A machine for pitting fruits, having a plurality of plungers (4) and a plurality of receiving elements (13) for the fruits (F) that are to be pitted. Each receiving element (13) has a bowl (3) which accommodates an individual fruit (F). Each bowl has a passage opening (31) for the pit which has been extracted from the fruit (F). The machine is characterized in that first sensors are provided upstream of a working section (14) for detecting the bowls (3) that contain two fruits. The invention further relates to a method for pitting fruits.

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.

The invention relates to a method and a device for hydraulically filling cases with floating objects in which at least one case to be filled is immersed in a receiving tank, during a step of supplying the tank with floating objects, floating objects are transported to the tank by a hydraulic stream of a supply channel (13) communicating with the tank above an immersed case. During at least part of the supplying step, floating objects are forced to move downstream in the hydraulic stream of the supply channel at a speed greater than that of the hydraulic stream.

A system automatically loads a bin with a filled deformable container such as a sack of produce being conveyed along horizontal rollers. A movable support structure has a coupling end attachable to a robotic arm, and a lifting end supporting a plurality of parallel rods. By means of the robotic arm and a programmable logic controller, the plurality of parallel rods can be positioned between and parallel to the horizontal rollers, raised when the container is conveyed to a loading position above the parallel rods, moved to a predetermined position above the bin, and rotated to allow the container to slide downward along the parallel rods and into the bin under force of gravity. The loading sequence can be repeated a number of times, changing the predetermined position each time to stack a plurality of the containers in a desired configuration such as overlapping rows of offset sacks.

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.

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 invention relates to a device for grouping into batches at least semi-buoyant objects belonging to the group of fruit and vegetables, comprising a plurality of accumulation channels (11), a hydraulic supply device for each accumulation channel (11), a device for supplying objects to an upstream portion of each accumulation channel, a collecting channel downstream of each accumulation channel (11), a device (14) for holding/releasing the objects in each accumulation channel Each accumulation channel (11) comprises at least one bypass passage (30) for the hydraulic stream extending from at least one inlet of the bypass passage (30) located upstream of the holding/releasing device (14) to at least one outlet of the bypass passage (30) issuing downstream of the holding/releasing device (14). A bypass valve (32) allows adjustment of said part of the diverted flow.

A conveying device is provided for an upwardly oriented, in particular vertical, conveyance of turnips or other root crops in harvesting machines. A conveyor belt with at least two lateral conveyor belt portions is moved in a conveying direction during operation. Between the conveyor belt portions is defined a particularly planar conveyor belt surface, and at least one carrier unit which projects from the conveyor belt surface and is supported by the conveyor belt. The carrier unit delimits a receiving space extending on both sides of the conveyor belt surface. The part of the receiving space which is arranged on the side of the conveyor belt surface which is opposite the carrier unit is formed by at least one detachably fastened pocket module and harvesting machines for turnips or other root crops having a conveying device.

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.

A pick-up web for an agricultural machine, in particular, for picking up and transporting nut fruit in a nut harvester along a conveyor device. The pick-up web comprising at least two endless circulating belts for driving the pick-up web and several rods extending perpendicular to the direction of transport of the pick-up web creating a sieve-type transport surface. The pick-up web further comprising several tappets and sweeping teeth each projecting perpendicularly away from the sieve-type transport surface.