Tool Rotates About Its Own Axis Patents (Class 99/593)
  • Patent number: 9521920
    Abstract: A device for extracting zest from a fruit includes a body, a carrier coupled to the body, and a blade coupled to the body. The carrier moves the fruit relative to the blade and holds the fruit as the blade separates a portion of the flavedo from the pith of the fruit's peel to extract zest from the fruit. The device also includes an arm that urges the blade against the fruit's peel to generate contact pressure as the carrier moves the fruit relative to the blade, and that allows the blade to move toward and away from the carrier to accommodate the contour of the fruit's peel, which is often curved. The blade includes a plurality of teeth, each configured to cut a portion of the fruit's flavedo from the fruit's pith without separating the pith from the berry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
    Inventor: Benjamin Stanley Willis
  • Publication number: 20140311362
    Abstract: A peeling machine according to the present invention includes a cutter head and a feed mechanism having upper and lower feed rollers, and the feed mechanism includes a first holder that supports the lower feed roller, a second holder that supports the upper feed roller, a roller opening/closing driving mechanism, a synchronizing mechanism that has a pinion disposed in the same vertical plane as axes of the both feed rollers and first and second racks, and a grasping-force applying cylinder that applies a downward work grasping force to the second holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Daisho Seiki Corporation
    Inventor: Shoji YOSHIZURU
  • Publication number: 20090199726
    Abstract: An avocado de-skinning apparatus having two vertically disposed rotating drums which rotate inward. The drums each have axial grooves which are perpendicular to the axis of the drums and intersecting cross grooves which are perpendicular to the axial grooves and parallel to the axis of the drums. The rotating drums pinch off the skin of an avocado and force it through a drum gap between the rotating drums. The avocado pulp drops off for further processing. A skin scraper at the rear of the rotating drums removes skin adhering to the drums and a pulp scraper [doctor blade] to the front, with ends which corresponds to the shape of the axial grooves, biases onto the axial grooves and scrapes off any pulp adhering to the drums for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Richard MOORE
  • Publication number: 20090136628
    Abstract: The apparatus and method shaves produce such as carrots to a uniform style capable fo being packaged. The apparatus has shavers arrayed about the rotational axis of, yet carried by, a carousel, each having at least one blade rotatable about its associated rotational axis substantially parallel to but spaced outwardly of the rotational axis of the carousel. A magazine or hopper or robotic fed product stuffer is adapted to drive a produce item for shaving into an indexed shaver for shaving of that produce item as the shaver but not the carousel is drivingly rotated. A product ejection arrangement is to act on the shaven and crowned product whilst the shaver still supports the product to remove the product in a direction opposite its stuffing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Patrick Hall, Kenneth Barry Davison, Marcel Steens, Stephen Alexander Ham, Richard Jones Stovell
  • Publication number: 20090090255
    Abstract: An agricultural product peeling apparatus includes an alignment supply unit, a peeling unit, and a plurality of urging plates. The alignment supply unit aligns and supplies agricultural product such as potatoes. The peeling unit includes a pair of parallel rotary members with a cutting body on their outer surfaces and peels with the cutting body the agricultural products, sequentially supplied from the alignment supply unit to a convey path formed between the rotary members. The urging plates move the agricultural products supplied to the start side of the convey path to the end side of the convey path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Karasawa, Masayuki Kaji, Katsuhiro Watanabe, Noritoshi Kikuchi
  • 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: 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: 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: 6484627
    Abstract: A skewer assembly for use with a spiral meat slicing apparatus. The skewer assembly includes a base and a skewer connected thereto and extending therefrom. The skewer has an upper end, a lower end and a body portion therebetween. The body portion has a length and has a slot defined therethrough for at least a portion of the length of the body portion. The skewer may be inserted through a boneless cut of meat and the skewer assembly along with the meat product may be placed on a spiral meat slicing apparatus. Once the boneless cut of meat has been spiral sliced, the skewer assembly along with the meat product can be removed from the meat slicing apparatus. Prior to removing the skewer from the meat product, a knife can be inserted into the slot and can be moved along the slot to cut the meat product into two approximate halves through the portion of the meat which was not sliced by the circular slicing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Doskocil Food Service Company, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Don Peter
  • Patent number: 6427332
