Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for moving a pear from a roll orientor into a transfer cup wherein an inclined pear stop shoe is provided which contacts and guides the pear downwardly into the transfer cup as the orienting rolls separate. The rolls are separated at a predetermined speed so that the roll maintains contact with the pear and helps guide the pear into the transfer cup. The pear stop shoe is retractable after the pear is guided into the transfer cup so that the pear is supported only by the walls of the transfer cup.

Abstract: An apparatus for routering sprouts from tubers comprises a plurality of sprout routering units, each scanning the surface of a tuber and removing sprouts therefrom if any, and a rotary table on which these sprout routering units are mounted and which rotates them horizontally about a support column. Each sprout routering unit comprises a mechanism which holds a tuber between the ends of upper and lower rods, rotates the tuber at a constant speed and moves the tuber along the common axis of the rods, a sprout detecting part provided with a camera which detects tuber sprouts by color differentials, and a sprout routering part which routs detected sprouts to their roots with a drill. A plurality of these sprout routering units are mounted at equal intervals in the direction of rotation on a rotary table rotatably mounted on a support column projecting upward from a base, and rotate together with the rotary table.

Abstract: The apparatus provides for evacuation of the egg yoke and egg white from an egg through one hole in the egg shell. An egg with one hole in the egg shell is positioned on the apparatus. The one hole in the egg shell is positioned over a hollow tube which extends into the egg. The hollow tube aligns an egg collection opening in an egg seal with the egg collection passageway and supplies air at atmospheric pressure into the egg. When the interior of a bottle has a pressure below atmospheric pressure from a vacuum cleaner the egg yoke and egg white flow into the bottle. In a second embodiment, the apparatus provides for both evacuation and flushing of an egg.

Abstract: An apparatus peels fruit, in particular citrus fruit, by washing and sterilizing the fruit in a sterilizing bath. The washed and sterilized fruit is delivered to a perforator which makes a plurality of perforations through the outer surface of the peel of the fruit over its entire surface. The perforated fruit is then delivered to a conveyor which loads and orients the fruit so that it is spinning on the stem axis with the equator of the spinning fruit exposed to a plurality of slitting knives. The knives slit an equatorial cut through the outer surface of the peel. The slit and perforated fruit is then delivered to a carousel of canisters. Each canister is filled with fruit and an aqueous solution of a commercial pectinase. The solution is vacuum infused into the fruit so that the albedo attaching the peel to the fruit substantially disintegrates over a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A vertically extending base of rectangular cross section with an upwardly opening compartment therein is telescopically received within the similarly configured downwardly opening chamber of an overlying housing. The upper end of the base removably mounts a cutter plate. The top panel of the housing removably mounts a palm-held power unit. The power unit, through a central opening in the top panel, mounts elements which secure a vegetable for rotation by the power unit as the housing is moved downwardly over the base for engagement of the vegetable progressively with the cutter plate. The components disassemble and store in nested relation to each other.

Abstract: A cutting device for cutting an object such as a citrus fruit includes an outer casing containing a cutting assembly. The cutting assembly includes a first cutting blade extending radially outwardly from the central axis to a side wall of the casing and cuts the fruit so as to completely sever one portion thereof from another. A second cutting blade extends outwardly radially from the central axis towards the side wall of the casing, but does not reach the side wall. The second cutting blade partially severs one portion of the object from another. In use, fruit if forced over the cutting assembly. A scooping device is provided which generally comprises a hemispherical-shaped scooping member with a dome and a substantially circular edge which forms a cutting blade. The scooping device has a shaft extending outwardly from a point on the outer surface so that rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the scooping member thereby removing the edible inner portion of the fruit.

Abstract: A unit for being positioned between an outlet conveyor and an inlet conveyor having a steam source coupled thereto. The unit includes a body machined out of metal or the like. The body has a passageway with an inlet end for being coupled to the outlet port of the inlet conveyor and an outlet end for being coupled to the inlet port of the outlet conveyor. The body has a vacuum port communicating with the passageway for being coupled to a vacuum source for allowing steam to be sucked from the passageway therethrough. A gate is machined out of plastic or the like and attached to the body for movement between an opened position in which the passageway through the body is opened and a closed position in which the passageway through the body is closed at a point between the outlet end of the passageway and the vacuum port.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing pulp from a fruit which has been cut so as to expose a portion of the fruit pulp surrounded by an exposed area of peel including apparatus for mounting the fruit, apparatus arranged in spaced relation to the apparatus for mounting for directing one or more jets of gas onto the exposed portion of pulp so as to separate it from the remainder of the fruit, and apparatus for substantially preventing impingement of the one or more jets of gas on the exposed area of peel.

