A clamping tool for clamping a fruit, in particular a peach, in a given position in a processing station of a pitting machine has a tubular shape, extends around a given axis and is provided with a first opening configured to allow the clamping tool to be arranged over and around the fruit; a second opening arranged on the opposite side relative to the first opening to allow for the insertion of cutting tools inside the clamping tool in a direction parallel to said axis; two through channels, which are parallel to said axis and extend from the first to the second opening; and two walls facing each other, separated by the channels and converging towards the axis between the first and the second opening.

A clamping tool for clamping a fruit, in particular a peach, in a given position in a processing station of a pitting machine has a tubular shape, extends around a given axis and is provided with a first opening configured to allow the clamping tool to be arranged over and around the fruit; a second opening arranged on the opposite side relative to the first opening to allow for the insertion of cutting tools inside the clamping tool in a direction parallel to said axis; two through channels, which are parallel to said axis and extend from the first to the second opening; and two walls facing each other, separated by the channels and converging towards the axis between the first and the second opening.

A fruit processing apparatus 8 includes a chute 10 through which fruit 12 travel form a supply source and into one of a series of holding cups 14 positioned around the perimeter of a first rotating indexing delivery carousel 16. A second rotating indexing delivery carousel 18 is located side by side the first delivery carousel 16 and also includes a series of cups 14 positioned around its perimeter. Two corresponding holding cups 14 from the rotating delivery carousels 16 and 18 close towards each other to cooperatively form a cavity to retain the fruit 10 therein. A small separation remains between the two cups 14 through which passes a splitting device 20 for splitting the fruit in two sections or halves 12A, with one section/half remaining within each of the two cups 14. A pitter 24 in the form of a plunger projects forwardly through the fruit husk and against the fruit pit to eject the pit from the fruit. A rotating indexing removal carousel 30 is positioned adjacent each of the delivery carousels 16 and 18. A series of radially outwardly projecting removal screens 32 are positioned around the perimeters of the removal carousels 30. The removal screens 32 are configured to press into the fruit halves 12A disposed in the holding cups 14 to force the fruit pulp out through the screen openings 34, thereby to extract the fruit pulp from the husk 36 in the form of cubes 38 or other desirable shapes.

An avocado cutting method discloses feeding, orientation and traveling along multi-lanes of avocados (A), a pre-cutting stage to create an incision in the upper and lower portions of each avocado (A) while the avocado (A) is held with its axis stem-blossom vertically oriented, and a cutting stage for cutting each avocado (A) in the sides thereof in order to divide the avocado (A) into two halves with simultaneous hit on its pit. A multi-lane machine is also disclosed having a cutting section (54) with a plurality of pairs of separate cutting blades (55). The cutting section (54) has a plurality of plungers (56) in the form of rods, each plunger (56) being movable between the separate cutting blades (55) with respect to an upper head (43) to strike the pit (N) and move it inside the avocado (A) in order to detach it from the pulp (P).

An avocado cutting method discloses feeding, orientation and traveling along multi-lanes of avocados (A), a pre-cutting stage to create an incision in the upper and lower portions of each avocado (A) while the avocado (A) is held with its axis stem-blossom vertically oriented, and a cutting stage for cutting each avocado (A) in the sides thereof in order to divide the avocado (A) into two halves with simultaneous hit on its pit. A multi-lane machine is also disclosed having a cutting section (54) with a plurality of pairs of separate cutting blades (55). The cutting section (54) has a plurality of plungers (56) in the form of rods, each plunger (56) being movable between the separate cutting blades (55) with respect to an upper head (43) to strike the pit (N) and move it inside the avocado (A) in order to detach it from the pulp (P).

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 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 device and method for proportioning slices of fruit by slicing a piece of fruit into a number of slices using a endoskeletal slicing and coring device with twin-opposed coaxial upper and lower guide pins to positioning and holding the fruit, a coring tube for separating the fruit from the core, and a cassette for slicing the fruit and a proportioning device for separating the slices into a number of groups.

A fruit pitting and cutting method provides a fruit feeding along more fruit lanes, a pre-cutting stage to create an incision in the upper portion and the lower portion of each fruit, a pitting stage, in which the pit is separated from the flesh but remains inside the fruit, and a subsequent cutting stage in which a vertical cut is made in side parts of each fruit to be divided into two halves. A multi-lane machine is also described that has a longitudinal frame, a fruit flight conveyor, movable upper and lower transverse heads, a station including a pre-cutting section, a pitting section, and a cutting section separated in succession.

A fruit pitting and cutting method provides a fruit feeding along more fruit lanes, a pre-cutting stage to create an incision in the upper portion and the lower portion of each fruit, a pitting stage, in which the pit is separated from the flesh but remains inside the fruit, and a subsequent cutting stage in which a vertical cut is made in side parts of each fruit to be divided into two halves. A multi-lane machine is also described that has a longitudinal frame, a fruit flight conveyor, movable upper and lower transverse heads, a station including a pre-cutting section, a pitting section, and a cutting section separated in succession.