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:
Feb. 11, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2001
Rey A. Elizondo, Fresno, CA (US);
Andrew Prins, Madera, CA (US);
FMC Corporation, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for removing skins from a food product ( ), such as produce or fruit, including a pressure vessel ( ) formed to contain a volume of superheated water ( ) for immersion of the food product, a discharge valve ( ) positioned for receipt of superheated water ( ) and food product ( ) together from the pressure vessel ( ). The discharge valve ( ) is further formed for separation of superheated water ( ) from the food product ( ) prior to discharge of the food product into a skin removal device ( ). Preferably the skin removal device ( ) is a rotary valve which applies both steam and vacuum to the food product to effect flashing of the moisture under the loosened skins to produce peeling. A retrofittable discharge valve ( ) is disclosed, as is a method for removing skins from food product ( ).