Abstract: A device from draining coconut water from a coconut has a handle. A tubular member extends down from the handle. A plurality of teeth extends down from a distal end of the tubular member. An end cap member is positioned over the distal end of the tubular member.

Abstract: A food processor includes a base, a container having a side wall and an open end including a rim, and a lid for engaging the open end of the container in an operating position and a storage position. The lid has a top wall with a first and second principal surface, an annular ledge with a first and second side, and a food chute extending from the first principal surface generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the top wall. The food chute has a length and extends away from the container with the second side of the annular ledge contacting the rim of the container when the lid is in the operating position. When the lid is in the storage position, the food chute extends into an interior of the container with the first side of the annular ledge contacting the rim of the container.

Abstract: A device for cubing items such as fruits or vegetables is disclosed. A preferred example of the invention includes an inlet frame and an outlet frame, the inlet frame having a support plate that is supported from the inlet frame. A releasable advancement mechanism that uses a split nut is used to engage a threaded rod attached to a pressure plate. The inlet and outlet frames cooperate with a hollow elongated body to retain the pressure plate as it moves along the body in response to turning of the threaded rod. A cutting grid is supported from the outlet frame, so that movement of the pressure plate by turning the threaded rod forces a food item placed between the cutting grid and the pressure where the cutting grid cuts it as the food item is pressed against the cutting grid by the advancing pressure plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a curly sliced potato chip includes: a base frame; a cutting blade coupled to the base frame; and a rotatable threaded rod having a predetermined threaded pitch to which rod the potato is mounted. The rod is turned to rotate the potato while it is in a cutting position and to displace it toward or away from the cutting blade. A quick release engaging member has a threaded portion with a pitch compatible with the pitch of the rod. The member is fixed relative to the base frame and is selectively coupled with the threaded rod to selectively drive the potato mounted on the rod toward or away from the cutting blade as the rod is rotated. The potato is displaced toward or away the cutting blade at a linear displacement rate determined by the pitch of the threaded rod.

Abstract: An apple/potato peeler. The peeler includes a base, a main frame mounted to a slightly L-shaped structure on the base, a rotatable and axially movable screw horizontally supported on a screw support member on a vertical frame member disposed at the rear of the main frame, a 3-prong fork fixed to the front end of the screw, a guide piece pivotally mounted on the vertical frame member and being releasably engageable relative to a screw channel of the screw, a resiliently movable peeling arm fore-and aft swingeable pivoted to the front part of the horizontal frame member of the main frame, a U-shaped peeling blade fixed to the upper end of the movable peeling arm by a blade positioning device, and a coring/slicing blade fixed to the front end of the horizontal frame member for cutting flesh of a vegetable fruit held by the 3-prong fork if the screw into continuous spiral slices and for coring fruit.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing food products having a cutting knife which is driven in a rotary manner. The cutting plane of the knife extends perpendicular to the product support surface of a product supply device.

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.

Abstract: A preferred device for making cream-style corn includes a corn-receiving member and a blade member. The corn-receiving member incorporates a first open end and defines an interior that is configured to receive at least a portion of an ear of corn. The blade member includes a blade that is movably mounted within the interior so as to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the blade is configured to engage an ear of corn inserted into the interior of the corn-receiving member so that, as the ear of corn is rotated about its longitudinal axis, the blade tears open individual kernels of the ear of corn and allows liquid and fibrous contents of the kernels to drain into the corn-receiving member. Systems and methods also are provided.

Abstract: A hand crank driven fruit and vegetable peeler for peeling away an outer portion of a fruit or vegetable. An arbor is detachably mounted in the hand crank for rotating a fruit or vegetable against a sharp cutting blade. The cutting blade is mounted in the end of a slender member which is pivotally and slidably mounted to a base. During peeling, the fruit or vegetable is manually rotated with the crank as the blade is traversed across an outer portion of the fruit or vegetable.

Abstract: A fruit and vegetable peeler which is driven by a small rotary power tool. An arbor is detachably mounted in the power tool for rotating a fruit or vegetable against a sharp cutting blade. The cutting blade is positioned relative to the fruit or vegetable by a steady rest on the handle. The blade has a narrow elongated front cutting portion and a spaced apart narrow elongated rear portion which pivotally attached to the handle. During the peeling of the fruit or vegetable, the steady rest maintains the position of the blade relative to the fruit or vegetable. In a first aspect of the invention, the steady rest is an integral portion of the handle and has a fixed spatial relationship to the blade. In a second aspect, the steady rest is attached to the handle and its position on the handle is selectively adjustable to accommodate large differences in the size and shape of fruits or vegetables. In a third aspect, a pair of blades and steady rests are provided on a common handle.

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.

Abstract: A fruit and vegetable peeler having a blade mounted on a handle and a handle for supporting and traversing the blade along an outer surface of a fruit or a vegetable. The handle has a steady rest for maintaining the position of the blade relative to the fruit or vegetable. The blade has a narrow elongated front cutting portion, a narrow elongated spaced apart rear portion and short connecting end portions for attaching the blade to the handle. In a first aspect of the invention, the steady rest is an integral portion of the handle and has a fixed spatial relationship to the blade. In a second aspect, the steady rest is attached to the handle and its position on the handle is selectively adjustable to accommodate large differences in the size and shape of fruits or vegetables. In a third aspect, a pair of blades and steady rests are provided on a common handle.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for peeling a variety of fruits and vegetables wherein a sharp blade is traversed and rotated in a continuous or intermittent manner across a rotating fruit or vegetable. In a first aspect of the invention, the fruit or vegetable is mounted on a slender arbor which cooperates with a pair of surfaces to rotate and constrain the fruit or vegetable with respect to the peeling blade. The arbor is manually rotated with one hand of a user as an opposite hand controlled peeling blade is traversed from side to side and rotated to engage center and end portions of the peeling blade with the fruit or vegetable. In a second aspect of the invention, the arbor is driven by a small electric motor, a small kitchen appliance, such as an electric can opener or mixer, or a small kitchen appliance such as a mixer which cooperates with the arbor to constrain and rotate the fruit or vegetable with respect to the peeling blade.

