Gravity wheel de-stemmer

Abstract

A produce de-stemmer for generally symmetrical produce such as pepper pods that supports an item of produce in a propped orientation within a canister, a number of which are connected to a moving endless chain so that the canisters are cyclically inverted. A fixed support track resides below the moving canisters to support the item of produce so that a portion of the item is exposed during the canister travel. The exposed portion of the produce item is propelled into a cutting means which removes a desired portion of the produce item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for trimming the ends of pepper pods comprising:
 (1) a series of cyclically inverting tubular receivers traveling a cyclical path wherein each receiver is loaded during a trimming process with a pepper pod and wherein within the receiver the pod is loosely held and propped therein in a generally longitudinal orientation relative to the receiver,   (2) as a result of inversion of the receiver and gravity causing a portion of the pepper pod to emerge from the inverted receiver, at least one cutter transecting a portion of partially exposed pod during receiver travel,   (3) at least one guide for support of the inverted and partially exposed pepper pod for directing the pod into the at least one cutter, and,   (4) a support framework for at least the receivers and the at least one guide.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus accrding to  claim 1  wherein the at least one guide is preceded by a suporting surface approximating an arc of receiver travel which prevents the inverted pods from falling completely free of the receiver.