Apparatus for peeling fresh fruit
US5170698A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 1991 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA23N7/01
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus peels fruit, in particular citrus fruit, by washing and sterilizing the fruit in a sterilizing bath. The washed and sterilized fruit is delivered to a perforator which makes a plurality of perforations through the outer surface of the peel of the fruit over its entire surface. The perforated fruit is then delivered to a conveyor which loads and orients the fruit so that it is spinning on the stem axis with the equator of the spinning fruit exposed to a plurality of slitting knives. The knives slit an equatorial cut through the outer surface of the peel. The slit and perforated fruit is then delivered to a carousel of canisters. Each canister is filled with fruit and an aqueous solution of a commerical pectinase. The solution is vacuum infused into the fruit so that the albedo attaching the peel to the fruit substantially disintegrates over a predetermined time period. The pectinase solution is drained from the canister, and the treated fruit with a lossened peel is delivered to a peel removal section of the apparatus. The peels are removed in two hemispheres leaving the fruit meat intact. The intact fruit meat is then brushed to remove any remaining albedo or strings. …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.