Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for moving and thermally conditioning generally cylindrical containers in which the structure provides for movement of the containers about their axes and provides for a predetermined heat flow relative to the containers to change the temperature of the containers by a predetermined amount. The apparatus may be used for cooling of hot containers or for both heating the containers for sterilization and then subsequent cooling, if desired.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for a batch cooking and packing process for pieces of a food product such as fruits and vegetables. The process includes collecting a predetermined quantity of the uncooked food product, depositing that quantity by gravity flow into a closed cooking chamber containing a quantity of liquid for use with the food product, then heating the food product by recirculating the liquid through a heat exchanger to heat the liquid and food product to a cooking and sterilizing temperature and then removing the liquid from the cooking chamber until the total combined volume of liquid and food product remaining substantially equals the desired quantity of food product and liquid desired to be deposited into a predetermined shipping container, and depositing the remaining food product and liquid from the cooking chamber through a cooking chamber delivery port into the shipping container and sealing that shipping container.

Abstract: Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables comprises a plurality of rotatably driven peeling elements having predetermined axes of rotation that are generally horizontal and substantially parallel to one another. The peeling elements have a provision for engaging the peel of the fruits and vegetables. A plurality of flexible, elongate, peeling enhancement fingers, each having a first end and a second end, are mounted to the apparatus above the peeling elements by their first ends. The first ends lie in a generally horizontal row that is generally parallel to the axes of rotation of the peeling elements. The fingers extend generally toward the peeling elements with the second end of each finger being proximal at least two peeling elements, so that the finger engages the item of fruit or vegetable being engaged by the adjacent peeling elements. A support structure provides support for the peeling elements, fingers and drive mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables includes a plurality of substantially parallel shafts including a first set of shafts and a second set of shafts with one of the second set shafts interposed between each adjacent pair of the first set of shafts, a plurality of axially adjacent and spaced peeling disks affixed to each shaft for rotation therewith with each such disk having a flexible radially extending portion for engaging an item to be peeled with means for rotating all of the shafts in the same direction with all of the shafts of the first set being rotated at a first predetermined speed and all of the shafts of the second set being rotated at a second speed differing from the first speed with support apparatus for supporting the rotating mechanism and the shafts.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for disintegrating fruit into pulp and juice and includes apparatus for controlling the rate of introduction of fruit and of ambient atmosphere into the overall apparatus, a cylindrical rotor housing having an entrance aperture and an outlet channel with a rotor drivingly rotated within to accelerate the fruit around a circular path and then discharge the fruit through a tangential channel into a disintegration chamber where the fruit impacts against a disintegrating member to disintegrate the fruit into pulp and juice for subsequent removal and packing.

Abstract: A method of filling drums with cooked sterile pieces of solid food products in a packing liquid includes depositing a predetermined quantity of the pieces of solid food product by gravity flow into a sterilized drum substantially without packing liquid, then engaging the drum in a pressure-tight manner with the liquid filling head introducing pressurized steam through that filling head and maintaining steam pressure within the drum and the liquid filling head while introducing a packing liquid into the drum, then applying an air tight seal to the drum head and subsequently releasing the steam pressure from the liquid filling head and removing the liquid filling head.

Abstract: A fruit gripper head assembly for use in a machine for pitting fruits of the drupe type includes a support structure receivable onto a pitting machine, a plurality of gripper arms spaced about the central axis of the assembly and mounted on the support structure for pivotal movement toward and away from the central axis, and fluid pressure operated actuating apparatus operatively connected to the gripper arm and to the support structure for urging pivotal movement of the arms toward the central axis upon introduction of pressurized fluid behind that actuating apparatus to provide for pivotal movement of the arms to grip fruit to be pitted.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for loosening the skin of moisture bearing fruit which have been heated at a first pressure to a predetermined temperature. This includes structure for introducing fruit into the apparatus, structure for holding the fruit and moving it along a predetermined path, equipment positioned along the path for reducing the pressure surrounding the fruit sufficiently below the first pressure to cause expansion of the moisture inside the skin of the fruit to loosen that skin, and finally structure for discharging the fruit from the holding and moving equipment at generally ambient pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for moving and thermally conditioning generally cylindrical containers in which the structure provides for movement of the containers about their axes and provides for a predetermined heat flow relative to the containers to change the temperature of the containers by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Methods are described for separating the pulp from the skin of fruit, such as tomatoes, in which each fruit is gripped and transported by mechanism along a continuously circular path, a cut to the skin of the fruit is produced by cutting device adjacent the path and the pulp is urged away from the gripping and transporting apparatus at a pulp discharge position while the skin remains gripped by that apparatus to separate the pulp from the skin.

Abstract: A fruit peeling machine comprising improved fruit peeling rollers in which at least one of each pair of rollers is provided with axially extending ribs projecting radially outwardly from the roller sufficiently to cause the fruit carried thereupon contact substantially only the outer portions of such ribs without substantial contact between the fruit and the portions of the rollers intermediate adjacent said axially extending ribs.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for separating the pulp from the skin of fruit, such as tomatoes, in which each fruit is gripped and transported by mechanism along a predetermined path, a cut to the skin of the fruit is produced by cutting device adjacent the path and the pulp is urged away from the gripping and transporting apparatus at a pulp discharge position while the skin remains gripped by that apparatus to separate the pulp from the skin.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for loosening the skin of moisture bearing fruit which have been heated at a first pressure to a predetermined temperature. This includes structure for introducing fruit into the apparatus, structure for holding the fruit and moving it along a predetermined path, equipment positioned along the path for reducing the pressure surrounding the fruit sufficiently below the first pressure to cause expansion of the moisture inside the skin of the fruit to loosen that skin, and finally structure for discharging the fruit from the holding and moving equipment at generally ambient pressure.