Apparatus and method for coring and sectionizing fruit
First Claim
1. The apparatus for extracting at least one chunk of meat from a cut fruit section, said fruit section having a peel and meat therein, comprising:
- rigid base, having a straight line defined therein;
at least one slicing blade extending outwardly from said straight line;
a cutting band rotatable about said straight line;
first motive means to cause relative motion between said slicing blade and said fruit sections said first motive means causing said slicing blade to create a linear cut within the meat in said fruit section; and
second motive means to cause said cutting band to rotate through the meat of said fruit section after said cut has been imposed therein.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A high speed, high volume fruit sectionizer is comprised of a pair of suction cup conveyors onto which fruit is loaded. The fruit is coupled by means of suction attachment to a first conveyor and carried to a position wherein the opposing side of the fruit is suction coupled to the second conveyor. The fruit is drawn through a halving guillotine and coring blade. The fruit halves are then positioned on scooping and sectioning assemblies. A rotating semicircular hoop blade cuts the fruit meat away from the peel while leaving the fruit meat and peel in place. The separated peel and fruit meat are moved across the scooping and sectioning assembly through a blade assembly which sections the fruit meat. The meat sectioning blade has a first portion which cuts through the peel and fruit meat to establish a first radial extent of the section cut. A following portion of the same blade is provided with a dull edge which completes the section cut of the fruit meat, but is not sharp enough to cut the peel or to cut any portion of the conveyor. The conveyor retains uninterrupted suction attachment with the partially sliced fruit peel and is undamaged by the suctioning blade(s). The fruit meat sections then fall away from the peel, which latter is moved by the conveyor to a disposal position.
38 Citations
9 Claims
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1. The apparatus for extracting at least one chunk of meat from a cut fruit section, said fruit section having a peel and meat therein, comprising:
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rigid base, having a straight line defined therein; at least one slicing blade extending outwardly from said straight line; a cutting band rotatable about said straight line; first motive means to cause relative motion between said slicing blade and said fruit sections said first motive means causing said slicing blade to create a linear cut within the meat in said fruit section; and second motive means to cause said cutting band to rotate through the meat of said fruit section after said cut has been imposed therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification