Seed, Pit, Stem, Or Core Patents (Class 426/484)
  • Patent number: 7887865
    Abstract: The present example provides an automated or mechanized, way of making a pepper boat from a de-stemmed pepper. In making the pepper boat, de-stemmed peppers may be split by a splitting assembly. As the pepper is split, or subsequently, a whisk assembly tends to clean a portion of the veins and seeds from the split pepper pod to form two substantially equal halves of a pepper boat, suitable for further food processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Knorr Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert J. Knorr, John Victor
  • Publication number: 20110016566
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015662. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015662. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015662 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015662 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher Goblirsch, Richard Ellefson
  • Publication number: 20110016567
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015862. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015862. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015862 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015862 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: ROGER LUSSENDEN
  • Publication number: 20110016556
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016495. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016495. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016495 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016495 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: CRAIG MOOTS
  • Publication number: 20110016568
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015657. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015657. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015657 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015657 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER GOBLIRSCH, John Gulleson
  • Publication number: 20110016564
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015646. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015646. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015646 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015646 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher Goblirsch, Travis Jenson
  • Publication number: 20110016559
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016190. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016190. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016190 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016190 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: THOMAS FLOYD
  • Publication number: 20110016551
    Abstract: Inbred broccoli lines, designated BRM50-3906 are disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred broccoli lines BRM50-3906, to the plants of inbred broccoli lines BRM50-3906, and to methods for producing a broccoli plant produced by crossing the inbred line BRM50-3906 with itself or another broccoli line. The invention further relates to hybrid broccoli seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line BRM50-3906 with another broccoli line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc.
    Inventors: Franciscus van den Bosch, Meinardus Petrus Boon
  • Publication number: 20110016563
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015632. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015632. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015632 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015632 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER GOBLIRSCH, Richard Ellefson
  • Publication number: 20110016560
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016184. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016184. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016184 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016184 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: THOMAS FLOYD
  • Publication number: 20110016554
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016167. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016167. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016167 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016167 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Maqsood Rehman
  • Publication number: 20110016555
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016115. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016115. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016115 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016115 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: JENNIFER HICKS
  • Publication number: 20110016562
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015631. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015631. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015631 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015631 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: HEINRICH WOHLESER
  • Publication number: 20110016558
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016131. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016131. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016131 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016131 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: THOMAS FLOYD
  • Publication number: 20110016565
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1015645. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1015645. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1015645 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1015645 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Heinrich Wohleser
  • Publication number: 20110014341
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016502. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016502. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016502 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016502 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: CRAIG MOOTS
  • Publication number: 20110016552
    Abstract: The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016082. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016082. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016082 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016082 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: THOMAS FLOYD
  • Publication number: 20110003045
    Abstract: Soybean seeds having an ultra-low raffinose and stachyose phenotype. Also disclosed is a mutant allele of soybean designated SG-ULRFO which results in an ultra-low raffinose and stachyose phenotype. The present invention also relates to a soybean seed, a soybean plant and parts of a soybean plant and a soybean hybrid which comprises the mutant allele. Also disclosed are ultra-low raffinose and stachyose soybean seeds having unexpectedly increased germination rates when compared with soybean lines not having a low raffinose and stachyose seed content. Also disclosed are mutant RS3 and RS4 genes with polymorphisms which contribute to the ultra-low raffinose and stachyose phenotype as described in the present invention. The present invention also relates for method of using the soybean seeds and plants of the present invention, to plants parts derived from the present invention, to methods of producing transgenic plants using the plants and seeds of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: JOHN A. SCHILLINGER, EMILY C. DIERKING, KRISTIN D. BILYEU
  • Publication number: 20100303995
    Abstract: A natural nutritional supplementary food of Abelmoschus manihot (Linn.) medius. It comprises separating and classifying seed, flower, caudex and root of Abelmoschus manihot (Linn.) medius, then harvesting and processing. The materials are directly used as raw material product, or the materials separated and classified are used as filling in the proportion of 1%-20% respectively and added into food main materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: BEIJING DONGSHENG AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT (GROUP) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiyuan Wang, Shaozhang Wang
  • Publication number: 20100291276
    Abstract: A conveyor system includes a plurality of produce clamps that rotate around a clamp conveyor assembly. On a field side of the conveyor system, a synchronous conveyor belt provides a support for the butt or stem of a plant placed thereon, in between clamps. As the clamp conveyor turns away from the field side, the clamps close and fully support the plants. The conveyor assembly carries the clamps, and the clamped plants, through a series of coring and trimming blades. The clamps then open to release the cored and trimmed product onto a collection conveyor, and the clamps continue to the field side to receive further plants for processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Valley Fabrication
    Inventors: Peter de Groot, Brian Caprara
  • Publication number: 20100285194
    Abstract: A leafy vegetable having a core end and a leafy end is processed after being harvested. The harvested leafy vegetable is transported to a trim area on a conveyor. A first cutting implement located in the trim area trims a portion of the core end. A second cutting implement located in the trim area trims a portion of the leafy end. The first and second cutting implements are spaced a set distance apart, which defines an amount of the leafy vegetable remaining after the portions of the core and leafy ends are trimmed. As the portions of the core and leafy ends of the leafy vegetable are being trimmed by the first and second cutting implements, a set of one or more nozzles located in the trim area sprays a rinsing liquid on cut sites on the leafy vegetable to rinse off natural juices exuding from the cut sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc.
