Abstract:
A produce washing apparatus and method, which permits the washing of produce from both above and below in the field. The produce washing apparatus takes produce along a conveyor belt, from a loading section, to a washing section on which is located a washing unit, upward along an ascending section, and from there the produce travels along a dumping section and into a receptacle. The washing unit features spray nozzles located above and below the washing section, so as to direct spray from above and below the produce so as to more effectively wash it. The apparatus is preferably trailer mounted, so as to permit ready positioning in the field.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to apparatuses and methods for cleaning produce in the field and, more specifically, to an apparatus and method for washing produce (including preferably lettuce) from the top and bottom and then loading the cleaned produce into a desired receptacle, such as a truck.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Invention  
           [0004]    In the harvesting of lettuce, it is desirable to, as quickly and efficiently as possible, pick the lettuce, wash the lettuce, and position it for transport away from the field for further processing.  
           [0005]    A number of different apparatuses have been developed over the years for cleaning harvested vegetables and fruits. Some of these, such as the “Produce Washer and Washing Method” disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,694, are of a type not suited for use in the field where the vegetables and fruits are harvested. The use of such a washer is relatively inefficient, inasmuch as the washing of the produce cannot proceed as a step in the harvesting of the produce and its loading to a truck or other receptacle to be shipped away from the field for further processing.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,266 discloses a method for spray washing fruit in a brush bed. This method has the advantage that it washes produce in the field; however, it exposes the washed produce only to a spray coming from above the fruit. In order to provide a more complete wash, the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,266 must provide rotating cylindrical brushes. This requirement increases the complexity of the apparatus, making it relatively expensive to manufacture and difficult to use.  
           [0007]    There continues to be a need for an apparatus and method for effectively cleaning produce in the field. The apparatus and method should clean the produce from the top and the bottom without the need for brushes or like devices. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides other, related, advantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for effectively cleaning produce, including particularly lettuce in the field.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for cleaning produce, including particularly lettuce, in a field setting both from the top and the bottom.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0010]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a produce washing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a washing section having a washing unit disposed thereon so as to position spray nozzles both above and below the washing section; and a conveyor belt apparatus located on the washing section and adapted to transport produce through the washing unit from an entry point of the washing section to a terminating point of the washing section; wherein the conveyor belt apparatus further comprises produce receiving baskets adapted to receive the produce and to expose both a top portion and a bottom portion of the produce to spray emanating from each of the spray nozzles located above the washing section and the spray nozzles located below the washing section.  
           [0011]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a produce washing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in combination: a washing section having a washing unit disposed thereon so as to position spray nozzles both above and below the washing section; a conveyor belt apparatus located on the washing section and adapted to transport produce through the washing unit from an entry point of the washing section to a terminating point of the washing section; wherein the conveyor belt apparatus located on the washing section further comprises produce receiving baskets adapted to receive the produce and to expose both a top portion and a bottom portion of the produce to spray emanating from each of the spray nozzles located above the washing section and the spray nozzles located below the washing section; a loading section pivotally coupled to the washing section at the entry point of the washing section; a conveyor belt apparatus located on the loading section and adapted to transport produce along the loading section from an entry point of the loading section to a terminating point of the loading section and from there to the* entry point of the washing section; an upward angled ascending section positioned at the terminating point of the washing section, after the washing unit; a conveyor belt apparatus located on the ascending section and adapted to transport produce along the ascending section from an entry point of the ascending section to a terminating point of the ascending section; wherein the conveyor belt apparatus located on the ascending section further comprises a plurality of steps located thereon and dimensioned to prevent the produce from falling backward as it travels upward along the ascending section; a downward angled dumping section positioned at the terminating point of the upward angled ascending section; a conveyor belt apparatus located on the dumping section and adapted to transport produce along the dumping section from the terminating point of the ascending section to a terminating point of the dumping section; and a trailer coupled to the produce washing apparatus.  
