Systems for cleaning and cooling produce

• US 4,962,777 A
• Filed: 05/21/1985
• Issued: 10/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fresh Express Incorporated (Chiquita Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TransFRESH Corp. (Chiquita Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bell, Laurence D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US06/736,645
• Time in Patent Office: 1,974 Days
• Field of Search: 99/470, 99/517, 99/536, 134/25.3, 134/68, 134/72, 134/131, 134/153, 62/63, 62/91, 62/322, 62/331, 62/380
• US Class Current: 134/63
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/0416 with packages or with shaping in the form of blocks or portions
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/06 Blanching machines therefor A23N12/00
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/148 in a controlled atmosphere, e.g. partial vacuum, comprising only CO2, N2, O2 or H2O
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/158 Apparatus for preserving using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A23N 12/02 for washing or blanching A23N12/06 takes precedence; blanching methods A23B7/06

Abstract

Apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce include a mechanism for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing a substantial quantity of deteriorating-causing agents from the surface of the produce, a mechanism for conveying the subdivided produce along a linear path and for directing a flow of humidified cool air under pressure through the conveying means and the layer of the produce and at a temperature low enough to cool the washed produce as the subdivided produce is conveyed along the linear path.

Claims

1. An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing from the surface of said subdivided produce, a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents, means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40°

F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;

means for conveying the washed subdivided produce in the form of a layer along a linear path and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure through said layer and through said conveying means, for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce, said air being at a temperature in the range of about 33°

F. to about 40°

F., as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path, and means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50°

F. to about 75°

F.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.

2. An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce selected from lettuce, cabbage and spinach comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing from the surface of said subdivided produce, a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents;

means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40°

F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;

means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path, and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce, as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path, and means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said solvent is water combined with an oxidizing agent.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50°

F. to about 75°

F.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50°

F. to about 75°

F.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.

9. An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;

means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40°

F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;

means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, through said conveying means, and through said layer and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50°

F. to about 75°

F.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said solvent is water combined with an oxidizing agent.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.

15. An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;

means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40°

F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce;

means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path and means for directing flow of cool air, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce, as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50°

F. to about 75°

F.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said solvent is water combined with an oxidizing agent.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.

19. An apparatus for cooling a layer of unblanched, unboiled, subdivided produce comprising means for conveying said layer along a linear path and means below said conveying means for directing flow of humidified cool air upwardly, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.

21. An apparatus for cooling a layer of subdivided unblanched, unboiled produce comprising means for conveying said subdivided produce along a linear path and means below said conveying means for directing flow of cool air, under pressure, upwardly through said conveying means and through said layer, and at a temperature below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins, but above the freezing point of water for cooling said layer of subdivided produce as said layer moves along said linear path.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.

23. An apparatus for cooling a layer of subdivided, unblanched, unboiled produce comprising means for conveying said layer along a linear path and means for directing a flow of cool air, under pressure, through said conveying means and then through said layer, and at a temperature below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins, but above the freezing point of water, for cooling said layer as said layer moves along said linear path.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.