    Inventors: Narayan Dnyanadeo PATIL, Serafin Albarran, William Christopher Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100278986
    Abstract: A novel garden bean cultivar, designated SB4355, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of garden bean cultivar SB4355, to the plants of garden bean line SB4355 and to methods for producing a garden bean plant by crossing the cultivar SB4355 with itself or another garden bean line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a garden bean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other garden bean lines derived from the cultivar SB4355.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Ronald Riley, Roxanne Mainz
  • Publication number: 20100257631
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the new soybean variety designated G00-3209 as well as the seeds, plants and derivatives of the new soybean variety G00-3209. Also provided are tissue cultures of the new soybean variety G00-3209 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the new soybean variety G00-3209 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: H. Roger Boerma, Richard S. Hussey, Daniel V. Phillips, Edwin Dale Wood
  • Patent number: 7597920
    Abstract: Fruit items are positioned between vertical pins located in the calyx and stem hole of said fruit item, thereby securing the fruit item by a compressive force through its core. A core tube surrounding the upper pin descends to meet the lower pin, thereby completely piercing the fruit item and isolating its core inside the tube. A cushioned ram pushes the edible portion of the fruit item down over the core tube, through a cassette of radial knives, creating a plurality of wedges that fall immediately into an enzyme bath. The bath seals freshness into the fruit item's cell structure by preventing contact with oxygen. The solid core is ejected and the edible outside portion of the fruit item is not touched or bruised by mechanical handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Apples-To-Go, Inc.
    Inventors: John Scott Berglin, Kevin Alan Cyrus
  • Patent number: 7595078
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the amount of hull portions recovered from flaxseeds. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes providing a plurality of harvested flaxseeds, tempering the harvested flaxseeds by sufficiently increasing the moisture content for at least about one-half hour to increase the amount of hulls recovered from the flaxseeds, and recovering a portion of the hulls from the moisture-increased flaxseeds. The claimed invention also relates to a flaxseed hull isolate that includes at least 7 up to 17 weight percent of flaxseed hull based on the total weight of flaxseeds. Additionally, the claimed invention relates to a harvested flaxseed, whose moisture content is increased by at least about 1 weight percent, and a flax product having a lignan concentration of at least 10 percent by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Glanbia Nutritionals Ireland Limited
    Inventor: Glenn Roy Pizzey
  • Publication number: 20090226594
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for obtaining grains of monocotyledonous plants, notably of poaceae and in particular of graminae, remarkable in that it comprises at least the following steps for harvesting plants in an immature condition, then separating the grains, and then removing the glumes and/or glumellae of the grains without drying or torrefaction in order to obtain immature, raw and entire grains substantially without glumes and/or glumellae. Another object of the invention relates to immature grains of monocotyledonous plants, notably of poaceae and in particular of graminae, the glumes and/or glumellae of which have been removed, capable of being obtained by a method according to the invention. The invention also relates to a food composition comprising grains according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Joël Abecassis, Alexandre Bouniol, Marc Chaurand
  • Patent number: 7563473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new source of high quality plant protein, termed, “quinoa protein concentrate (QPC)”, which contains at least about 50 wt % protein which is food-grade and/or pharmaceutical-grade and methods of preparing such protein concentrates as well as starch, oil, and fiber from quinoa grain. The quinoa protein concentrate of the invention is useful as food ingredients, infant formula ingredients, cosmetic ingredients, pet food ingredients, and animal feed supplements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Laurie Scanlin, Martha Stone
  • Publication number: 20090114105
    Abstract: This invention refers to a machine for the cutting and extraction of the stem of vegetables with tree-like structure and the cutting and extraction method of the stem with this machine which provides pieces branched into different sizes of the edible part of the vegetable. The machines is characterized by being constituted by at least one tray in which the vegetable to be cut is deposited which slides along a horizontal structure and by several vertical slide guides with several cutting devices for the separation of the useful tree-like material, a cutting device for the division of the stem into pieces and a cutting device for the separation of the stem from the edible part. It can be additionally equipped with knives arranged radially on the cutting head for the division of the tree-like material into portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: COMPONOSELLERTIA, S.A.L.
