Pear feeding method and apparatus for multi-lane processing

A pear feeding apparatus for multi-lane processing, comprising on a frame:

• a shuffle feeder suitable to receive the pears to be processed,
• a plurality of chutes in a number equal to that of the multi-lane processing, the chutes being adapted to receive singularly the pears from the shuffle feeder,
• a plurality of advancement channels, which are open downwards and able to receive singularly the pears from the chutes, each advancement channel having facing sides singularly comprised of a downwardly inclined upper portion and a lower portion, that is vertical, in such a way as to allow the pears to advance along the advancement channels with their stem pointing downwards up to an exit end of the advancement channels,
• a pushing member in each advancement channel,
• small belts that are facing each other and running on respective pairs of belt holder pulleys mounted on the lower portions of the sides of each advancement channel,
• a motor having its own shaft connected to a first transverse shaft on which a first plurality of pulleys is keyed that are singularly connected by respective flexible transmission members to a second plurality of pulleys keyed together with respective belt holder pulleys so as to transmit to the small belts a retrograde motion with respect to the advancement of the pears and to allow each pear to continue to advance along its own advancement channel (4) with its stem downwards up to the exit end,
• a plurality of aligned receiving jaws able to hold each single pear out of its advancement channel, the aligned receiving jaws being openable simultaneously by means of a first pneumatic piston and a system of drive rods, and
• a cutting device is mounted on the frame of the apparatus, in a position below the plurality of aligned receiving jaws, the cutting device being movable on horizontal end guides in order to cut simultaneously the stems of the pears inside the aligned receiving jaws.