290 THE APPLE 



After the pocket passes the chute leading to the end table it is 

 overbalanced by its own weight and position, and is closed, ready 

 to ascend to the conveyer. In the complete operation of the 

 machine it will be observed that there are no springs, belts, chains, 

 or similar machinery — only small adjustable wheels or rollers, and 

 hinged, automatically operated bottoms to the triangular pockets. 



The perfectly balanced wheel is practically operated by the weight 

 of the fruit. All the grades of fruit, except the culls, are at the 

 opposite side of the wheel from the conveyer, so that even when 

 the fruit is of medium size, the unloading side of the wheel is 

 the heaviest, and this will cause the wheel to revolve. The wheel, 

 however, is under the absolute control of the operator and may be 

 started or stopped by the hand ; it may also be controlled by the 

 foot, so that the operator may use both hands in feeding the fruit 

 from the conveyer into the pockets. Thus the use and cost of 

 motive power is entirely eliminated, and the turning of the machine 

 by hand is done away with. In the operation of the machine as de- 

 scribed above, the largest fruit is handled as gently as the smallest, 

 and without bruising, as every piece is conveyed or carried to its 

 proper grade as gently as though by hand. 



In grading apples, larger holes or openings, through which to 

 pass the fruit, are required than for peaches. The size is always 

 determined, regardless of shape, with strict reference to cheek-to- 

 cheek diameter, and it is impossible to put up a tier pack until the 

 fruit has been so sorted or graded. The pockets on the large wheel 

 of the grader form equal-sided triangles. No matter what the shape 

 of the fruit, it is properly graded by the hinged-bottom feature of 

 these triangles. The corners of the triangles furnish openings for 

 fruit stems, long ends of fruit, etc., and at the same time the largest 

 space in the pocket will catch the cheek of the fruit, which deter- 

 mines its grade, regardless of its position in the pocket, that is, 

 whether lengthwise, crosswise, or endwise. 



Feeding. The fruit is emptied into a hopper, from which it is 

 introduced into an inclined conveyer. Here it lies, one piece behind 

 another, until it is picked up by the cups (or pockets) as they arrive 

 at the point directly under the conveyer. There is no complicated 

 machinery to control the feeding, and but one piece of fruit is 

 delivered into a cup or pocket at a time. 



