Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc.

Jerry Lynn Crawford

Bob Jay Dull

Frank Edward Davis

Robert J Schrader

Yuki Mikoshiba

Robert Tarango

Jose Emilio Villarreal Lozoya

A system for reducing oxygen in a package of produce product using a lance manifold. The lance manifold has a first end adapted to receive an input gas flow and a second end adapted for placement in a partially-enclosed cavity containing the produce product. The second end of the lance manifold includes a plurality of exit ports adapted to produce an output gas flow and a sampling port for taking an air sample from the partially-enclosed cavity. The system also includes an oxygen analyzer for detecting oxygen content of gas inside the partially-enclosed cavity using the sampling port. The system is configured to produce an output gas flow with the following properties: a substantially oxygen-free composition; a flow rate of at least 100 standard cubic feet per hour (SCFH); and a flow direction substantially 90 degrees to a cavity opening of the partially-enclosed cavity.

High-flow, low-velocity gas flushing system for reducing and monitoring oxygen content in packaged produce containers

A method and apparatus for drying produce in a centrifugal drier is described. The drier includes a housing and a drum configured to receive a multi-volume basket. The method includes loading produce into a first volume and a second volume of the multi-volume basket. The basket may include perforated walls, a closed lower end, and an open upper end. The interior volume of the basket is divided into at least a first volume and a second volume by a perforated inner divider that is oriented concentrically to the basket walls. The first volume is disposed inside the inner divider. The second volume is disposed between the inner divider and the basket walls. A drive assembly rotates the drum and the basket, loaded with produce in the first and second volumes, to cause fluids to drain out of the produce to yield dried produce.

Vertical drum drier

Growing community of inventors

Salinas, CA, United States of America

Jerry Lynn Crawford