US 6,426,107 B1 · System and method for processing citrus fruit with enhanced oil recovery and juice quality

Abstract

A method and system of processing citrus fruit is shown. A peeling chamber has opposing ends and a fruit inlet and fruit outlet formed at respective opposing ends. Abrasive rollers are rotatably mounted in an arcuate configuration within the peeling chamber at an area forming a lower portion of the peeling chamber. Citrus fruit is fed into the peeling chamber through the fruit inlet to the fruit outlet. The citrus fruit engages the rotating abrasive rollers with a residence time within the peeling chamber for peeling off the outer surface of the fruit in an amount sufficient to remove a majority of the oil within the citrus fruit and leaving sufficient peel thickness for maintaining peel integrity.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of processing citrus fruit comprising the steps of:

providing a peeling chamber having opposing ends defining a fruit inlet and fruit outlet and a plurality of abrasive rollers rotatably mounted within the peeling chamber at an area forming a lower portion of the peeling chamber;
and
feeding citrus fruit through the fruit inlet into the peeling chamber and out the fruit outlet while engaging the citrus fruit against the rotating abrasive rollers with a residence time within the peeling chamber sufficient for peeling off the outer surface of the fruit in an amount to remove at least a portion of oil within the citrus fruit while leaving sufficient peel thickness for maintaining peel integrity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for processing citrus fruit with enhanced oil recovery and juice quality

Life of this patent

System and method for processing citrus fruit with enhanced oil recovery and juice quality

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19