Arcuately Shaped Tool Patents (Class 99/590)
  • Patent number: 11700873
    Abstract: An automatic peeling and splitting device for citrus fruits includes a bracket, a pomelo fixing module, and a pomelo peeling module arranged on the bracket. The pomelo fixing module includes a cylinder arranged on an upper part of the bracket, a fixed block arranged on a power output end of the cylinder, and a motor arranged on the fixed block, the power output end of the motor is connected with a rotation shaft, an end of the rotation shaft is sleeved with an air sac, and the end of the rotation shaft is further hinged with a plurality of arc baffles, a concave member of the arc baffle is bonded to a surface of the air sac, an outer convex edge of the arc baffle faces outside of the air sac; the rotation shaft and the power output end of the cylinder are both extended vertically downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Sai Xu, Huazhong Lu, Changyuan Zhang, Xin Liang
  • Patent number: 8563063
    Abstract: A melon peeler system designed to safely and quickly separate the rind from a melon for consumption. The melon peeler system includes a melon peeler assembly having a concave base, a horizontal blade, fasteners, and vertical supports. The concave base has a smooth surface and serves as a melon cutting guide. The horizontal blade is supported a user-determined distance above the concave base by the vertical supports and the blade is a small, flat cutting edge sufficiently sharp to slice through a melon but not sufficiently sharp to easily cut a user. Suction cups fasteners located on the bottom of the device provide stability and allow the assembly to be removably affixed to a planar surface of the user's choice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventors: Jerry Avey, Donna Avey
  • Publication number: 20130189413
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand-held melon peeler for peeling the rind from melons such as cantaloupe, and to methods of use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventor: John Strelnieks
  • Patent number: 8136443
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which can shape fruits and root and tuberous vegetables. The shaping apparatus is operated in such a manner that: when root and tuberous vegetable or fruit is placed in a cutting blade case and rotated, the object is spirally tracked and the spirally tracked object is removed from the lower side of the cutting blade case, so that the spirally tracked object is picked up by an additional stick and then ornamented into various forms. The shaping apparatus allows fruits and root and tuberous vegetables to be easily treated in a variety of ways, as per the second process, thereby enhancing the product value of processed foodstuffs produced from the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventors: Bong-Gu Lee, Sung-Wook Choi, Zoong-Ho Park, Jun-Mo Yoo, Chang-Ho Kim, Kwang-Su Kim, Jae-Hong Kim
  • Publication number: 20110094394
    Abstract: A device for cutting, peeling and slicing avocados and other fruits and vegetables includes a handle, a frame element connected to the handle, and a rotating blade assembly operably secured to the frame. The rotating blade assembly has one or more cutting elements for cutting, slicing and peeling. The rotating blade assembly is operably secured to the frame by a shaft allowing both movement and positioning of the blade assembly at various angles in relation to the frame, and fixing the rotating blade assembly in a desired position for use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventor: Chikara R. Tateno
  • Publication number: 20100192379
    Abstract: Cutting device provided with a curved bottom surface having a predetermined radius of curvature, provided with a front part, a rear part and with at least one longitudinal edge, as well as a cutting blade which is arranged transversely on the bottom surface and which extends at a distance from the longitudinal edge, in a longitudinal direction from the front part to the rear part and is connected to the bottom surface, which front part of the bottom surface is narrower in a transverse direction than the rear part, with a cutting edge extending in the longitudinal direction from a front point of contact with the bottom surface to a top which is situated at a distance from the bottom surface, which distance is at least 50% of the radius of curvature, preferably at least 75% of the radius of curvature, most preferably is at least virtually as great as the radius of curvature, and with an angle between the cutting edge and the bottom surface in the front point of contact being between 65° and 40°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: VACU VIN INNOVATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Patrick Lambertus Kerkhof, Eelco Jan Gerardus Witteveen, Arnoldus Willem Zweekhorst
  • Publication number: 20080282910
    Abstract: An electrically powered apparatus for peeling vegetables and fruits having a handle housing containing a rotary electric motor with a rotatable output shaft, the output shaft being accessible from a distal end of the housing and a battery power source contained within the handle housing. A manually operable switch is mounted on the housing to operate the motor. A rotatable flexible peeler assembly is detachably connected to the output shaft for rotation by the shaft, with the flexible peeler assembly comprising a plurality of flexible blade members mounted to a cylindrical support base member and a cutting tip mounted to distal end of the support base member. Each flexible blade member is formed with a base portion which is mounted in the support base member and defines a plurality of transverse slits which extend away from the base portion to the outer edge of the blade member to form a plurality of flexible abrasive strips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Fletcher Morgan