Abstract: An apparatus peels fruit, in particular citrus fruit, by washing and sterilizing the fruit in a sterilizing bath. The washed and sterilized fruit is delivered to a perforator which makes a plurality of perforations through the outer surface of the peel of the fruit over its entire surface. The perforated fruit is then delivered to a conveyor which loads and orients the fruit so that it is spinning on the stem axis with the equator of the spinning fruit exposed to a plurality of slitting knives. The knives slit an equatorial cut through the outer surface of the peel. The slit and perforated fruit is then delivered to a carousel of canisters. Each canister is filled with fruit and an aqueous solution of a commerical pectinase. The solution is vacuum infused into the fruit so that the albedo attaching the peel to the fruit substantially disintegrates over a predetermined time period.

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: A garlic membrane peeling machine comprising a store tank, a drying funnel, a membrane peeling cylinder, a hot air tube connected with a blower and a push device combined together. The store tank is mounted on the drying funnel, under which the membrane peeling cylider is connected, and the push device is set partly in the drying funnel and partly in the membrane peeling cylinder. The hot air tube is connected with the double-layered wall of the drying funnel to send hot air through an aperture between the double-layered wall in the funnel to dry the garlic bulbs coming down from the store tank. Then dried garlic bulbs are loosened by the push device to fall down in the membrane peeling cylinder to have their membranes peeled off by helical air current caused by sent-in compressed air and those membranes peeled off are blown out of an exhaust tube.

Abstract: An improvement in vegetable cutting machines of the kind comprising a cylindrical feeder (1) which includes a vertically upstanding cylinderical tube (2) and a vegetable press-feed device (3) in the form of a plate (4) which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube and which is linearly movable relative to the tube, wherein the plate is carried by a stand arm unit placed parallel with the tube and including an upper stand arm (6) having a downwardly projecting shaft (7), wherein the shaft coacts with a tubular part (8) on a lower stand arm (9), thereby enabling the plate (4) to be swung away from the top orifice of the tube (2) and enable vegetables to be inserted into the tube for disintegration in the machine, and wherein a cutting tool comprising a disc provided with one or more knives is mounted in the vicinity of the bottom orifice of the tube (2).

Abstract: An electrical appliance for slicing fruits and vegetables which includes (i) a container defining a retention compartment configured and arranged for retention of an article of produce, (ii) a means for rotating the article of produce retained within the container, (iii) a longitudinally reciprocable blade assembly positioned within said rentention compartment for slicing, slicing and coring or grating the article of produce retained within the retention compartment as the article of produce is rotated by said rotating means and the blade assembly is longitudinally propeled against the article of produce.

Abstract: The machine possesses a bed (101) on which is provided a central shaft or turret (105), having an intermittent rotary motion, on the periphery of which are provided six operating positions, two feed operating positions A, diametrally opposite, with which are associated respective hoppers (113) equipped with means for individual entrainment for the fruit (107), means being provided at each of these feed operating positions for the translatory movement of the fruit towards a clamp associated with the centra rotary shaft (105), which clamp entrains the fruit to a second operating position B, where the fruit is peeled by means of two sets of knives (156), each set of knives being actuated by an electric motor (164), and the fruit then passing into a third and final operating position C, within each group, at which the operation of cutting the residual polar caps resulting from the prior cutting operation is completed, specifically with the participation of two large horizontal discoidal knives (175) capable of pi

Abstract: Apparatus is described for removing flesh from a cooked baked potato half supported in a pocket on a indexed conveyor. The apparatus comprises a plunger carrying a convex-shaped dicer head which is automatically reciprocated by a predetermined stroke in synchronism with the passage of a potato thereunder. The dicer head comprises a plurality of apertures or channels through or into which potato flesh passes as the dicer head is depressed into the potato half. The flesh is either immediately transferred to a conveyor or passes to a conveyor after accumulating above the dicer head. The potato is held down as the plunger is withdrawn by a potato keeper which keeper is carried on the plunger mounted to slide with respect to the dicer head and resiliently biassed to stay in position on the potato as the dicer head is withdrawn. The withdrawal of the dicer head may be assisted by gas jets activated in synchronism with the withdrawal of the dicer head.

