Specification

Abstract

A high speed, high volume fruit sectionizer is comprised of a pair of suction cup conveyors onto which fruit is loaded. The fruit is coupled by means of suction attachment to a first conveyor and carried to a position wherein the opposing side of the fruit is suction coupled to the second conveyor. The fruit is drawn through a halving guillotine and coring blade. The fruit halves are then positioned on scooping and sectioning assemblies. A rotating semicircular hoop blade cuts the fruit meat away from the peel while leaving the fruit meat and peel in place. The separated peel and fruit meat are moved across the scooping and sectioning assembly through a blade assembly which sections the fruit meat. The meat sectioning blade has a first portion which cuts through the peel and fruit meat to establish a first radial extent of the section cut. A following portion of the same blade is provided with a dull edge which completes the section cut of the fruit meat, but is not sharp enough to cut the peel or to cut any portion of the conveyor. The conveyor retains uninterrupted suction attachment with the partially sliced fruit peel and is undamaged by the suctioning blade(s). The fruit meat sections then fall away from the peel, which latter is moved by the conveyor to a disposal position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.