  • Patent number: 7077058
    Abstract: A fruit and vegetable peeler which is suitably used in general homes for peeling a small amount of fruits and vegetables, which is small-sized and light-weight, and which is further convenient in carrying and storage. A pair of clamp members are supported by a housing to lie in opposed relation, and a handle is fixed to a handle shaft extended externally of the housing. The housing accommodates a speed increasing gear mechanism for transmitting rotation of the handle shaft to a cup-shaped rotating blade, a transmission gear mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the handle shaft to the rotary shaft of the clamp member, and a rotating-blade swinging mechanism for converting the rotation of the handle shaft into a swing motion of the rotating blade along the circumference of a fruit/vegetable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Muro Corporation
    Inventor: Giichiro Muro
  • Patent number: 6729228
    Abstract: A preferred device for cleaning an ear of corn including at least one of shuck and silk includes a platform having a top surface and a bottom surface. A cob cleaner aperture arranged in the platform is configured to receive the ear of corn therethrough. A cleaning member extends into the cob cleaner aperture and is adapted to engage the ear of corn inserted into the cob cleaner aperture. The cleaning member is adapted to remove at least a portion of at least one of the shuck and silk as the ear of corn is rotated and engages the cleaning member. Methods of operation are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: John L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6722269
    Abstract: A coconut shredding/grating apparatus for allowing a user to shred and grate a coconut. The coconut shredding/grating apparatus includes a base member including main base portion having top and bottom sides; and also includes a housing being mounted upon the top side of the base member and having front, rear and side walls, and also having a hole being disposed through the front wall; and further includes a coconut shredding assembly including a motor being disposed in the housing and having a motor shaft, and also including a control assembly for energizing and operating the motor, and further including a coconut shredding member being detachably connected to the motor shaft for rotation therewith; and also includes a coconut support assembly including a coconut support member being removably secured upon the base member; and further includes a tray being removably disposed upon the base member for receiving shredded and grated coconut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Rekha A. Kumar
  • Patent number: 6591742
    Abstract: The plantain peeler is a kitchen appliance that allows a person to easily and efficiently remove the skin from plantains. The device would consist of a slicing mechanism and a peeling mechanism integrated into a housing with a discard tray at the bottom and a plastic backsplash surrounding the peeling mechanism. The slicing mechanism would consist of four semicircular blades connected to a circular guide which rotate towards each other when activated and would be used to slice the tip from a plantain. The peeling mechanism would consist of four arcuate blades arranged in a circular manner that would force the peel from the plantain as it passes through the mechanism. A discard tray would be provided at the bottom of the device to catch the peel, a tip retrieval opening would be provided in the housing behind the slicing mechanism, and a plantain retrieval passage would be provided in the housing behind the peeling mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Anaiboni E. Leonor
  • Patent number: 6523464
    Abstract: The invention is an automated peeler for peeling vegetables or fruit. The peeler includes a split axle support for securing and rotating an object to be peeled within a frame, and a peeling blade supported on an articulating peeler blade mount secured through a blade arm to a peeler support. As the peeler support is driven along a peeler carriage, a torsion drive forces the peeler blade against the rotating object. The articulating peeler blade mount permits the peeling blade to track an irregular surface of a vegetable such as a butternut squash. The peeling blade comprises an arcuate cutting surface having at least one blade tip extending above a throughbore defined in the surface of the peeling blade so that a peel of the object passes through the throughbore defined in the peeling blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald J. Widelo
  • Patent number: 6516713
    Abstract: A produce mandrel system has a driven cylinder formed with a point. A driven support receives the driven cylinder for its axial reciprocation and for rotation there within. A driven control assembly has a handle and a collar receiving the driven cylinder whereby movement of the handle will axially shift the driven cylinder. A drive cylinder is formed with needles and a guard with a point coaxial with the driven cylinder. A drive support with bearings receives the drive cylinder for its axial and rotational movement. A drive control assembly includes a motor to rotate the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Rudolph A. Holmander
  • Patent number: 6324969
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing skin from a convex surface of a section of fruit. The apparatus includes a substantially U-shaped peeling blade and a feeder which in use contacts and grips the fruit or vegetable at a location about opposite the apex of the peeling blade so as to urge the fruit past the peeling blade, characterized in that the apparatus also includes at least one guide for guiding the fruit past the peeling blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Univex Corp.
