Method and apparatus for peeling produce such as garlic

Abstract: Apparatus and method for peeling the husk from produce such as garlic cloves (G) in which cup means (10) are provided with circumferentially spaced, inwardly biased prongs (14) that converge toward an exit end, the prongs (14) having gripping members (18) adjacent the exit end. A plunger (22) is provided for pushing the garlic meat relative to the husk while the husk is being held by the gripping members. In the method, the husk is held and gripped at the circumferentially spaced locations while the meat is pressed axially of the husk relative to the husk while the husk is being gripped. Preferably, the husk is simultaneously scored or cut as it is gripped to split the husk.

Description: INTRODUCTORY PORTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing the husk from produce of the type as outlined in the preamble of claim 1. An apparatus of this type is disclosed in DE-A-3 334 659. The known apparatus is adapted to remove the husk from onions. The apparatus comprises a cup with a plurality of circumferentially spaced prongs converging radially inward toward the centre of an exit end of the cup. The prongs are biased by rubber rings. The onion has to be put onto a spit extending upwardly from a plunger type rest. The cup has to be moved from below over the onion downwardly for removing the husk. For that purpose, the inwardly extending prongs are provided adjacent the exit end of the cup with slicing blades arranged upwardly and shaving blades arranged downwardly with respect to the relative movements between the cup and the onion. The husk to be removed is therefore first sliced and then shaved from the onion. Further devices for removing the inedible outer layers of garlic cloves have generally been unsatisfactory. The device disclosed in US-A-5,021,254 attempts to remove the inedible skin by using pressurized air. The device disclosed in US-A-5,065,672 uses an abrasive rotary disk. In general, however, particularly for manually removing the skin from a clove of garlic, the conventional technique is to use a knife to cut open the skin and peel the skin off the firm meat. It is one aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus for pressing the meat of a clove of garlic free from the surrounding husk or skin. It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for peeling garlic which is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture. It is still another object of this invention to provide a method for peeling produce such as garlic by gripping the outer skin at circumferentially spaced locations and then pushing the inner meat through the skin. In the preferred form of the embodiment, the method includes cutting or tearing kerfs in the husk to remove the husk from the meat more freely. The apparatus object of the invention is best obtained by providing cup means having an entrance end and an opposite, exit end, the exit end having a plurality of flexible, circumferentially spaced prongs converging inwardly toward the exit end, with the prongs having inwardly protruding gripping members adjacent the exit end for engaging the husk, and plunger means for pushing the produce through and out of the exit end past the gripping members, wherein the gripping members penetrate the husk to hold the husk as the plunger pushes the inner meat out of the exit end, free of the husk. In the preferred form of the apparatus, the gripping members have sharp terminal ends which serrate the husk to allow it to separate from the meat more easily as the plunger pushes the garlic past the sharp terminal ends. The invention as disclosed in claim 1 will be described herein with reference to garlic for purposes of clarity; however, the invention is also applicable to any produce, for example, shallots, which have a firm inner meat and a fibrous outer skin or husk. Embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the Figures, wherein Figure 1 is an isometric view showing one embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is an isometric view showing the garlic peeling apparatus in a second, intermediate mode of operation. Figure 3A shows the apparatus in a final mode of operation, where the meat of the garlic has been pressed out of the husk. Figure 3B is a fragmentary illustration showing the shredded form of the husk after it has been separated from the meat of the garlic. Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail in cross section of an exit end of part of the garlic peeling apparatus. Figure 5 is a second embodiment of the peeling apparatus. Figure 6 is a third embodiment of the invention, showing a side elevation. Figure 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a side elevation of a fourth embodiment of the invention. Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail similar to Figure 4 showing another form of gripping means at the exit end of the apparatus. Figure 10 shows still another fragmentary detail of another form of gripping means at the exit end of the apparatus. As best shown in Figures 1-4, the first embodiment of the peeling apparatus includes a cup 10 having an entrance end 11 and an exit end 12. The entrance end is a single continuous integral ring. The exit end is made up of a plurality of spaced prongs 14 having a natural spring bias radially inward and separated by gaps or spaces 16. Each of the prongs has a gripping member 18, preferably a form of sharpened point, protruding from an inner wall of the prong as shown in Figure 4. The peeling apparatus also has a plunger 20 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, laterally protruding fingers or flanges 22. These flanges are aligned with the spaces 16 between the prongs 14 so that when the plunger is pushed through the cup, the garlic clove expands the prongs, with the fingers passing within the spaces between the prongs. Adjacent fingers form entrapment compartments 24, as best shown in Figure 2. The plunger and cup are each integrally joined to lever arms 26 and 28, respectively, which are pivotally connected by a conventional pivot pin mechanism 30. Preferably, the parts of the apparatus are formed from injection-molded plastic, making manufacture simple and inexpensive. A typical garlic clove G has a husk or skin H and an inner kernel or meat M. In operation, the plunger is raised from the cup and a clove of garlic is dropped into the cup. The plunger is then firmly squeezed into the cup, with the sharp points holding the husk and serrating it as the fingers push the meat out of the husk. The peeled meat is shown in Figure 3A. In some instances, the sharp points 14 will actually also slightly serrate the meat, as shown by the line 32A in Figure 3A. The husk usually is shredded or split open, as shown in Figure 3B. The gripping members can take several forms. Figure 9 shows a sawtooth or spaced set of gripping points 32 on prongs 14a. Figure 10 shows a plurality of sharpened pins 34, either aligned or randomly located on the end of prongs 14b. Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the cup 40 is more axially straight as compared to the embodiment of Figure 1, in which the cup and the plunger each have a slight curvature along the radius from the pivot 30. In the embodiment of Figure 5, there is no pivoting action of the plunger into the cup, merely a straight reciprocation, so no curvature is necessary. The plunger 42 in this embodiment also has a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers 44, as in Figure 1. In all other respects, the plunger and cup are the same as in Figure 1. To reciprocate the plunger and the cup relative to one another, the cup and the plunger are each provided with laterally extending handles 46 and 48, respectively. The plunger is pressed into the cup by grasping the handles in the left and right hand and squeezing them together. Figures 6 and 7 show an embodiment better adapted for commercial use. In this embodiment, the cup 60, made similar to the cup in Figure 5, is rigidly mounted on a hollow post 62 connected to a base 64. A plunger 66, having circumferentially spaced fingers 68 which mesh between the circumferentially spaced prongs 70 of the cup, is mounted on a post 63 that reciprocates within the post 62. Preferably, in this embodiment, the post 63 not only reciprocates against a spring 65 within the post 62 but can also pivot about the post 62 to open the area above the entrance 72 of the cup 60. In this embodiment, a clove is dropped into the cup and the plunger is swung into alignment with the cup and then pushed rapidly downward to peel the garlic clove. Figure 8 shows still another embodiment, in which the cup 90 has prongs 92, as in the embodiment of Figure 5. In this embodiment, the cup has an elongated body 94 which can be gripped with the hand. The plunger 96 is provided with the same circumferentially spaced fingers (not shown) as in the preferred embodiment and terminates at its lower end in a rubber cushion 98. In this embodiment, the plunger is separated from the cup, with the cup exit end 100 pointing downward. The plunger is then placed in the cup, trapping the garlic clove, and the cup and plunger are turned upside-down. Then the cup is lifted slightly and slammed down against the plunger to push the peeled garlic meat upward, out of the exit end of the cup. In all of the embodiments, the prongs are flexible and are provided with various types of gripping members, as shown and described earlier. The method of the invention is to grip the garlic husk at circumferentially spaced points around it and then to press the meat relatively outwardly of the husk while still gripping the husk. Preferably, the method includes the step of serrating the husk as the meat is pressed relative to the husk for splitting the husk.

