In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, a process is disclosed for pitting drupes. In some embodiments of a pitting process, the pitting machine uses a pitting knife that has a longitudinal passageway that extends axially through the pitting knife. The pitting machine has a steam source that provides pressurized steam to the passageway of the pitting knife. Prior to pitting the drupe, the pressurized steam flows through the passageway and onto a portion of a drupe positioned within a carrier in the pitting machine. The heat and pressure of the steam between the drupe and the cutting end of the cutting knife can soften a localized portion of the drupe so that the cutting knife can cut through the flesh of the drupe and eject the pit out of the opposite side of the drupe.

In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, a process is disclosed for pitting drupes. In some embodiments of a pitting process, the pitting machine uses a pitting knife that has a longitudinal passageway that extends axially through the pitting knife. The pitting machine has a steam source that provides pressurized steam to the passageway of the pitting knife. Prior to pitting the drupe, the pressurized steam flows through the passageway and onto a portion of a drupe positioned within a carrier in the pitting machine. The heat and pressure of the steam between the drupe and the cutting end of the pitting knife can soften a localized portion of the drupe so that the pitting knife can cut through the flesh of the drupe and eject the pit out of the opposite side of the drupe.

In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, a process is disclosed for pitting drupes. In some embodiments of a pitting process, the pitting machine uses a pitting knife that has a longitudinal passageway that extends axially through the pitting knife. The pitting machine has a steam source that provides pressurized steam to the passageway of the pitting knife. Prior to pitting the drupe, the pressurized steam flows through the passageway and onto a portion of a drupe positioned within a carrier in the pitting machine. The heat and pressure of the steam between the drupe and the cutting end of the pitting knife can soften a localized portion of the drupe so that the pitting knife can cut through the flesh of the drupe and eject the pit out of the opposite side of the drupe.

An olive pitter that uses a manually operated drive shaft assembly to pit an olive. The drive shaft assembly is connected to a needle that is positioned above an olive holder. A control arm that is connected to the drive shaft assembly is operated by the user to drive the needle downward and through the olive, pushing the pit out of the olive.

An apparatus for separating mixed together substances of different flowability has a frame structure and a hollow drum with a perforated circumferential surface driven in a revolving manner and mounted on the frame structure. A pressing element lies externally in the region of the circumferential surface of the drum and is driven in a revolving manner, such that the drum and the pressing element form a product intake wedge for the feeding in a product stream, of material to be pressed. The drum and pressing element also form a pressing region. A discharge element is associated with the pressing element downstream of the pressing region in the product stream conveying direction, for discharging residues that remain on the pressing element after pressing. The discharge element is an actively drivable, endless discharge belt for discharging the residues in a discharge direction. A corresponding method is also provided.

An apparatus for separating mixed together substances of different flowability has a frame structure and a hollow drum with a perforated circumferential surface driven in a revolving manner and mounted on the frame structure. A pressing element lies externally in the region of the circumferential surface of the drum and is driven in a revolving manner, such that the drum and the pressing element form a product intake wedge for the feeding in a product stream, of material to be pressed. The drum and pressing element also form a pressing region. A discharge element is associated with the pressing element downstream of the pressing region in the product stream conveying direction, for discharging residues that remain on the pressing element after pressing. The discharge element is an actively drivable, endless discharge belt for discharging the residues in a discharge direction. A corresponding method is also provided.

In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, a process is disclosed for pitting drupes. In some embodiments of a pitting process, the pitting machine uses a pitting knife that has a longitudinal passageway that extends axially through the pitting knife. The pitting machine has a steam source that provides pressurized steam to the passageway of the pitting knife. Prior to pitting the drupe, the pressurized steam flows through the passageway and onto a portion of a drupe positioned within a carrier in the pitting machine. The heat and pressure of the steam between the drupe and the cutting end of the cutting knife can soften a localized portion of the drupe so that the cutting knife can cut through the flesh of the drupe and eject the pit out of the opposite side of the drupe.

In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, a process is disclosed for pitting drupes. In some embodiments of a pitting process, the pitting machine uses a pitting knife that has a longitudinal passageway that extends axially through the pitting knife. The pitting machine has a steam source that provides pressurized steam to the passageway of the pitting knife. Prior to pitting the drupe, the pressurized steam flows through the passageway and onto a portion of a drupe positioned within a carrier in the pitting machine. The heat and pressure of the steam between the drupe and the cutting end of the cutting knife can soften a localized portion of the drupe so that the cutting knife can cut through the flesh of the drupe and eject the pit out of the opposite side of the drupe.

A pitting head assembly of an apparatus that grabs onto a fruit (e.g., Medjool or other date) with a gripper assembly in the pitting head assembly and further grabs onto an end portion of the pit near the calyx of the fruit with a plucker assembly in the pitting head assembly. The gripper and plucker assemblies move away from each other to remove the pit from the fruit and may be cleaned after pitting a number of fruits. A process for pitting a fruit comprising orienting the fruit, grabbing the fruit with a gripper assembly, grabbing an end portion of a seed of the fruit, and moving the gripper assembly and the plucker assembly away from each other.

A pitting head assembly of an apparatus that grabs onto a fruit (e.g., Medjool or other date) with a gripper assembly in the pitting head assembly and further grabs onto an end portion of the pit near the calyx of the fruit with a plucker assembly in the pitting head assembly. The gripper and plucker assemblies move away from each other to remove the pit from the fruit and may be cleaned after pitting a number of fruits. A process for pitting a fruit comprising orienting the fruit, grabbing the fruit with a gripper assembly, grabbing an end portion of a seed of the fruit, and moving the gripper assembly and the plucker assembly away from each other.