The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-04-23
New Peach Sizer
Perfected for the
Public Use

This year part OF the peach crop
may be better graded at less expense
than heretofore by use of new sizer
developed by Government workers.
Two machines were built last year
and tested under commercial condi-
tions at Leesburg, Va, and MayAeld,
Ga. Information gained through these
tests was used in perfecting the
present machine, drawings of which
are now available to all growers or
manufacturers interested, according
to announcement by the Bureau of
Markets, United States Department of
Agriculture.
The machine has several unique fea-
lures and advantages over existing
types Of sizers which make it possible
to handle fruit with less bruising,
while its construction permits 10 to
Is packers to work at one time, thus
to three carloads of peaches a day
from each machine, the amount de-
pending on the average quality Of the
fruit. The overall dimensions of the
machine are 25x15 feet. 1t requires
an electric motor of less than one
horsepower capacity, or small gas
engine to operate it, and it can be
run at half capacity if desired. Under
commercial conditions it should be
sold at price not to exceed $3.50, &C
cording to estimates of the designers.
How 1t Works
The peaches from the orchard are
delivered on an inclined roller con-
veyor, on each side of which sorters
stand and pick out culls and damaged
fruit The rotation of the peaches on
these conveyors, which is obtained f
this conveyor, which is obtained with
out bruising, enables the sorters to
see the entire surface of the fruit,
without touching it. From the roller
conveyor the peaches are delivered to
two sets of ropes running over pull
legs. simple lever arrangement per-
mits the adjustment Of the spaces
between these ropes to accommodate
any size fruit it is desired to grade.
Although the ropes diverge from
each other under ordinary operating
conditions they may be set nearly par
allel to facilitate the distribution into
the bins of fruit which runs almost
uniform in size. The control is made
possible by a perfected hat-rack move
ment which is one of the unique fea-
lures of the machine.
AS the peaches come off the roller
cCnveyor they roll down slight in
cline to the ropes on which they travel
until dropped through into canvas
bins. 1t is impossible to congest the
machine, because the peaches are fed
enc at a time to the moving ropes.
Some objections to former rope sizers
have been overcome through the use
of special coupling device. an idler
which serves to keep the proper ten
sion on the ropes and the mechanism
which quickly widens or reduces the
srace between the ropes. The ma
chine which was devised particularly
for six-basket carrier packing, can be
used equally well for bushel packs
with a single modification Of the bins.
FARM-FOUR
Possibilities for Other Fruits
In announcing the perfected ma
chine, which is the work of the grades
and standards project and the tech
biological laboratory Of the Bureau Of
Markets, it is stated that the machine
has possibilities for grading other
fruits such as apples, pears and or
anges, while 1t may be possible to
modify it to handle sweet potatoes.