Apparatus for pitting dates or the like
US4313373A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1980 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA23N4/08
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus for pitting dates wherein an endless apron consisting of plates with sockets for dates is transported stepwise by two chains past a hopper which dispenses randomly distributed dates onto the upper sides of successive plates, past an adjustable elastic refuser which intercepts overlapping dates and directs some intercepted dates into empty sockets, past a rotary brush which inclines partly inserted dates in a direction counter to the direction of movement of the plates, past a centering station wherein semicylindrical extensions of tubular centering elements penetrate into the sockets of the adjacent plate to promote or cause complete penetration of partly inserted dates into the respective sockets, and thereupon past a removing station where the cutting edges at the leading ends of reciprocable tools penetrate into the sockets to expel pits from the dates. A first nozzle sprays water onto the leading ends of pit removing tools while the leading ends extend beyond the sockets of the plate at the removing station, a second nozzle sprays water onto the outer sides of successive plates and the surfaces bounding the sockets of such plates ahead of the hopper, and a third nozzl…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.