Claims: An apparatus for removing the husk (H) from produce such as garlic cloves (G) of the type having a firm inner meat (M) and a fibrous husk (H), comprising: cup means (10, 40, 60, 90) having an entrance end and an exit end, the exit end having a plurality of flexible, circumferentially spaced prongs (14, 70, 92) converging radially inward toward the centre of the exit end, said prongs (14, 70, 92) having inwardly protruding means for separating the husk (H) from the inner meat (M); and plunger means (20, 42, 66, 96) for pushing the produce into the exit end, the inner meat (M) exiting through the exit end in at least one substantially large piece, separated from the husk (H); whereby said means for separating the husk from the inner meat consists exclusively of gripping members (18, 32, 34) for engaging the husk (H) of the produce; and said plunger means (20, 42, 66, 96), for pushing the produce through and out of the exit end past the gripping members (18, 32, 34), causes the gripping members (18, 32, 34), to penetrate the husk (H) to hold the husk (H) as the plunger (20, 42, 66, 96) pushes the inner meat (M) out of the exit end separated from the husk (H). The apparatus of claim 1, further characterised in that said gripping members (18, 32, 34), have sharp terminal ends and wherein the sharp terminal ends serrate the husk (H) to split the husks as the plunger (20, 42, 66, 92) pushes the produce past the sharp terminal ends. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further characterised in that said plunger means (20, 42, 66, 92) has an inner end, said inner end having circumferentially spaced, laterally outwardly protruding flanges (22, 44) aligned with spaces between the circumferentially spaced prongs (14, 70, 92) in the cup means (10, 40, 60, 90) and wherein said protruding flanges (22, 44) pass between and axially beyond the exit ends of the prongs (14, 70, 92) to discharge the peeled meat (M) from the cup means (10, 40, 60, 90). The apparatus of claim 3, characterised in that the circumferentially spaced flanges (22, 44) define entrapment compartments (24), said shredded husk (H) collecting in said compartments (24) as the meat (M) is pushed out of the husk (H). The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4 further characterised in that said cup means (10) has a first pivot lever (28), said plunger means (20) having a second pivot lever (26) joined to said first pivot lever (28) for swinging the plunger means (20) relative to the cup means (20). The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, further characterised in that said cup means (40) has oppositely extending lateral first handles (48), said plunger means (42) having oppositely extending lateral second handles (46) overlying and aligned with said first handles (48), and wherein the plunger means (42) is moved into said cup means (40) by squeezing said first and second handles (46, 48) together. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, further characterised in that said cup means (60) having a lateral first support (62), said support (62) connected to a rigid base (64), said plunger means (66) having a lateral second support (63) reciprocally mounted on said base (64), said plunger means (66) movable into and out of said cup means (60). The apparatus of claim 7, characterised in that said lateral second support (63) also is pivotally mounted on said base (64) for swinging movement laterally of said cup means (60) for opening the space above the entrance to said cup means (60) for placing a produce into the cup means (60). The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, further characterised in that said plunger means (96) has an outer end, a resilient cushion (98) on the outer end, and wherein the plunger means (96) is passed into the cup means (90) by gripping the cup means (90) and striking the cushioned outer end of the plunger (96) against a surface to drive the plunger (96) into the cup means (90). The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, further characterised in that said gripping members (18, 32) have a point directed axially toward said entrance end and laterally inward. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, further characterised in that said gripping means (32, 34) have a series of axially spaced points extending axially toward said entrance and laterally inwardly. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, further characterised in that said gripping means (34) have a plurality of laterally inwardly extending sharpened pins. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that said gripping members (18, 32, 34), are closely spaced to one another at the exit end.

Inventors: HOLCOMB DAVID A, HOLCOMB, DAVID A.
Applicants: CHEF N CORP, CHEF'N CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A47J17
IPC codes: A47J17