Abstract: The outer waxy, cutin-containing layer is removed from papaya by freeze-drying the fruit to separate the layer from the underlying fruit and then mechanically removing the so-separated layer.

Abstract: Decayed portions of potatoes are removed by supporting and advancing the potatoes on a series of rollers relative to a plurality of water spray nozzles with rubber fingers being mounted on some of the rollers. The rubber fingers contact the potatoes with sufficient force to penetrate the decayed portions without damaging the peel or other sound portions of the potatoes while water sprays contact the potatoes with sufficient force to remove the penetrated decayed portions while leaving the remaining portions intact.

Abstract: A pistachio huller is provided wherein a means having projections pushes unhulled nuts between the surface of the means having projections and a surface of a means having slots, the slots being narrower than the pistachio nuts to be hulled. The projections protrude into the slots and the hulls are ruptured and abraded through contact between the surface of the means with projection and the surface of the strips forming the means having slots whereby the nuts are hulled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separation of almond kernels where there is a mixture of almond kernels with almond kernels held with or within the shells the method comprising introducing the mixture onto two contra rotating rollers which are rotating upwardly through a separation gap and which have their axis inclined to the horizontal so as to cause feeding of the mixture from an entry location to an exit location, the separation gap being selected so that with the alignment caused by the roller action, almond kernels without shells will pass therethrough while almond kernels with shells will pass along to an exit location. The apparatus provides two contra rotating rollers held the selected distance apart to provide for the separation and being adapted to be contra rotating and includes abutments in the surface to provide an occasional tipping action to almond kernels moving along the surface of the rollers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing grain to provide meal, grit, flour and masa products suitable for human consumption and by-products suitable for use as animal feed and industrial products. The methods includes forming a slurry of the grain with water and processing the slurry through dehusking, germ detaching, grinding and sifting stages while maintaining the grain at a relatively high moisture content. Partially different methods are employed depending on whether the processed grain is sorghum, wheat or corn. The processing apparatus includes a dehusking unit having a plurality of pump stages to remove the husks from the grain kernels without cracking a substantial portion of the kernels. A fluidized bed dryer is utilized to remove excess water and to surface dry the kernels and husks. For sorghum grains a centrifugal impact germ detacher is utilized to break up the dehusked kernel and separate the germ and oil from the endosperm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for peeling off the protective tissue of musculomembranous organs.This process successively consists in:making the said organs to change into a solid state by freezing:and abrading the protective tissue of those frozen organs.The process of the invention is especially applied to peel off the inner membrane of the oesophagus of slaughter-house animals.

Abstract: A process including dry blanching of raw nuts is described. The nuts are heated with a gas at a temperature of 125.degree. to 175.degree. C. for 30 to 180 seconds and then immediately cooled to below 35.degree. C. within 5 minutes prior to blanching. This provides improved blanching, sorting and other steps in a process for producing products ranging from nuts per se to peanut butters or spreads.

Abstract: Novel process for peeling fruits and vegetables which yields maximum skin removal coupled with minimum loss of flesh. The fruit or vegetable is contacted with an aqueous dispersion of a 3-18 carbon carboxylic acid at elevated temperatures for a time sufficient to loosen the peel, which can then be removed by mechanical action.

Abstract: Method for removing material from the surface of fruits and vegetables (produce) and separating the removed material from the resultant mixture utilizes the rotation of an upwardly directed cage formed of elongated rotating spindles having a material removing surface thereon, the cage rotary speed being sufficient, at the interior radius thereof, to maintain the produce in continuous centrifugal force contact against the spindle material removing surface, but generally insufficient to prevent downward movement or migration of the produce within the cage under the force of gravity. Produce to be treated is urged into engagement with the spindles and the rotating cage causes the produce to accelerate substantially to said rotary speed, whereby the produce travels with the cage in contact with the rotating material removing spindle surfaces.

Abstract: A method for processing grain, e.g. corn, to provide a flour or grit product suitable for human consumption and by-products suitable for use as animal feed and industrial products which includes forming a slurry of the grain with water and passing the slurry through a plurality of pump stages having turbine pumps equipped with turbine pump impellers to remove the husks from the grain kernels without cracking a substantial portion of the kernels. The slurry is then passed through a centrifuge to remove excess water, surface dried and passed through an aspirator to separate the husks from the grain kernels. The dehusked kernels are sent through a centrifugal impact cracker to break up the kernel and separate th germ and oil from the endosperm. The broken kernel pieces are then milled to produce flour.

Abstract: A method for degerming maize is disclosed. The maize is introduced into a cylindrical, perforated working housing in which is mounted a rapidly rotating rotor which drives the maize along an annular working chamber between the rotor and housing. The rotor carries a large number of blades having edges which detach the germ from the endosperm. A collecting chamber surrounds the working housing, and the working housing is provided with an outlet aperture for oversize particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the husking and drying of cereal and legume kernels comprising separating the kernels from their husks by means of rotating plate bodies and discharging the husks from the kernels/husks mixture by means of air.

