Apparatus and method for levelling drupe halves and the like

Claim 3

In the method as defined in claim 1; f. engaging the hemispherical surfaces of said objects below said water level at equally spaced points in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis while said objects are substantially floatingly supported, and during said movement to substantially center each object in the body of water in which it is supported.

Claim 4

In the method as defined in claim 1; g. said row of bodies being at a level adapted to support said objects therein in positions in which the upper planar surface of said objects are exposed at both of the lateral sides of said row and from above for inspection of said planar surfaces by one operator at either side of said row during said movement of said bodies.

Claim 7

Apparatus for orienting drupe halves and the like, each of which has a planar surface on one side in which a pit or pit cavity is exposed, and a substantially hemispherical surface on the opposite side extending to the edges of said planar surface, for positioning said planar surfaces horizontal and facing upwardly to enable a person at one side or the other of said halves to visually inspect said planar surfaces and the pits or pit cavities therein, comprising; a. a plurality of parallel, horizontally extending longitudinal rows of imperforate, upwardly opening, cuplike supports in side-by-side relation with the supports in said rows in alignment transversely of said rows to thereby provide transverse rows of said supports at right angles to said longitudinal rows, b. each of said supports being adapted to support therein a drupe half with its planar surface facing generally upwardly at a level adjacent to the uppermost portion of each support, c. means supporting said longitudinal rows of supports for movement as a unit in one direction, and means connected with said rows for so moving them, d. feed means over said longitudinal rows for simultaneously depositing a drupe half in each of the supports of said transverse rows at a point along said longitudinal rows, e. means adjacent to said feed means for simultaneously discharging a sufficient amount of water into each of said supports to substanTially float each of said drupes deposited in said supports, whereby drupe halves in said supports that may have their planar surfaces tilted relative to horizontal will automatically position themselves, when so floated, under the influence of gravity so their planar surfaces are horizontal to enable inspection of said planar surfaces and the pits or pit cavities therein by one person at either one or the other of the two opposite sides of said rows.

Claim 8

Apparatus for orienting drupe halves and the like, each of which has a planar surface on one side in which a pit or pit cavity is exposed, and a substantially hemispherical surface on the opposite side extending to the edges of said planar surface, for positioning said planar surfaces horizontal and facing upwardly to enable a person at one side or the other of said halves to visually inspect said planar surfaces and the pits or pit cavities therein, comprising; a. a plurality of parallel, horizontally extending longitudinal rows of imperforate, upwardly opening, cuplike supports in side-by-side relation with the supports in said rows in alignment transversely of said rows to thereby provide transverse rows of said supports at right angles to said longitudinal rows, b. each of said supports being adapted to support therein a drupe half with its planar surface facing generally upwardly at a level adjacent to the uppermost portion of each support, c. means supporting said longitudinal rows of supports for movement as a unit in one direction, and means connected with said rows for so moving them, d. feed means over said longitudinal rows for simultaneously depositing a drupe half in each of the supports of said transverse rows at a point along said longitudinal rows, e. means adjacent to said feed means for simultaneously discharging a sufficient amount of water into each of said supports to substanTially float each of said drupes deposited in said supports, whereby drupe halves in said supports that may have their planar surfaces tilted relative to horizontal will automatically position themselves, when so floated, under the influence of gravity so their planar surfaces are horizontal to enable inspection of said planar surfaces and the pits or pit cavities therein by one person at either one or the other of the two opposite sides of said rows.

Claim 9

In apparatus as defined in claim 5; f. said means for discharging said water into said supports including a horizontally extending outer tubular manifold formed with a horizontal row of spaced discharge openings on one lateral side thereof respectively positioned over each of the supports of each transverse row adapted to pass therebelow for discharge of water in said manifold reaching said level, and g. a pipe spaced within and parallel with said manifold formed with discharge openings for discharging water into said manifold, h. means for controlling the rate of flow of water discharged into said manifold to maintain the level of water within the latter at row of discharge openings in the latter for falling therefrom by gravity into said supports free from pressure thereagainst.

Claim 10

In apparatus as defined in claim 5; f. said feed means including means for supporting a plurality of parallel rows of drupe halves in indiscriminate arrangement with respect to the upwardly and downwardly facing positions of their planar surface for movement longitudinally of said rows thereof to a discharge position for said simultaneous depositing of said halves into said transverse rows of said cups, and g. means at said discharge position for guiding each of said drupe halves to a position for falling by gravity into each of said supports with its hemispherical surface facing downwardly.