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US 5,786,014 AGranted
Capacity caustic peeler system
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorsSherman Howell Creed, Jeffrey Alan Dahl, Robert Leland Frenkel, Thomas Milton Sams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved higher capacity caustic peeler of fruits such as tomatoes. The peeler subjects the tomatoes to a caustic applicator with shallower buckets with apertures in the buckets and a higher number of caustic dispensing jets, and then provides peeling using a flexible cable cage, which tumbles the tomatoes. A pinch roller is used to remove the remainder of the peels (or skins).
Claims13
An apparatus for removing skin from fruit, comprising:
- a caustic applicator, comprising:
- an endless conveyor formed by a plurality of buckets, wherein each bucket has a depth wherein the depth of the bucket is not greater than 7 inches, and wherein each bucket has a bottom and a plurality of apertures in the bottom of each bucket;
- and
- a means for applying heated caustic fluid to the plurality of buckets;
- a flexible cable peeler;
- and
- means for transferring the fruit from the caustic applicator to the flexible cable peeler.
4 more elements
A method for removing skin from fruit, comprising the steps of:
- conveying fruit to a caustic applicator;
- placing fruit in a bucket in the caustic applicator, wherein a depth of the bucket is not greater than 7 inches;
- turning the bucket upside-down;
- moving the bucket past at least two rows of dispensing jets;
- and
- moving the fruit from the buckets to a flexible cable peeler.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.