Embodiments according to the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for plant transportation using a smart conveyor. Embodiments of the present invention provide enhanced capabilities as a result of integrating robotic features, automations, artificial intelligence, queuing, fault control, automatic transport, scalability, safety measures, smaller footprint, and other computerized functions, along with a creative business model. In design of this invention the following high-level requirements were achieved: scalable for small, medium, and large businesses; safer than other machines in the market; sanitation consideration; simplicity in maintenance, and automated functions to reduce the need for labor (e.g., integration of robotics, AI, and/or other computerized systems).

A fruit hull remover removes hulls from berries and other fruit with hulls. The fruit hull remover has a handle, an at least one tong, and an at least one prong, all of which are typically curved or round. The handle has a threaded rod between or at the center of the at least one tong to engage and remove a fruit hull. The threaded rod may be recessed from the at least one prong and have a distal unthreaded region, both which reduce entry pressure into the hull and mitigate entry of the threaded region into the fruit meat to increase intact hull removal performance. A hull ejector has an inner ring and an outer ring to slide down from between the prongs to eject the hull, or the hull ejector may have hemi-cylindrical halves to slide down from between the prongs to eject the hull.

A fruit hull remover removes hulls from berries and other fruit with hulls. The fruit hull remover has a handle, an at least one tong, and an at least one prong, all of which are typically curved or round. The handle has a threaded rod between or at the center of the at least one tong to engage and remove a fruit hull. The threaded rod may be recessed from the at least one prong and have a distal unthreaded region, both which reduce entry pressure into the hull and mitigate entry of the threaded region into the fruit meat to increase intact hull removal performance. A hull ejector has an inner ring and an outer ring to slide down from between the prongs to eject the hull, or the hull ejector may have hemi-cylindrical halves to slide down from between the prongs to eject the hull.

A pear feeder for multi-lane processing has, on a frame (1), a shuffle feeder (2), a plurality of chutes (3), a plurality of feed channels (4), small belts (5) running on respective pairs of belt holder pulleys (9, 90) mounted on each feed channel (4) and moved by a motor (10) through a first transverse shaft (11) so as to be transmitted to the belts (5) a retrograde motion with respect to the pear advancement and allow each pear to continue advancing along its own advancement channel (4) with the stem downward up to the exit end, and a plurality of aligned jaws of reception (15) which can be opened simultaneously. On the frame (1) of the apparatus, in a position below the plurality of aligned receiving jaws (15), a cutting device (18) is mounted movably by means of a second pneumatic piston (19) on horizontal end guides (20).

A pear feeder for multi-lane processing has, on a frame (1), a shuffle feeder (2), a plurality of chutes (3), a plurality of feed channels (4), small belts (5) running on respective pairs of belt holder pulleys (9, 90) mounted on each feed channel (4) and moved by a motor (10) through a first transverse shaft (11) so as to be transmitted to the belts (5) a retrograde motion with respect to the pear advancement and allow each pear to continue advancing along its own advancement channel (4) with the stem downward up to the exit end, and a plurality of aligned jaws of reception (15) which can be opened simultaneously. On the frame (1) of the apparatus, in a position below the plurality of aligned receiving jaws (15), a cutting device (18) is mounted movably by means of a second pneumatic piston (19) on horizontal end guides (20).

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 system (100) for cutting work product (104) into portions (P) and unloading the portions includes a conveyance system (102) for carrying the workpieces and portions, as well as a scanner (110) for scanning the work products. A cutter system (120) composed of cutter assemblies (122) carried by carrier systems (124) may be arranged in an array or series along the conveyance system for cutting, trimming, and portioning the work products (104) into end pieces (P) of desired sizes or other physical parameters. An unloading system (130) composed of one or more unloading assemblies/units/apparatus (132) are carried by the same carrier systems (124) used to carry the cutter assemblies (122) to pick up the portioned pieces (P) and either move them to a different location or replace the portioned workpieces back onto the conveyance system after the trim of the workpiece has been removed.

The present invention relates to an automatic machine for cutting fruit, particularly strawberries or radishes, comprising an aligning and transporting unit (4, 140, 340, 404) for aligning, according to at least one line, and transporting fruits (F) from an origin zone to a first destination zone; a placing and transporting unit (5, 5′, 150, 205, 350, 405) for placing said fruits (F) according to a predetermined orientation and transporting said fruits (F) from said first destination zone to a second destination zone, said placing and transporting unit (5, 5′, 150, 205, 350, 405) being arranged downstream said aligning and transporting unit (4, 140, 340, 404); a conveying unit (6, 160, 210, 406) for conveying said fruits (F) from said second destination zone to a third destination zone, said conveying unit (6, 160, 210, 406) comprising a vacuum-generating device (66) to make a respective waste portion of said fruits (F) adhering to said conveying unit (6, 160, 210) by vacuum, said conveying unit (6, 160, 210, 406) being arranged downstream said placing and transporting unit (5, 5′, 150, 205, 350, 405); and a cutting unit (7, 170, 211, 407) for cutting said fruits (F) in correspondence of said third destination zone such as to remove said respective waste portion of said fruits (F).

The present invention relates to an automatic machine for cutting fruit, particularly strawberries or radishes, comprising an aligning and transporting unit (4, 140, 340, 404) for aligning, according to at least one line, and transporting fruits (F) from an origin zone to a first destination zone; a placing and transporting unit (5, 5′, 150, 205, 350, 405) for placing said fruits (F) according to a predetermined orientation and transporting said fruits (F) from said first destination zone to a second destination zone, said placing and transporting unit (5, 5′, 150, 205, 350, 405) being arranged downstream said aligning and transporting unit (4, 140, 340, 404); a conveying unit (6, 160, 210, 406) for conveying said fruits (F) from said second destination zone to a third destination zone, said conveying unit (6, 160, 210, 406) comprising a vacuum-generating device (66) to make a respective waste portion of said fruits (F) adhering to said conveying unit (6, 160, 210) by vacuum, said conveying unit (6, 160, 210, 406) being arranged downstream said placing and transporting unit (5, 5′, 150, 205, 350, 405); and a cutting unit (7, 170, 211, 407) for cutting said fruits (F) in correspondence of said third destination zone such as to remove said respective waste portion of said fruits (F).