    Abstract: The kitchen peeling tool which includes a clip type controlling handle bar having an upper and a lower shanks pivoted to it, a blade holder, and an direction turning mechanism for fruits of various sizes to be inserted in. The upper shank is detachably coupled with the blade holder, while the lower shank is screw combined to the all direction turning mechanism turnable in all directions thereby peeling the fruit smoothly and finely with the blade closely touching on the surface of the fruit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Ching-Tien Pi
  • Patent number: 6347581
    Abstract: A folding table having a hole in the table top is combined with a fruit and vegetable peeler. The table may include a plastic bag retained within and under the hole for containing peelings therein, or may include a variety of other containers in alternative embodiments. In one such alternative embodiment, the table and peeler are combined with a sink and garbage disposal, whereby the peelings may pass freely through the table and ultimately through the garbage disposal. The table is preferably constructed of materials and components that are easily cleaned, offer stain resistance, and which may be compactly stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Inventors: Janet M. Sahli, Michael J. Sahli
  • Patent number: 6269740
    Abstract: A spiral meat slicing apparatus and method having a lower meat support assembly including a rotatively driven lower shaft and an upstanding lower spike for receiving the major longitudinal end of a cut of boneless meat, the lower spike being carried by the lower shaft. An upper meat support assembly is provided and includes a rotatively driven, vertically adjustable upper shaft and an upper spike for receiving the minor longitudinal end of a cut of boneless meat, the upper spike being carried by the upper shaft. The upper spike is in coaxial alignment with the lower upstanding spike to thereby define an axis of rotation for a cut of boneless meat supported therebetween. A vertically indexable knife is positioned relative to the axis of rotation so as to enable a continuous spiral cut to be made therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Peer Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Jozef Kojs
  • Patent number: 6234073
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for spirally slicing boneless meat without the need for a center support rod. A slicing machine for the meat includes a rotatable base and an elevated chuck both having prongs for clamping the meat between them. Separate motors independently turn the base and chuck at the same rotational speed so that there is no twisting of the meat from top to bottom. A slicing blade is moved vertically on the machine as it slices the meat spirally about a solid meat core extending along the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Farmland Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Dieso, David L. Fawcett
  • Patent number: 6200621
    Abstract: A spiral meat slicing apparatus and method having a lower meat support assembly including a rotatively driven lower shaft and an upstanding lower spike for receiving the major longitudinal end of a cut of boneless meat, the lower spike being carried by the lower shaft. An upper meat support assembly is provided and includes a rotatively driven, vertically adjustable upper shaft and an upper spike for receiving the minor longitudinal end of a cut of boneless meat, the upper spike being carried by the upper shaft. The upper spike is in coaxial alignment with the lower upstanding spike to thereby define an axis of rotation for a cut of boneless meat supported therebetween. A vertically indexable knife is positioned relative to the axis of rotation so as to enable a continuous spiral cut to be made therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Peer Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Jozef Kojs
  • Patent number: 6176177
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in a chamfering machine for chamfering blocks of vegetable such as carrots or potatoes. A conventional vegetable block chamfering machine uses a chamfering blade having a crank-like axle integrally connected thereto with its opposite handles aligned with the blade edge, permitting the chamfering blade to rotate freely about its opposite handles. An improved chamfering machine according to the present invention is free of any kind of malfunction as would be often caused in the conventional chamfering machine, and is capable of chamfering blocks of vegetable effectively. A chamfering blade is placed in the path in which a selected block of vegetable is transported, the edge of the chamfering blade being directed to the vegetable block. The chamfering blade is integrally connected to a blade axle, which is placed in engagement with guide and the blade axle is fixed to one end of a swingable rod. A vegetable carrier is placed in front of the chamfering blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Yamatenosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kojiro Ito
  • Patent number: 6167801
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for peeling root vegetables. The device comprises a container (1), which at its bottom has at least two rotatably arranged discs (4), which have grating or cutting means on their upper side. According to the invention, the container (1) has a cylindrical outer wall (2), and the bottom of the container (1) is a rotatably arranged disc (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Rauschnings Maskin Tekniska AB
