Apparatus for cold peeling citrus fruit
OwnerPaul F. Sageinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for cold peeling citrus fruit is disclosed wherein the fruit is first cored and sliced into a plurality of segments and the pulp is thereafter severed from the peel by forcing the segment through a knife. An apparatus is disclosed where the fruit segment is secured and compressed on a concave rotary carrier which is then rotated through a concave severing knife which severs the peel and albedo from the pulp.
Claims8
An apparatus for separating pulp from peel and albedo in a wedge-shaped segment of citrus fruit comprising:
- a rotary carrier having a concave peripheral surface;
- a plurality of stops uniformly disposed along the concave peripheral surface;
- means for transporting the wedge-shaped segments to the rotary carrier;
- means for pushing the wedge-shaped segments against the concave peripheral surface whereby the peel will conform to the shape of the concave peripheral surface;
- and
- a severing knife disposed adjacent to the rotary carrier, and having a pointed end and a concave knife surface in substantial conformity to the concave peripheral surface on said rotary carrier.
Apparatus for cutting the edible portion from the inedible peel and albedo of a wedge-shaped segment of citrus fruit, said apparatus comprising:
- a carrier having a concave peripheral surface;
- a plurality of stop positions disposed along said peripheral surface, each stop position adapted to receive one of said wedge-shaped segments therein with the peel of each segment in engagement with said concave peripheral surface;
- means for loading said wedge-shaped segments into said concave peripheral surface, with the peel in engagement with said surface;
- a severing knife having a cutting edge conforming to the curve of said peripheral surface, said knife fixed in spaced relationship with said surface so as to engage each said segment and sever said edible portion from the peel and albedo thereof;
- and
- means for providing relative movement between said carrier and said knife to effectuate severing of all of said edible portions from the corresponding peel and albedo.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.