Apparatus and methods for transferring fragile items at selectively variable flow rates

A method of vertically transferring whole nuts from a first elevation to a second, lower elevation, the method comprising:

• providing whole nuts to a transfer apparatus having a run extending between an entrance and an exit, and including a plurality of alternatingly arranged conveying panels between the entrance and exit, each conveying panel inclined relative to horizontal and having a variable effective conveying width;
• wherein the variable effective conveying width is selected based on a predetermined mass flow rate of nuts such that whole nuts move along the run in a continuous stream without tumbling, and wherein each nut is in contact with adjacent nuts in its respective layer;
• each conveying panel having an undulating cross-sectional shape along at least part of the panel length in a direction of the run, the undulating cross-sectional shape forming peaks and troughs that define at least one channel for transferring the continuous stream of nuts;
• the at least one channel defining at least part of the variable effective conveying width.