Machine for the pitting and filling of olives, with a pitting-filling set (2), an olive dosing apparatus (3) and a paste ball dosing apparatus (5), and an olive carrier (4) and a paste ball carrier (6) from the dosing apparatuses (3, 5) to the pitting-filling set (2). The pitting-filling set (2) has a drive shaft (10) to which there are fixed a plate (11) with seats (12) where the olives (7) are set for their pitting and filling, and retainer (13), puncher (16), nozzle (19), detaching-filling device (23) and pre-fill chamber (26) sets, which activated by cams (15, 18, 22, 25, 28) carry out synchronized displacements within a 360° rotation of the drive shaft (10) in a sequence of movements for the synchronized pitting and filling of the olives, and return to the initial position of a new cycle.

An improvement in vegetable cutting machines of the kind comprising a cylindrical feeder (1) which includes a vertically upstanding cylindrical tube (2) and a vegetable press-feed device (3) in the form of a plate (4) which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube (2) and which is linearly movable relative to the tube (2) wherein the plate (4) is carried by a stand arm unit placed parallel with the tube (2) and including an upper stand arm (6) having a downwardly projecting shaft (7), wherein the shaft coacts with a tubular part (8) on a lower stand arm (9), thereby enabling the plate (4) to be swung away from the top orifice of the tube (2) and enable vegetables to be inserted into the tube (2) for disintegration in the machine, and wherein a cutting tool comprising a disc provided with one or more knives is mounted in the vicinity of the bottom orifice of the tube (2). The improvements characterized in that the wall of the lower arm (9) is perforated with an L-shaped slot (12) having a part which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stand arm-unit and which terminated at the upper end (13) of the lower arm (9); in that the shaft (7) of the upper arm (6) is provided with an outwardly projecting peg (14) intended for coaction with the slot (12); in that the upper arm (6) is provided with an outwardly projecting wing (15) or the like which functions to restrict rotational movement of the upper arm (6) to a first position through coaction with a stop (16) ; in that the stop (16) can be moved against the action of a spring force such as to enable the upper arm (6) to be rotated to a second position past the first position, in which second position the peg (14) is positioned so as to be able to run in that part of the L-shaped slot ( 12 ) which extends parallel with the longitudinal axis of the stand arm-unit.

The invention relates to an apparatus for singulating products, such as apples, which, floating along in water in a channel in the transport direction, are supplied and, after singulation in the water, are thereupon fed out of the water to a transport device, for instance a roller conveyor, and is characterized in that the apparatus comprises, in succession

• a submerging device for submerging products supplied in the channel,
• a singulating channel, of a width equal to the singulating width, intended for collecting the products released after submersion, in a continuous row, and
• a releasing device for releasing the products after the submersion and for thereupon feeding the products to the singulating channel.

Apparatus for transporting articles (32) comprises a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel axles (4) coupled for movement by an endless chain drive. Each axle (4) extends substantially transversely to the direction of movement and has a number of carriages (2) coupled thereto. The carriages (2) are spaced along, and pivotably mounted on the respective axle (4). Each carriage (2) has a skid member (10) supporting two pairs of wheels, the first pair of wheels being carried by the respective axle (4).

The articles are supported on the wheels (6,8) as the carriages are pulled along on their skid members (10) over an appropriate support. If it is required to inspect the articles, the wheels are brought into contact with elongate support members (20, 22) so that they are rotated and thereby rotate the article carried thereby. Deposit of an article is achieved by removing support from the respective carriages (2) so that the carriage pivots relative to said axle (4).

Fruit feeder for vending machines, including a container (2) for fruit storage, a fruit elevator (3) and a horizontal fruit conveyor. The elevator is composed of two vertical endless chains between which are mounted horizontal vanes (9) and (10) which elevate and eject the fruit. The horizontal transporter (4) is composed of two rollers turning in different directions and which have helical ribbings of opposite inclinations, receiving the fruit (5) from the elevator to transport them to a collecting trough (6) of the squeezer (1).

This invention relates to an orienting apparatus for orienting round or approximately round articles (1), for instance fruit, comprising two parallel rollers (12) extending obliquely upwardly and rotating in the same direction, and a chain (3) with conveying elements, arranged at the rollers and extending obliquely upwardly, wherein each conveying element consists of a holder (8) formed by an annular cup (9) in which a ball (10) is mounted. The ball may be rotatably mounted on a horizontal bearing pin (11) in the holder, whereby a quick orientation can be accomplished.

In an apparatus that is able to orientate a plurality of fruit, particularly peaches, supplied in succession to a machine for the automatic packing thereof in special trays, there is a charging-separating device 50 that infeeds the fruit P, previously selected by size, in a continuous succession to a first station 60 at which the fruit is orientated with the peduncular cavity 3 pointing downwards and the line of suture 4 thereof lying on the plane of motion; the said station being constituted by a pair of inclined rollers 12 that rotate in the same direction at regular intervals, in between which slide a plurality of means 13, connected to a driven chain 14, provided to support the fruit; subsequently, at a second station 70 constituted by optical electronic means, the most coloured part of the fruit is recognized, while at a third station 80 the fruit undergoes a 90° rotation clockwise or anti-clockwise with respect to the vertical axis thereof so that the most coloured part be pointing in the direction of motion.