    Inventor: Gary John Harding
  • Patent number: 6253670
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for peeling vegetables of a round, oval or elongated shape such as cucumbers, turnips, carrots or potatoes. The apparatus has a frame defining a hole sized to receive and let pass the vegetable to be peeled. A given number of knives is mounted onto the frame in such a manner as to be radially slidable toward the center of the hole. The knives are distributed in an equal manner all around the frame and each comprises a blade extending tangentially within the hole so as to peel an adjacent part of the vegetable introduced into and pushed through the hole. Springs are provided for applying in a permanent manner a radial force onto the knives in order to push the knives toward the center of the hole. This apparatus permits to peel vegetables in a single movement or with a minimal number of movements. A base may be provided to hold the frame vertically onto a table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: Michel Gingras
  • Patent number: 6220153
    Abstract: By providing fruit processing apparatus comprising rotatable movement control members and a U-shaped cutting blade cooperatively associated therewith, high speed, efficient and automatic removal of skins and seeds from a fruit segment is efficiently achieved. The rotatable movement control members receive the fruit segment with the cutting blade positioned along the junction between the skin and the edible fruit portion. Then, the fruit segment is arcuately pivoted, causing the blade to pass between the juncture surface, completely separating the skin from the fruit. If desired, a seed sack removal member is also employed for removing and separating the seeds from the edible fruit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Kingslink USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Owen John Easby
  • Patent number: 6125744
    Abstract: A peeling machine is disclosed for peeling various fruits and vegetables. The peeling machine includes a lower holding assembly and an upper holding assembly rotatably coupled to a frame for securing and rotating a fruit or vegetable to be peeled. An air cylinder acts to push the lower assembly towards the upper holding assembly, in the process securing the fruit or vegetable between the upper and lower holding assemblies. A carriage assembly, which is configured to move vertically, is movably coupled to the frame, the carriage assembly containing a cutting assembly coupled to the end of a second air cylinder. The extension of the second air cylinder acts to push the cutting assembly towards the fruit as the carriage assembly moves upwards, as a result peeling the rind from the fruit or vegetable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Pre-Pack Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Martin
  • Patent number: 6116155
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing skin from a convex surface of a section of fruit. The apparatus includes a curved peeling blade which presents a concave peeling surface to the convex surface of the section of fruit and a drive gear wheel in mesh with an idler gear wheel. Each wheel has a concentric outwardly extending fruit gripping portion which are profiled such that in combination they conform to the curved peeling blade. When the drive wheel is driven and the wheels are rotating, the fruit gripping portions grip a section of fruit and urge the section of fruit past the peeling blade so as to remove the skin from the fruit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Univex Corporation
    Inventor: Gary John Harding
  • Patent number: 5957045
    Abstract: The machine for peeling vegetables and fruits has a hollow base. A vertical pole projects upwardly from the hollow base. A threaded rod extends vertically within the vertical pole and is driven into rotation by a handle. The vegetable or fruit to be peeled is held between a support pin rod having one end slidably mounted onto the vertical pole and a remove end which is located at a distance away from the vertical pole, and a support axle rotatably mounted about a vertical axis on top of the hollow base. A set of gears is mounted within the hollow base and connected to the bottom end of the threaded rod and to the support axle so as to drive the support axle into rotation when the handle is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Les Promotions Atlantiques Inc.
