Relatively Moving Adjacent Surfaces Patents (Class 99/628)
  • Patent number: 11534797
    Abstract: Provided is a method for removing wire-form objects, a device for removing wire-form objects, and a method for processing electronic/electrical apparatus component waste, which can efficiently sort wire-form objects from sorting target objects having various shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsushi Aoki, Tsubasa Takeda
  • Patent number: 8683918
    Abstract: A system for removing debris from tree crop product utilizes a plurality of screening and transport rollers which have disk-shaped members having projections that are curved and extend rearwardly in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the rollers, at least a portion of the projections of adjacent rollers overlapping to form voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Rick Witham, Ed Witham, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7658144
    Abstract: An avocado de-skinning apparatus having two generally vertically disposed rotating drums. The rotating drums rotate inward to pinch the skin of an avocado and force the off and through a gap defined between the rotating drums. A driver in the gap and in the upper section of the rotating drums aids in forcing the skin from the avocado and into the gap and through the rear side of the rotating drums. A skin scraper removes any skin adhering to the drums and a pulp scraper retrieves any pulp adhering to the drums for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventor: Richard E. Moore
  • Patent number: 7444930
    Abstract: An avocado de-skinning apparatus having two generally vertically disposed rotating drums. The rotating drums rotate inward to pinch the skin of an avocado and force the off and through a gap defined between the rotating drums. A driver in the gap and in the upper section of the rotating drums aids in forcing the skin from the avocado and into the gap and through the rear side of the rotating drums. A skin scraper removes any skin adhering to the drums and a pulp scraper retrieves any pulp adhering to the drums for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventor: Richard E. Moore
  • Patent number: 7428863
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Vanmark Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph E. Wallace
  • Patent number: 7302886
    Abstract: A hulling apparatus having a main frame, a moveable support frame, a rotatable drum fixed in position relative to the main frame, a housing supported by the moveable support frame and a hulling chamber formed by the placement of the drum inside the housing. A contact element having one or more brush assemblies is attached to the drum such that the bristles project into the hulling chamber to engage walnuts, pecans or other food products and remove the outer hull therefrom. The walls of the housing are formed from one or more screened panels having openings therein to pass the removed hull material and spiral members thereon to help guide the food products through the apparatus. The housing moves up and down to increase or decrease the size of the hulling chamber. The apparatus speeds the process of hulling walnuts and pecans and more effectively utilizes the brush assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: James C. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 7264189
    Abstract: A hand-held hand-powered food processor having a pull cord motor for rotating a spindle that carries an arm. The arm can be a cutter blade or an elastomeric flexible peeler arm having a durometer of preferable between Shore 80A and Shore 82A. A food processor having a spindle, an elastomeric arm driven by the spindle, a stop block on a sidewall near the end of the arm, and a drive for rotating the spindle to rub against the skin of food in the processor for peeling the food. The cover of the processor has a flat outer periphery so the cover can be used as a storage unit for the contents of the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Chef'n Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Holcomb, Joshua R. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7069846
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Van Der Schoot Engineering B.V.
    Inventor: Peter Willem Carolus Van der Schoot
  • Patent number: 6612226
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Schrader, André V.R. Lucato, Michael L. Suter, J. Brian Greer, D. Scott Jackson
  • Patent number: 6575085
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Thomas, Gregory W. Schrader, Michael L. Suter
  • Patent number: 6530310
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory W. Schrader, André V. R. Lucato, Michael L. Suter, J. Brian Greer, D. Scott Jackson
  • Publication number: 20030029328
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Schrader, Andre?apos; V.R. Lucato, Michael L. Suter, J. Brian Greer, D. Scott Jackson
  • Patent number: 6389963
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Oy Formit Foodprocessing AB
    Inventor: Torbjörn Engelholm
  • Patent number: 5996483
    Abstract: A peeler for garlic and/or peanuts includes a housing having an open top end and a cylindrical inner wall surface on which four ribs having respective surfaces are formed, and a lid for closing the housing top end. The peeler includes a central beater surrounded by the wall surface and supported for rotation about an axis. A handle is provided for rotating the beater so the garlic and/or peanut pieces strike the rib surfaces at a steep angle, whereby the skin of the garlic and/or peanut pieces is cracked open through continued movement by the beater for subsequent peeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Chung Lun Yip
  • Patent number: 5544575
    Abstract: Apparatus for shelling seed corn in a manner which minimizes damage to the individual kernels includes a generally closed housing open at the top to receive ears of corn and having lower apertures for discharging the corn cobs to waste and recovering the kernels extracted from the cobs. Disposed within the housing are a pair of vertically aligned arrays of rollers, with the pair of roller arrays horizontally spaced from one another. Ears of corn are deposited through a slot in an upper portion of the housing and pass between the two arrays of vertically aligned rollers. The horizontal spacing between adjacent, horizontally aligned rollers in the first and second arrays of rollers decreases in proceeding from top to bottom, with the spacing between the two uppermost rollers being such as to easily allow an ear of corn to pass therebetween and the spacing between the bottom pair of rollers being essentially equal to the diameter of a corn cob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Inventor: Robert H. Spry
  • Patent number: 5454303
    Abstract: Apparatus for shelling seed corn in a manner which minimizes damage to the individual kernels includes a generally closed housing open at the top to receive ears of corn and having lower apertures for discharging the corn cobs to waste and recovering the kernels extracted from the cobs. Disposed within the housing are a pair of vertically aligned arrays of rollers, with the pair of roller arrays horizontally spaced from one another. Ears of corn are deposited through a slot in an upper portion of the housing and pass between the two arrays of vertically aligned rollers. The horizontal spacing between adjacent, horizontally aligned rollers in the first and second arrays of rollers decreases in proceeding from top to bottom, with the spacing between the two uppermost rollers being such as to easily allow an ear of corn to pass therebetween and the spacing between the bottom pair of rollers being essentially equal to the diameter of a corn cob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventor: Robert H. Spry
  • Patent number: 5431094
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Inventor: Basil W. Savage, Sr.
