Singulator and sizer . --These two components were tested together. 

 Retarders of 1/4-inch sponge rubber slowed apples as they moved from the 

 spreader belt onto the singulator, and the same material was used to pad 

 dividers under the sizing cups. Bruise-free apples were placed down on the 

 spreader belt which delivered them to the singulator, from which they dropped 

 into sizing cups. Apples dropped through the cups and were recovered from 

 take-away belts as they came from under the sizer. A bruise-free lot of 

 fruit with a pressure test of 14.5 pounds was used in the test. Bruising, 

 all slight, occurred on 1 percent of the apples. 



Return- flow belt . --The number of revolutions apples make on a return- 

 flow belt directly influences the amount of bruising that will occur. Two 

 separate tests were conducted, with power shunts used in both cases. The 

 inside belt traveled at 23.5 feet per minute, and the outside belt at 

 20 feet per minute. One lot of relatively soft fruit was left on the belt 

 for 5 minutes, where the apples averaged 5 revolutions. Bruising amounted to 

 only 0.8 percent. The second lot was left 10 minutes, and the apples averaged 

 20 revolutions. Three percent of these apples, testing at 10 pounds, were 

 bruised. With both lots the degree of bruising was slight. 



Utility disposal belt . --Fruit removed from the sorting table as U. S. 

 Utility grade was released onto a conveyor belt located over the center 

 section of the table. Fruit traveled 28 feet per minute to the end of this 

 conveyor where it dropped 2 inches onto a declining belt conveyor. This con- 

 veyor carried the apples to a third and horizontal conveyor, which carried 

 them to a stationary metal shunt. This system was shown in figure 6. A series 

 of retarding drapes installed along the declining portion of the system pre- 

 vented apples from rolling too fast, and striking the metal shunt. 



To test this equipment, bruise-free apples with a firmness of 14.5 pounds 

 were used. They were set down on the conveyor over the sorting table, and 

 transferred to the declining belt conveyor, which carried them down and 

 transferred the fruit to the horizontal belt conveyor. At this point they 

 were recovered and set aside. After 24 hours, 4.8 percent of the apples showed 

 bruising, which was all slight. 



Chain sizers .--Two chain sizers were installed as a part of the. utility- 

 grade handling system. Running apples over the chain sizers added some 

 bruises to the fruit, but it was desirable to divide utility apples according 

 to size. Test fruit, with a firmness of 15.5 pounds, was introduced immediately 

 before the chain sizer, and recovered after it had dropped through onto the 

 take-away belt. Bruising, all slight, was found on 3 percent of the apples 

 tested. 



Automatic box fillers . --To test this box filler for bruising, apples 

 were placed on the take-away belt under the chain sizer, from which they 

 were delivered into the boxes. When a box was full, it was automatically 

 ejected, a new box fell into position, and the process continued until all 

 test apples were used. Filled boxes were recovered from the accumulator 

 conveyor, so that the test included all elements associated with automatic 

 box filling. 



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