Abstract: The machine removes skins from a pomegranate or other fruit or vegetable. A pair of belts are spaced apart by a gap. The belts travel in a common direction adjacent the gap and are closer together on at least portions thereof than a width of the pomegranate. Pomegranates passed through the gap are thus compressed between the two belts. One of the belts travels faster than the other belt so that both compression and a shearing force act upon the skin of the pomegranate. The skin is torn and opened to expose arils within a core of the pomegranate. An under belt preferably carries pomegranates through the gap with slots in the under belt to allow arils and juice to fall down through an opening in a deck upon which the compression belts are mounted. A tray collects the arils and juice falling through the deck below the gap.

Abstract: An improved peeling machine for controlling the removal of a peeling from a food product, the peeling machine having a hopper with a supply auger that pushes a food item to a peeling chamber, the peeling chamber having a plurality of parallel longitudinal rollers arranged in an arcuate juxtaposition relation, as the food item moves through the plurality of rollers, the food item is peeled and moved toward the discharge gate of the peeling machine, the improvement is the use of an abrasive material on the rollers that is formed using electrostatic charges to align the abrasive particles onto an epoxy layer and adhering this epoxy layer onto the exterior surface of the roller.

Abstract: A peeling apparatus may include a frame, a set of mounts being removably connected to a first end of the frame adjacent at least one first roller opening and each mount including a flange bearing. The peeler may also include a set of abrasive rollers being arranged to define a peeling chamber and having first ends rotatably supported by flange bearings of the mounts so that the abrasive rollers are installable or removable through the at least one first roller opening upon removal of the respective mounts from the frame. The peeling apparatus may also include a set of roller drive motors for respective abrasive rollers that are also carried by respective mounts. A second set of flange bearings may be provided at the opposite end of the chamber. A high capacity embodiment includes dual peeling chambers and wherein feeders in the form of augers rotate in opposite directions.

Abstract: A peeling apparatus includes a frame, and at least one set of abrasive rollers carried by the frame to define at least one peeling chamber. Each abrasive roller includes an elongate body portion having an abrasive outer surface and may have a pair of mounting stubs permanently affixed to respective opposing ends of the elongate body portion. The elongate body portion and the pair of mounting stubs may each comprise metal, and the pair of mounting stubs may be welded to respective ends of the elongate body portion to provide the permanent fixation. The abrasive outer surface may include a plurality of knurls arranged in a pattern. Each knurl may also comprise a leading edge portion being steeper than a trailing edge portion.

Abstract: A peeling apparatus includes a set of abrasive rollers, at least one roller drive motor, a feeder for controllably feeding fruit or vegetables adjacent the abrasive rollers, at least one sensor associated with at least one roller drive motor for sensing a load thereon, and a controller for controlling the feeder based upon a sensed load. The controller may increase the feed rate based upon an increase in sensed load, and decrease the feed rate of the auger based upon a decrease in sensed load. The at least one roller drive motor may be a hydraulic or electric motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peeling element having an elongated shape and being attached to a mechanism for rotating the peeling element around a rotation axis and includes peeling arrangements on an outer surface. To allow a product to be peeled with a single peeling device, on a first part of the peeling element, the outer surface includes a rough scraping surface, and on a second part of the peeling element, the outer surface includes at least one cutting surface.

Abstract: A peeling apparatus may include a frame, a set of mounts being removably connected to a first end of the frame adjacent at least one first roller opening and each mount including a flange bearing. The peeler may also include a set of abrasive rollers being arranged to define a peeling chamber and having first ends rotatably supported by flange bearings of the mounts so that the abrasive rollers are installable or removable through the at least one first roller opening upon removal of the respective mounts from the frame. The peeling apparatus may also include a set of roller drive motors for respective abrasive rollers that are also carried by respective mounts. A second set of flange bearings may be provided at the opposite end of the chamber. A high capacity embodiment includes dual peeling chambers and wherein feeders in the form of augers rotate in opposite directions.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating the surface of bulbous or tuberous crops, comprising a substantially tubular treatment channel inclining upwards in the main direction of transport and comprising a top wall and a bottom wall, the bottom wall being made up of a number of drivable parallel rollers provided with treatment elements, and the top wall consisting of the lower part of a drivable endless conveyor. For the purpose of modifying the channel height, the top wall and the bottom wall are movable relative to each other longitudinally as well as perpendicularly. The lowermost rollers can form a receptacle reaching as far as before the foremost point of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A nut dehulling apparatus for more effectively removing the green hull or shuck from pecans includes a housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet. A rotatable scrubbing means and an endless conveyor belt are disposed in the housing. Further included is a means for rotating the scrubbing means and means for moving the endless conveyor belt. The endless conveyor belt includes a nut contact portion which, along with the rotatable scrubbing means, defines a nut passageway wherein the scrubbing means engage pecans. The nut passageway circumscribes approximately one-half the scrubbing means. The endless conveyor belt is located in the housing such that nuts deposited in the inlet are carried by the conveyor belt through the nut passageway into engagement with the scrubbing means. The separated nuts and hulls are then carried by the endless conveyor belt to the housing outlet. The apparatus also includes a vacuum source disposed in the housing.