Abstract: A rotary root vegetable slicer that is reliably held at an installed position even when water enters into the lower surface of the bed plate, and can be easily removed from the installed position. The rotary root vegetable slicer (1) includes a bed plate (2) of a nearly square shape as viewed on a plane, a blade-mounting member (5) erected at an end of the bed plate (2) for detachably mounting a plane blade (3) and a comb blade (4), a rotary piece-mounting member (6 ) on a portion on the other side of the bed plate (2) opposed to the blade-mounting member (5) so as to slide along the lengthwise direction of the bed plate (2), and a rotary piece (8) having many needle-like protrusions (7) arranged on the front surface thereof at an upper part of the rotary piece-mounting member (6) so as to rotate.

Abstract: A fruit peeling machine comprises a base, a transmission rod, an engagement device, a fruit fastening member, and a peeling tool. The transmission rod is rotatably and slidably mounted on the base and provided with at least two spiral slots different from each other in guide range and forming on the transmission rod a meeting place and a separating place which is separated from the meeting place by a distance. The fruit fastening member is fastened with the front end of the transmission rod. The peeling tool is mounted on the base to facilitate the peeling of the fruit held by the fruit fastening member. The engagement device is mounted on the base and composed of at least two engaging members each having two engaging teeth engageable with the spiral slots to enable said transmission rod to displace variously in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the transmission rod at the time when the transmission rod is rotated.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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: 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.

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.

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: A bacon slicing or skinning machine has a housing for a set of conveyors including a traction wheel located beneath an elongated path for the products which are to be skinned or sliced. A blade holder is pivotably mounted at a level above the path adjacent the traction wheel on the heads of two independently movable arms which flank the path and carry a pivot bearing for the holder. The bearing is located in front of a device which limits the extent of movement of the holder and its blade from a starting position to a working position in response to engagement of the cutting edge of the blade by an oncoming product. Such device can comprise a pintle which extends with play into recesses of the arms, or an eccentric on at least one of the arms, such eccentric being tracked by a rearwardly extending follower of the holder. Springs are provided to permanently pull the arms downwardly so as to urge the holder to the starting position.

Abstract: A semiautomatic pineapple peeler in which adjustable width knife blades sever the ends of the pineapple and concentric cylindrical knives core and peel it, leaving the detached core in the peeled pineapple. The one step process is driven by two D.C. electric linear ball screw actuators, sequenced by an integrated circuit logic board and magnetic proximity limit switch arrangement. The peel is split in half by two radially mounted fins on the top and bottom of the large cylindrical knife, allowing the waste to be collected below.The pineapple machine completely removes all of the peel and cores a single pineapple automatically, eliminating the two step manual operation of first cutting the ends off and then using the existing labor intensive lever operated coring and peeling devices.

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.

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: This invention involves a device for automatically cutting a potato or similar edible tubers into a shoe string form. The cutting device utilizes the entire potato during the cutting operation by the use of a novel potato support and receiving and cutting structures which are adapted to mate with the turning means which rotates the potato along the fixed axis.

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.

Abstract: A bacon skinning machine wherein the knife is movable with reference to the traction wheel by a support having two arms which carry the knife holder. The arms are movable lengthwise and are pivotable by two eccentrics mounted on a shaft which is rotatable by a single lever. The lever can move the support to a position in which the holder and the knife can be detached from the arms, to a position in which the holder automatically conforms its position to the thickness of the rind on a slab of bacon, and a starting position. The arms are biased in a direction to urge the knife toward the periphery of the traction wheel, and such arms engage pivot pins in the machine frame in that position of the support when the holder can be detached from the arms.

Abstract: A machine for spirally slicing an unboned ham mounted between a non-driven ham engaging member and a driven ham engaging member attached to a feed screw supported by a nut fixed to the machine frame. A drive motor connected to the feed screw is mounted in a housing movable linearly with the feed screw and a support connects the non-driven ham engaging member to the housing for movement therewith. A reciprocatably driven slicing knife is mounted on a table which is movable linearly and transversely to the longitudinal axis of the feed screw between non-working and working positions and which is resiliently biased in the working position to permit automatic positional compensation of the slicing knife for eccentricity of ham rotation and irregularity in the shape of the ham.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically peeling fruit whereby a cutter blade is moved toward and away from the fruit as a function of the sensed impedance between the cutter blade and ground through the fruit so that substantially all of the peel is removed. In the preferred embodiment, a horizontal assembly presents a fruit to each of a plurality of fruit holders mounted on a vertical assembly so that each one of the presented fruit is impaled on a different spike of the vertical assembly. A plurality of cutter assemblies each mounting a cutter blade are moved toward and away from the fruit as it is rotated and moved upward to remove the peel. A control circuit includes a counter incremented by pulses from Hall Effect Switches which are energized by magnets mounted on the vertical and horizontal assemblies and controls movement of the assemblies to carry out a predetermined cycle.

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