Abstract:
An Avocado De-seeder and De-skinner and Method is disclosed. The cutting, deseeding and pulping sequences is conducted by three separate stations along a conveyor system. At a first station, the incoming avocados (including the seeds) are cut into two halves. At a second station, the seed-halves are plucked cleanly from the avocado half without damaging the pulp. At a third station, 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 is conducted as the de-seeded avocado halves are being conveyed from the de-seeder to the de-skinner.

Description:
[0001]    This application is filed within one year of, and claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/981,835, filed Apr. 20, 2014. 
         [0002]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/443,802, filed Apr. 10, 2012 (the “parent application”), now pending. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0003]    This invention relates generally to food processing equipment and, more specifically, to an Avocado De-seeder and De-skinner and Method. 
       2. Description of Related Art 
       [0004]    Avocados have become more and more popular for their versatility and arguable health-related benefits. They come in various varieties and sizes. For example, West Indian avocados produce enormous, smooth round, glossy green fruits that are low in oil and can weigh up to two pounds. Guatemalan varieties produce medium ovoid or pear-shaped, pebbled green fruits that turn blackish-green when ripe. The fruit or pulp of Mexican versions of avocado tends to be smaller (six to ten ounces) with skins that turn glossy green or black when ripe. 
         [0005]    The pulp of avocados is deep green near the skin, becoming yellowish nearer the single large, inedible ovoid seed. The pulp is hard when harvested but softens to a buttery texture as the avocado ripens. Avocados are high in monosaturates and the oil content is second only to olives among fruits in its health benefits. Clinical feeding studies in humans have shown that avocado oil can actually reduce blood cholesterol. To effectively obtain the pulp of an avocado, the avocado must be de-skinned and the seed must be removed. 
         [0006]    Because of their existing and ever-growing popularity, there continues to be a need to effectively and efficiently remove the pulp from an avocado for processing regardless of the size or type of avocado being processed. The prior art has numerous de-skinning or peeling machines and pulp or fruit removal machines which have been cited in the parent application. Most are extremely complex, somewhat cumbersome, and costly to manufacture and maintain. 
         [0007]    The instant inventor previously solved many of the problems associated with pulp removal and skin/seed disposal in his prior issued patents and pending patent applications (U.S. Pat. No. 7,444,930 and application Ser. Nos. 11/845,184, 11/845,233, 12/423,356, and 12/628,806); all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0008]    This current avocado pulper, however, is an even more vast improvement to all prior-art devices. It will de-seed, de-pulp, and de-skin an avocado with little human intervention; and, in the same amount of time, will produce more pulp than with any prior-art device and less waste of usable product will result. Unwanted items [skin and seed] will not be co-mingled with the pulp. Moreover, with the relative “flexibility” of the grip belts and the de-seeder, a hard avocado pulp or a stray seed will not jam the avocado pulper. Furthermore, disassembly of the device for cleaning and maintenance has been greatly improved. All these advances and at a speed of production unsurpassed by any other device, and the resulting pulp is “chunkier” than available from any prior machine. 
         [0009]    Prior to the development of the instant device, fruits (other than avocados) and vegetables are more easily de-skinned by the heating of these foods. Such heating typically does not adversely affect the flavor, texture, or appearance of most such foods. Processing avocados by first heating for the purpose of de-skinning them, however, has not previously be found to be nutritionally sound. Avocados are a fruit which is extremely sensitive to heat. This was thought to be so because its green (chlorophyll) layer of its pulp as it lies immediately below the skin and, consequently, is subject to greatest heat exposure and nutritional loss and flavor loss. 
         [0010]    The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the avocado pulper of this disclosure. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the avocado pulper of this disclosure. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed avocado pulper of this disclosure in a different manner or by modifying the avocado pulper of this disclosure within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the avocado pulper of this disclosure may be had by referring to the summary of the avocado pulper of this disclosure and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the avocado pulper of this disclosure defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide an Avocado De-seeder and De-skinner and Method. The cutting, deseeding and pulping sequences should be conducted by three separate stations along a conveyor system. At a first station, the incoming avocados should be cut in two halves, including the seed. At a second station, the seed-halves should be plucked cleanly from the avocado half without damaging the pulp. At a third station, the skin should be 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 should be heated enough to release the skin, but not so much as to damage the pulp. The heating step may be conducted by spraying hot water onto the halves as they are passed by conveyor from the deseeder to the deskinner, or other heating approaches may be used. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the de-seeder assembly of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one de-seeder subassembly of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the left de-seeder subassembly of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the belt frame assembly of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are top views of the belt frame assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are top views of the belt frame assembly of  FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B , showing two different feed gap conditions; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the seeder-skinner conveyor belt and heating system; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the plumbing system of a preferred avocado skin heating system using hot water; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C  depict the insulated trough of the system of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a preferred de-skinner of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  depicts a block diagram and flowchart of the system and method of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the de-skinner of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is another perspective view of the de-skinner of  FIG. 12 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a back view of the de-skinner of  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventors of carrying out their invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an Avocado De-seeder and De-skinner and Method. 