    Inventor: Ricardo Comin Escartin
  • Publication number: 20090022865
    Abstract: The present example provides an automated or mechanized, way of making a pepper boat from a de-stemmed pepper. In making the pepper boat, de-stemmed peppers may be split by a splitting assembly. As the pepper is split, or subsequently, a whisk assembly tends to clean a portion of the veins and seeds from the split pepper pod to form two substantially equal halves of a pepper boat, suitable for further food processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Robert J. Knorr, John Victor
  • Patent number: 7395653
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for picking and coring produce heads. A righting mechanism receives and orients planted produce heads, and when a planted head is in a position to be severed, a lift arm and clamp wheel are controlled to position a clamp proximal to the planted head, wherein the planted head is clamped and a severing mechanism severs the planted head from the soil bed. The lift arm and clamp wheel operate to automatically reposition the clamped and severed head proximal to a coring mechanism, and the coring mechanism automatically removes the core of the clamped and severed head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignees: Valley Fabrication Inc., Willoughby Farms, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter de Groot, Jason Tracy, Fred Willoughby
  • Publication number: 20080131569
    Abstract: Apparatus for extracting pomegranate seeds from pomegranates including a pomegranate breaker operative for breaking open pomegranates generally without cutting pomegranate seeds at the interior of the pomegranates and a pomegranate seed extractor operative to engage broken open pomegranates for separating the pomegranate seeds from other parts of the pomegranates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: STATE OF ISRAEL - MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
    Inventors: Ze'ev Schmilovitch, Yoav Sarig, Abraham Daskal, Eitan Weinberg, Friedrich Grosz, Benjamin Ronen, Aharon Hoffman, Haim Egozi
  • Publication number: 20080044518
    Abstract: The present invention discloses novel methods of using Phleum spp. seeds, especially Timothy grass (P. pratense L.) seeds, for making gluten-free food products and the food products produced using such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Duane L. Johnson, Bettie C. Stanislao, David C. Sands
  • Patent number: 7185583
    Abstract: Fruit items are positioned between vertical pins located in the calyx and stem hole of said fruit item, thereby securing the fruit item by a compressive force through its core. A core tube surrounding the upper pin descends to meet the lower pin, thereby completely piercing the fruit item and isolating its core inside the tube. A cushioned ram pushes the edible portion of the fruit item down over the core tube, through a cassette of radial knives, creating a plurality of wedges that fall immediately into an enzyme bath. The bath seals freshness into the fruit item's cell structure by preventing contact with oxygen. The solid core is ejected and the edible outside portion of the fruit item is not touched or bruised by mechanical handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Apples-to-Go, Inc.
