THE DEKSTER FRUIT GRADER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 283, 10 November 1924, Page 3

THE DEKSTER FRUIT GRADER.

On Saturday, afternoon a large gathering of fruit growers through the Hastings district assembled at Begley’s Buildings Warren street, to witness a demonstration of the “Dekster Fruit Grader,” patented by Messrs. Dixon and Offen, and manufactured at the Dixon Engineering Works,. Hastings. The patentees claim that their invention is the best grader on the market for its completeness, simplicity and the accuracy of its work, whilst it is

adaptable to any size or kind of fruit, from apples to plums. The machine, which can be operated by a child turn-

ing a handle, or by power, consists of a succession of “grippers,” with caliper action, revolving on an endless chain working on sprockets. During their overhead journey these “grippers” travel on a gauge, the “triggers,” which control the grips, being free of contact with the bars on either side, which control their action, but. when they dive to commence their underneath journey, these “triggers” come in contact with the bars of a closer gauge, which is so designed that the bars draw nearer, on a graduated scale along the delivery route, causing the “triggers,” which are governed by. their contact with the bars, to release their freights, according to their measurement into the shoots leading to the receptacles arranged to receive them at the various stages of their transit. Having delivered their burdens the “grippers” ascend to the upper gauge and recommence their circuit.

The machine is fed from a hopper to a moving platform consisting of three tracks, the two outer courses travelling at a somewhat higher speed than the middle path, which has the effect, with the help of guides fixed along the walls of the ayenue at distances on either side, of placing the fruit in the proper position for delivery to the “grippers,” no matter how it may have been ejected from the hopper. The platform is also sectioned off into divisions, whereby each fruit is held in place, so that the gripper can catch up its own particular load for delivery to the receiver set a pair t for its size. As the “grippers” are carefully regulated by springs the fruit, whatever its size, is taken up delicately and held firmly, without the slightest injury. The shoots are made adaptable to the delivery of approximate sizes into one receiver, if so desired, and the whole machine is designed with the idea- of simplicity of detail, durability, economy and accuracy. Those who watched the grader at work on Saturday were much im-x pressed.