Abstract: An electrical appliance for slicing a fruit or vegetable into spiral segments which includes (i) a frame which defines a retention compartment, (ii) a container configured for telescoping reception within the frame which defines a retention chamber, (iii) a means for rotating produce contained within the retention compartment of the frame, and (iv) a blade assembly across the base of the container operable for slicing the produce contained within the retention compartment when the container is telescopingly inserted within the frame and the produce is rotated by the rotating means.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing pulp from a fruit which has been cut so as to expose a portion of the fruit pulp surrounded by an exposed area of peel including apparatus for mounting the fruit, apparatus arranged in spaced relation to the apparatus for mounting for directing one or more jets of gas onto the exposed portion of pulp so as to separate it from the remainder of the fruit, and apparatus for substantially preventing impingement of the one or more jets of gas on the exposed area of peel.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously peeling food products such as citrus fruit and shrimp comprising a rotating drum having separately operable and closable compartments which when closed are subjected to steam and then to a suddenly applied vacuum, the peelings are loosened by the steam and vacuum treatment; and the partially peeled food is discharged onto a plurality of parallel counter-rotating rollers that strip away the peelings and allow the peeled product to fall onto a conveyor.

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: Garlic cloves to have their outer inedible skins removed are placed on a shake table which spreads them generally into a one-clove layer and moves them toward an exit edge. The cloves drop from shake table onto a sloped feed tray having a number of downwardly extending parallel troughs. Underneath each trough is a tube having a flexible cylinder secured to its lower end which receives cloves from its associated trough. A continuous belt driven along a path to present an upper surface has a number of openings within each of which an open-topped product cup is secured. The flexible cylinder contacts the belt surface and is closed off between product cups and released to feed cloves into the cups upon alignment therewith. A plate is spaced just above the belt and has openings through which nozzles extend to provide a timed blast of pressurized air into the cups for peeling the cloves. The outer skins are removed from the space above the belt by a suction fan.

Abstract: In a bulb slitter, a plurality of first swinging elements are mounted to a frame is juxtaposed relation to each other, and a plurality of second swinging elements are mounted to the frame is juxtaposed relation to each other. The first swinging elements have their respective one ends which are arranged in facing relation to one ends of the respective second swinging elements. The first and second swinging elements are mounted to the frame for angular movement toward and away from each other obliquely vertically. A plurality of first disc-like cutting edges are mounted to the one ends of the respective first swinging elements for angular movement. A plurality of second disc-like cutting edges are mounted to the one ends of the respective second swinging elements for angular movement.

Abstract: Garlic cloves to have their outer inedible skins removed are placed on a shake table which spreads them generally into a one-clove layer and moves them toward an exit edge. The cloves drop from shake table onto a sloped feed tray having a number of downwardly extending parallel troughs. Underneath each trough is a tube having a flexible cylinder secured to its lower end which receives cloves from its associated trough. A continuous belt driven along a path to present an upper surface has a number of openings within each of which an open-topped product cup is secured. The flexible cylinder contacts the belt surface and is closed off between product cups and released to feed cloves into the cups upon alignment therewith. A plate is spaced just above the belt and has openings through which nozzles extend to provide a timed blast of pressurized air into the cups for peeling the cloves. The outer skins are removed from the space above the belt by a suction fan.