         [0028]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of  FIG. 1 . 1    FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the de-seeder assembly  10  of the present invention. This version of the de-seeder  10  is somewhat similar in theory to the device of the parent patent, but with three important distinctions. First, this is a stand-alone de-seeder mechanism that only removes the seed-halves, but does not remove the skin from the pulp. Second, the feed channel width adjustment mechanism has been simplified so that it can be maintained more easily than the prior system. Finally, the de-seeder  10  adjusted for width (to accommodate a different size of fruit/seed) while the machine continues to run (by simply turning a knob).  1  As used throughout this disclosure, element numbers enclosed in square brackets [ ] indicates that the referenced element is not shown in the instant drawing figure, but rather is displayed elsewhere in another drawing figure. 
         [0029]    The typical de-seeder  10  is made up of a pair of side-by-side de-seeder subassemblies  12 A,  12 B, which are essentially identical. As should be apparent, a single drive motor  18  drives the belts on both subassemblies  12 A,  12 B, thereby allowing the de-seeder  10  to process two streams of avocado halves simultaneously (i.e. both left and right halves after being cut by the avocado cutter, such as that of application Ser. No. 13/301,054). 
         [0030]    Using the first de-seeder subassembly  12 A as an example, there are a pair of rotating belts  20 A,  20 B. A feed channel  22  is defined between the two belts  20 A,  20 B. Incoming avocado halves pass through the channel  22  from front (left in this view) to back as the seed is removed (as will be discussed in connection with  FIG. 3 ). In order to accommodate varying sizes of avocado halves, it is necessary that the operators be capable of adjusting the width of the feed channel gap  24 . The gap  24  can be made wider or narrower by adjusting the position of top plate  26  in the direction shown and labeled as M TP . The top plate  26  is caused to move by turning the gap adjustment knob  28 , which draws the top plate  26  closer to, or pushes it farther away from the drive wheels.  FIGS. 2 and 3  provide additional detail about the de-seeding mechanism. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one de-seeder subassembly  12 A/ 12 B of the device of  FIG. 1 . As shown, the cutter-seeder conveyor belt  90 A delivers avocado halves from the cutter to the feed channel  22  of the de-seeder subassembly  12 A/ 12 B. A spiked wheel [ 14 ] is caused to rotate by a de-seeder shaft  30  that is driven by the drive motor [ 18 ]. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the left de-seeder subassembly  20 A of the device of  FIG. 1 . As the avocado halves  95  (containing the half-seed  98 A) are delivered to the de-seeder subassembly  12 A by the cutter-seeder conveyor belt  90 A (running on rollers  92 ), the pair of belts  20 A/ 20 B grasp and hold the avocado  95  while passing it over the top of the spiked wheel  14 . The spiked wheel  14  is allowed to rotate on its mounting stand  16 , and is driven to rotate in the direction opposite to the travel of the avocado half by the de-seeder shaft [ 30 ]. 
         [0033]    Once the seed half  98 A is plucked from the avocado meat, the seeded avocado half  95 A is delivered by the belts  20 A/ 20 B to the seeder-skinner conveyor belt  90 B.  FIG. 4  continues to depict the belt gap adjustment mechanism. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the belt frame assembly  25  of the device of  FIG. 1 . Right and left lower frames  32 A,  32 B, respectively, support and guide each belt [ 20 A,  20 B] as they rotate. The left lower frame  32 A is driven to move in direction M LF , and the right lower frame  32 B is driven to simultaneously move in direction M RF  whenever the top plate  26  is moved in direction M TP . The top plate  26  is moved in direction M TP  by the gap adjustment knob [ 28 ]. The knob [ 28 ] engages a threaded bolt extending from bracket  31  at a peg having a cross-axis threaded bore formed through it. The peg is retained within the recessed center of the cradle  29  extending upwardly from the top plate  26 . 
