The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 11, 2001
Filed:
May. 22, 1998
Edward Ortega, Salinas, CA (US);
Carlos Ortega, Watsonville, CA (US);
Finepro, LLC, Salinas, CA (US);
Abstract
Method for the rapid cleaning of produce with minimal loss, and apparatus to perform the method. The cleaning method taught in the present application enables the rapid cleaning of produce by removing an extraneous portion therefrom, by separating the extraneous portion from the body of the produce, and by urging the cleaned produce towards a collection device. These steps are attainable, using the principles of the present invention, by a working using only one motion and one hand. To perform the method, a novel aperture knife is taught which, rendered attachable to an agricultural processing implement by an integral attachment device, enables one-handed operation by a user. The knife includes a generally planar knife body in operative combination with an elevated blade which not only enables the severing of the extraneous portion from the produce body, but separates the extraneous portion therefrom, and guides the cleaned produce body towards a collection device, for instance a picking box.