Abstract: A supported spindle holding device is described herein for holding a supported spindle while spinning fiber into yarn or thread. The device having an elongated body and a bowl disposed on the body for retaining the spinning tip of the supported spindle.

Abstract: A debucking machine, for use with processing industrial hemp or cannabis, is provided. Embodiments of the debucking machine include counter-rotating rollers equipped with rubberized combs for gently removing flowers, or “buds,” from harvested industrial hemp or cannabis. Embodiments of the debucking machine are portable and may be moved from location to location within a drying shed.

Abstract: A corn silk removing device includes an elongated tube having a first end and a second end. Extending the length of the elongated tube, from the first end to the second end, is an opening. A rotating member having a plurality of soft bristles radially connected to a shaft extends through the elongated tube.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and related methods (i.e. utilities) for trimming plants, in particular, buds and flowers, to remove unwanted plant material. A typical application would be to process a plant to leave only trimmed buds and flowers for use in potpourri, fragrant sashes, or as a prelude to further processing of essential oils. The utilities enable faster and safer production of plant material than prior plant processing machines. The utilities employ a coaxial drum and cutting element that counter rotate. This coaxial cutting element typically includes a plurality of cutting elements, to create a plurality of cutting interface that shear unwanted plant material form plant material within the drum and then collect this debris though, for example, a vacuum system. The use of the counter-rotating cutting interfaces allows for multiplying the cutting interfaces over prior existing machines.

Abstract: A cleaning device for a mixing vessel of a food processor operated by an electric motor, wherein the mixing vessel has a vessel bottom, a circumferential wall and a cover element and can be connected to a rotary element in a torque-proof manner with the aid of a fasteners and is designed for sweeping over at least a partial area of an inner wall of the mixing vessel and mechanically removing deposits located thereon during a rotation of the rotary element about a rotational axis. The cleaning device is in the form of a bristle element or wiper element and has a C-shaped design that is in contact with the vessel bottom, the circumferential wall and the cover element such that cleaning of the vessel bottom, the circumferential wall and the cover element can take place simultaneously when the mixing vessel is closed with the cover element.

Abstract: An installation for the treatment of products in bulb or tuber form in relation to the removal of the outermost layer thereof, comprising a channel through which the products can be transported between an inlet and an outlet that are at different levels, which channel is delimited by a first series of rotary treatment elements arranged alongside one another and extending transversely to the direction of transport, and by an opposing boundary opposite the series of treatment elements. The opposing boundary is determined by a second series of rotary treatment elements while the input is at a higher level than the output.

Abstract: A food processing machine having a product cleaning drum and an encircling product carrier shell disposed to define an annular product cleaning space therebetween. A waste collecting bell is concentrically mounted about the carrier shell to provide a waste collecting space therebetween and the carrier shell and collecting bell are interconnected. Separate mechanisms drive the cleaning drum and the interconnected carrier shell and collection bell to alter the magnitude of the centrifugal force that moves the products through the cleaning space and controls the amount of surface pressure applied to the products by abrading members carried on the periphery of the cleaning drum. Centrifugal force and the abrading members coact with frictional surfaces provided in the product movement path to move the products through the machine, while centrifugal force moves waste material from the cleaning space into the waste collecting space and out through a waste discharge mechanism.

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: 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 machine for peeling and cleaning fruits and vegetables using a plurality of rotating abrasive rollers which are each driven by an electric motor. The machine has a frame with a pair of end plates that rotatively carry the rollers. Each motor is carried by an end plate and coupled to a roller solely to drive only that roller. In one preferred embodiment, the motor is coupled to a gear reducer that preferably is a cycloidal gear reducer having an output shaft coupled to one end of a roller and which has an output shaft axis of rotation generally coaxial with the axis of rotation of the roller. In another preferred embodiment, the motor can be directly coupled to the roller with its output shaft axis of rotation generally coaxial with the roller axis of rotation. To control operation and speed of the abrasive rollers, the motors are controlled by a motor controller that preferably is a variable frequency electric motor drive.

Abstract: A beansprouts roots, husks, cleaning machine is disclosed. The machine has an internal spiral (7) and external spiral (6) in opposite directions mounted on the perforated cylinder (3) with integrated grouts bearings (8) driven by a motor rotating inside a casing cylinder (1). When the unclean sprouts are loaded by the given direction into the rotating perforated cylinder (3); causing by the rotating cycle, the roots are broken and the husks separated which then gets through the holes (4) into the gap (5) between the rotating cylinder (3) and casing (1), pushing out in one direction by the external spiral (6) as by-product. The clean sprouts are being pushed out by the internal spiral (7) in another direction as products. The machine can be used as a single or double, even multicylinders to clean the roots and husks and in different quantities of product in demand.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved peeler of fruits such as tomatoes. The peeler passes the tomatoes through a pressure inlet valve to a high temperature stem in a pressurized system. The tomatoes then are passed through a pressure outlet valve to a flexible cable peeler, which helps to remove the peels from the tomatoes. A chute passes the tomatoes from the flexible cable peeler to a pinch roller, which removes the remainder of the peels.