           [0012]    In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a method for washing produce is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a washing section having a washing unit disposed thereon so as to position spray nozzles both above and below the washing section; providing a conveyor belt apparatus located on the washing section and adapted to transport produce through the washing unit from an entry point of the washing section to a terminating point of the washing section; wherein the conveyor belt apparatus further comprises produce receiving baskets adapted to receive the produce and to expose both a top portion and a bottom portion of the produce to spray emanating from each of the spray nozzles located above the washing section and the spray nozzles located below the washing section; placing produce in the produce receiving baskets; passing the produce receiving baskets with the produce therein through the washing unit; exposing the top portion and the bottom portion of the produce to spray emanating from each of the spray nozzles located above the washing section and the spray nozzles located below the washing section.  
           [0013]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a side view of the produce washing apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a side view of the conveyor portion of the produce washing apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a top, partially cut-away, view of the produce washing apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is an end view of the washing area portion of the produce washing apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the produce basket portion of the produce washing apparatus of FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a side view of the produce basket portion of the produce washing apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the path followed by the produce baskets during operation.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    Referring first to FIG. 1, the produce washing apparatus  10  (“apparatus  10 ”) of the present invention is shown. The apparatus  10  transports produce to be washed along a conveyor that proceeds from entry point A to exit point B. Referring also to FIG. 2, the apparatus  10  can be seen to preferably comprise four sections: a loading section  12 , a washing section  14 , an ascending section  16 , and a dumping section  18 . The entire apparatus  10  is preferably mounted on a trailer  20 , which may be coupled to a vehicle having an appropriate hitching device (not shown) so as to permit the apparatus  10  to be readily transported to and from the field and to different areas in a particular field.  
         [0021]    The loading section  12  and washing section  14  preferably articulate with respect to one another, about point C. This articulation allows the loading section  12  to be positioned at a desired height for the loading of the produce thereon.  
         [0022]    Attention is now directed to FIGS. 5 and 6. Travelling the length of the loading section  12  and washing section  14  is a conveyor belt apparatus, consisting preferably of chain belts  22 , to which are attached and between which are positioned rods  24 . To the rods  24  are coupled produce baskets  26 , so that each basket  26  sits between and is coupled to two rods  24 . As shown in FIG. 5, the baskets  26  are preferably positioned along the rods  24  so as to form alternating rows of one and two baskets  26 .  
         [0023]    Each basket  26  preferably comprises an upper ring  28 , a base ring  30  having a smaller diameter than the upper ring  28 , and support members  32  projecting from the base ring  30  to the upper ring  28 . (There are preferably four, substantially equidistant support members  32  interposed between the upper ring  28  and base ring  30 .) The baskets  26  should be dimensioned to accommodate the produce with which the apparatus  10  is to be used. As shown in FIG. 5, where the produce is lettuce  34 , the upper ring  28  should have a circumference larger than that of a typical head of lettuce  34 , while the base ring  30  should have a base ring  30  with a circumference smaller than that of a typical head of lettuce  34 . In this fashion, the lettuce  34  can be positioned within the basket  26  in a relatively secure manner, and, as discussed more fully below, water may pass through the baskets  26  so as to contact the lettuce  34 . (While the apparatus  10  is preferably used with lettuce  34 , it should be understood that it could be used with other vegetables and fruits that are harvested from a field and that would benefit from a washing step.)  
         [0024]    Still referring to FIG. 5, in the preferred embodiment, the upper ring  28  forms only a partial circle ending at two of the support members  32 , so that a front portion of the upper ring  28  is left open. This permits produce to be more readily dumped from the basket  26  at the end of the washing section  14 , and acts to prevent produce from becoming stuck in the basket  26  and potentially becoming damaged or interfering with the operation of the apparatus  10 .  
         [0025]    As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, as the baskets  26  reach the end of the washing section  14 , they pass to the underside of the washing section  14  and continue past the underside of the loading section  12  to point A, at which position they return to an upward orientation along the top of loading section  12 .  
