1. In an automatic machine for the processing of artichokes comprising a base, a main turntable rotatably supported on said base by a main shaft, and a plurality of stations for treating artichokes successively spaced adjacent the peripheral portion of said turntable, the improvement which comprises: a service turntable rotatably mounted near one side of said main table, with the peripheral portions of said tables overlapping at one point during their rotation, and said service turntable being provided with a plurality of artichoke receiving means spaced about its periphery, said main turntable comprising a plurality of artichoke gripping means distributed about the peripheral portion of said main turntable and spaced from each other by a distance equal to the distance between said stations, means for rotating said turntables intermittently and in synchronism to bring gripping means on said main turntable and artichoke receiving means on said service turntable periodically into vertical alignment where said turntables overlap, means for automatically transferring an artichoke from said receiving means to said gripping means when said alignment occurs, said gripping means comprising two superposed stationary plates with a movable plate rotatably mounted between them, said plates defining registering apertures therein having a common axis about which said movable plate rotates, and defining an artichoke receiving opening, at least three gripping arms engaging one of said stationary plates and said movable plate so that rotation of said movable plate relative to said stationary plates swings one end of each gripping arm into and out of said opening, a connecting rod for rotating said movable plate, and cam means driven by said turntable rotating means positioned to actuate said connecting rod to swing said gripping arms into said aperture to grip an artichoke.

2. In an automatic machine for the processing of artichokes comprising a base, a main turntable rotatably supported on said base by a main shaft, and a plurality of stations for treating artichokes successively spaced adjacent the peripheral portion of said turntable, the improvement which comprises: a service turntable rotatably mounted near one side of said main table, with the peripheral portions of said tables overlapping at one point during their rotation, and said service turntable being provided with a plurality of artichoke receiving means spaced about its periphery, said main turntable comprising a plurality of artichoke gripping means distributed about the peripheral portion of said main turntable And spaced from each other by a distance equal to the distance between said stations, means for rotating said turntables intermittently and in synthronism to bring gripping means on said main turntable and artichoke receiving means on said service turntable periodically into vertical alignment where said turntables overlap, means for automatically transferring an artichoke from said receiving means to said gripping means when said alignment occurs, said means for rotating said turntables comprising a wheel fixed to said main shaft, said wheel having a plurality of peripheral notches equal in number to the number of artichoke gripping means, a fork embracing said wheel, and mounted to oscillate about said main shaft, plunger means carried by said fork, and means for periodically urging said plunger into a notch in said wheel to cause said wheel to turn with said fork.