Method and device for processing berries

Abstract

A method and device for processing berries. The method may comprise: providing a berry preparation device that is configured to prepare a plurality of berries; placing the plurality of berries in a plurality of trays; loading the plurality of trays into the berry preparation device; wherein the berry preparation device may be positioned substantially within two rooms, a first room and a second room; wherein the berry preparation device may comprise a first wash portion, a second wash portion, a third wash portion, a first drying portion, and a second drying portion; wherein the first wash portion, the second wash portion, the third wash portion, and the first drying portion may be within the first room; wherein the second drying portion may be within the second room; and wherein the plurality of berries may be prepared by the berry preparation device are ready-to-eat and have a shelf life of at least 21 days.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A berry washing method comprising the following steps:
 providing a berry preparation device that is configured to prepare a plurality of berries;   placing said plurality of berries into a plurality of trays;   loading said plurality of trays into said berry preparation device;   wherein said berry preparation device is placed within two rooms, a first room and a second room;   wherein said berry preparation device comprises: a first wash portion, a second wash portion, a third wash portion, a first drying portion, and a second drying portion;   wherein said first wash portion, said second wash portion, said third wash portion, and said first drying portion are positioned substantially within said first room;   wherein said second drying portion is positioned substantially within said second room; and   wherein said plurality of berries prepared by said berry preparation device are ready-to-eat and have a shelf life of at least 21 days.   
     
     
         2 . The berry washing method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps:
 washing said plurality of berries in an oxidizer sanitizer wash by said first wash portion;   washing said plurality of berries in a surfactant sanitizer wash by said second wash portion; and   washing said plurality of berries in a final rinse sanitizer by said third wash portion;   
     
     
         3 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein said first wash portion comprises a rain drip wash device;
 wherein said second wash portion comprises a plurality of sprayers; and   wherein said third wash portion comprises a wash device selected from the wash devices consisting of a waterfall and spray nozzle(s) wash device.   
     
     
         4 . The berry washing method of  claim 3 , wherein said berry preparation device is configured to automatically move said plurality of trays through said first wash portion, such that said plurality of berries are washed by said first wash portion within said plurality of trays;
 wherein said berry preparation device is configured to automatically move said plurality of trays through said second wash portion, such that said plurality of berries are washed by said second wash portion within said plurality of trays; and   wherein said berry preparation device is configured to automatically move said plurality of berries through said third wash portion.   
     
     
         5 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein said berry preparation device is configured to automatically decelerate and tip over said plurality of trays after said plurality of trays exit said second wash station, such that said plurality of berries are gently removed from said plurality of trays while creating a plurality of empty trays. 
     
     
         6 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein oxidizer sanitizer wash is circulated out of the first wash portion, to a first chiller, and then recirculated back into said first wash portion, such that a temperature of said oxidizer sanitizer wash is kept between approximately 1-5° C. 
     
     
         7 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein surfactant sanitizer wash is circulated from said second wash portion, to a second chiller, and then recirculated back into said second wash portion, such that a temperature of said surfactant sanitizer wash is kept between approximately 1-5° C. 
     
     
         8 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein said second room has a relatively low humidity, and wherein said first room has a relatively high humidity. 
     
     
         9 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein a temperature of said first room and said second room is approximately 1-5° C. 
     
     
         10 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second rooms are maintained as a substantially clean rooms with positive pressure to prevent one or more airborne pathogens from entering said first and second rooms. 
     
     
         11 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein said berry preparation device is configured to automatically move said plurality of trays from said first wash portion to said second wash portion;
 transporting said plurality of berries automatically to said third wash portion; and   wherein said berry preparation device automatically moves said plurality of berries from said third wash portion to said first drying portion.   
     
     
         12 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps:
 removing said plurality of empty trays from said berry preparation device;   
     
     
         13 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein said first drying portion comprises one or more powerful vacuums and one or more air knife dryers. 
     
