Produce washing method
AssigneeJLG Trucking, Inc.
InventorsJose Luis Garcia JR., Carlos Alberto Alonzo, Frank Maconachy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A produce washing apparatus and method, which permits the washing of produce from both above and below in the field. The produce washing apparatus takes produce along a conveyor belt, from a loading section, to a washing section on which is located a washing unit, upward along an ascending section, and from there the produce travels along a dumping section and into a receptacle. The washing unit features spray nozzles located above and below the washing section, so as to direct spray from above and below the produce so as to more effectively wash it. The apparatus is preferably trailer mounted, so as to permit ready positioning in the field.
Claims13
A produce washing apparatus comprising, in combination:
- a washing section having a washing unit disposed thereon so as to position spray nozzles both above and below said washing section;
- a conveyor belt apparatus located on said washing section and adapted to transport produce through said washing unit from an entry point of said washing section to a terminating point of said washing section;
- and
- wherein said conveyor belt apparatus further comprises produce receiving baskets adapted to receive said produce and to expose both a top portion and a bottom portion of said produce to spray emanating from each of said spray nozzles located above said washing section and said spray nozzles located below said washing section.
A produce washing apparatus comprising, in combination:
- a washing section having a washing unit disposed thereon so as to position spray nozzles both above and below said washing section;
- a conveyor belt apparatus located on said washing section and adapted to transport produce through said washing unit from an entry point of said washing section to a terminating point of said washing section;
- wherein said conveyor belt apparatus located on said washing section further comprises produce receiving baskets adapted to receive said produce and to expose both a top portion and a bottom portion of said produce to spray emanating from each of said spray nozzles located above said washing section and said spray nozzles located below said washing section;
- a loading section pivotally coupled to said washing section at said entry point of said washing section;
- a conveyor belt apparatus located on said loading section and adapted to transport produce along said loading section from an entry point of said loading section to a terminating point of said loading section and from there to said entry point of said washing section;
- an upward angled ascending section positioned at said terminating point of said washing section, after said washing unit;
- a conveyor belt apparatus located on said ascending section and adapted to transport produce along said ascending section from an entry point of said ascending section to a terminating point of said ascending section;
- wherein said conveyor belt apparatus located on said ascending section further comprises a plurality of steps located thereon and dimensioned to prevent said produce from falling backward as it travels upward along said ascending section;
- a downward angled dumping section positioned at said terminating point of said upward angled ascending section;
- a conveyor belt apparatus located on said dumping section and adapted to transport produce along said dumping section from said terminating point of said ascending section to a terminating point of said dumping section;
- and
- a trailer coupled to said produce washing apparatus.
A method for washing produce comprising the steps of:
- providing a washing section having a washing unit disposed thereon so as to position spray nozzles both above and below said washing section;
- providing a conveyor belt apparatus located on said washing section and adapted to transport produce through said washing unit from an entry point of said washing section to a terminating point of said washing section;
- wherein said conveyor belt apparatus further comprises produce receiving baskets adapted to receive said produce and to expose both a top portion and a bottom portion of said produce to spray emanating from each of said spray nozzles located above said washing section and said spray nozzles located below said washing section;
- placing produce in said produce receiving baskets;
- passing said produce receiving baskets with said produce therein through said washing unit;
- exposing said top portion and said bottom portion of said produce to spray emanating from each of said spray nozzles located above said washing section and said spray nozzles located below said washing section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.