Bottom dump basket for vegetable spin dryer

US5282319A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• HEINZEN MANUFACTURING, INC. · US

Inventors

• Manny R. Casquilho · Gilroy, US
• Alan Heinzen · Gilroy, US
• Edwin W. Mabie · Capitola, US
• Ralph Schneider · Achern, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 26, 1992
• Grant date: Feb 1, 1994
• Expiry date: Mar 26, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F26B5/08
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A spindrying apparatus for removing retained rinse water from leafy product such as lettuce, cabbage, broccoli and spinach which includes a basket of wire mesh or perforated metal and a trapdoor in its floor. A liftbar extends across the top of the basket with a centrally located hole for attachment to the chain of a conveyor hoist providing that the basket may be filled with leafy product at a loading station then conveyed to a spindryer tank where it is lowered onto the rotatable platform within the tank. The platform and basket are spun to force the rinse water out of the leafy product. The chain is reattached and the basket is conveyed to an unloading station. A latch mechanism in the bottom of the basket is operated to release a trap door forming the floor of the basket thereby allowing the trapdoor to fall open and the leafy product to fall out of the basket. The trapdoor is then manually snapped shut and the basket is ready for the next drying cycle.