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 fruit stick tube has a semi rigid tube body symmetrical about a vertical axis, an upper opening to the body of a first diameter, a male threaded region around the upper opening adapted to engage a threaded cap, a first region of the tube body below the upper opening expanding over a portion of overall height of the tube to a second diameter greater than the first diameter, a second region extending down ward from the first region, having the second overall diameter, to a closed bottom of the tube at the second diameter, and a plurality of vertical flutes implemented equally spaced around the tube body in the second region of the tube body, the flutes extending inward to the first diameter.

A fruit stick tube has a semi rigid tube body symmetrical about a vertical axis, an upper opening to the body of a first diameter, a male threaded region around the upper opening adapted to engage a threaded cap, a first region of the tube body below the upper opening expanding over a portion of overall height of the tube to a second diameter greater than the first diameter, a second region extending down ward from the first region, having the second overall diameter, to a closed bottom of the tube at the second diameter, and a plurality of vertical flutes implemented equally spaced around the tube body in the second region of the tube body, the flutes extending inward to the first diameter.

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 process for recognizing the orientation of a fruit, having a central axis of symmetry passing through the concave parts of the fruit. The process includes an initial measurement step in which the measuring instrument measures its distance from the sample fruit, an individual measurement step of each fruit to be treated travelling on the fruit multiple lanes tape, a comparison step in which the distance measured in the individual measurement step of each fruit to be treated is compared with the distances measured in the initial measurement step of the sample fruit to assess whether the distance measured in the individual measurement step is that one of a concave part of the fruit or that one of a convex part of the fruit, and a check step that determines that the fruit is correctly oriented or not. An apparatus that embodies this method is also described.

A process for recognizing the orientation of a fruit, having a central axis of symmetry passing through the concave parts of the fruit. The process includes an initial measurement step in which the measuring instrument measures its distance from the sample fruit, an individual measurement step of each fruit to be treated travelling on the fruit multiple lanes tape, a comparison step in which the distance measured in the individual measurement step of each fruit to be treated is compared with the distances measured in the initial measurement step of the sample fruit to assess whether the distance measured in the individual measurement step is that one of a concave part of the fruit or that one of a convex part of the fruit, and a check step that determines that the fruit is correctly oriented or not. An apparatus that embodies this method is also described.

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.

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.

A process for recognizing the orientation of a fruit (F), having a central axis of symmetry passing through the concave parts of the fruit (F), comprises an initial measurement step in which the measuring instrument measures its distance from the sample fruit (Fo), an individual measurement step of each fruit (F) to be treated travelling on the fruit multiple lanes tape (7), a comparison step in which the distance measured in the individual measurement step of each fruit (F) to be treated is compared with the distances measured in the initial measurement step of the sample fruit (Fo), in order to assess whether the distance measured in the individual measurement step is that one of a concave part of the fruit (F) or that one of a convex part of the fruit (F), and a check step that determines that the fruit (F) is correctly oriented or not. An apparatus that embodies this method is also described.

A process for recognizing the orientation of a fruit (F), having a central axis of symmetry passing through the concave parts of the fruit (F), comprises an initial measurement step in which the measuring instrument measures its distance from the sample fruit (Fo), an individual measurement step of each fruit (F) to be treated travelling on the fruit multiple lanes tape (7), a comparison step in which the distance measured in the individual measurement step of each fruit (F) to be treated is compared with the distances measured in the initial measurement step of the sample fruit (Fo), in order to assess whether the distance measured in the individual measurement step is that one of a concave part of the fruit (F) or that one of a convex part of the fruit (F), and a check step that determines that the fruit (F) is correctly oriented or not. An apparatus that embodies this method is also described.