Abstract: Two counter rotating rollers are provided having elastomeric exterior coatings into which ribs and grooves are formed for intermeshing to blanch nuts at a pinch point therebetween. Grooves in the lower roller hold nuts as ribs on the upper roller pass across the nuts to break skins on the nuts. The elastomeric exterior coatings have surface hardness values which measure around 30 durometer. The squeeze at the pinch point between the two rollers can be repeatably adjusted for running different sizes of nuts.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a cage (rotatable in one direction) formed by roller brushes (rotatable in the opposite direction) radially arranged about a axis to define a sloped chamber. A fender is located along one side of each roller brush. A stationary tube, closed at both ends and having a motor-driven rotatable auger therein, extends through the chamber. The tube has four openings (proceeding from the high to the low end of the chamber): a top (supply) opening; a bottom (feed) opening; a top (recovery) opening; and a bottom (discharge) opening. Unhulled nuts from the supply opening are fed through the feed opening by the auger and form a single layer against the chamber wall and advance through the sloped chamber. During cage and roller rotation, each nut is trapped between a fender and the bristles in the outgoing quadrant of the adjacent roller brush and the hull is removed.

Abstract: A dry food processing machine designed to clean and polish vegetables such as potatoes as well as various fruits. The machine includes inner and outer, concentrically arranged, inverted, frusto-conical rotatable members which are concentrically spaced from one another to provide a product cleaning space therebetween. The conical members are rotatably driven in opposite or synchronous directions at selected speeds. Rotation produces a centrifugal force to the product which constitutes a vertical and horizontal component of force. Abrading devices are provided in the cleaning apace to assist in cleaning. Product is introduced through the inner member into the cleaning space and the provided vertical force will drive the product upwardly through the cleaning space for removal of material for final delivery of product to a collector cowling. Material removed rom the product will be driven horizontally from the cleaning space through the outer conical member for collection.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously peeling fruits or vegetables comprising a substantially horizontal rotary drum having its wall formed by a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parallel shafts, each shaft being individually rotatable about its own axis and having an abrasive surface, means for rotating the drum in one direction and means for rotating the shafts in the opposite direction, a rotatable helicoidal conveyor mounted concentrically within the drum and with its periphery adjacent the interior surface of the drum and means for rotating the conveyor in a direction opposite to that of the drum. The apparatus further includes a set of rollers located at one end of the drum which support registration of the rotating abrasion shafts with the means for rotating the abrasion shafts.

Abstract: Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables includes a plurality of substantially parallel shafts including a first set of shafts and a second set of shafts with one of the second set shafts interposed between each adjacent pair of the first set of shafts, a plurality of axially adjacent and spaced peeling disks affixed to each shaft for rotation therewith with each such disk having a flexible radially extending portion for engaging an item to be peeled with means for rotating all of the shafts in the same direction with all of the shafts of the first set being rotated at a first predetermined speed and all of the shafts of the second set being rotated at a second speed differing from the first speed with support apparatus for supporting the rotating mechanism and the shafts.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for washing or peeling tuberous products including providing a bed of rotatable driven brushes in a container, supplying liquid into the container such that the undersides of the brushes extend into the liquid, disposing the tuberous products onto the brushes at one end of the bed and rotating the brushes to transport the tuberous products to the other end of the bed while cleaning the tuberous products, the improvement comprising contacting the tuberous products above the bed and along the length of the bed to slow down the transport speed of the tuberous products without decreasing the rotational speed of the brushes. The step of contacting comprises providing a plurality of freely pivotable flaps, brushes, grinding rolls, a brush plate or the like above the brushes with the lower ends thereof spaced apart from the tops of the brushes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus remove the seed membrane from fava bean seeds and similar beans. The apparatus has a pair of continuous belts which define a fixed space, into which space said seeds are fed. The seeds travel between said belts, which are engaged in the same direction but at differential speeds. The frictional movement caused by the moving belts tears the seed membrane from the seed and splits the seed into component halves.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously peeling and removing dirt from produce wherein the apparatus comprises an abrading cage with a plurality of rotating spindles and having an internal chamber with an inwardly facing abrading surface and an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation of the cage is generally horizontally aligned, as opposed to being vertically aligned so as to vary the combined force due to gravity and centrifugal force acting upon produce within the cage. The cage is rotated at sufficient speed to substantially maintain the produce in contact with the abrading surface during revolution thereof yet the combined force acting upon the produce varies throughout the revolution so as to prevent clustering and bridging. A peel and dirt collecting drum diverges from one end to a wide end, is rotated and is positioned radially outward from the cage and has a surface thereon positioned to receive debris flung outwardly from the cage.