         [0035]    The left and right lower frames  32 A,  32 B are supported by, and allowed to move relative to, left and right support frames  33 A,  33 B.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  continue to depict the operation of the adjustment of the feed channel gap  24 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are top views of the belt frame assembly  25  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5B  is the same as  FIG. 5A , except that the top plate  26  has been removed. There are a plurality of guide pegs  34  extending upwardly from the support frames [ 33 A,  33 B], and through parallel slots  37  to guide the top plate  26  as it moves in direction MIT. 
         [0037]    There are also a plurality of drive pegs  36  extending down from the bottom surface of the top plate  26 , and through the angled slots  40  formed in the left and right lower frames  32 A,  32 B. The guide pegs  34  pass through lateral slots  38  prior to reaching the parallel slots  37 . As the top plate  26  moves up and down (in this view), the drive pegs  36  will engage the angled slots  40  to cause the lower frames  32 A,  32 B to move in and out, with the movement of the lower frames  32 A,  32 B being guided by the lateral slots  38  riding along the guide pegs  34 . The result movement is depicted in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are top views of the belt frame assembly  25  of  FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B , showing two different feed gap conditions. In  FIG. 6A , the top plate  25  is at the extent of its travel in the “down” direction (as viewed here). The lower frames  32 A,  32 B have been correspondingly moved towards one another so that they are as close as they can get, and the feed channel gap [ 24 ] is at its narrowest. In  FIG. 6B , the top plate  25  is at the extent of its travel in the “up” direction, which has caused the lower frames  32 A,  32 B to travel to their maximum distance apart, so that the feed channel gap [ 24 ] is at its widest. Having discussed the de-seeder completely, we will now examine the subsequent mechanisms and steps of the system and method of the present invention. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the seeder-skinner conveyor belt  90 B and preferred heating system of the present invention. As the cut, de-seeded avocado halves travel long the seeder-skinner conveyor belt  90 B with their skin-side up (pulp-side down), they will pass under an overhead hot water dispensing manifold  42  that extends over the top in spaced relation to the belt  90 B. Hot water spray  44  (could actually be steam or heated oil spray) will be emitted from the manifold  42 , so that it coats the avocados as they pass by. While other heating methods have been tested and are suitable for the instant invention, it has been found that using water that is just below its boiling point to heat the avocado skins is the best method. However, in certain circumstances, other conventional heating methods could be preferred, such as flame heat, radiant heat, and others. Using two hundred (200) degree fahrenheit water, with the fruit travelling at approximately sixty (60) feet per minute, has been found to heat the skin of the avocado to a temperature of approximately one hundred and six (106) degrees fahrenheit, which is actually a lower temperature than the skins reach from sitting in the sun (i.e. when on the trees). This small bit of heating has been found to not damage the pulp, but does make the skin very loose and easy to remove. 
         [0040]    While the cutter-seeder conveyor belt [ 90 A] is preferably made from a solid, hygienic, flexible material (such as PTFE or the like), the seeder-skinner conveyor belt  90 B is preferably made from perforated or otherwise open weave stainless steel. This is to permit the water spray  44  to drain through the belt  90 B and into a trough (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The trough runs along the length of the belt  90 B, directly below the hot water dispensing manifold  42 , so that all of the water spray and dripping water is captured.  FIG. 8  depicts the arrangement of the hot water system. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the plumbing system of a preferred avocado skin heating system  41  using hot water. As the water sprays from the manifold  42  and runs off of the avocados and the belt [ 90 B], it will be captured by the insulated trough  46 . As can be seen, the trough  46  has a sloped bottom that starts at the two ends  48 B,  48 C, and terminates at its lowest point at the center  48 A. This insures that all of the water is captured by the drain and return pipe  50 , which is located at the center  48 A of the trough  46 . In other embodiments, the drain and return pipe  50  could be located away from the center  48 A. 
         [0042]    Water from the return pipe  50  is typically gravity fed into an insulated reservoir, where is held until the system is switched on. A heating element may be inside the reservoir  52 , or it may be located somewhere along the rest of the piping system. Water from the reservoir  52  passes to the pump  56  via intake pipe  54 , when the pump  56  is energized. The pump  56  then drives water up the supply pipe  58  and out to the hot water dispensing manifold, where it is sprayed [ 44 ] onto the avocado halves.  FIGS. 9A-9C  provide additional detail regarding the trough  46 . 
