GRADING 291 



Sizing. The sizing is accomplished by means of expanding 

 hexagonal cups attached to metal crosspieces, which are fastened 

 onto the rim of the wheel. In a single-column machine there are 

 16 of these expanding cups, and in a double-column machine 32. 

 They expand over each chute as the wheel turns, and the size of 

 the expansion or opening remains the same the entire length of 

 each subtrack or chute, making an exact sizing or grading of the 

 fruit for that particular chute. The cups are constructed of three 

 stationary sides, fastened to the outer ends of the crosspieces, and 

 three movable sides made of one piece, which are hinged at the inside 

 ends of the crosspieces and taper toward the bottom of the cup, 

 thus forming a pocket of six sides and measuring the same distance 

 across in any direction. Adjustable subtracks support the hinged 

 sides of the cup in the proper position over each chute, and the sub- 

 tracks are attached to a stationary main track of steel by thumb- 

 screws. By these means the adjustment or expansion of the cup 

 is easily accomplished. 



As the cup arrives at the conveyer the hinged side is carried 

 onto a subtrack, winch is so adjusted that it will hold the cup in 

 position to let through the smallest-sized fruit. The cup is then 

 carried by the wheel to the second subtrack, and is expanded 

 I inch, or whatever is necessary for the next grade or size of 

 fruit. This expansion takes place as the hinged sides of the cup 

 pass from one subtrack to the next, over the entire set of chutes. 

 These chutes are stationed underneath the track so as to catch 

 each division of fruit, giving five sizes of fruit and delivering each 

 size separately to the packing tables. 



The six sides of the cups expand equally, thus making the dis- 

 tances across the pocket the same in any direction. It can be readily 

 seen that this arrangement gives the correct cheek-to-cheek grade 

 of fruit, regardless of the position the apple takes in the pocket. 



Adjustment. ( )wing to the irregular shapes and sizes of apples, 

 as compared with peaches and other fruits, the amount of expan- 

 sion of the cups required will differ ; but this is accomplished by 

 adjusting the subtracks. The adjustment is a simple process and 

 is made by merely loosening the thumbscrews and moving the sub- 

 tracks forward or backward the desired distance, and again securely 

 fastening them in place by tightening the thumbscrews. 



