Fruit feeder

A fruit feeder comprising:

• A. a plurality of first shelf members in spaced, parallel relationship to one another, each individual one of such first shelf members being offset from adjacent such first shelf members so that said first plurality defines a diagonal stair-step arrangement, the upper edge of each one of such first shelf members having defined therein a plurality of laterally adjacent first recesses, such first recesses being so arranged spatially on adjacent such first shelf members that they define a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, parallel rows thereof,
• B. first stationary frame means fixedly holding each individual one of said first shelf members in such spaced, parallel, diagonal relationship,
• C. a plurality of second shelf members in spaced, parallel, diagonal relationship to one another, one of such second shelf members being interdigitated between a different adjacent pair of said first shelf members, the upper edge of each one of such second shelf members having defined therein a plurality of laterally adjacent second recesses, such second recesses being so arranged spatially on adjacent such second shelf members that they are respectively aligned with such first recesses in such plurality of rows, such second shelf members each being slidably movable transversely relative to such first shelf members,
• D. second frame means fixedly holding each individual one of such second shelf members in such relationship, said second frame means being reciprocatorily movable transversely relative to said first frame means, and including bearing means, and further being adapted to slidably reciprocatorily move each one of such second shelf members an equal distance,
• E. support means generally upstanding in the region of the uppermost one of said first shelf members, said support means being fixedly associated with said first frame means,
• F. first fluid cylinder means functionally associated with said support means and having extensible and retractable first rod means terminably functionally associated with said second frame means, said first rod means being adapted during operation of said first cylinder means to reciprocatorily move said second frame means to an extent sufficient to translate the upper edge of each one of such interdigitated second shelf members between upper and lower positions of general prechosen alignment with the respective adjacent upper edges of such adjacent respective upper and lower first shelf members, said first cylinder means including first valve means for regulating ingress and egress of a cylinder operating fluid thereinto and therefrom, respectively,
• G. plate means fixedly associated with said first frame means and interposed slidably adjacent the back side of the uppermost one of said second shelf members,
• H. a raceway joined across the top edge of said plate means and downwardly inclined therefrom, including upstanding generally longitudinally extending wall members defining therebetween a plurality of passageways corresponding to the number of said rows, and being generally aligned with respective side portions thereof at said top edge,
• I. gate means disposable across the lower end region of said raceway,
• J. second fluid cylinder means functionally associated with said support means and having an extensible and retractable second rod means terminably functionally associated with said gate means for reciprocal raising and lowering of said gate means to respectively alternately open and close such lower end region, said second cylinder means including second valve means for regulating ingress and egress of a cylinder operating fluid thereinto and therefrom, respectively, and
• K. flow control means functionally associated with at least one of said fluid cylinder means for regulating the dwell time of the said rod means thereof at one end of such reciprocal movement thereof.