Abstract: Method of an apparatus for extracting whole juice sacs from citrus fruits by fluid impinging chunks of peeled fruit meat. In one embodiment, a fruit chunk is fed into a fluid impingement chamber that includes a plurality of off-center orifices. High-pressure fluid emitted from the orifices strikes the fruit chunk and spins it such that the fruit chunk's juice sacs are stripped from the chunk's sectional membranes. In another preferred embodiment, a plurality of fluid impingement chambers are incorporated into a high-speed, continuous motion turret. In yet another preferred embodiment, fruit chunks are fed into an inclined tube that includes fluid orifices which emit high pressure fluid. Controlling the fluid pressure, nozzle orifice size, number of orifices, direction of fluid jets, impingement time, and size and shape of the fruit chunks determine how substantially the radial membranes of fruit chunks are stripped of juice sacs without shredding the membranes.

Abstract: A cutting device for segmenting and derinding a half-section of a citrus fruit and for collecting the pulp thereof. It comprises: a rigid first ring, a number of arcuate knives spacedly upwardly projecting from a second integral ring toward an apex area to interconnect so as to form an outer semispherical open frame, the second ring being freely mounted to the first ring, each knife having a lengthwise exterior bevelled sharpened segmenting edge, a number of arcuate radially thick blades spacedly upwardly projecting from a third integral ring radially inwardly of the outer frame to form an inner semispherical open frame, the third ring being freely mounted to the first ring, each blade having an exterior sharpened derinding edge, the outer frame being rotatable about the first ring, and the inner frame being releasably locked to the first ring.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for peeling bulbous plants, such as onions, the apparatus consisting substantially of cutting means for removing the tail and head of the bulb, incision means for making an incision into at least the outer skin of the bulb, friction means for removing the incised skin and a conveyor for carrying the bulbs series-wise along these means.

Abstract: A peeling machine intended for removing the outer skins of onions or other bulbous or tuberous plants comprising a holder (19) with one or more knives (20) for making a circumferential cut in the onions and at least one nozzle (21) for the infeed of compressed air or an other pressurized medium for removing the peelings. In order to increase the percentage of skins blown away, and to improve the peeling output without damage to the onions the nozzle (21) for the supply of compressed air is fitted in or on the knife holder (19) a short distance away from a knife (20).

Abstract: Apparatus for more efficiently pre-cooking and peeling cold water shrimp such as the species Pandalus borealis is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor for moving the shell-on or unpeeled shrimp up and out of a feeder tank. A perforated horizontal conveyor then carries the shrimp over a steam manifold with a multiplicity of apertures such that steam escapes from the manifold and rises through the perforated belt and surrounds the shrimp.A cooking chamber which completely encloses the horizontal conveyor except at the bottom, contains the lighter-than-air steam such that the raw shell-on shrimp are at least partially cooked by the surrounding steam. Since the lighter-than-air steam excludes all air from the cooking chamber, less oxidation of fats occurs and consequently a higher quality product is obtained.

Abstract: An automated system for processing whole potatoes maintains a substantially constant mass flow of potatoes into an adjustable potato peeler that is capable or removing from the potatoes varying amounts of potato peel. Peeled potatoes are conveyed downstream of the peeler, while being electromagnetically inspected to determined the uniformity of peel removal, the presence of unacceptable material, and to identify oversized potatoes that exceed a predetermined size limitation. A diverter gate separates oversized potatoes and foreign materials from potatoes that have been identified as satisfactory.

Abstract: The invention concerns a machine for treating produce for peeling it, in particular a nut-husking machine. This machine comprises a tank (1) with a cylindrical wall, a rotary disk (10) dotted with a plurality of teeth (16) projecting above the disk by an adjustable height, means (4-9) for driving the disk into rotation, a sliding gate (24) to recover the processed produce, means for evacuating the wastes and liquid that include a passage (15 ) on the disk circumference, a ring (21) in this passage and a bottom (2) associated with a spout (3), and means distributing the liquid which include a distributor (12) fixed to the center of the disk (10) in order to eject the liquid at the disk in the centrifugal direction.

Abstract: A safety device for meat skinning machines comprising an elongated bar mounted on the machine in close parallel spaced relation to the cutting edge of the cutting blade. The elongated bar has a straight support edge immediately opposite the cutting edge of the machine, with a plurality of substantially straight, stiff, spaced wire elements secured to the bar and extending from the support edge towards the cutting edge, with the wire elements having wire ends that terminate in spaced relation to the cutting edge.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed which is capable of cutting solid pieces of potato from potato halves. A potato half (42) is supported in the cup (28) of a potato holder (18) beneath a plate (60). The plate (60) slides across the flat surface of the potato half to restrain it from movement, and while this happens a curved blade (88) moves into the potato half through a slot (64) in the plate (60) to cut out a solid piece (b 116) from the potato half (42). The depth to which the blade (88) penetrates the potato as it sweeps through it is controlled by a cam (100).

