Method and apparatus for high speed processing of fruit or the like

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for high-speed processing of fruit or the like wherein the fruit is initially accumulated and aligned at a pick-up point for capture in spaced-apart pockets of a singulation conveyor at the pick-up point to maintain the fruit in predetermined linear spacing and to accelerate the fruit to a predetermined processing speed, a processing conveyor being operated at a synchronized speed relative to the singulation conveyor for receiving the individual units of fruit, the fruit being carried in trays past a sensor station after which the fruit is discharged from the trays into one of a plurality of discharge passages according to the individual characteristics of the fruit units. A preferred construction for accumulating and aligning the fruit at the pick-up point comprises multiple interconnecting ramps of different inclinations to further assure a continuous supply of fruit at the pick-up point. The singulation conveyor preferably includes an endless belt having spaced-apart pockets for receiving individual units of fruit and being adapted for passing the pick-up point along an upward incline, each of the pockets being adapted for capturing a first unit of fruit and rejecting subsequent units of fruit, the fruit being projected from the pockets along a short arc for reception by respective trays of the processing conveyor. The trays in the processing conveyor preferably provide three-point support for the fruit to assure proper exposure of random-sized fruit to an optical sensor. Furthermore, the trays are also adapted to facilitate interchangeable connection with the processing conveyor and to facilitate discharge of the fruit into one of the plurality of discharge passages.