    Inventors: Shen Long He, Pierre Tardif
  • Patent number: 5857404
    Abstract: A peeling machine for stalk-like vegetables, comprising a plurality of knife stations that are successively arranged in the direction of travel of the vegetables on a machine frame, is described. A plurality of pairs of feed rollers are each supported between successive knife stations, each of the feed rollers being supported by a drive shaft rotating on a pivot arm, which is in turn supported by the machine frame to pivot about a stationary shaft on the machine frame. Each pair of feed rollers is coupled to a driving apparatus that includes a motor. The stationary shaft supports a first drive wheel of the driving apparatus, the first drive wheel being in driving communication with a second drive wheel, which is secured to the drive shaft of the feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: HEPRO GmbH Maschinen und Spezialgerate
    Inventor: Christoph Protte
  • Patent number: 5778770
    Abstract: A food processing machine is provided for separating a body of a food item, for example for removing a portion of potato from its outer skin. The machine comprises a plurality of cutting means (4) arranged in an array; a plurality of receptacles (41) for containing a plurality of food items, the receptacles (41) being arranged in an array; and means for moving the cutting means (4) between a cutting position, in which the cutting means are operable to cut a body portion from each of the food items, and the release position, in which thefood items are released from the cutting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Paul Lindsay Holt
  • Patent number: 5690022
    Abstract: A peeling device includes a base in which a motor is disposed and two ends portions extend from the base wherein a transmitting device is disposed in one of the end portions and is actuated by the motor, a first lead screw rotatably supported between the two end portions and driven by the transmitting device, a movable member movably and threadedly engaged with the first lead screw and a knife disposed to the movable member, a first fork member extending from one of the end portions and mechanically connected to the transmitting device and a second fork member adjustably disposed to the other end portion such that an object to be peeled by the knife is securely positioned between the first and second fork members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Liao-chu Chai
  • Patent number: 5669293
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for peeling elongated vegetables, preferably asparagus. The device has a housing (2) with a passage (4) designed to permit a stick of asparagus (50) to be inserted. Inside the housing (2) are several peeling blades (12, 12') which are disposed in different directions of the passage (4) and act on the stick of asparagus (50). At least one of the blades (12, 12') can move crosswise to the longitudinal direction (6) of the passage (4) and presses flexibly against the stick of asparagus (50). The blades (12, 12') each have a cutting edge (19, 19') preceded in the peeling direction (23) by a feeler (20, 20'). During the peeling operation, the feeler (20, 20') lies against the stick of asparagus and guides the blade (12, 12') tangentially along the outside surface of the stick (50). The device enables sticks of asparagus (50) of differing diameter to be peeled simply in one operation round the whole of their peripheral area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventor: Felix Sommer
  • Patent number: 5666877
    Abstract: A peeling device for fruits has a housing (1) with a knife opening (16) in the surface (18) for a peeling knife (15) with a knife-edge (17) that projects above the top side (18) of the lid (4). The peeling knife (15) is connected to an oscillating arm (13) that protrudes through an opening (14) in the container (1) and connects to an electrical drive unit (8) that is located in a housing (5) that is connected to the side of the container (1). The position of the electrical drive unit (8) in the housing (5) and consequently the length by which the knife-edge (17) projects above the surface (18) of the container lid (4) is adjustable via a worm gear (11) with a thumb screw (12). A fruit shown as a circle (19) is peeled by the oscillating movements of the knife (15) while being moved along the surface (18) of the lid (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Erwin Schadle
  • Patent number: 5664490
    Abstract: A melon peeler simultaneously removes the seed pod, seeds and rind from a melon slice. A melon slice input channel and a drive assembly cooperate to guide a melon slice toward a cutting assembly arranged across the input channel. The cutting assembly includes an upper blade and a lower blade arranged so that the upper blade removes the seeds and seed pod while the lower blade removes the find, leaving a melon slice of selected thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Fresh King LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Tompkins, Tim T. Murphy, Andrew T. Furukawa
  • Patent number: 5660104
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing rind from a spheroidal food article, such as a melon is provided. The apparatus includes a carriage assembly having revolving spindles that retain a melon on its axis and revolve the melon on its equator. The spindles are aligned with a first axis when the carriage assembly is in an initial position. A cutting assembly is located adjacent to the carriage assembly. The cutting assembly includes reciprocating knifes that are positioned on either side of the melon and aligned with the equator thereof. The knifes are configured with a blade dimensioned to extend through the rind of the melon, without extending substantially into the flesh of the melon. A rotating assembly is provided for rotating the carriage assembly between the initial position and a completed position, and parallel to the first axis. The spindles revolve the melon on its equator, so that the knifes initially remove rind from the melon along the equator thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventors: Alan Heinzen, Charles Shimmel, Rudi Groppe, Eric A. Davidson
  • Patent number: 5640898
    Abstract: A machine (10) for automatically peeling substantially elongated fruits (15), advantageously for peeling kiwis, comprising a frame (11) supporting a conveyor suitable for translating said fruits (15) from a first feeding station towards a peeling station, said conveyor being provided with means (14) suitable for substantially aligning to each other the longitudinal axes of the fruits which are placed on the conveyor and for rotating said fruits about said longitudinal axes. Furthermore, the machine comprises at least a peeling device (30) cooperating with said means (14) provided on the conveyor, said device (30) being provided with means (53) for cutting and raising a given area of skin of each fruit (15), said cutting and raising means (53) acting during the rotation phase of the fruit about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Inventor: Tiziana Tomelleri
  • Patent number: 5396837
    Abstract: A device for reducing peelable products such as potatoes in size to a predetermined shape, consisting of at least one pair of mutually adjacent rotatably driven reducing elements, the outer surface of which has at least one constriction such that two oppositely situated constrictions form a passage opening between the elements for the reduced product, wherein the surface of at least one element is provided with a reducing surface, wherein the constriction is formed such that, as seen in top view, the passage opening acquires a predetermined shape in order to obtain a product with an associated revolutional shape, for instance spherical, elliptical or any other composite form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Backus Beheer B.V.
