Abstract: An improved peeling machine for controlling the removal of a peeling from a food product, the peeling machine having a hopper with a supply auger that pushes a food item to a peeling chamber, the peeling chamber having a plurality of parallel longitudinal rollers arranged in an arcuate juxtaposition relation, as the food item moves through the plurality of rollers, the food item is peeled and moved toward the discharge gate of the peeling machine, the improvement is the use of an abrasive material on the rollers that is formed using electrostatic charges to align the abrasive particles onto an epoxy layer and adhering this epoxy layer onto the exterior surface of the roller.

Abstract: An improved discharge gate for a food peeler having an S-shaped portion edge such that a food item is able to uniformly flow from the peeling chamber out of the discharge gate and at the same time, the gate causes efficient flow within the peeling chamber of the peeling device such that all of the food items within the peeler are uniformly peeled.

Abstract: An improved roller shaft for a food peeling machine that allows for an improved method of changing abrasive sections that are on the shaft, the improved shaft having a first and second end with removable retaining elements and the method involving the use of a hydrostatic cylinder to place a new abrasive section on the roller shaft thus causing the most worn section to slide off the shaft.

Abstract: An improved roller shaft for a food peeling machine that allows for an improved method of changing abrasive sections that are on the shaft, the improved shaft having a first and second end with removable retaining elements and the method involving the use of a hydrostatic cylinder to place a new abrasive section on the roller shaft thus causing the most worn section to slide off the shaft.

Abstract: An improved discharge gate for a food peeler having an S-shaped portion edge such that a food item is able to uniformly flow from the peeling chamber out of the discharge gate and at the same time, the gate causes efficient flow within the peeling chamber of the peeling device such that all of the food items within the peeler are uniformly peeled.

Abstract: An improved roller shaft for a food peeling machine that allows for an improved method of changing abrasive sections that are on the shaft, the improved shaft having a first and second end with removable retaining elements and the method involving the use of a hydrostatic cylinder to place a new abrasive section on the roller shaft thus causing the most worn section to slide off the shaft.

Abstract: An improved peeling machine for controlling the removal of a peeling from a food product, the peeling machine having a hopper with a supply auger that pushes a food item to a peeling chamber, the peeling chamber having a plurality of parallel longitudinal rollers arranged in an arcuate juxtaposition relation, as the food item moves through the plurality of rollers, the food item is peeled and moved toward the discharge gate of the peeling machine, the improvement is the use of an abrasive material on the rollers that is formed using electrostatic charges to align the abrasive particles onto an epoxy layer and adhering this epoxy layer onto the exterior surface of the roller.

Abstract: A method of controlling the removal of peelings from a potato product in a peeling machine having abrasive rollers, a rotatable discharge gate, and a discharge conveyor includes providing a shadow-free lighting structure over the conveyor, taking photographs of product on the conveyor flowing under said lighting structure, determining the number of dark pixels in each photograph and passing that number to a processor, placing a defined value for the preferred number of dark pixels in the processor, comparing the determined number of dark pixels with the predetermined value of dark pixels, and adjusting the operation of the machine to increase or decrease the amount of peelings being removed to bring the number of dark pixels subsequently determined closely to the predetermined value of dark pixels. A product peeling machine has a high speed camera over the conveyor. A high speed camera is mounted over the conveyor to take photographs of groups of product moving with the conveyor.

Abstract: A separator apparatus to separate less dense particulate material from dense particulate material has a tank for containing fluid which has sidewalls and a sloping bottom with upper and lower ends. A vertically oriented housing is secured to the tank and has an upper and lower end with the lower end being in the tank and the upper end extending above the tank. An auger means is mounted within the housing and extends the substantial length thereof. A discharge location is located in the tank adjacent the lower end of the bottom for removing dense objects therefrom. The housing has a discharge location at its upper end for discharging the less dense objects lifted from the tank by the auger apparatus. A spout is located at the discharge location for the housing and has a spout that has a wall tangential to the cylindrical housing for quickly and easily receiving less dense objects from the outer periphery of the helical flighting.

Abstract: The device of the present invention removes suspended solids from a liquid medium, such as particles in an oil-based sludge. The device includes a filter chamber having an inlet for introducing liquid into the chamber, with the liquid containing suspended solids. The chamber also has an outlet for releasing filtered liquid which is substantially free from suspended solids. The liquid coming into the chamber is forced through a filter element to remove the suspended solids therefrom. The removed solids are compressed in the chamber by a reciprocating piston. When a sufficient quantity of suspended solids accumulate within the chamber, a discharge valve is opened and the compressed solids are discharged from the chamber. The device is operated automatically by a computer, which controls a series of operation cycles, including normal filtering operation, compression of solids, purging of solids, and cleansing of the filter element.

Abstract: A potato chip manufacturing machine comprising a frame, an elongated oil cooking kettle mounted on the frame, and an oil circulation circuit connected to the oil for causing flow of cooking oil in a longitudinal direction through the cooking kettle. Flow retarding paddles are horizontally mounted in a transverse direction over the oil in the kettle and are adapted to retard the flow of potato slices longitudinally in the kettle. A powered conveyor device is mounted on one end of the kettle to remove cooked potato slices from the oil. A potato slicing means is pivotally mounted on one end of the frame. The potato slicing means, the paddle and the conveyor are powered by variable speed motors. Either a gas or electrical heat means is provided over the kettle to heat the oil therein. Elongated, spaced apart heat exchanger bars are located on the bottom of the kettle. The vanes of the retarding paddles are sand blasted and bent slightly to prevent adhesion by potato slices.