Apparatus for preparing produce

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing produce includes a base having a cradle for receiving the produce which is to be processed, and a reciprocating head which cooperates with the cradle and which includes one or more blades for operating upon the produce which is positioned in the cradle. A single blade is positioned for alignment with center portions of the produce to sever the core membrane of the produce as the head is lowered onto the base. An opposing pair of blades are positioned for alignment with end portions of the produce for removal of the end portions of the produce as the head is lowered onto the base. The base of the apparatus further preferably includes a retaining element which extends over the cradle for receiving the produce, for maintaining the produce in the cradle during operations of the apparatus on the produce.

1 . An apparatus for processing produce by severing remnants of a membrane forming a core which extends through an axial center defined by the produce, between opposing ends of the produce, comprising: 
 a cradle defining a pocket for receiving the produce, wherein the cradle receives the produce so that a longitudinal center line determined by the cradle is placed in substantial alignment with the core membrane of the produce placed in the cradle; and    a head including a blade, wherein the blade is received by the head so that the blade is placed in an orientation which is aligned with the longitudinal center line determined by the cradle;    wherein the head and the cradle are movable relative to each other and wherein movement of the head and the cradle toward each other causes the blade to intersect with the longitudinal center line determined by the cradle.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the blade is substantially normal to the longitudinal center line.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the blade is positioned to intersect with the longitudinal center line near a midpoint of the longitudinal center line corresponding to a midpoint along the core membrane of the produce placed in the cradle.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the blade has a tip forming a leading edge for intersecting with the longitudinal center line.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the blade has a length which causes the leading edge of the blade to penetrate to a position located beyond the longitudinal center line.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the cradle defines a region for receiving the produce which has a central axis corresponding to the longitudinal center line defined by the cradle, and wherein the length of the blade causes the leading edge to penetrate through from 60 to 75% of the defined region.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the length of the blade causes the leading edge to penetrate through from 65 to 70% of the defined region.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the tip of the blade has a triangular shape.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the blade has a width of 0.5 inches ±0.062 inches.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cradle has a shape selected from the group of shapes consisting of oval, egg, spherical and conical shapes.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which further includes a bracket coupled with the cradle, for retaining the produce in the cradle during the processing.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the bracket includes a first section mated with and extending from the cradle, and a second section coupled with an end of the first section to extend over a region defined by the cradle for receiving the produce.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the second section of the bracket and edge portions of the cradle form a gap for receiving the produce in the cradle, and for retaining the received produce in the cradle during the processing.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the gap is 2 inches ±0.125 inches.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein an end of the second section of the bracket includes an undercut portion and the edge portions of the cradle include an undercut portion adjacent to the gap for receiving the produce.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the second section of the bracket includes an opening for passing the blade through the second section of the bracket.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the first section of the bracket is adjustably mated with the cradle.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cradle receives the produce so that end portions of the longitudinal center line determined by the cradle are placed in substantial alignment with the opposing ends of the produce placed in the cradle, wherein the head further includes a pair of blades which are received by the head so that the pair of blades are placed in an orientation which is aligned with the end portions of the longitudinal center line, and wherein movement of the head and the cradle toward each other causes the blade to intersect with the end portions of the longitudinal center line.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the pair of blades are substantially normal to the longitudinal center line.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that leading edges of the pair of blades are caused to penetrate to a position located beyond the longitudinal center line.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the cradle defines a region for receiving the produce which has a central axis corresponding to the longitudinal center line defined by the cradle, and wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that the leading edges are caused to penetrate through at least 60% of the defined region.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that the leading edges are caused to penetrate through at least 70% of the defined region.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that leading edges of the pair of blades are separated by 2.375 inches ±0.125 inches.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that leading edges of the pair of blades are separated by 2.875 inches ±0.125 inches.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the blade is positioned substantially centrally between the pair of blades.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the blade is set to extend 0.125 inches ±0.062 inches beyond the pair of blades.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the blade and the pair of blades are received in a single fixture associated with the head.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the fixture is removably associated with the head.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the blade is received in a fixture associated with the head.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the fixture is removably associated with the head.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cradle is associated with a base for resting on a surface, and wherein a pair of guides extend from the base for slidingly receiving the head so that the head is movable relative to the base.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein a handle extends from the head, for engagement for moving the head relative to the base.  
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for processing produce by removing portions of the produce located at opposing ends of an axis defined by the produce, comprising: 
 a cradle defining a pocket for receiving the produce, wherein the cradle receives the produce so that a longitudinal center line determined by the cradle is placed in substantial alignment with the axis defined by the produce placed in the cradle and so that the portions of the produce to be removed are placed in substantial alignment with end portions of the longitudinal center line; and    a head including a pair of blades, wherein the pair of blades are received by the head so that the pair of blades are placed in an orientation which is aligned with the end portions of the longitudinal center line;    wherein the head and the cradle are movable relative to each other and wherein movement of the head and the cradle toward each other causes the pair of blades to intersect with the end portions of the longitudinal center line determined by the cradle.    
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the pair of blades are substantially normal to the longitudinal center line.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that leading edges of the pair of blades are caused to penetrate to a position located beyond the longitudinal center line.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the cradle defines a region for receiving the produce which has a central axis corresponding to the longitudinal center line defined by the cradle, and wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that the leading edges are caused to penetrate through at least 60% of the defined region.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36  wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that the leading edges are caused to penetrate through at least 70% of the defined region.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that leading edges of the pair of blades are separated by 2.375 inches ±0.125 inches.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the pair of blades are coupled with the head so that leading edges of the pair of blades are separated by 2.875 inches ±0.125 inches.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the pair of blades are received in a fixture associated with the head.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40  wherein the fixture is removably associated with the head.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the cradle is associated with a base for resting on a surface, and wherein a pair of guides extend from the base for slidingly receiving the head so that the head is movable relative to the base.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein a handle extends from the head, for engagement for moving the head relative to the base.