Abstract: In a produce peeler a plurality of rolls (14) are mounted in a "U" configuration around an auger (26) and are individually rotated by hydraulic drive motors (16) to peel produce passing through. The rolls are positioned in a hyperbolic configuration to enhance the produce tumbling and thereby improve the peeling action. The rolls are also interchangeable with separate speed controls for each.

Abstract: A gravity-fed papaya skin scraping machine 10 is disclosed, comprising a rotating scraper drum 20, an inclined feed plate 60 above the drum, a conveyor belt assembly 40 above the drum to hold papaya slices 11 down on rotating rods 21 in the drum, a pulp, seed, and juice collection hopper 100 beneath the drum, and a discharge plate 80 which catches skins coming off of the drum. The pulp and seeds are subsequently separated in a finisher, free from the bitter latex taste left by prior art methods of removing the skins.

Abstract: A vegetable peeler for peeling large quantities of vegetables. The vegetable peeler has a frame on which a plurality of rollers are rotatably mounted in parallel relation to define a longitudinally extending, upwardly opening trough. A discharge auger is rotatably mounted on the frame and extends longitudinally within the trough from the discharge end thereof for a selected distance less than the entire length of the trough. The sides of the trough extend upwardly on either side of the auger at least as high as the longitudinal axis thereof. The auger is mounted on the frame by mounting means adapted to leave a portion of the trough between the auger and the intake end of the trough substantially unobstructed.

Abstract: A nut blanching arrangement in which nuts to be blanched are passed between first and second spaced, counter-rotating rollers. Each roller is provided with a plurality of hollow elastic tubular rings extending around its outer circumference. The tubular rings on the first roller are longitudinally aligned with respect to the tubular rings on the second roller such that each four adjacent tubular rings, two on each roller, form an opening through which the nuts pass during the blanching operation. In this arrangement, the nuts passing between the counter-rotating rollers are forced between the grooves of adjacent tubular rings such that the rings encapsulate and compress the nuts as they pass therebetween. The counter-rotating rollers are rotated at slightly different speeds such that during the blanching operation, the slight differential in the roller speeds causes the outer skin of the peanut to peel away from the nut meat.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for buff blanching peanuts. The machine is adapted to remove the dark outer skin of shelled peanuts and, at the same time, produce a textured finish on the surface of the nuts to enhance the adhesion of an applied coating such as chocolate or the like. The buff blancher includes a pair of driven parallel rollers having abrasive surfaces and mounted in closely spaced parallel relation with one roller being offset above a lower roller. The rollers are mounted in a housing into one end of which peanuts are delivered for movement along and against the two rollers and discharged at the other end of the housing. The housing may be raised at the feed end in order to provide an incline for the flow of nuts and may be tilted about its longitudinal axis to control the degree of buffing action between the peanuts and the rollers.

Abstract: Apparatus for peeling steam-, lye- or otherwise pretreated tuberous fruits, provided with a plurality of slightly interspaced, parallel, rotation-drivable rollers which are circumferentially provided with peeling elements, such as brushes or embossments, and which are arranged transversely to the main transport direction of the tuberous fruits, said rollers together forming the lower wall of a transport channel disposed at an angle or horizontally.

Abstract: A processing machine for washing, scrubbing, or peeling products, such as vegetables or fruit, comprises a plurality of elongated rotatable processing rollers (with brushes or abrading elements thereon) arranged to define a U-shaped trough through which the products pass for processing. A rotatable waste discharging auger is located below the trough. A rotatable product mobilizer apparatus, comprising a drive shaft, helical rods arranged around and supported on the drive shaft and located in the trough, and augers on the drive shaft at the opposite ends of the helical rods, operates to raise the product layer next to the processing rollers thereby creating a tumbling action, to positively move the products toward the discharge end of the processing rollers, and to control product load level in the trough as a function of the rotational speed of the product mobilizer apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the husking and drying of cereal and legume kernels comprising separating the kernels from their husks by means of rotating plate bodies and discharging the husks from the kernels/husks mixture by means of air.

Abstract: A pistachio huller having two stages; a first stage including a pair of rollers between which the pistachios are passed to rupture the pericarps thereof to form tag ends of pericarps adherent to the shells of the pistachios and a second stage including a plurality of parallel fine rollers closely spaced to preclude the passage of pistachios therebetween with the adjacent fine rollers alternately and oppositely oscillated to strip the tag ends of pericarps from the pistachios.

Abstract: A dry food processing machine designed to clean and polish vegetables such as potatoes as well as various fruits. The machine includes inner and outer, concentrically arranged, inverted, frusto-conical rotatable members which are concentrically spaced from one another to provide a product cleaning space therebetween. The conical members are rotatably driven in opposite or synchronous directions at selected speeds. Rotation produces a centrifugal force to the product which constitutes a vertical and horizontal component of force. Abrading devices are provided in the cleaning apace to assist in cleaning. Product is introduced through the inner member into the cleaning space and the provided vertical force will drive the product upwardly through the cleaning space for removal of material for final delivery of product to a collector cowling. Material removed rom the product will be driven horizontally from the cleaning space through the outer conical member for collection.