Abstract: Processing machinery for cleaning, scrubbing, drying, and polishing produce, such as fruits and vegetables, utilizing centrifugal force produced by the relative rotation between a produce receiving rotating disc member and an opposed stationary disc member, both of which have surfaces in the form of brushes cooperating to treat produce that passes between the two brush surfaces to the disc members' periphery. Produce is introduced by a chute communicating with an inner diameter opening in the stationary disc member and falls onto the center of the rotating disc member where the rotating motion creates a centrifugal force urging it outwardly toward the disc members' periphery between the upper and lower brushes. When the produce reaches the disc periphery it drops off and is directed to a common discharge so that the brushes produce a 360 degree discharge of produce to a single discharge path out of the machine. The basic machine arrangement can also be used for drying and polishing produce.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and method, particularly applicable to a brush bed conveyor system, by which objects, typically citrus fruit, are washed or sprayed. A moveable high pressure spray manifold is contained within a manifold carriage and is disposed within the conveyor chassis such that it is moved along above a brush bed by a conveyor chain. Separation bars extend from the conveyor chain to segregate the objects into queues retained within the spray pattern of the manifold. When the manifold reaches a predetermined end position, a release latch is decoupled from the separation bars to disconnect the separation bars and conveyor chain from the manifold carriage. The predetermined end position is sensed and the manifold carriage is quickly returned to its initial position by means of a selectively activated pneumatic piston assembly.

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: A peeling machine for batchwise peeling of vegetable products comprises a container (6) for receiving the vegetable products and peeling means (14) in the container for removing the peel of the vegetable products during relative movement and engagement between the vegetable products and the peeling means. The bottom of the container is at least partially constituted by a number of rotatable peeling rollers (14) positioned in parallel with each other.

Abstract: Brushing apparatus for cleaning and polishing farm produce includes three rotating cylindrical helical brushes forming a brush channel. The brushes rotate in the same direction but at different speeds to clean and polish the produce, and to "walk" it along the brush channel. The brush bristles are the only things touching the produce, and the sole way by which produce is moved along the brush channel. The brushes and brush channel are adjustable up or down from the horizontal to control the throughput rate of articles of produce.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating fresh fruit to prevent and retard the growth of fungus. The techniques of the invention include simultaneously scrubbing the fresh fruit while drenching with a falling liquid containing a fungicide. Large volumes of liquid are used and the liquid can be recycled. The liquid also removes dirt and debris and, while containing a rather small amount of fungicide, such amount is present in a concentration sufficient to apply a coating to the fruit at the end of the scrubbing step given proper pH control. The pH of the solution is controlled. During the scrubbing step, the fruit is continuously rotated to provide even fungicidal deposit.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning and peeling food products, such as fruits and vegetables, without the use of water, comprises a stationary housing in which a motor-driven brush cage is rotatably mounted. The cage comprises a plurality of cylindrical roller brushes radially arranged about a generally horizontal (but slightly downward slope) axis to define a generally cylindrical product-processing chamber. A rotatable product inlet tube at the chamber inlet end directs the product into the product chamber. A motor rotatably drives the inlet tube and the cage in one direction and, through a stationary ring gear and pinion gears on the brushes, causes each brush to rotate in the opposite direction. The inlet tube has vanes inside which impart initial rotary motion to the product entering the chamber. Product accumulating in the chamber forms a single layer against the wall of the chamber as it is advanced therethrough, making contact with substantially all the rotating brushes which effect cleaning and peeling.

Abstract: A green coffee bean polishing apparatus for removing silver skin from green coffee beans having the silver skins remaining after removal of parchment, comprises: a tubular member communicated at one end portion thereof with a supply port for green coffee beans to be polished and at the other end portion thereof with a discharge port for the polished green coffee beans, the tubular member defining a polishing chamber therein and having a large number of through holes formed in a wall surface thereof; a polishing roll rotatably disposed in the polishing chamber for serving to polish the green coffee beans in the polishing chamber so as to separate the silver skin from the outer surface of each green coffee bean; and an air passing means for passing air from the polishing chamber to the outside of the tubular member so as to discharge the silver skin separated from the green coffee beans through the through holes in the tubular member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating fresh fruit to prevent and retard the growth of fungus. The techniques of the invention include simultaneously scrubbing the fresh fruit while drenching with a falling liquid containing a fungicide. Large volumes of liquid are used and the liquid can be recycled. The liquid also removes dirt and debris and, while containing a rather small amount of fungicide, such amount is present in a concentration sufficient to apply a coating to the fruit at the end of the scrubbing step given proper pH control. The pH of the solution is controlled. During the scrubbing step, the fruit is continuously rotated to provide even fungicidal deposit.

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: 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 an endless belt with cleats or the like above the brushes, with the lower ends thereof spaced apart from the tops of the brushes.

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

Abstract: 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 fruit and vegetable cleaning apparatus is provided for removing damaged, textured skin impurities which has a loading opening, a housing enclosing a revolving conveyor drum which is partially surrounded by a plurality of abrasive elements by means of which said fruits and vegetables are cleaned.

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: Method for removing material from the surface of fruits and vegetables (produce) and separating the removed material from the resultant mixture utilizes the rotation of an upwardly directed cage formed of elongated rotating spindles having a material removing surface thereon, the cage rotary speed being sufficient, at the interior radius thereof, to maintain the produce in continuous centrifugal force contact against the spindle material removing surface, but generally insufficient to prevent downward movement or migration of the produce within the cage under the force of gravity. Produce to be treated is urged into engagement with the spindles and the rotating cage causes the produce to accelerate substantially to said rotary speed, whereby the produce travels with the cage in contact with the rotating material removing spindle surfaces.

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: A dry peeler is provided for food products such as vegetables, potatoes or the like which have had their skins softened and loosened such as by a caustic treatment bath. The dry peeler is formed as a rotary cylindrical cage having an abradant surface provided by an envelope of axially extending, circumferentially spaced, parallel, braided stainless steel wire cables, stretched between axially spaced rings, with a screw conveyor fitting within the envelope of cables. Both the cage of cables and the screw are rotated and the flexible cables abrade off and undercut a high percentage of the skins of the pre-treated products without the addition of water during the peeling process. Alternate cable supporting rings are rotatably adjustable to vary the tension on the cables.