PRODUCE PROCESSING APPARATUS

• US 20110081463A1
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David W. Scaroni, Matthew S. Scaroni
• Original Assignee: David W. Scaroni, Matthew S. Scaroni
• Inventors: Scaroni, David W., Scaroni, Matthew S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,221,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/231
• CPC Class Codes: A23N 15/003 for trimming cauliflowers, broccoli or cabbages
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/143 rotating about a stationary axis B26D1/20 - B26D1/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/26 specially adapted for cutting fruit or vegetables, e.g. for onions
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0625 by endless conveyors, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/14 by tensioning the work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/654 With work-constraining means on work conveyor [i.e., "work-carrier"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/6579 With means to press work to work-carrier

Abstract

Produce processing apparatuses are presented including: a number of paddles coupled with a rotating conveyor system configured for capturing and securing produce along a first position; a counter-rotating compression belt system for compressing the produce along a second position, where the counter-rotating compression belt system is configured to apply a compressive force to the produce such that the produce is secured, and where the counter-rotating compression belt system includes a belt that is counter-rotating and synchronized with respect to the rotating conveyor system; and a cutting system including a rotary coring blade assembly positioned along a path of the rotating conveyor system, where the rotary coring blade assembly is positioned and configured to core the produce along a third position.

Claims

1. A produce processing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of paddles coupled with a rotating conveyor system configured for capturing and securing produce along a first position;

a counter-rotating compression belt system for compressing the produce along a second position, wherein

the counter-rotating compression belt system is configured to apply a compressive force to the produce such that the produce is secured, and wherein

the counter-rotating compression belt system includes a belt that is counter-rotating and synchronized with respect to the rotating conveyor system; and

a cutting system comprising a rotary coring blade assembly positioned along a path of the rotating conveyor system, wherein

the rotary coring blade assembly is positioned and configured to core the produce along a third position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotary coring blade assembly further comprises:

at least one coring blade, the at least coring blade including a core blade edge aligned along a core blade leading edge of a first portion of the at least one coring blade, wherein the first portion is formed to provide a first coring shape to core the produce;

a first proximal attachment point for attaching the at least one coring blade with a rotatable coring shaft; and

a first distal attachment point for attaching the at least one coring blade with the rotatable coring shaft, wherein the rotatable coring shaft comprises a plurality of coupling members for removably securing the at least one coring blade at the first proximal attachment point and the first distal attachment point.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cutting system further comprises:

a coring drive in mechanical communication with the rotatable coring shaft for driving the at least one cutting blade through a rotational path.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a coring counterweight coupled with the rotatable coring shaft for balancing the cutting system when only one coring blade is utilized.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a second of the at least one coring blade is formed to provide a second coring shape selected from the group consisting of:

a similar coring shape, a dissimilar coring shape, and a complimentary coring shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first coring shape and the second coring shape is a shape selected from the group consisting of:

a vee shape, an arcuate shape, a semi-arcuate shape, a rectangular shape, and a semi-rectangular shape.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rotary trimming blade assembly positioned along the path of the rotating conveyor system, the rotary trimming blade assembly including,

at least one trimming blade, wherein the at least one trimming blade further comprises;

at least one trim blade edge aligned along a trim blade leading edge of a second portion of the at least one trimming blade, wherein the second portion is formed to provide a first trimming shape to trim the produce,

a second proximal attachment point for attaching the at least one trimming blade with a rotatable trimming shaft, and

a second distal attachment point for attaching the at least one trimming blade with the rotatable trimming shaft, wherein the rotatable trimming shaft comprises a plurality of coupling members for securing the at least one trimming blade at the second proximal attachment point and the second distal attachment point.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cutting system further comprises:

a trimming drive in mechanical communication with the rotatable trimming shaft for driving the at least one trimming blade through a rotational path.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the coring drive and the trimming drive are selected from the group consisting of an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a compressed air motor, a hydraulic fluid motor, a wind turbine motor, and a power take off (PTO) motor, wherein the trimming drive is configured to rotate trimming blade in a range of approximately 50 to 10000 RPM.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a trim counterweight coupled with the rotatable trimming shaft for balancing the cutting system when only one trimming blade is utilized.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a second of the at least one trimming blade is formed to provide a second trimming shape selected from the group consisting of:

a similar trimming shape, a dissimilar trimming shape, and a complimentary trimming shape.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first trimming shape and the second trimming shape is a shape selected from the group consisting of:

a vee shape, an arcuate shape, a semi-arcuate shape, a rectangular shape, and a semi-rectangular shape.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rinse system along a fourth position for rinsing a trimmed and cored produce, wherein the rinse system includes a rinse selected from the group consisting of;

a water rinse, a saline rinse, a chemical rinse, and an air rinse.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first optical detection device along the first position for detecting viability of the produce, the optical detection device configured to function in coordination with a first produce rejection system along the first position, wherein the produce is removed from the rotating conveyor system if the produce is not viable.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second optical detection device along fourth position for detecting viability of the produce, the optical detection device configured to function in coordination with a second produce rejection system wherein the produce is removed from the rotating conveyor system if the produce is not viable.

