Abstract: The present invention defines an apparatus and a process for vacuum drying fruit or vegetables, particularly tropical fruit, such as bananas, mangos and pineapples, so as to provide an exceptionally sweet and flavorful fruit chip snack product which is substantially free of any additives such as frying oil, preservatives, added sugar and artificial sweeteners. The process is a vacuum drying process and utilizes a drying apparatus in the form of an autoclave which contains within it a stacked platen heat exchanger wherein trays of the fruit to be dried are placed between heated platens in the heat exchanger. The platens are heated using hot water or a hot water/steam mixture and the drying is done in the autoclave under pressure.

Abstract: The present invention defines an apparatus and a process for vacuum drying fruit or vegetables, particularly tropical fruit, such as bananas, mangos and pineapples, so as to provide an exceptionally sweet and flavorful fruit chip snack product which is substantially free of any additives such as frying oil, preservatives, added sugar and artificial sweeteners. The process is a vacuum drying process and utilizes a drying apparatus in the form of an autoclave which contains within it a stacked platen heat exchanger wherein trays of the fruit to be dried are placed between heated platens in the heat exchanger. The platens are heated using hot water or a hot water/steam mixture and the drying is done in the autoclave under pressure.

Abstract: A large scale processing method for separating banana pulp from its peel is shown. In this method bananas are separated into two parts (generally in a transverse direction), each part having a tip end and a cut end. A compression force is applied to those banana parts such that the force increases from the tip end to the cut end. A device which implements that process, including a cutting device, a means for feeding bananas into the cutting device, and two processing conveyor devices (to apply the compression force to the banana parts), is also shown.

Abstract: A scrubber for controlling carbon dioxide levels in a shipping container containing respiring produce is disclosed. The scrubber is relatively small, utilizes a gas-selective membrane having a CO2/O2 selectivity ratio greater than 1:1, and fits inside the shipping container (such as a sea van container). In contrast to current methods of controlling CO2 levels in shipping containers, such as the use of hydrated lime, the scrubbers of the present invention are efficient, relatively inexpensive, do not take up shipping space within the container, and do not present handling or disposal issues. A method for controlling the carbon dioxide levels inside a shipping container containing respiring produce, utilizing the carbon dioxide scrubbers defined, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A large scale processing method for separating banana pulp from its peel is disclosed. In this method bananas are separated into two parts (generally in a transverse direction), each part having a tip end and a cut end. A compression force is applied to those banana parts such that the force increases from the tip end to the cut end. A device which implements that process, comprising a cutting device, a means for feeding bananas into the cutting device, and two processing conveyor devices (to apply the compression force to the banana parts), is also disclosed.

Abstract: A large scale processing method for separating banana pulp from its peel is shown. In this method bananas are separated into two parts (generally in a transverse direction), each part having a tip end and a cut end. A compression force is applied to those banana parts such that the force increases from the tip end to the cut end. A device which implements that process, comprising a cutting device, a means for feeding bananas into the cutting device, and two processing conveyor devices (to apply the compression force to the banana parts), is also shown.

Abstract: This application discloses a method for separating banana clusters into individual fruits. In this method, the banana cluster is hung on a carrier (such as a cable) in such a way that the hanging point is the place where the banana fruit stalks converge (at the crown). The cluster and/or the cutter are moved toward each other and the cutter is positioned such that the cutter cuts the fruit stalks at a point lower than the cluster hanging point.