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US 5,590,591 AGranted
Product processing apparatus including orientation and coring of produce items
OwnerSun Y. Kiminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A food processing apparatus particularly designed for handling produce items with a calyx and including a vacuum mechanism for grasping the produce item by the calyx for orientation and transportation of the item and a coring implement for removal of the calyx from a properly oriented produce item, the processing apparatus being designed to perform grasping and coring operations at separate stations or is a single operation.
Claims18
Produce processing apparatus for produce items having a calyx the processing apparatus comprising:
- a.) a pickup station and a release station;
- b.) produce feed means for conveying produce items having a calyx to the pickup station wherein individual produce items are located for pickup at the pickup station;
- c.) vacuum means having a vacuum conduit with a vacuum orifice for engaging the calyx of an individual produce item located at the pickup station;
- d.) displacement means for displacing the vacuum means between the pickup station wherein the vacuum orifice is positioned proximate an individual produce item when located at the pickup station;
- and
- e.) vacuum control means for generating a vacuum in the vacuum conduit when the vacuum means is at the pickup station and breaking a generated vacuum in the vacuum conduit at the release station.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.