  • 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: 5361689
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Cantrell International
    Inventors: Paul G. Lima, John M. Singleton
  • Patent number: 5351610
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Limas AB
    Inventor: Bo Jonsson
  • Patent number: 5327819
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for blanching nuts, particularly peanuts, is provided wherein nuts are fed onto a conveyor belt by a single feeder means which carries them against a diagonally positioned nut engaging means that has a nut discharge end which extends beyond the edge of the conveyor belt. The nuts are rotated by the simultaneous forces of the conveyor belt and the nut engaging means, during which their skins are removed. After the nuts traverse the width of the conveyor belt against the nut engaging means, they are deposited into a collecting hopper at the side of the conveyor belt, where they await the next stage of preparation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Seabrook Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Forrest, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5307738
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: John H. Amstad
  • Patent number: 5168802
    Abstract: Apparatus for peeling fruits and vegetables comprises a plurality of rotatably driven peeling elements having predetermined axes of rotation that are generally horizontal and substantially parallel to one another. The peeling elements have a provision for engaging the peel of the fruits and vegetables. A plurality of flexible, elongate, peeling enhancement fingers, each having a first end and a second end, are mounted to the apparatus above the peeling elements by their first ends. The first ends lie in a generally horizontal row that is generally parallel to the axes of rotation of the peeling elements. The fingers extend generally toward the peeling elements with the second end of each finger being proximal at least two peeling elements, so that the finger engages the item of fruit or vegetable being engaged by the adjacent peeling elements. A support structure provides support for the peeling elements, fingers and drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Imdec S.A.
    Inventors: Jesus A. Silvestrini, Juan C. Morsucci
  • Patent number: 5033372
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: IMDEC, S.A.
    Inventor: Jesus A. Silvestrini
  • Patent number: 5024148
    Abstract: A device for removing coatings from granular materials such as hull-encased meats of grains. The device includes a housing within which is journaled a rotatably disposed drum. A wall is also mounted within the housing, the wall angling downwardly and being spaced at a distance from an outer surface of the drum to define a processing space therebetween. Typically, the processing space narrows downwardly within the housing. The drum is disposed for rotation so that any material fed into the housing through a hopper mounted on the top thereof will be drawn along the drum surface into the processing space. The processing space narrows sufficiently so that an abrasion is effected upon the material as it is deposited within the processing space because of the relative movement of the outer surface of the drum and the downwardly extending wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Crown Iron Works Company
    Inventor: Darcy Moses
  • Patent number: 4848221
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: California Natural Snacks, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven A. Borba
  • Patent number: 4827836
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Filper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronnie C. Neidigh
  • Patent number: 4621573
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Inventor: Fritz Lange
  • Patent number: 4611532
    Abstract: A food peeler which includes an auger having a flexible blade for urging food items transversely across an endless belt which carries the food items. The auger blade has multiple protrusions formed on its surface for abrasively contacting the food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Inventor: Kim W. Trinkley
  • Patent number: 4549479
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Gerber Products Company
    Inventors: Elton H. Harter, Federico F. Villar
  • Patent number: 4448118
    Abstract: A cleaning and peeling machine (1) with an essentially vertically aligned cylinder (6) and with a conveyor screw (26) located in the latter is designed for cleaning and peeling agricultural products. The shell (18) of the cylinder (6) has a plurality of orifices which are distributed peripherally and through which the waste which occurs, such as skins, passes outwards. So that continuous treatment can take place, the product is fed centrally into the bottom region (27) of the cylinder (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Inventor: Paul Kunz
  • Patent number: 4441409
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in blanching edible nuts, particularly peanuts. Two generally vertical plates are disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another and connected to a drive mechanism for producing lengthwise oscillations of the two plates, both of which are covered with abrasive inner surfaces. Unblanched peanuts are fed into a gap at the top of the two plates, which are set apart by a distance generally corresponding to the average thickness of the peanuts being processed. As the peanuts move down between the plates, the oscillating action of the plates blanches the peanuts which drop out through the bottom and are carried away for further processing, packaging, inspection or the like. Vertical grooves are formed in the inner face of each plate near each end thereof to prevent the nuts from falling out of the open ends between the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Seabrook Blanching Corporation