Abstract: A degerminating process wherein the grain kernels are crushed from the thin edges toward the center while avoiding crushing of the relatively flat side surfaces. The crushing force fractures the endosperm under and around the germ and squeezes the germ away from the endosperm in a whole condition. A machine for carrying out the degermination includes relatively rotating discs having corrugations in their facing surfaces in which the kernels are caught and crushed from the thin edges toward the center. An alternative degerminator machine includes a single rotating disc having curved guide vanes on its upper surface for guiding the kernels as they are propelled outwardly by centrifugal force. The vanes orient each kernel with its top or bottom edge in position to impinge upon flat impact surfaces which results in a crushing force applied from the thin edge toward the center of the kernel.

Abstract: A method for processing grain to provide a flour or grit product suitable for human consumption and by-products suitable for use as animal feed and industrial products which includes forming a slurry of the grain with water and passing the slurry through a plurality of pump stages having turbine pumps equipped with turbine pump impellers to remove the husks from the grain kernels without cracking a substantial portion of the kernels. The slurry is then passed through a centrifuge to remove excess water, surface dried and passed through an aspirator to separate the husks from the grain kernels. The dehusked kernels are sent through a centrifugal impact cracker to break up the kernel and separate the germ and oil from the endosperm. The broken kernel pieces are then milled to produce flour.

Abstract: Whole kernels of corn are removed intact from the cob by a method wherein the cob is first split longitudinally. Then, a force is applied to the kernels to remove them from the cob. The so-separated whole kernels may then be processed in conventional manner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously peeling vegetables and fruits in large quantities. The apparatus 1ncludes a support structure with a housing rotatably mounted thereon, the housing having a plurality of closely spaced-apart, rotating abrading spindles mounted thereon forming an enclosed cage. Rotation of the cage at a sufficient rate accelerates produce items engaging the spindles into generally circular orbits at a speed which results in the produce items being held against the rotating spindles by centrifugal force. The centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the cage also urges peelings outwardly of the cage between the spindles for discharge. A finger drum is rotatably mounted on said support structure within the cage and has a plurality of flexible fingers thereon adapted to engage produce items as they move from a feed end to a discharge end of the housing. Rotation of the finger drum causes the fingers to urge the produce items into initial engagement with the spindles.

Abstract: A milling roll for use in a rice milling machine for removing the bran coating from the exterior surface of the rice kernels, in which the rice kernels are caused to rub or roll against each other rather than between relatively moving surfaces. The milling roll is generally cylindrical in construction with spaced baffles oriented at particular angular positions so that rice kernels will enter the milling roll between certain of the adjacent baffles from the periphery of the rotating roll toward the center thereof where the rice kernels will be caused to rub against each other as they work in and out and are ultimately discharged between adjacent baffles peripherally of the milling roll for discharge from the rice milling machine through the usual rice outlet or discharge spout past the usual pressure plate control mechanism.

Abstract: A method is characterized by causing a container with grain loaded therein to perform two rotary motions, that is a rotary motion about its own axis and a rotary motion about an axis of rotation extending in parallel with and in the same plane as its own axis, with subsequent positive removal of seed covers. The method enables the separation of seed cover from endosperm of grain of various cereal crops without destructing endosperm. An apparatus for carrying out this method is provided with at least two containers mounted in a hollow casing in parallel relative to each other for rotation about their common axes and interconnected for combined rotation about a common axis of rotation extending in parallel with their own axes. The apparatus has means for charging grain communicated with the containers, as well as collectors for seed covers and endosperm of grain communicated with the containers.

Abstract: A process for fractionating the whole wheat kernel into its bran, germ and endosperm components includes the steps of tempering the wheat kernel in water, pin milling the wheat kernel, sifting the milled kernal to separate the germ and bran components from the endosperm, hydrating and agitating the endosperm to just saturate it and to form a thick, dough-like mass and mechanically working, by kneading, cutting and stretching, the dough-like mass while continuously washing it with water to separate the non-gluten endosperm components from the gluten. The bran and germ components can be separated from each other by conventional gravity table techniques.

Abstract: The present apparatus for skinning or peeling of produce comprises a rotatably mounted pressure vessel having a cover operable from within the vessel for sealing the vessel. The cover is pressure operated and permitted to fall open under the force of gravity upon pressure release. A pivoted latching pawl is provided in the pressure vessel for engaging the cover to hold it open. The pawl is also gravity operated to latch the cover in an open position. In the process for skinning or peeling produce, the pressure vessel is loaded with the produce, sealed and steam is introduced therein to rapidly increase the pressure and temperature within the vessel sufficiently so that a layer under the skin of the produce will come to a boil in response to pressure release. The pressure is maintained for a given period until the layer of the produce under its skin is sufficiently heated.

Abstract: System for peeling fruits or vegetables wherein the peel is loosened by a double treatment with lye, each treatment being followed by a holding period. After the second holding period, the peel is removed directly, that is, without any application of radiant or other heat.