    Inventor: Stephanus M. M. Backus
  • Patent number: 5251377
    Abstract: A vegetable peeler that includes an oval shaped housing having a bottom and an open top, a concavely curved surface formed in the bottom of the oval shaped housing, a slot formed in the concavely curved surface and aligned with the length of the housing, a blade secured inside the housing and projecting through the slot with a curved cutting edge of the blade outside the slot and generally conforming to the curvature of the portion of the concavely curved surface adjacent thereto, and a cover engageable over the open top of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Inventor: Tze H. Ho
  • Patent number: 5228397
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a product of predetermined shape from a vegetable which the vegetable is centered above a tube, the tube having an annular cutting edge. The vegetable is pressed into the tube to form a cylindrical core. The core is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the tube and then a cutting tube moveable laterally against the core cuts the predetermined shape from the core when the core is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: 461844 Ontario Limited
    Inventors: Rex B. Plant, John P. Marton
  • Patent number: 5220865
    Abstract: A peeling apparatus comprises a support shaft which is laterally mounted on a frame, a container arranged on the outside of the support shaft and having an inner surface which is curved with respect to an axis of the support shaft and with respect to an axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of the support shaft, and a cutting edge extending along an inner surface of the container and movable with respect to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Inventor: Tatsuo Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 5199350
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas Lin
  • Patent number: 5146681
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing a skin layer of elongate vegetables, such as cucumbers and carrots, includes an elongate housing mounting blade segments therewithin. A manually supported embodiment of the invention includes coaxially arranged resilient segments mounting rigid blade members at a lowermost end thereof defining a conical chamber for directing of the vegetables therethrough. The blade segments may be formed of various configurations, such as utilizing triangular projections in association with fluid directing apertures, as well as cylindrical cutters directed interiorly of the blades. The blades define offset cutting elements. The invention further includes a power-driven aspect of the invention utilizing a central cylindrical hopper defining a cylindrical cutting blade coaxially arranged within the chamber, as well as using a helical wire mounting a matrix of spaced needle cutting members projecting interiorly of the cutting chamber to enhance cutting of a vegetable therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Inventor: Cyrus Haghkar
  • Patent number: 5105735
    Abstract: This machine consists of a chassis equipped with two arms, at the ends of which are devices for holding the fruit and turning it. The cutter can be fixed, with the fruit being kept in contact through its own weight, the peeling being carried out by angling the axis of the fruit, or it can move round the fruit, and in this case of fruit is fixed. The movement of the cutter in relation to the fruit or vice versa is proportional, thanks to fixed or variable and/or electronic demultiplication mechanisms or devices. The fruit remains centered in relation to the arms which support it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Pelanar, S.L., Castell
    Inventor: Jose P. Gonzalvo
  • Patent number: 5097758
    Abstract: A fruit and vegetable peeler includes a tong assembly with flexible grater plates resiliently connected across spaced apart joints of the assembly. The tong assembly is mounted on a support plate in sliding guides which confine the motion of members of the tong assembly. A food article receiving aperture is formed through the support plate, and the grater plates are positioned for access through the aperture. The support plate is placed on a collection container on a platform having a motor guide standard upstanding therefrom. A rotary motor is connected to a guide bracket which is slidable on the standard. The motor has a pronged chuck which engages a food article, such as a carrot, to spin same when the motor is activated. The spinning food article is lowered between the grater plates and the tong handles closed to abrasively engage the grater plates with the food article to remove a surface layer thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: Elwyn M. Fresh
  • Patent number: 5060563
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a product of predetermined shape from a vegetable, in which a cylindrical core is cut from the vegetable by forcing the vegetable against an annular cutting edge of a tube and cutting the product from the core by advancing a pair of opposed rotatable cutting elements into apertures in the side of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Rex Plant
