Power-assisted sweet corn kernel remover
AssigneeMoss Lane Ranch, LLC
InventorPat Mitchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed a power-assisted corn kernel remover comprising a rigid frame supporting an annular corn kernel cutter. A powered mechanism mounted above the cutter activates a piston downward to push shucked ears of fresh corn onto the cutter. The cutter is sized and has a sharp cutting edge that severs the corn kernels from the cob as the ear descends. The cob is pushed downward through a passage to a disposal bin, while the kernels are captured by a basket surrounding the cutter. The cutter is formed of spring steel and is loosely held within the frame to allow for some expansion due to different sizes of corncobs. The powered mechanism may be a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly supplied with compressed air and having a control mechanism that permits partial activation.
Claims16
A power-assisted corn kernel remover system comprising:
- a) a rigid frame supporting an annular cutter capable of radial flexing positioned in the frame to accommodate varying cob diameters, the frame defining a support tube oriented along an axis having an inner diameter larger than the annular cutter, the support tube including an inner ledge inset from an open mouth, the inner ledge having an inner diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the annular cutter and being inset from the open mouth such that a sharp circular end of the annular cutter projects beyond the open mouth, the annular cutter being loosely positioned within the support tube to enable the annular cutter to be removed therefrom without the need of tools or the application of force, wherein the annular cutter is formed by an annular tube of spring steel with sharp circular opposing axial ends each comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth;
- and
- b) a piston supported and actuated by a powered mechanism mounted on the rigid frame to move the piston along the axis, the piston having a forward end extending toward the annular cutter, wherein positioning a corn cob on the annular cutter and aligned with the axis and actuating the piston pushes the corn cob toward the annular cutter to cause removal of the external corn kernels while pushing the now stripped cob at least partly through the support tube.
A power-assisted corn kernel remover comprising:
- a) a rigid frame supporting an annular cutter formed by an annular tube of spring steel positioned in the frame to accommodate varying cob diameters, the frame defining a support tube oriented along an axis having an inner diameter larger than the annular cutter, the support tube supporting the annular cutter aligned with the axis such that a sharp circular end of the annular cutter projects beyond an open mouth of the support tube, the annular cutter being loosely positioned within the support tube to enable the annular cutter to be removed therefrom without the need of tools or the application of force, and wherein the annular cutter has sharp circular opposing axial ends;
- and
- b) a piston supported and actuated by a powered mechanism mounted on the rigid frame to move the piston along the axis, the piston having a forward end extending toward the annular cutter, wherein positioning a corn cob on the annular cutter and aligned with the axis and actuating the piston pushes the corn cob toward the annular cutter to cause removal of the external corn kernels while pushing the now stripped cob at least partly through the support tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.