Patent GB-247592-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for removing stones, cores and stalks from fruit
IPC: A23N4/06
Filed: 1926-02-12
Abstract: 247,592. Frova, G. Feb. 12, 1925, [Convention date]. Removing stones or cores and stalks from fruit.-In a machine for removing the stones, or cores, and the stalks from fruit, the fruit, in mass, is delivered by an inclined surface to channels which convey them individually to members which grip the fruit and convey them to a position where pincers-like members enter the fruit. grip the stone or core, and withdraw the same. The fruit is positioned so that the core-removing members enter the stalk seats and remove the stalks with the stones or cores. As shown in Fig. 3, the fruit, e.g. cherries, is placed on a rotating dished plate 5 which delivers them to channels or pipes 11 leading to the grippers 25 mounted on an intermittently revolving drum 22. The plate 5 is provided with curved ribs on its upper surface and with peripherally arranged blocks carrying brushes which carry the fruit around the rim 4 to the chan. nels 11, the lower ends of which are aligned with the corresponding units of an aligned set of grippers 25, the channels 11 being held by plates 12, 13, bolts 14, and a bracket 15. The drum 22 is driven by an eccentric on the shaft 20 through a connecting-rod, pawl and ratchet mechanism, and gearing, the drum rotating through an angle of 90‹ for each revolution of the shaft 20. The drum is held stationary between each movement by a sliding bolt 45 which engages notches 46 in a disc carried on the drum shaft, the bolt being operated bv an eccentric 53 on the shaft 20, a lever 48 carrying a roller 56 engaging with the eccentric, connecting-rod 54, and a lever 49 having a forked end which engages a pin 55 projecting from the bolt 45. The grippers each comprise concave jaws 25 and straight shanks 26 pivoted together, springs being provided tending to move the jaws 25 towards, and the shanks 26 away from, each other. Four sets of grippers 25 are provided around the drum 22, the intervening peripheral spaces being closed by plates 28<1>. The jaws 25 are closed at the requisite times by bars 33 arranged in the drum and slidable radially relatively thereto to engage between the shanks 26, the bars 33 being guided by members 34 yieldingly connected to one another in pairs, e.g. by springs. The bars 33 carry rollers 32 externally of the drum, the rollers being engaged by vertically sliding members 69, which are actuated through connecting-rods by eccentrics on the shaft 20. When the drum is positioned in order that each gripper 25 may receive its individual fruit, the slides 69 move upwards, and elevate the rolls 32 and bars 33 which open the shanks 26 and close the jaws 25. The bars 33 are retained between the shanks 26, when the drum revolves again, by the engagement of the rollers 32 with a cam track 31. The fruit is then positioried opposite to a set of pincers-like members 39 which are mounted on a slide 36 adapted to be reciprocated to thrust the pincers into the fruit and to withdraw the stones, by eccentrics 35 and adjustable connecting-rods 60. The pincers 39 and their shanks 37 are mutually pivoted at 38, and a spring 40 tends always to close the jaws. The shanks 37 are provided with protuberances 37<1> which engage pins 43, 44. the pins 44 being stationary and the pins 43 being carried on a bar 80 which is vertically movable by eccentrics on the shaft 20 to engage the pins 43 with, or disengage them from, the shanks 37 at the required times. On the movement of the slide 36 towards the jaws 25, the pincers 39 are gradually closed, premature opening of the pincers on withdrawal being prevented by the pins 43 being automatically lowered out of engagement with the shank portion 37<1>. When the grippers 25 are positioned at the bottom of the drum, the cam track 31 allows the rollers 32 and bars 33 to release the shanks 26, the jaws open, and the stoned fruit drops into a receptacle.