    Inventor: Kenneth Rauschning
  • 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: 6096360
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for spirally slicing boneless meat without the need for a center support rod. A slicing machine for the meat includes a rotatable base and an elevated chuck both having prongs for clamping the meat between them. Separate motors independently turn the base and chuck at the same rotational speed so that there is no twisting of the meat from top to bottom. A slicing blade is moved vertically on the machine as it slices the meat spirally about a solid meat core extending along the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Farmland Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Dieso, David L. Fawcett
  • 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: 5845565
    Abstract: A hand holdable peeler for fruit and vegetables comprises a housing that has an electric motor mounted in the housing to rotate a peeler attachment. The peeler attachment has a central body and a number of planar plastic blades. Each blade has serrations along its leading surface to cut into the peel or outer surface of the fruit or vegetables. The trailing edges of the serrations and a planar trailing edge of the blade clear and scrape the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Chiaphu Industries Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Robert McNair-Chaplin
  • Patent number: 5806414
    Abstract: A processing apparatus and method for removing rind from a spheroidal food article, such as a melon is provided. The apparatus includes infeed and outfeed componentry for conveying melons to be processed into and out of the apparatus, providing an apparatus well suited for use in an automated environment. The infeed componentry includes a positioning device for positioning a melon to be processed between revolving mandrels, for achieving a desired orientation of the melon relative to the mandrels. The mandrels retain the melon on its axis and revolve the melon on its equator. Knife members are positioned on either side of the melon and aligned with the equator thereof when the melon is in an initial position. The knife members have detachable blades to accommodate rinds of different thicknesses, so that the blades extend through the rind, without extending into the flesh. Rollers are secured to the knife members to control the cutting depth of the blades and to enhance the ease with which the rind is cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Heinzen Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Heinzen, Charles Shimmel, Rudi Groppe, Erick A. Davidson
  • 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: 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: 5558011
    Abstract: An apparatus for paring the skin or rind from fruit and cutting segments of the rind having a defined length, width and thickness. The fruit is mounted upon a rotatable shaft which is longitudinally moveable through the incorporation of a continuous worm drive. The skin or rind of the fruit is brought into communication with a plurality of paring blades which will cut the rind to a defined width and thickness. A cylindrical member is frictionally disposed adjacent the outer skin of the fruit and is rotated about its axis by the frictional engagement between the cylindrical surface and the pared strip of fruit. One or more cutting blades are secured to and rotate about the axis of the cylinder severing the pared rind into defined lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: Stephen J. Heim
  • Patent number: 5454300
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for removing palm hearts from cut lengths of stalks of palm each of which includes a large "meristem" section that is joined to a smaller diameter top section by an intermediate tapered section, and has a palm heart that runs the length of the stalk as a core member inside an intermediate layer that is surrounded by a thorny outer bark layer. Each such stalk is caused to move longitudinally through bark removal means for slitting the outer bark layer of its smaller diameter section and removing the bark from the remainder of the stalk. The smaller section, after having been severed from the rest of the stalk, is caused to move longitudinally through intermediate layer removal means for slitting and removing the intermediate layer from the underlying palm heart. Embodiments include each such means per se and acting cooperatively with the other, and methods for carrying out the foregoing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Roberto Gonzales Barrera
    Inventors: Ronald S. Rainey, Ian P. Campbell, Pablo M. A. Fallas, Edgar N. Solano
  • 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: 5251543
    Abstract: An accessory for supporting a boneless cut of meat, for use in conjunction with a spiral meat slicer having an upper support bracket and a rotatable turntable positioned below the support bracket, and in which the turntable has a plurality of prongs extending upwardly therefrom, comprises a skewer assembly including a skewer and a base for supporting the skewer, a vertically-adjustable lower stop member slidably carried by the skewer, a vertically-adjustable upper prong member slidably carried by the skewer and positioned above the stop member, and a spindle assembly including a rod for slidably engaging the bracket and an adapter having a central bore therein for receiving the apex of the skewer. The base has a plurality of holes formed therein dimensioned and positioned to receive the prongs of the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: The Original Honey Baked Ham Company of Georgia, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Brothers