    Inventors: Rex B. Plant, John P. Marton
  • Patent number: 5044268
    Abstract: The invention provides for a cutting device having a mounting member comprised of two cylindrical portions mounted on a base. The two cylindrical portions are arranged co-axially, and define between them a recess adapted to accommodate an article to be cut. Cutting blades are provided and comprise a first cutting blade of tubular shape mounted on a cylindrical portion of the mounting block and a flat blade mounted in a slot in one of the mounting blocks. A moving mechanism is provided to move the blades across the recess when an article is located therein, thereby removing and discarding the outer portions of the article. The invention further comprises a feed system for feeding the article into the recess of the cutting device. The feed system comprises a segmenting apparatus, a transport line between the segmenting apparatus and the recess of the cutting device, as well as propulsion means for moving the article from the transport line into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Inventor: Thomas Lin
  • Patent number: 4771682
    Abstract: This invention concerns a peeling machine for stripping skin and other unedible portions from a fruit or vegetables, more particularly, a peeling machine which can be used effectively for peeling an object which has a soft layer between an outer skin and flesh. This invention is based on a finding that a blade is generally imparted with a better incisive quality when it is pressed against an object and moved in the direction of its cutting edge, as compared with a case where it is simply pressed against the object. Namely, according to the invention, a cup-shaped rotary blade with a cutting edge along the brim of a cup-shaped body is put in rotation and moved along the profile of a fruit or vegetable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Muro Kinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 4738195
    Abstract: A machine for cutting strips of peel from citrus fruit, particularly for the purpose of producing "twists" of lemon and lime, employs a cutting assembly with a circular array of cutters. The cutters have upwardly oriented, transversely extending cutting edges to simultaneously produce a multiplicity of peel strips; they are biased to radially inward positions, and are automatically retractable so as to accommodate passage of the fruit axially between them. The machine includes a cup for receiving and permitting the convenient retrieval of the fruit and strips from the machine, and normally a plunger mechanism will be provided for manually forcing the fruit through the array of cutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Inventors: James A. Berube, W. Garrett Howard
  • Patent number: 4720388
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for peeling an object having a generally soft interior portion surrounded by a generally hard external surface, where the system is suitable for use by consumers or in areas with consumers. According to one aspect of the invention, the apparatus of the invention includes a knife means for removing the hard external surface from the object, leaving substantially the soft interior portion. The apparatus also includes a housing enclosing the knife means to protect consumers or an operator of the apparatus from the knife means. The housing has two openings, one for receiving the object and one for discharging the soft interior portion after the object has been peeled.For some objects to be peeled, such as pineapples, the hard external surface of the object has two end portions and an intermediate body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Castle & Cooke, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank D. Pierce, Bradford E. Knickerbocker, Don H. Lenker
  • Patent number: 4628806
    Abstract: A deskinning apparatus comprises a deskinning knife, a rotatable shaft having removably sleeved thereon a plurality of cylinders and a stripper assembly for urging skins from the cylinders. Each of the cylinders have a plurality of circumferential teeth thereon spaced by grooves. The stripper assembly is mounted so as not to rotate with the shaft and cylinders. The stripper assembly includes a plurality of integral blades, each blade being operably received in a rotating groove of a respective cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Inventor: David P. Murphy
  • Patent number: 4550656
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Inventor: Norbert A. Kirk
  • Patent number: 4503761
    Abstract: A machine for fashioning vegetables and similar products.The machine comprises: a fashioning gripper 12 comprising two jaws 18, 19 adapted for seizing the vegetable via opposed axial actions; a fashioning tool 17 rotating about an axis parallel to the common axis of the fashioning gripper and of the vegetable, said tool being in the shape of a solid of revolution about its rotation axis; means 40 for successively bringing the fashioning tool 17 near and away from the fashioning gripper 12; means 27 for rotating the gripper about itself over a predetermined angle, between two fashioning operations, and an outlet cutting station with two spaced apart cutting tool 43, adapted for eliminating on the facetted vegetable end portions, at least in the areas where the fashioning tool has not removed material, so that the machined facets end axially on two end radial faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Cailloux
