Pear transfer apparatus and method.

摘要

An apparatus and method are provided for moving a pear (7) from a roll orientor into a transfer cup (70) wherein an inclined pear stop shoe (40) is provided which contacts and guides the pear (7) down-wardly into the transfer cup (70) as the orienting rolls (31,32) separate. The rolls (31,32) are separated at a predetermined speed so that the roll (31) maintains contact with the pear (7) and helps guide the pear (7) into the transfer cup (70). The pear stop shoe (40) is retractable after the pear (7) is guided into the transfer cup (70) so that the pear (7) is supported only by the walls of the transfer cup (70).