Pressurized steam pitting apparatus and process
AssigneeDesert Valley Date, Inc.
InventorGregory Paul Kirkjan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, a process is disclosed for pitting drupes. In some embodiments of a pitting process, the pitting machine uses a pitting knife that has a longitudinal passageway that extends axially through the pitting knife. The pitting machine has a steam source that provides pressurized steam to the passageway of the pitting knife. Prior to pitting the drupe, the pressurized steam flows through the passageway and onto a portion of a drupe positioned within a carrier in the pitting machine. The heat and pressure of the steam between the drupe and the cutting end of the pitting knife can soften a localized portion of the drupe so that the pitting knife can cut through the flesh of the drupe and eject the pit out of the opposite side of the drupe.
Claims15
A method for pitting a drupe, the method comprising:
- conveying a drupe within a carrier of a pitting machine;
- positioning a pitting knife above the carrier, the pitting knife having a cutting face at a cutting end and a longitudinal passageway that is in fluid communication with a pressurized steam source, wherein the longitudinal passageway extends to an opening at the cutting face at the cutting end of the pitting knife;
- applying pressurized steam to a top portion of the drupe, wherein the application of the pressurized steam to the top portion of the drupe hydrates an outer portion of the top portion of the drupe, wherein the pressurized steam is provided by the pressurized steam source through the longitudinal passageway to the opening at the cutting end of the pitting knife, wherein the pressurized steam source has a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
- moving the pitting knife through the top portion of the drupe where the pressurized steam was applied such that the pitting knife forces a pit of the drupe through an opposite side of the drupe;
- and
- retracting the pitting knife from the drupe.
A method for pitting a drupe, the method comprising:
- conveying a drupe along a conveyor system to at least one pitting knife, the drupe being positioned within a carrier on the conveyor system;
- applying pressurized steam to a top portion of the drupe through an opening in a cutting face at a cutting end of a pitting knife of the at least one pitting knife, wherein the application of the pressurized steam to the top portion of the drupe hydrates an outer portion of the top portion of the drupe, wherein the pressurized steam has a supply pressure greater than atmospheric pressure;
- moving the pitting knife through the outer portion of the top portion of the drupe to which the pressurized steam was applied such that a pit of the drupe is forced out of the opposite side of the drupe, wherein the pitting knife penetrates the top portion of the drupe;
- and
- retracting the pitting knife from the drupe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.