System and method of processing produce

A system of processing produce, comprising:

• a sizing unit configured to release the produce vertically along a longitudinal axis of the produce during conveyance of the produce in a first direction;
• a receiving unit having a first row of a first plurality of produce receptacles and a second row of a second plurality of produce receptacles in parallel with the first row, each of the first row and the second row aligned along at least one of a lateral axis of the receiving unit and a longitudinal axis of the sizing unit;
• the receiving unit configured to convey the produce in a second direction, each of the first plurality of produce receptacles and the second plurality of produce receptacles configured to receive a single item of produce;
• at least one conveyor unit configured to receive the produce from the receiving unit and to convey the produce in a third direction;
• the first row of the first plurality of produce receptacles aligned along the longitudinal axis of the sizing unit, wherein conveyance of the produce in the first direction conveys the produce from a proximate end of the sizing unit toward a distal end of the sizing unit along the longitudinal axis of the sizing unit;
• a first produce receptacle of the first row having an opening, the first produce receptacle disposed at the proximate end of the sizing unit relative to a second produce receptacle of the first row;
• and
• the second produce receptacle of the first plurality of receptacles having an opening, the second produce receptacle disposed toward the distal end of the sizing unit relative to the first produce receptacle, wherein the opening of the second produce receptacle is larger than the opening of the first produce receptacle.

A method of processing produce, comprising:

• providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
• a sizing unit having a first roller and a second roller, the sizing unit configured to convey an item of produce in a first direction, and to release the item of produce vertically along a longitudinal axis of the item of produce between the first roller and the second roller during conveyance of the item of produce in the first direction;
• a receiving unit having a produce receptacle, and the receiving unit configured to receive the item of produce, in the produce receptacle, from the sizing unit, and to convey the item of produce in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• the produce receptacle having a cavity configured to receive the item of produce subsequent to release from the sizing unit;
• a first conveyor unit configured to receive at least a first portion of the item of produce, and to convey the item of produce in a third direction to separate the first portion of the item of produce from a second portion of the item of produce;
• a second conveyor unit configured to receive the second portion of the item of produce, at least one of the first conveyor unit and the second conveyor unit configured to convey the item of produce in the third direction;
• and
• the first conveyor unit and the second conveyor unit disposed in parallel with each other and configured to convey the item of produce in the third direction at a same speed with a gap between a longitudinal edge of the first conveyor unit and a longitudinal edge of the second conveyor unit, the first conveyor unit and the second conveyor unit configured to receive the item of produce from the produce receptacle with the item of produce extending laterally across the gap;
• conveying the item of produce in the first direction;
• releasing the item of produce in a vertical position during conveyance of the item of produce in the first direction;
• receiving the item of produce in the produce receptacle during conveyance of the produce receptacle in the second direction;
• expelling the item of produce from the produce receptacle at least partially onto the first conveyor unit;
• aligning the item of produce for engagement with at least one additional conveyor unit;
• and
• generating a separation force on the item of produce using at least one of the first conveyor unit, the second conveyor unit, and the at least one additional conveyor unit to at least partially separate the first portion of the item of produce from the second portion of the item of produce.