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:
Jun. 06, 2017
Filed:
Mar. 11, 2016
Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., Westlake Village, CA (US);
Ignacio Barajas, Salinas, CA (US);
Maximino Corral, Calexico, CA (US);
Edgar Enrique Valdivia Rodriguez, Castroville, CA (US);
Gabriel Fuentes Villasenor, Somerton, 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, Monterey, CA (US);
Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc., Monterey, CA (US);
Abstract
A leaf removal apparatus for removing one or more wrapper leaves of a harvested produce and its method of use is provided. The apparatus includes a framework, a conveyor comprising a set of parallel rods having a space therebetween, a stripping roller, and a plurality of flexible members. The methods of using the apparatus include feeding a harvested produce onto a conveyor comprising a set of parallel rods having a space therebetween; transporting the harvested produce on the conveyor towards a stripping roller connected to a framework of the leaf removal apparatus; contacting the harvested produce with a plurality of flexible members connected to the framework, and the stripping roller, and loosening or removing one or more wrapper leaves of the harvested produce, wherein one or more of the removed wrapper leaves fall through the space between the rods of the conveyor.