Abstract: An apparatus for vacuum peeling includes a frame to which is fixed a tank with a feeding bin. A vapor spiral is mounted in the tank and beneath the tank is mounted a receiver connected by pipelines to a vacuum pump and a vacuum chamber. Over the tank, a conveyor with endless chain is mounted to the frame and on the chain are mounted disks. The lower branch of the conveyor chain is wrapped by a perforated tube that is mounted in the tank. To this perforated tube, along its length, is fixed an operational tube comprising at least four of the disks in length. Beneath the operational tube, on the side of the feeding, is placed a strainer connected with a reservoir that is connected through a pump back to the tank. In the rear end of the operational tube is fixed the vacuum chamber. Over the strainer in the lower part of the operational tube are made openings while below the manifold of the vacuum chamber are perforated second openings.

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: A machine specifically designed to remove the husks from the coconut fruit including a plurality of rollers rotating in opposite directions effectively toward one another wherein each roller includes a plurality of penetrating spikes sharpened to penetrate and effectively engage the husk portion of the coconut fruit. The interaction of the rollers in combination with the gripping action of the spike serves to tear away the husk from the nut leaving the nut in tact.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a potato into a helical shape, the apparatus having a hollow, generally cylindrical body, a cutting plate having a top side and a bottom side located in the body for cutting a potato into a helical shape when a potato is inserted into the body, forced against the cutting plate and rotated around the longitudinal axis of the body, the cutting plate having a plurality of vertical blades for cutting a potato extending perpendicularly upward from the cutting plate and a horizontal blade located above the cutting plate for cutting a potato, and a feeding apparatus for forcing a potato onto the cutting plate and for rotating the potato about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body to cut the potato into a helical shape, and an apparatus for cutting an onion into a helical shape, the apparatus having a hollow, generally cylindrical body, a cutting plate having a top side and a bottom side located in the body for cutting an onion into a helical shape when an onion is inserted into the b

Abstract: A device for rapid peeling of citrus fruit such as oranges comprising a knife with a curved bottom cutting edge, an upper lateral stabilizer fin with thumb abutment and a handle with a "pic" end.

Abstract: A method for the rapid removal of the peelings or outer coverings from certain food products with minimal loss of or damage to the other portions thereof, by a thermal shock treatment comprising a brief exposure of said products simultaneously to high intensity radiant heat from a vessel and high temperature, low pressure superheated steam or other fluid or gaseous medium inside the vessel.

Abstract: An automated fruit and vegetable peeler having a motor driven rotary cutter blade which is mounted in generally vertically spaced relationship with respect to a cutting guide opening which opening is adjustable so as to both regulate the depth of the cut made with respect to a particular fruit or vegetable and to enable varying sizes of fruit and vegetables to be peeled utilizing the device.

Abstract: A steam peeling or cooking apparatus for produce, such as potatoes, carrots, celeriac, red beets, Swedish turnips, apples, and the like, comprising a substantially cylindrical peeling vessel basically stationary in operation, said vessel including supply and discharge conduits for medium, in particular steam, and having closable supply and discharge openings. Said vessel is divided into two compartments by a grid-like screen arranged substantially at right angles to the axis of the peeling vessel. The compartment not being in direct contact with the produce supply opening forms a condensate chamber and includes a closable discharge opening, said apparatus further including means for agitating the produce during operation.

Abstract: A machine for automatically peeling vegetables, particularly onions, and also some fruits. The peeling machine consists of a conveyor belt with devices for holding an individual onion, spaced along the belt, a cutter station where the two ends of the onion are removed as the belt is moved past the station, a reciprocating blade that slits the two outer layers of the onion and a station consisting of two rotating rolls and an air jet where the two outer layers are removed from the onion.

