Apparatus for removing rind from spheroidal fruits and vegetables
US5806414A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA23N7/026
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A processing apparatus and method for removing rind from a spheroidal food article, such as a melon is provided. The apparatus includes infeed and outfeed componentry for conveying melons to be processed into and out of the apparatus, providing an apparatus well suited for use in an automated environment. The infeed componentry includes a positioning device for positioning a melon to be processed between revolving mandrels, for achieving a desired orientation of the melon relative to the mandrels. The mandrels retain the melon on its axis and revolve the melon on its equator. Knife members are positioned on either side of the melon and aligned with the equator thereof when the melon is in an initial position. The knife members have detachable blades to accommodate rinds of different thicknesses, so that the blades extend through the rind, without extending into the flesh. Rollers are secured to the knife members to control the cutting depth of the blades and to enhance the ease with which the rind is cut. As the melon is rotated from the initial positron toward a completed position, the knifes initially remove rind from its equator, then simultaneously toward each pole, for removin…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.