    Inventors: John Scott Berglin, Kevin Alan Cyrus
  • Patent number: 7141260
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing pericarp from a seed, such as a corn kernel. The method includes sonicating the kernel to loosen the pericarp and then separation of the pericarp. One example of separation is by frictional milling. An additional optional aspect of the invention is isolation of the pericarp from the remainder of the seed and/or further cleaning or purification of the pericarp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventors: Jason M. Cope, Wade Yang, Billy Davidson
  • Patent number: 7033631
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for declustering cherries, including a plurality of oscillating cutting modules (36), each having a power driven shaft (40) with a plurality of circular blades (42) fixed along its length. The modules further comprise cutting ramps (46) having a tail section (48) extending under the blades, such that the clusters are suspended from their nodes at the moment of cutting. The height of tail sections (48) may be adjusted to accommodate cherry varieties having different stem lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventor: Leif Gunnar Opedal
  • Patent number: 7001939
    Abstract: Wheat starch of the present invention is obtained from endosperm of a seed of wheat which is modified to lack starch granule protein-1 (SGP-1). The wheat starch has an apparent amylose content of about 35% or more. Wheat flour of the present invention is obtained from endosperm of a seed of wheat which is modified to lack SGP-1. Wheat of the present invention is modified to lack SGP-1. The wheat flour and the wheat comprise wheat starch which has an apparent amylose content of about 35% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences
    Inventor: Makoto Yamamori
  • Patent number: 6969535
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for pitting olives (or other fruit) and slicing the pitted fruit. In preferred embodiments, a pitting knife and a coring knife horizontally translate each olive to be pitted while the pitting knife, coring knife, and olive revolve together about a horizontal axis, the pitting knife pushes out the pit horizontally as the olive and cup translate along a segment of a circular first path around the axis, the apparatus includes slicing pockets (in positions horizontally separated from the first path) which translate along a circular second path parallel to the first path, after pitting, a pitting knife pulls the pitted olive horizontally away from the first path and into one of the pockets, and the pitted olive in the pocket is sliced by slicing knives as the pitted olive and pocket translate around the axis along a segment of the second path into engagement with the slicing knives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ashlock Company, a Division of Vistan Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Riesenberg, Jeff S. Davis
  • Publication number: 20040126470
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to present a disassembling method and apparatus for easy and low-cost disassembling of fresh grainy fruits, (incl. vegetable) in particular pomegranate, without harming the grains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Moshe Harpaz
  • Patent number: 6703055
    Abstract: A wine fermentation device for fermenting wine, and skins, seeds and stems which form a cap. The device includes a tank having cylindrical walls, an axis and a bottom. One or more optional interior baffles may be provided. At least one drain is located at or near the tank bottom. The device includes at least one impeller, and in a preferred embodiment two impellers, each impeller having a plurality of blades to radially and axially move the cap during fermentation and to blend the cap with liquid to permit draining of the cap (or pomace) through the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel Klein, Anthony Robert Matthews, Walden A. Davis, Ronnie E. Barton
  • Patent number: 6607769
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a plurality of cutter blades arranged around a vertical central axis. The lettuce head is placed above the cutter blades, with the core directed downward, and it is pushed downwardly against the cutter blades, and the cutter blades cut into the head, around the core. The core is thereby cut out, and it falls out and discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventors: Kiv Krymskiy, Hector Chavez
  • Patent number: 6596329
    Abstract: A process for preparing produce includes a base having a cradle for receiving the produce which is to be processed, and a reciprocating head which cooperates with the cradle and which includes one or more blades for operating upon the produce which is positioned in the cradle. A single blade is positioned for alignment with center portions of the produce to sever the core membrane of the produce as the head is lowered onto the base. An opposing pair of blades are positioned for alignment with end portions of the produce for removal of the end portions of the produce as the head is lowered onto the base. The base of the apparatus further preferably includes a retaining element which extends over the cradle for receiving the produce, for maintaining the produce in the cradle during operations of the apparatus on the produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventors: Dominic D'Ambro, Sr., Dominic D'Ambro, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6517885
    Abstract: A process is provided for the production of a pressed mustard cake from mustard seed, as well as mustard powder yielded from the milling of the mustard cake of the process. Employing strict temperature controls at key points in the process, this process yields a mustard cake and mustard powder of increased pungency, good flavor, enhanced protein content and enhanced preservability by limiting the degradation of key components in the mustard seed by excessive temperatures in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventors: Makoto Sakai, Hisao Tanaka, Shiro Sakai
  • Publication number: 20020155204
