In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:įIG. ![]() The features and advantages of the invention may be understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. In effect, these two four-way valves trigger each other alternately for continuous repetition of the operating cycle. Subsequently, the outer supports that carry the outer ring-shaped fruit sections make a transition from the upper run of the conveyor to the lower run and in doing so turn upside down to discard the ring-shaped fruit sections.Ī pneumatic control system for automatic operation of the apparatus includes a first spool-type four-way valve to control the power cylinder that intermittently advances the conveyor chain and further includes a second similar four-way valve to control the second pneumatic power cylinder that reciprocates both the circular knife and the bisecting blade. After the central fruit sections are severed and bisected, the inner supports on which they rest swing downward to release the bisected central fruit sections at a discharge station. Ejector means for freeing the newly servered central fruit sections from the circular knife is operated by the reciprocation of the circular knife itself.Įach of the holders on which the successive fruit slices are transported comprises an inner support for the central fruit sections and a surrounding annular support for the outer ring-shaped fruit sections. In addition, the second pneumatic power cylinder reciprocates indexing means that serves to position the series of holders accurately at the various stations. A second pneumatic power cylinder reciprocates both the circular knife at the first cutting station and a straight blade at the bisecting station. To carry out this operating cycle automatically, an endless conveyor chain having an upper run and a lower run carries a row of spaced holders for the individual fruit slices and a pneumatic power cylinder intermittently engages and advances the chain to advance the holders from station to station. The bisected central fruit portions are collected at a later station and finally the ring-shaped fruit portions with the skin thereon are discarded. At a second station the central fruit portions are bisected. At a first station a reciprocating circular knife severs central circular sections of the fruit slices from surrounding ring-shaped fruit sections that include peripheral skin. For this purpose, citrus fruit are sliced transversely of their axes to produce a supply of fruit slices having peripheral portions of skin and these fruit slices are processed rapidly by an apparatus which includes a conveyor to move the fruit slices step by step through a sequence of stations. The basic object of the invention is to meet the above mentioned need for mass production of slices of citrus fruit with the slices free from skin. There is a definite need, therefore, for power actuated automatic apparatus to sever fruit slices free from skin at a high production rate for delivery to restaurants. It is not economical, however, to have the personnel of a restaurant take time to slice fresh fruit for this purpose. Sliced oranges free from skin are commonly used by restaurants for fruit desserts and to garnish various servings of food. A combination as set forth in claim 28ģ0. A combination as set forth in claim 25Ģ9. ![]() A combination as set forth in claim 26Ģ8. ![]() A combination as set forth in claim 25Ģ7. In an apparatus of the character described, means to process fruit slices having peripheral skin, comprising:Ģ6. A combination as set forth in claim 23Ģ5. An improvement as set forth in claim 21Ģ3. A combination as set forth in claim 17ġ9. A combination as set forth in claim 15ġ7. A combination as set forth in claim 13ġ5. A combination as set forth in claim 10ġ2. In an apparatus of the character described to process fruit slices having peripheral skin portions, the combination of:ġ0.
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