         [0043]      FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C  depict the insulated trough  46  of the system of  FIG. 8 . As seen from the side in  FIG. 9A , the bottom of the trough  46  slopes from the end  48 C to the center  48 A. The trough  46  comprises an inner shell  60 A and an outer shell  60 B, which are separate from one another to form an interstitial space  62 . When assembled, it is preferred that some type of insulating material be injected or otherwise placed within the interstitial space  62 , in order to retain as much of the latent heat in the avocado heating water as possible. As the avocados reach the end of the seeder-skinner conveyor [ 90 B], they will reach the de-skinner as depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a preferred de-skinner  64  of the present invention. As the avocados reach the end of the conveyor  90 B, they will be driven into the pair of knurled wheels  66  that are spinning in opposite directions so as to draw material towards them. This design is essentially the same as discussed in a prior patent to Richard Moore. The knurling of these wheels  66  are directional—they actually are canted to point towards the incoming fruit. This change from the prior designs results in the more firm grasp of the skin of the avocado. Since the surface layer of the avocado has been heated, the skin is more easily pulled off by the wheels  66 , and the skins are ejected out of the back of the wheels  66 , while the virtually whole piece of avocado pulp drops down onto a suitable capturing reservoir (or conveyor belt).  FIG. 11  is provided to give an overview of the entire system and its operations. 
         [0045]      FIG. 11  depicts a block diagram  9  and flowchart  8  of the system and method of the present invention. Moving from left to right using the block diagram, we can see that the first machine is the cutter  7 . Next is the cutter-deseeder conveyor  90 A, followed by the de-seeder  10 . The deseeder-skinner conveyor  90 B interconnects the de-seeder  10  and the skinner  64 . 
         [0046]    In operation, the avocado cutting and pulping method  8  begins with cutting whole avocados into two pieces  100 . Next, the cut avocados  95  are conveyed to the de-seeder  102 . The seed halves are removed  104  from the avocado halves  95 , and the de-seeded halves are conveyed to the de-skinner  106 . As they are being conveyed, the skin side of the avocados is heated  108  (such as by spraying hot water onto the fruit, or by other means). After the skin has been sufficiently heated, the skin  99 A is pulled off of the pulp  110 , and the pulp  99 B is captured for preserving and packaging. 
         [0047]    In an effort to provide the cleanest, most “chunky” and highest yield, an alternate de-skinner  164  was developed. This alternate design is depicted in  FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 . 
         [0048]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of the de-skinner  164 . The prior-described wheels [ 66 ] are utilized as drive wheels  170  for a pair of de-skinning belts  166  that rotate in direction “T.” These belts  170  are very unique, in that they have two or more rows of studs  168  adjacent to the lower edge of the belts  166 . These studs  168  have been formed from stainless steel nails (“brads”) driven through the belts  166  from the backside, and then snipped off. This forms the rows of studs  168  having sharp, yet short protrusions from the face of the belts  166 . The studs  168  have proven to be extremely effective grasping and removing the avocado skins as the fruit passes between the belts  166 . 
         [0049]    Idler wheels  172  (which also support the belts  166 , but without driving them) are supported by a pinching biasing bracket  180  and a belt biasing bracket  182 . The pinching biasing brackets  180  support the belt biasing brackets  182 , and further exert biasing force in direction “P” (see  FIG. 12 ), which tends to pinch against the fruit as it passes between the belts  166 . 
         [0050]    The belt biasing brackets  182  are biased in direction “B” by the biasing elements  184 , which tends to create the tension on the belts  166 . This can be adjusted depending upon fruit characteristics, as well as for maintenance (i.e. for belt removal). 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  shows clearly that the upper portion of the belts  166  is smooth  174 . The smooth portion  174  is simply a wider portion of the belt  166 , provided to add stability to the belt  166 . The portion having the stud rows  168  alone would not provide sufficient stability and durability. 
         [0052]    Finally, we will turn to  FIG. 14  to view the alternate de-skinner  164  from the back side. Each belt  166  has a scraper  176  riding along its smooth portion  174 . These scrapers  176  are provided to continuously scrape off any residual avocado meat that happens to build up on the belts  166 . The scrapers  176  each extend from scraper shafts  178 . These shafts support the scrapers  176 , and also bias them towards the surface of the belts  166 . 
         [0053]    As can also be seen here, the space  190  between the belts  166  at the rear of the de-seeder  164  is quite small. This is the case because the meat of the avocado halves actually drops out of the skin much further forward along the belts  166 . Only the skin of the avocado will still be present at the exit of the belts  166 . 
         [0054]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.