    Abstract: A drupe which is infested with a larva of a moth or larvae of other insects, and is contaminated with related excretions, referred to as a “frass”, in a central zone within the drupe, is cleansed with a longitudinally bored pitting knife mounted in the pitting head of a conventional pitting machine. A source of cleansing fluid is connected to the bore within the knife and fluid is discharged through radial passages in the knife, which radial passages communicate with the longitudinal bore. In operation, while the knife pits the drupe, fluid discharged from within the knife contacts the walls of the passage left by the ejected pit, and removes the frass. If desired, the drupe may be first pitted, then decontaminated or washed, and/or dried sequentially, in separate stages. The invention is particularly effective with dates, prunes, olives, cherries, nectarines, peaches and avocados.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: Efren Castro
  • Publication number: 20020114877
    Abstract: Confectionery products, which include high protein content modified oilseed material, are described. The modified oilseed material typically includes at least 85 wt. % protein (dry solids basis) and has a relatively high average molecular weight, e.g., at least about 40 wt. % of the material has an apparent molecular weight greater than 300,000 daltons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Ann M. Stark, Scott D. Johnson, Harapanahalli S. Muralidhara, Michael A. Porter, Ian Purtle, Jagannadh V. Satyavolu, William H. Sperber
  • Publication number: 20020106431
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the processing of oil-producing drupes, notably olives, is described comprising at least one device (20, 24) for the processing of whole drupes which effects a physical destructuring with incipient detachment of the drupe pulp from the skins and stones, under conditions which substantially avoid the oxidation mainly of the pulp's natural antioxidants; at least one device (42, 52; 110; 120, 124, 130, 134, 160, 170) for the physical separation and recovery (at 100) of the pulp essentially devoid of stones and advantageously skins, and (at 92, 96, 110) of the stones essentially devoid of pulp, advantageously with the skins, ly under conditions which substantially avoid oxidation; and at least one device (160, 170, 172, 174) for the separation and recovery of the pulp oil essentially devoid of stone oil and containing the pulp's natural antioxidants, thereby improving the purity and oxidation resistance of the pulp oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Martel, Olivier Farcot
  • Patent number: 6410069
    Abstract: A drupe which is infested with a larva of a moth or larvae of other insects, and is contaminated with related excretions, referred to as a “frass”, in a central zone within the drupe, is cleansed with a longitudinally bored pitting knife mounted in the pitting head of a conventional pitting machine. A source of cleansing fluid is connected to the bore within the knife and fluid is discharged through radial passages in the knife, which radial passages communicate with the longitudinal bore. In operation, while the knife pits the drupe, fluid discharged from within the knife contacts the walls of the passage left by the ejected pit, and removes the frass. If desired, the drupe may be first pitted, then decontaminated or washed, and/or dried sequentially, in separate stages. The invention is particularly effective with dates, prunes, olives, cherries, nectarines, peaches and avocados.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Efren Castro
  • Publication number: 20020061350
    Abstract: A method and system of processing citrus fruit is disclosed. A peeling chamber has opposing ends and a fruit inlet and fruit outlet formed at respective opposing ends. Abrasive rollers are rotatably mounted in an arcuate configuration within the peeling chamber at an area forming a lower portion of the peeling chamber. Citrus fruit is fed into the peeling chamber through the fruit inlet to the fruit outlet. The citrus fruit engages the rotating abrasive rollers with a residence time within the peeling chamber for peeling off the outer surface of the fruit in an amount sufficient to remove a majority of the oil within the citrus fruit and leaving sufficient peel thickness for maintaining peel integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: FMC Thchnologeies, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Thomas, Alex Schuermans, Michael L. Suter, Salvador Garcia
  • Patent number: 6368654
    Abstract: A method for making fruit and vegetables purees includes selecting raw produce of the type having meat with a cell structure that is not ruptured by cooking or macerating, and seeds and/or skins. The seeds and/or skins are separated from the meat at substantially ambient temperature by extruding the meat through perforations to form a cold break. The cold break is heated to a temperature which cooks the same into a puree. The puree is then finished to the desired texture and consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Gerber Products Company
    Inventors: Willis DeWayne Evans, Tracy A. Baker, William P. Burnaw, Richard H. Friday, Randall L. McDaniel, Robert A. Owens, Allen Bruce Zerlaut
  • Patent number: 6338865
    Abstract: Olive oil is fortified with oleanolic acid by including olive leaves in the malaxation mash of conventional olive oil pressing in an amount of 5-50 wt. %, based on the weight of the malaxation mash. The invention comprises vegetable oils fortified with a concentrate of oleanolic acid and, optionally, oleuropein. Food products fortified with oleanolic acid containing oils or concentrates according to the invention are also part of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings BV
    Inventor: Karel Petrus Agnes Maria van Putte
  • Publication number: 20010033885
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for manufacturing no-bran cereal such as no-bran rice which require no washing before cooking. With the method and the apparatus, bran stuck on a surface of a grain of the polished cereal is easily removed without imparting any damage on the surface, and further moisture in the grain is maintained to increase taste of the cereal. Moisture is added to the polished cereal and granular material is mixed and stirred with the moistened polished cereal to polish a surface of each grain of the polished cereal and remove bran stuck on the surface of the polished cereal. Then, the polished cereal is separated from the granular material to obtain the no-bran rice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Satoru Satake, Nobuhiro Matsumoto, Takeshi Munesada, Yukihiro Kawano, Akihiko Kato, Kazuto Nonaka, Katsunori Chikamune, Yosuke Inomoto, Kaoru Shitadera