Trash and Stem Removal From Incoming Fruit

This paper discusses methods to remove trash and attached stems during receiving citrus fruit at processing plants and reports progress on work now underway with a pilot unloading line. The current project was initiated by a Florida processing plant, then combined with a project to develop methods for mechanical grading of fruit harvested by mechanical means, funded by the Florida Department of Citrus through the Florida Citrus Research Foundation, For the joint project, an 8-box/min. pilot unloading line was constructed and operated in June and July, 1975. The line has been modified and expanded to about 20-box/min. capacity for evaluation this season.

Paper published with permission.