    Inventor: Lowell E. Weyant
  • Patent number: 4389927
    Abstract: In the separation of kernels from the shells of apricot stones the steps of placing at least the medially opened kernels not separated from the shells onto two moving surfaces with the separating gap below the shells, the moving surfaces each moving in an upward direction from the separation gap, and being arranged to carry the said medially separated shells along said separation gap from an input location to an output location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Alan Woodhouse Crompton
    Inventor: Alan W. Crompton
  • Patent number: 4245553
    Abstract: Apparatus for treating beans such as soybeans, comprising means for hulling the beans, such as a disk-type hulling device, and a running-water-type hull and seed separating device in which the hull and the seed are separated by water flows having different velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: Asahimatsu Koridofu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4196224
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Assignee: Steinmetz-Patent-Mullerei KG
    Inventor: Otto Falk
  • Patent number: 4173177
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for hulling and separating loosened seed hulls from kernels of meat employing compartmentized separator for the meat products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Inventor: Floyd O. Davis
  • Patent number: 4023478
    Abstract: An apparatus for husking nuts, in a continuous manner without causing damage to the shell and the kernels thereof, the apparatus having a conveyor drum which includes double-spiraled, transporting rib members radially arranged about the conveyor drum, whereby the nuts received therein are forced progressively in a twisting action against a stationary plate member and a plurality of spring-biased, husking fingers, at which time, the husk material is thereby separated from the shell of the nut and allowed to discharge between the drum and stationary plate member, while the remaining nut shell, together with the kernel therein, is transported to be discharged separately at one end of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Inventor: Paul W. Shaw
  • Patent number: 3990358
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing the skins from fruit (including vegetables) where the fruit has an elongated shape being substantially cylindrical or egg shaped, and which are particularly suitable for removing the skins from Chinese gooseberries (Actinidia Chinensis). The apparatus comprises a heated lye bath for loosening the fruit skin, washing means for removing the loosened skin and conveying means for separately conveying each fruit through the lye bath and the washing means. The conveying means comprises an endless drive loop having projecting dividers adapted to separate and propel each fruit in use. The apparatus includes guide means in the lye bath and through the the washing means defining a path followed by the fruit. The dividers tend to roll the fruit along said path when the fruits contact the guide means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1976
    Inventor: Alfred F. Cade
  • Patent number: 3981234
    Abstract: Soybean dehulling, blanching and grinding apparatus is provided for preparation of a relatively coarse ground slurry consisting of water and approximately 12% by weight of bean tissue. Soybeans having a moisture content of approximately 13% are dehulled in a rapid and efficient manner and without crushing or grinding the cotyledons. After separation from the hulls, the whole cotyledons are blanched by dropping the same in boiling water without prior soaking. The blanching apparatus blanches the cotyledons rapidly and without producing excessive foaming. The blanched soybeans are then mixed with water and ground in a horizontally positioned grinding tube by means of a series of blades which also move the product along the tube while providing a uniform mixture of bean tissue and water. A screen is provided at the end of the tube which prevents the issuance of material until the solids have a desired size, as determined by the perforations in the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1974
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Assignee: University of Illinois Foundation
    Inventors: Alvin I. Nelson, B. P. N. Singh, Surjan Singh
  • Patent number: 3951057
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing the skins from shelled nuts. Nuts such as peanuts are fed into a hopper mounted to a carriage adjustably positioned above a horizontally moving conveyor belt. A plurality of spaced parallel baffles extends diagonally across and slightly above the upper reach of the conveyor with the working faces of the baffles being of an abrasive character. The nuts are fed from the hopper in individual streams between baffles and onto the conveyor where the combined action of the longitudinally moving belt and the diagonally extending fixed baffles will rotate the nuts and move them lengthwise along the baffle to one side of the conveyor, removing the nut skins in the process. The carriage is mounted on a first pair of tracks extending parallel to the baffles with a lead screw and crank provided for moving the carriage diagonally with respect to the belt in order to dispense the peanuts at different spaced points along the baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1976
    Inventor: James W. Gardner
  • Patent number: RE35789
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: John H. Amstad