  • 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: 5161459
    Abstract: A peeling head is provided for use in a peeling machine wherein a fruit or vegetable (such as an apple or pear) is skewered and rotated about an axis and wherein at least one elongated pivotable shaft housing with a rotary peeling cutter mounted on its distal end articulates to move the rotary peeling cutter around the surface of the fruit or vegetable. The peeling head has a plastic guard carried at the distal end of the shaft housing, and a ceramic tracing shoe insert carried by the plastic guard wherein the ceramic tracing shoe insert has a peel string guide which constantly urges the peel string in the proper direction in order to facilitate breaking of the peel string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Atlas Pacific Engineering Company
    Inventor: Douglas F. Paterson
  • Patent number: 5133250
    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
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Inventor: Clemente Del Ser Gonzalez
  • 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: 5027699
    Abstract: A lightweight peeling head is provided in which a plastic guard body cooperates with a rotary peeling cutter for determining the depth of cut made by the cutter wherein a ceramic wear resistant tracing shoe insert is formed in the plastic guard body. The ceramic tracing shoe rides against the surface of the fruit, for example apples, as the fruit is being peeled. A chip breaker is provided having a pair of teeth wherein each tooth has a positive rake relative to the direction of travel of the peel string and wherein each tooth has a positive attack angle whereby the peel string is driven towards the base of the teeth as the peel string is being cut by said tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Atlas Pacific Engineering Company
    Inventors: Douglas F. Paterson, Gary L. Dare, Konrad Meissner
  • Patent number: 5001973
    Abstract: A water-powered peeler for vegetables and the like having an axially short housing and a domed closed end suitable for pressing against the palm of the hand of the user. An abrading tool protrudes out the opposite end of the housing. Water power drives an impeller which is connected to an axle that drives the abrading tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Chef'N Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Holcomb
  • Patent number: 4998466
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventor: Tatsuo Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 4972769
    Abstract: In an appliance for peeling fruit and vegetables, the appliance comprising an electric motor (1) driving a rotor (2) inside a cover (6), the axis of rotation (21) of the rotor being perpendicular to the surface to be peeled, and the rotor being loosely or pivotally mounted on the axis of rotation and being driven at a speed such that the tangential speed of the blades (16) carried by the rotor is at least equal to 7 meters per second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Inventor: Serge Cailliot
  • Patent number: 4876768
    Abstract: A fish scaling device and method for removing scales from varieties of fish. The fish scaler includes a bucket and lid designed to provide a connecting seal. Rotatably connected to the lid portion is a perpendicularly extending rod portion. A scaling element is attached to the rod. A plurality of scaling protrusions are attached to the exterior of the scaling element. A starter mechanism including a pull knob, rope, pullcord spring and circular spring coil provide for rotational motion of the scaling element. Rotation of the scaling element causes relative movement between the scaling protrusion and the suspended fish for removal of scales from the suspended fish. A circular spring coil allows for return rotational scaling motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Lil' Beaver Company
    Inventor: Clarence K. Bright
  • Patent number: 4821635
    Abstract: An apparatus for slicing meats compromising an electrically driven meat chuck assembly for rotating the meat about a vertical axis, a circular slicer blade for cutting the meat, vertical indexing means for gradually moving the blade vertically, positioning means for moving the blade into slicing engagement and disengagement from the meat, a meat support means for slicing boneless meats, and a positioning stop to limit blade movement during boneless slicing operations. The indexing means include an electrically driven threaded drive shaft providing movement of the blade, and whereby upon disengagement of the blade from the meat, the relative respective positions there between are maintained. The positioning is pneumatically driven, whereby the force bringing the blade into engagement with the meat may be readily overcome manually so as to facilitate prevention of the blade cutting into bones or joints at the eccentrically oriented with respect to the axis of rotation of the meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventor: James P. Logan, Jr.
