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:
Jul. 14, 2015
Filed:
Jan. 15, 2013
Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., Salinas, CA (US);
Ignacio Barajas, Salinas, CA (US);
Maximino Corral, Calexico, CA (US);
Edgar Enrique Valdivia Rodriguez, Castroville, CA (US);
Gabriel Fuentes Villasenor, Sommerton, AZ (US);
Manuel Maldonado Magana, Salinas, CA (US);
Carlos Uribe Meza, Salinas, CA (US);
Jose De Jesus Valdez, Salinas, CA (US);
Dennis Johnny Castillo, Salinas, CA (US);
Serafin Albarran, Salinas, CA (US);
Stephen Jens, Winchester, MA (US);
Richard L. Bascou, Monterey, CA (US);
Frank E. Davis, Chicago, IL (US);
Dole Fresh Vegtables, Inc., Westlake Village, CA (US);
Abstract
A leaf removal apparatus for removing one or more wrapper leaves of a harvested produce is provided. The leaf removal apparatus includes a framework, a conveyor, a stripping roller, and a plurality of flexible members. The conveyor is configured to transport the harvested produce in a forward direction to the stripping roller. The stripping roller is connected to the framework and rotates in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the conveyor. The stripping roller applies a friction force on the harvested produce. The plurality of flexible members are connected to the framework and are configured to loosen or remove one or more wrapper leaves of the harvested produce and prolong the duration of contact between the harvested produce and the stripping roller. The flexible members may also cause the harvested produce to rotate, helping to remove one or more wrapper leaves. The friction force applied by the stripping roller removes one or more wrapper leaves of the harvested produce.