Systems and methods of sorting and conveying produce

A system for inspecting produce having a loading portion, an inspection portion, and an unloading portion and comprising a plurality of lanes, each lane comprising:

• a) a drive chain between a drive chain support and a finger retention track;
• b) a plurality of fingers on each side of said drive chain, wherein each of said fingers is hingedly engaged with a corresponding one of a plurality of finger mounting brackets, wherein each of said finger mounting brackets is engaged with said drive chain, and wherein each of said fingers
• (i) comprises a surface for supporting said produce and having a cavity therein,
• (ii) comprises a retention tab, and
• (iii) has a first orientation and a second orientation;
• and
• c) at least two augers, wherein a first auger is on a first side of said drive chain and wherein a second auger is on a second side of said drive chain, wherein each of said augers
• (i) has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to said drive chain,
• (ii) is at least partially positioned in said cavities of said surfaces of at least two of said fingers, and
• (iii) comprises a top surface which rotates toward said drive chain.

A method for conveying produce through a machine comprising a drive chain and having a loading, inspection, and unloading portion, said drive chain moving from said loading portion to said inspection portion and from said inspection portion to said unloading portion, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) in said loading portion,
• (i) positioning a retention tab of each of a plurality of fingers within a finger retention track, each of said plurality of fingers hingedly engaged with one of a plurality of finger mounting brackets, each finger mounting bracket engaged with said drive chain, and
• (ii) placing said produce on a surface of at least one of said plurality of fingers;
• b) in said inspection portion,
• (i) positioning said produce to be engaged with an auger, wherein said auger is at least partially positioned in a cavity of said finger surface and has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to said drive chain, and
• (ii) rotating said auger to cause said produce to rotate along an axis which is parallel with said longitudinal axis of said auger;
• and
• c) in said unloading portion,
• (i) ejecting each said retention tab through one of a plurality of openings in said finger retention track, and
• (ii) removing said produce from said surface of said finger.