Abstract

An Avocado De-seeder and De-skinner (9) and Method is disclosed. The cutting (100), deseeding (104) and pulping sequences (106) are conducted by three separate stations (7, 10, 64) along a conveyor system (90A, 90B). At a first station (7), the incoming avocados (including the seeds) are cut into two halves. At a second station (10), the seed-halves are plucked cleanly from the avocado half without damaging the pulp. At a third station (64), the skin is removed cleanly from the pulp and discarded. In order to insure that the skin is easily removed and that the pulp is left undamaged, the skin side of the (seeded) avocado halves is heated enough to release the skin, but not so much as to damage the pulp. This heating step (108) is conducted as the deseeded avocado halves are being conveyed from the de- seeder to the de-skinner.

IPC Classes  ?

• A23N 7/08 - Peeling vegetables or fruit for peeling fruit and removing seed-containing sections

Abstract

An avocado pulper (10) comprising conveying means (90A) for conveying an avocado through the avocado pulper, a first grip belt (IIA) having a plurality of grip plates therearound, said first grip belt being rotated in a first direction (Dl) toward the rear of the avocado pulper, a second grip belt (11B) having a plurality of grip plates therearound, said second grip belt being rotated in a second direction (D2), opposite to said first direction, toward the rear of the avocado pulper (10) wherein said first grip belt (11A) and said second grip belt (IIB) are adjacent to one another and define a gap having a width "G" at their respective front ends and above said conveying means for receiving the avocado wherein said plurality of grip plates of said first grip belt (11A) and said second grip belt (11B) grip the avocado and pass the avocado toward the respective back ends of said first grip belt (11A) and said second grip belt (11B) and wherein said first grip belt and said second grip belt are in approximate contact with one another at their approximate middles and rearward therefrom, first and second support plates removably retaining said first (11A) and second (11B) grip belts, respectively, means for squeezing pulp from the avocado and removing its skin as wherein said means for squeezing pulp is removably attached to and within the inner section of each of said first grip belt (11A) and said second grip belt(llB), and an an upper plate guide attachable atop said approximate contact point of said grip belts (11A, 11B).

IPC Classes  ?

• A23N 1/00 - Machines or apparatus for extracting juice
• A23N 7/08 - Peeling vegetables or fruit for peeling fruit and removing seed-containing sections
• A23N 7/10 - Driving mechanisms

Abstract

An Avocado Cutting and Splitting Device. The device uses a single cutting blade to cut through both the seed and meat of incoming avocados. To increase uptime, the device allows the cutting blade to be sharpened while in operating condition (without removing the blade from the machine). There are a series of guides, elements and other apparatus that will place the incoming avocados in a consistent orientation relative to the cutting blade before they are cut. Belt agitation fingers have further been added to cause the feed belt to vibrate during operation, in order to assist in positioning the avocados properly prior to their being cut. To improve throughput and reduce the need for human involvement, the device includes a set of custom-shaped ramps designed to guide and transport the cut avocado halves to the moving exit conveyor so that the halves land face-down on the exit conveyor.

IPC Classes  ?

• B26D 3/30 - Halving devices, e.g. for halving buns
• B26D 7/06 - Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form