Abstract: A steam peeling or boiling apparatus for crops, such as potatoes, carrots, celery, apples and the like, or for meat, comprising a substantially cylindrical peeling vessel arranged for rotation around horizontal stub shafts, having a supply and discharge opening disposed eccentrically or non-eccentrically in one of the end faces. The opening is closable by an inwardly movable cover operated by a lever rotatably connected thereto, the other end of which is rotatably connected to the exterior of the vessel. The cover is provided with a second operating lever by means of which the cover can be displaced along the inner wall of the vessel in entirely "controlled" fashion. The second operating lever is rotatably connected to the exterior of the vessel at a location situated in the perpendicular median plane between the initial and final positions of the cover pivot of the second operating lever.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and useful tomato peeling device which operates through vacuum and temperature and which by employing simple and common elements renders high performance and reduces manufacturing costs. The device is mainly comprised of an endless conveyor joined to two lateral chains guided by coaxial wheels travelling in a path of a rotary cylindrical drum which is connected to a vacuum pump, all of the cited elements being capable of treating fresh tomatoes and delivering pulp devoid of skin.

Abstract: A vegetable peeler is provided which can be attached to a water faucet, allowing the user's hands to be freed for handling the vegetable and for the vegetable peels to be washed clear of the peeling blades through the action of water flowing out of the faucet.

Abstract: An apparatus for routering sprouts of a tuber such as a potato has: a drill-like blade having a distal end with a tapered portion; a blade motor for rotating the drill-like blade; a drilling unit having a feeding unit for reciprocally feeding the drill-like blade; a rotating member mounted with a hydropneumatic cylinder having clamping members for clamping the tuber therebetween; and a tuber motor for rotating the rotating member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid bed process for the removal of skins from edible nuts.

Abstract: Apparatus for mechanical separation of the seeds of pomegranates or similar produce comprising a gas jet directed on the portion of the produce to be separated for effecting the separation desired. In particular, such apparatus comprising apparatus for exposing the interior of the produce, apparatus for supporting the produce such that its interior is exposed, and a gas jet arranged so as to direct a flow of pressurized gas against the exposed interior of the produce thereby effecting the desired separation.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for recovering the skins from baked potato parts and for recovering the potato meat that is scooped out of potato shells. Cupped shaped molds arranged to firmly hold potato halves in tray assemblies positioned at predetermined space points are attached to a conveyor that rotates about a first stationary drum. Cutter units form part of knife assemblies which are on the outer periphery of an opposed parallel rotating drum which assemblies are positioned at predetermined spaced locations corresponding to that of the cup shaped molds on the first stationary drum. The location of the molds and knives and their movement around the axis of their respective drums are synchronized so that when they are at the points at which they are closest during their movement about the axis of the respective drums the meat can be scooped from the potato by the knives to prepare the potato skins and the extracted meat can be recovered.

Abstract: This disclosure embodies an apparatus and process for the rapid removal of outer coverings and other unedible portions from food products with minimal loss of or damage to edible portions. The process has proven to be effective in the peeling of fruit and vegetable crops, coring peppers, shelling of legume seed pods, shucking and silking corn, popping corn, skinning onions, shelling of nut crops, scaling and skinning of fish, and removal of shells from shellfish. These processes are accomplished with an apparatus which heats the surface of the product very rapidly in an atmosphere of superheated steam under elevated pressure, supplemented with radiant heat from a vessel wall, and then flashes to atmospheric pressure by instantaneous opening of the vessel cover. The result is an explosion which blows the product from the vessel and simultaneously blasts the covering from the product by violent action of highly energized moisture beneath the product covering.

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 for more efficiently pre-cooking and peeling cold water shrimp such as the species Pandalus borealis is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor for moving the shell-on or unpeeled shrimp up and out of a feeder tank. A perforated horizontal conveyor then carries the shrimp over a steam manifold with a multiplicity of apertures such that steam escapes from the manifold and rises through the perforated belt and surrounds the shrimp.A cooking chamber which completely encloses the horizontal conveyor except at the bottom, contains the lighter-than-air steam such that the raw shell-on shrimp are at least partially cooked by the surrounding steam. Since the lighter-than-air steam excludes all air from the cooking chamber, less oxidation of fats occurs and consequently a higher quality product is obtained.