         [0026]    As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ascending section  16  features steps  36 , which are dimensioned to receive the produce—such as heads of lettuce  34 —as they are emptied from the baskets  26  at the end of the washing section  14 . As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, the steps  36  are preferably angled slightly upward, so as to prevent the produce from falling backward onto the washing section  14 . The steps  36  carry the produce upward toward the dumping section  18 , which preferably features a simple conveyor belt surface  38 . Because the dumping section  18  is angled in a downward direction from the apex of the ascending section  16 , there is no need for baskets or steps to maintain the produce in position as it is moved forward. At the terminus of the dumping section  18 , at exit point B, the produce is dumped into a receptacle  39 , which may be a truck bed or other suitable vessel.  
         [0027]    Attention is now directed to FIGS. 1, 3 and  4 . Along the washing section  14  is located a washing unit  40 . The washing unit  40  is disposed around a portion of the washing section  14 , and positions spray nozzles  42  directly above and spray nozzles  42   a  directly below the washing section  14 . Water is transported to the spray nozzles  42  and  42   a  via a main supply line  44 , which in turn feeds water down vertically oriented feeder lines  46 , from which the water is then routed to horizontally oriented feeder lines  48 , and from there to the spray nozzles  42  and  42   a . (As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spray nozzles  42  and  42   a  are preferably staggered so as to provide more effective spray coverage.) Shut-off valves  50  are preferably positioned on the horizontally oriented feeder lines  48 , so that the flow of water to the spray nozzles  42  or  42   a  can be terminated, if desired.  
         [0028]    Statement of Operation  
         [0029]    The first step in using the apparatus  10  would be to position the apparatus  10  in the desired location—presumably in the field but also possibly in a non-field setting. This may be accomplished by coupling the trailer  20  upon which the apparatus  10  is mounted to a vehicle having an appropriate hitching device, and transporting the apparatus  10  to the desired location.  
         [0030]    It will then be necessary to couple the apparatus  10 , and in particular the main supply line  44 , to a water source, so as to provide water to the washing unit  40 . (Assuming water is to be sprayed onto the produce from both above and below, each of the shut-off valves  50  will be turned to the on position.) It will further be necessary to couple the apparatus  10  to an appropriate power source (not shown), such as a portable generator, which power source will power the conveyors located on each of the loading section  12 , washing section  14 , ascending section  16 , and dumping section  18 . Before use of the apparatus  10  can begin, it is finally necessary to position each of the loading section  12 , ascending section  16 , and dumping section  18  at the desired angles for optimal convenience—and to place a receptacle  39  below the terminus of the dumping section  18 .  
         [0031]    The next step will be to place individual pieces of produce into the baskets  26  at some point along the loading section  12 , or even along the washing section  14  before the washing unit  40 . If the produce is lettuce, it will be preferred to remove the core of the lettuce head  34  prior to placing it in the baskets  26 , so as to provide for a more effective washing of the lettuce head  34 . As the produce enters the washing unit  40 , it will be exposed to a water spray both from above and below, via spray nozzles  42  and  42   a . From the top, the spray will strike the top portion of the produce located in the baskets  26 . From the bottom, the spray will pass through the returning, inverted baskets located on the bottom of the washing section  14 , and will strike the bottom portion of the produce located in the baskets  26 .  
         [0032]    Upon exiting the washing unit  40 , the produce will pass to the ascending section  16  and in particular to the steps  36  thereon, and will be raised to the dumping section  18 . The produce will then exit the steps  36  and pass onto the conveyor belt surface  38  on the dumping section  18 , and will be transported from there to be dumped into the receptacle  39  at point B.  
         [0033]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it may be possible to eliminate the loading section  12 , and in effect to combine the loading section  12  and washing section  14  into a single unit. It may further be possible to eliminate either or both of the ascending section  16  and dumping section  18 , so that washed produce is transported from the washing section  14  to the receptacle  39  or from the ascending section  16  to the receptacle  39 .