray format to expedite inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging.

The present invention includes conveying and sorting systems utilizing a plurality of continuous rails which support a plurality of sliding pucks that are urged forward using a plurality of sprocket wheels, and which utilize magnetically operated activation components for causing produce to be selectively dropped from cups carried by the pucks into sorting bins. The structures for the conveying and actuating components of the systems have smooth external surfaces reducing potential contamination by bacteria, contaminants and debris, thereby making them easily accessible for cleaning, and allowing for longer continuous operation times and higher efficiency.

A method for processing pears advancing on housing and centering cups (9) of a multilane belt (7) with its calycine end facing upwards, in order to be cored, pitted and halved the method provides, in a first step, locking each pear against rotation inside its housing and centering cup (9), to measure the distance of the calycine end, and to communicate said distance to a control unit (14) that determines the height position of the endocarp of that pear, and, in a second step, to lower simultaneously, by the control unit (14), a coring rod (24) and a pitting knife (26) from a rest position to the height of the endocarp of the underlying pear, as determined by the control unit (14). A multilane apparatus for processing pears is also disclosed.

A system for processing fruit or vegetable products of the type of blueberries and the like, includes a first unit, in its turn having in series at least one loading station, at least one pre-sizing station, at least one pre-selection station and at least one first alignment station. The system further includes a second unit, in its turn having in series at least one second alignment station, at least one optical sizing station and at least one distribution station. Each of the first unit and the second unit has dimensions and space occupation compatible with its accommodation and transport in a single container.

A discrete conveyance unit for blueberries and similar fruit or vegetable products that can be installed in series along a processing line for blueberries, or similar fruit or vegetable products, includes a central plate, which can be moved cyclically along at least one portion of the line. The unit further includes a plurality of axially symmetrical supporting elements which are coupled to respective opposite lateral edges of the plate. Each adjacent pair of elements defines a respective support and accommodation seat for a corresponding blueberry, or similar fruit or vegetable product, so as to allow its discrete conveyance along the at least one portion of the line.

A ripening schedule for produce is created and the ripening schedule when implemented at a ripening chamber is effective to control the environmental conditions and the time spent in the ripening chamber by the produce in order to conform ripening conditions of the produce to the target shipping date. The ripening schedule is applied to control ripening conditions in the ripening chamber.

A unit for transferring horticultural products between at least one tank, in which the horticultural products float on a fluid mass, and at least one collection container, including a head provided with a plurality of walls normally arranged vertically. The head is movable between at least one collection position, in which the walls are interposed between respective horticultural products, which float on the fluid mass at a respective predefined section of the tank, and at least one unloading position, in which the walls face and are proximate to the collection container. In an active configuration, the transverse elements protrude transversely from the space occupation of the walls to ensure mechanical interference with the fall of the horticultural products as a consequence of the subsequent lifting of the head and of its transfer toward said unloading position.

An unloading apparatus for horticultural products such as blueberries and the like, which are conveyed along a predefined advancement path by respective movement units includes at least one dispenser of pressurized fluid, which can be activated on command during the transit of each product in order to send a jet of the pressurized fluid toward the product and consequently cause its fall from the respective movement unit. The apparatus also includes at least one deflector screen arranged facing and proximate to the dispenser, on the opposite side with respect to the predefined trajectory in order to intercept the products struck by the jet. The screen is inclined so as to define, between its face directed toward the dispenser and a vertical plane that passes through the dispenser, a work angle one and ninety degrees configured for the optimum downward deflection of the products.

A draper belt (8) having a carry layer (14), a pulley cover layer (13), and a reinforcing layer (12) which is situated between the carry layer (14) and the pulley cover layer (13). The carry layer (14) includes a plurality of cleats (7) which are reinforced with reinforcing rods (15). The draper belt (8) has a first edge section (16), a second edge section (17), and a center section (18) located between the first edge section (16) and the second edge section (17). The first edge section (16) and the second edge section (17) of the draper belt (8) each have a modulus that is at least three times greater than the modulus of the center section (18).

Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a moveable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance). Embodiments may receive product items pre-packaged in tray format to expedite inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging.