Atlas Pacific Engineering Company

Other

John H Amstad

A dry food processing machine designed to clean and polish vegetables such as potatoes as well as various fruits. The machine includes inner and outer, concentrically arranged, inverted, frusto-conical rotatable members which are concentrically spaced from one another to provide a product cleaning space therebetween. The conical members are rotatably driven in opposite or synchronous directions at selected speeds. Rotation produces a centrifugal force to the product which constitutes a vertical and horizontal component of force. Abrading devices are provided in the cleaning apace to assist in cleaning. Product is introduced through the inner member into the cleaning space and the provided vertical force will drive the product upwardly through the cleaning space for removal of material for final delivery of product to a collector cowling. Material removed rom the product will be driven horizontally from the cleaning space through the outer conical member for collection.

Food processing machine

An apparatus and method for continuously peeling and removing dirt from produce wherein the apparatus comprises an abrading cage with a plurality of rotating spindles and having an internal chamber with an inwardly facing abrading surface and an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation of the cage is generally horizontally aligned, as opposed to being vertically aligned so as to vary the combined force due to gravity and centrifugal force acting upon produce within the cage. The cage is rotated at sufficient speed to substantially maintain the produce in contact with the abrading surface during revolution thereof yet the combined force acting upon the produce varies throughout the revolution so as to prevent clustering and bridging. A peel and dirt collecting drum diverges from one end to a wide end, is rotated and is positioned radially outward from the cage and has a surface thereon positioned to receive debris flung outwardly from the cage. Fingers are mounted on an end wall supporting the spindles and extend from near a discharge mouth thereof over nips between each adjacent pair of spindles. The apparatus includes adjustable legs to vary the attitude of the cage axis of rotation. A water spray is positioned within the cage to reduce dust when necessary, and allow cleaning of the apparatus.

Continuous produce surface treater and method

Method for removing material from the surface of fruits and vegetables (produce) and separating the removed material from the resultant mixture utilizes the rotation of an upwardly directed cage formed of elongated rotating spindles having a material removing surface thereon, the cage rotary speed being sufficient, at the interior radius thereof, to maintain the produce in continuous centrifugal force contact against the spindle material removing surface, but generally insufficient to prevent downward movement or migration of the produce within the cage under the force of gravity. Produce to be treated is urged into engagement with the spindles and the rotating cage causes the produce to accelerate substantially to said rotary speed, whereby the produce travels with the cage in contact with the rotating material removing spindle surfaces. The produce moves downwardly through the cage under the force of gravity, but is restrained from moving downwardly as fast as conditions would otherwise dictate by resisting surface contact against the lower portions of the produce, thereby increasing cage residence time. The resisting surface is displaced downwardly during cage rotation so as to control the descent of the produce downwardly through the cage during treatment. The removed material is continuously separated from the produce by centrifugal force which may be aided by air suction.

Method for continuous produce surface treatment

Apparatus and method for removing material from the surface of fruits and vegetables (produce) and separating the removed material from the resultant mixture utilizes the rotation of an upwardly directed cage formed of elongated rotating spindles having a material removing surface thereon, the cage rotary speed being sufficient, at the interior radius thereof, to maintain the produce in continuous centrifugal force contact against the spindle material removing surface, but generally insufficient to prevent downward movement or migration of the produce within the cage under the force of gravity. Produce to be treated is urged into engagement with the spindles and the rotating cage causes the produce to accelerate substantially to said rotary speed, whereby the produce travels with the cage in contact with the rotating material removing spindle surfaces. The produce moves downwardly through the cage under the force of gravity, but is restrained from moving downwardly as fast as conditions would otherwise dictate by resisting surface contact against the lower portions of the produce, thereby increasing cage residence time. The resisting surface is displaced downwardly during cage rotation so as to control the descent of the produce downwardly through the cage during treatment. The removed material is continuously separated from the produce by centrifugal force which may be aided by air suction.

Apparatus for continuous produce surface treatment

An improved live knife assembly construction is provided based on such assemblies as are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,058,502 (FIG. 8) and 3,277,941. The aforementioned patents are owned by the assignee of this invention and this application.

Live knife assembly

This invention relates to an apple orienting device suited to orient apples particularly those known as the Red Delicious variety and which are generally relatively long as compared to their diameter. The present orientor includes a pair of eccentrically mounted wheels, and represents an improvement over presently known devices. The orienter uses two eccentrically mounted wheels to aid in orienting the apples.

Apple orienting system

An apparatus and method for continuously peeling vegetables and fruits in large quantities. The apparatus includes a support structure with a housing rotatably mounted thereon, the housing having a plurality of closely spaced-apart, rotating abrading spindles mounted thereon forming an enclosed cage. Rotation of the cage at a sufficient rate accelerates produce items engaging the spindles into generally circular orbits at a speed which results in the produce items being held against the rotating spindles by centrifugal force. The centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the cage also urges peelings outwardly of the cage between the spindles for discharge. A finger drum is rotatably mounted on said support structure within the cage and has a plurality of flexible fingers thereon adapted to engage produce items as they move from a feed end to a discharge end of the housing. Rotation of the finger drum causes the fingers to urge the produce items into initial engagement with the spindles. Separate, variable speed drives are operably connected to the respective housing, spindles and finger drum whereby each is rotatable, as desired, independently of one another with selected rotational speeds.

Continuous peeling apparatus

An apparatus and method for continuously peeling vegetables and fruits in large quantities. The apparatus 1ncludes a support structure with a housing rotatably mounted thereon, the housing having a plurality of closely spaced-apart, rotating abrading spindles mounted thereon forming an enclosed cage. Rotation of the cage at a sufficient rate accelerates produce items engaging the spindles into generally circular orbits at a speed which results in the produce items being held against the rotating spindles by centrifugal force. The centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the cage also urges peelings outwardly of the cage between the spindles for discharge. A finger drum is rotatably mounted on said support structure within the cage and has a plurality of flexible fingers thereon adapted to engage produce items as they move from a feed end to a discharge end of the housing. Rotation of the finger drum causes the fingers to urge the produce items into initial engagement with the spindles. Separate, variable speed drives are operably connected to the respective housing, spindles and finger drum whereby each is rotatable, as desired, independently of one another with selected rotational speeds.

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Alameda, CA, United States of America

John H Amstad