13. The apparatus of claim A1, wherein the produce is selected from the group consisting of:

a romaine lettuce head, an iceberg lettuce head, a butterhead lettuce head, a summertime lettuce head, a cabbage head, a bok choy head, an escarole lettuce head, a radicchio lettuce heat, a broccoli head, a cauliflower head, a broccoflower head, a celery bunch, and a carrot bunch.

17. A method for processing produce, the method comprising:

receiving severed produce on a rotating conveyor system along a first position, the rotating conveyor system comprising a plurality of paddles for capturing and securing the severed produce;

compressing the severed produce with a counter-rotating compression belt system configured to apply a compressive force to the severed produce such that the severed produce is secured; and

transporting the severed produce through a cutting system comprising, the cutting system comprising,

at least one coring blade positioned along a path of the rotating conveyor system, wherein the at least one coring blade is positioned and configured to core the severed produce along a second position, and

at least one trimming blade positioned along the path of the rotating conveyor system, wherein the at least one trimming blade is positioned and configured to trim the severed produce along a third position; and

releasing a cored and trimmed produce to a collection point.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein

the at least one coring blade further comprises:

at least one core blade edge aligned along a core blade leading edge of a first portion of the at least one coring blade, wherein the first portion is formed to provide a first coring shape to core the produce;

a first proximal attachment point for attaching the at least one coring blade with a rotatable coring shaft; and

a first distal attachment point for attaching the at least one coring blade with the rotatable coring shaft, wherein the rotatable coring shaft comprises a plurality of coupling members for removably securing the at least one coring blade at the first proximal attachment point and the first distal attachment point, and wherein

the at least one trimming blade further comprises;

at least one trim blade edge aligned along a trim blade leading edge of a second portion of the at least one trimming blade, wherein the second portion is formed to provide a first trimming shape to trim the produce;

a second proximal attachment point for attaching the at least one trimming blade with a rotatable trimming shaft; and

a second distal attachment point for attaching the at least one trimming blade with the rotatable trimming shaft, wherein the rotatable trimming shaft comprises a plurality of coupling members for securing the at least one trimming blade at the second proximal attachment point and the second distal attachment point.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

aligning the severed produce with the rotating conveyor system along the first position.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

optically detecting viability of the severed produce before the compressing the severed produce; and

rejecting the severed produce if the severed produce is not viable.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

optically detecting viability of the trimmed and cored produce after the transporting the severed produce through a cutting system; and

rejecting the trimmed and cored produce if the trimmed and cored produce is not viable.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising rinsing the trimmed and cored severed produce, wherein the rinsing includes a rinse selected from the group consisting of a water rinse, a saline rinse, a chemical rinse, and an air rinse.

23. A produce processing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of annular cups coupled with a rotating conveyor system configured for capturing and securing produce along a first position;

a cutting system comprising

a rotary coring blade assembly positioned along a path of the rotating conveyor system, wherein the rotary coring blade assembly is positioned and configured to core the produce along a second position

a rotary trimming blade assembly positioned along the path of the rotating conveyor system, wherein the rotary trimming blade assembly is positioned and configured to core the produce along a third position

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein

the rotary coring blade assembly further comprises:

at least one coring blade, the at least coring blade including a core blade edge aligned along a core blade leading edge of a first portion of the at least one coring blade, wherein the first portion is formed to provide a coring shape to core the produce;

a first proximal attachment point for attaching the at least one coring blade with a rotatable coring shaft; and

a first distal attachment point for attaching the at least one coring blade with the rotatable coring shaft, wherein the rotatable coring shaft comprises a plurality of coupling members for removably securing the at least one coring blade at the first proximal attachment point and the first distal attachment point, and wherein

the rotary trimming blade assembly further comprises;

at least one trim blade edge aligned along a trim blade leading edge of a second portion of the at least one trimming blade, wherein the second portion is formed to provide a trimming shape to trim the produce,

a second proximal attachment point for attaching the at least one trimming blade with a rotatable trimming shaft, and

a second distal attachment point for attaching the at least one trimming blade with the rotatable trimming shaft, wherein the rotatable trimming shaft comprises a plurality of coupling members for securing the at least one trimming blade at the second proximal attachment point and the second distal attachment point.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the coring shape and the trimming shape is a shape selected from the group consisting of:

a vee shape, an arcuate shape, a semi-arcuate shape, a rectangular shape, and a semi-rectangular shape.

26. A method for processing produce, the method comprising:

receiving severed produce on a rotating conveyor system along a first position, the rotating conveyor system comprising a plurality of annular cups for capturing and securing the severed produce;

transporting the severed produce through a cutting system comprising, the cutting system comprising,

at least one coring blade positioned along a path of the rotating conveyor system, wherein the at least one coring blade is positioned and configured to core the severed produce along a second position, and

at least one trimming blade positioned along the path of the rotating conveyor system, wherein the at least one trimming blade is positioned and configured to trim the severed produce along a third position; and

releasing a cored and trimmed produce to a collection point.