  • Patent number: 4446782
    Abstract: A banana peeling machine in which the skin of a banana is engaged by impinging spikes on the periphery of three resiliently supported rotatable wheels with separating and cutting means adjacent a narrowest gap location to assist the skin being pulled away from the flesh to effect peeling of the banana.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Inventor: Leslie Black
  • Patent number: 4423671
    Abstract: A floating knife assembly with positive blade positioning for use with a meat defatting machine to trim a portion of a layer of fat from a piece of meat while leaving a desired thickness of fat layer thereon.The knife assembly includes a gauge plate which engages the piece of meat, riding on an upper surface thereof as the meat is urged toward the knife. The gauge plate and knife are interconnected by a linkage system comprising a gauge plate position sensor and a power ram which urges the knife to a desired position relative to the piece of meat dependent upon the position of the gauge plate. The knife is securely locked into position as an individual piece of meat is urged therepast assuring that a constant thickness of fat is retained on the meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Inventor: Robert P. Murphy
  • Patent number: 4393761
    Abstract: A floating knife assembly is provided to be used in conjunction with a meat defatting machine to trim a portion of a layer of fat from a piece of meat while leaving a desired thickness of fat layer thereon.The knife assembly includes a gauge plate which engages the piece of meat, riding on an upper surface thereof as the meat is urged toward the knife. The gauge plate and knife are mounted on a linkage system which allows the gauge plate and knife to float upwardly or downwardly. The distance between the knife and gauge plate is selectively adjustable to accommodate pieces of meat of different thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Inventor: Robert P. Murphy
  • Patent number: 4350088
    Abstract: A coconut shredder and cutter apparatus comprises a housing having therein a coconut cutting and shredding compartment with a removable tray bottom, and a transparent cover for the compartment. A motor driven shaft extends into one end of the compartment on which a shredder blade or coconut holder may be selectively mounted for shredding and cutting operations, respectively. During shredding, a coconut half section is supported by a coconut holder mounted on the inner end of a manually manipulable holder mount supported for axial, radial and pivotal movement with respect to the shredder blade which is then mounted on the motor shaft. The coconut half section is manipulated by the operator to bring portions of the meat in the coconut section into engagement with the rotating shredder blade thereby to effect removal of the meat from the coconut shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Inventor: Jose V. Rubio, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4318339
    Abstract: A method for cold peeling citrus fruit is disclosed wherein the fruit is first cored and sliced into a plurality of segments and the pulp is thereafter severed from the peel by forcing the segment through a knife. An apparatus is disclosed where the fruit segment is secured and compressed on a concave rotary carrier which is then rotated through a concave severing knife which severs the peel and albedo from the pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Inventor: Paul F. Sage
  • Patent number: 4009652
    Abstract: The machine comprises a frame having an arcuate knife pivotally mounted thereon. A saddle element supports a butt to be trimmed so that it is located in the path of the knife. A clamp-down assembly pins the butt to the saddle so that it is fixed. The knife is curved to conform to the curvature of the lean meat-back fat interface of the butt; the saddle surface is curved to conform to the outer surface of the butt fat layer. In operation, the knife is drawn through the fixed butt and severs a layer of fat of uneven thickness, leaving a layer of generally constant thickness adhering to the lean meat. On the return stroke, the knife pushes the unclamped butt and severed fat from the saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Inventor: John Anderson
  • Patent number: 3961418
    Abstract: A lemon hand peeler consisting of a generally horseshoe-shaped frame provided with an inwardly arcuate spaced apart cutter blade whose ends are rigidly supported by the frame. The frame is adapted to be held in one hand so as to enable the user to remove the peel from a lemon, or other citrus fruit, by engaging the cutting edge of the blade into the rind of the lemon and rotating manually the lemon for the purpose of separating the rind from the meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1976
    Inventor: Michael J. Neveu