  • 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: 4765234
    Abstract: Peeler for a product (P), such as a fruit or vegetable, using a rotating tool moved in relation to the product so as to explore the surface of the latter and mark on it successive parallel turns, characterized in that the said tool is in the form of a vertical cutter (T) and comprises a part of revolution (1) of small diameter and a small number of teeth, whether cutting teeth or not, forming projections (2), this tool (T) being driven in rotation about its axis (AT) at a high speed and in such a direction (S) that the said projections (2) engage the skin of the product from below, starting from the adjacent turn already peeled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Inventor: Serge Cailliot
  • Patent number: 4708056
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Caribbean Industrial Research Institute
    Inventor: Chandra Dinanath
  • Patent number: 4656936
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Inventor: Aubrey C. Bardon
  • Patent number: 4628808
    Abstract: In the cutting apparatus the item to be cut is helicoidally cut by a blade. In order to be able easily to use the cutting apparatus and to hold securely the item to be cut (5) during the cutting operation, it is proposed according to the invention that the holding means (6) be provided with a funnel-shaped depression (funnel 7) situated in the axis of rotation for centering said item to be cut (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Inventor: Nicola-Carlo Simon
  • Patent number: 4497245
    Abstract: A pineapple cutter, wherein a smaller diameter tubular cutter for cutting the core of a pineapple and a larger diameter tubular cutter for cutting the peel of the pineapple are concentrically arranged on upper peripheral edge of a cylindrical body having a base disc, between said cutters a pineapple loading table is inserted loosely in vertically movable state, a horizontal rod for vertical movement of said loading table is connected with a vertically operating rod passing through a slant groove which is provided obiquely in vertical direction in the peripheral said wall of said cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Assignee: Kowa Shoji Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kashichi Mori
  • Patent number: 4481875
    Abstract: Here is disclosed a bulb peeling apparatus wherein a means of incising grooves on the outer peripheral surface skins of bulbs while rotating the bulbs is arranged in the course of a bulb conveying means and a compressed air blowing means is arranged further in the rear of the groove incising means so as to peel off the surface skins.It is positive to manually peel off surface skins of bulbs. However, in order to peel off the surface skins of a large volume of bulbs, the rise of the labor and production costs will be inevitable and a mechanical means will have to be naturally resorted to.In the bulb peeling apparatus of the present invention, a means of forming incised grooves on the outer peripheral surface skins of bulbs while rotating the bulbs is provided in the course of a bulb conveying means so as to peel off the surface skins of a large volume of bulbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: M.G.I. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaku Toyosato
  • Patent number: 4470345
    Abstract: Apparatus for peeling onion skins from the bulbs of onions comprising conveyor means for transporting the onion bulbs from a supply thereof and a roller conveyor including a plurality of rotatable cutters. The onion bulbs are supplied by the conveyor means to the roller conveyor with a flatwise planar orientation which prevents piling of the onion bulbs on one another. The rotatable cutters slit the skins of the onion bulbs, while simultaneously compressed air is blown onto the surface of the onion bulbs by the discharge parts of air nozzles coupled to a source of compressed air. Means are provided for swinging the discharge parts of the nozzles so that the air impinges on the width of the rotatable cutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Miyata
  • Patent number: 4441413
    Abstract: A pineapple cutter, wherein a smaller diameter tubular cutter for cutting the core of a pineapple and a larger diameter tubular cutter for cutting the peel of the pineapple are concentrically arranged on upper peripheral edge of a cylindrical body having a base disc, between said cutters a pineapple loading table is inserted loosely in vertically movable state, a horizontal rod for vertical movement of said loading table is connected with a vertically operating rod passing through a slant groove which is provided obliquely in vertical direction in the peripheral said wall of said cylindrical body.According to said arrangement, the disadvantage of usual pineapple cutter is completely eliminated, assuring simultaneous removing of hard peel and core of a pineapple easily and accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Kowa Shoji Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kashichi Mori