Centrifugal product peel separation and removal apparatus
AssigneeTomra Sorting Solutions
InventorMichael Broderick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An agitator for a product peel removal system, the agitator comprising: a central axle having a plurality of outwardly projecting arms; and a product lifter at the distal end of at least one of said outwardly projecting arms; and an apparatus for product peel removal comprising: a drum having an inlet for receiving product, an outlet for dispensing of product; and a plurality of perforations through which removed peel may pass; at least one agitator arranged within said drum and rotatable relative to said drum for agitating the product passing between said inlet and outlet; and means for controlling the retention time of product within the rotatable drum independently from the rotation speed of the agitator.
Claims8
An agitator for a product peel removal system, the agitator comprising:
- a central axle including a plurality of flat outwardly projecting arms each forming a segment of a ribbon auger for controlling flow of product through the product peel removal system;
- and
- a product lifter:
- at a distal end of at least one of the plurality of outwardly projecting arms;
- positioned parallel to the central axle;
- and
- pivotally mounted on the respective outwardly projecting arm.
An apparatus for product peel removal comprising:
- a drum including an inlet for receiving product, an outlet for dispensing of product, and a plurality of perforations through which removed peel may pass;
- and
- an agitator arranged within the drum and rotatable relative to the drum for agitating the product passing between the inlet and the outlet,
- wherein the agitator comprises:
- a central axle including a plurality of flat outwardly projecting arms each forming a segment of a ribbon auger for controlling flow of product through the product peel removal system;
- and
- a product lifter:
- at a distal end of at least one of the plurality of outwardly projecting arms;
- positioned parallel to the central axle;
- and
- pivotally mounted on the respective outwardly projecting arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.