     
         14 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more air knife dryers are positioned substantially above said plurality of berries;
 wherein each of said one or more vacuums comprises a suction motor and a tube;   wherein said tube has a suction motor end and a dryer end; and   wherein said dryer end is positioned substantially below said plurality of berries.   
     
     
         15 . The berry washing method of  claim 14 , wherein said one or more of said dryer ends of said tubes of said one or more powerful vacuums are substantially aligned with said one or more air knife dryers, such that each of said one or more dryer ends is directly below one of said one or more air knife dryers. 
     
     
         16 . The berry washing method of  claim 15 , wherein said one or more powerful vacuums (a) removes a surface moisture from said plurality of berries, and (b) firmly but gently holds said plurality of berries against said berry preparation device, such that said plurality of berries are substantially prevented from being blown out of said berry preparation device by said one or more air knife dryers. 
     
     
         17 . The berry washing method of  claim 16 , wherein said berry preparation device moves said plurality of berries through said first drying portion, through a hole in a wall separating said first room and said second room, and then through said second drying portion. 
     
     
         18 . The berry washing method of  claim 2 , wherein said second drying portion comprises one or more powerful vacuums and one or more air knife dryers;
 wherein said one or more powerful vacuums and said one or more air knife dryers of said second drying portion have substantially the same configuration as those in said first drying portion; and   wherein placement of said second drying portion allows said plurality of berries to dry more completely due to said lower relative humidity of said second room.   
     
     
         19 . A berry washing method comprising the following steps:
 providing a berry preparation device that is configured to prepare a plurality of berries;   placing said plurality of berries in a plurality of trays;   loading said plurality of trays into said berry preparation device;   wherein said berry preparation device is placed within two rooms, a first room and a second room;   wherein said berry preparation device comprises a first wash portion, a second wash portion, a third wash portion, a first drying portion, and a second drying portion;   wherein said first wash portion, said second wash portion, said third wash portion, and said first drying portion are positioned substantially within said first room;   wherein said second drying portion is positioned substantially within said second room;   wherein said first and second rooms are maintained as a substantially clean rooms and with positive pressure;   wherein a temperature of said first room is 1-5° C.;   wherein said second room has a relatively low humidity, wherein said first room has a relatively high humidity;   wherein a temperature of said second room is 1-5° C.;   washing said plurality of berries in an oxidizer sanitizer wash by said first wash portion;   washing said plurality of berries in a surfactant sanitizer wash by said second wash portion;   washing said plurality of berries in a final rinse sanitizer by said third wash portion;   wherein said first wash portion comprises a rain drip wash and wherein said berry preparation device automatically moves said plurality of trays through said first wash portion, such that said plurality of berries are washed by said first wash portion within said plurality of trays;   wherein oxidizer sanitizer wash is circulated out of the first wash portion, to a first chiller, and then recirculated back into said first wash portion, such that a temperature of said oxidizer sanitizer wash is kept between 1-5° C.;   wherein said berry preparation device automatically moves said plurality of trays from said first wash portion to said second wash portion;   wherein said second wash portion comprises a plurality of sprayers and wherein said berry preparation device automatically moves said plurality of trays through said second wash portion, such that said plurality of berries are washed by said second wash portion within said plurality of trays;   wherein surfactant sanitizer wash is circulated out of the second wash portion, to a second chiller, and then recirculated back into said second wash portion, such that a temperature of said surfactant sanitizer wash is kept between 1-5° C.;   wherein said berry preparation device automatically decelerates and tips over said plurality of trays after said plurality of trays exit said second wash station, such that said plurality of berries are gently removed from said plurality of trays while creating a plurality of empty trays;   removing said plurality of empty trays from said berry preparation device;   transporting said plurality of berries automatically on a (FIRST) conveyor to said third wash portion;   wherein said third wash portion is selected from a group of wash devices consisting of a waterfall and spray nozzle(s);   wherein said berry preparation device automatically moves said plurality of berries through said third wash portion;   wherein said berry preparation device automatically moves said plurality of berries from said third wash portion to said first drying portion;   wherein said first drying portion comprises one or more powerful vacuums and one or more air knife dryers;   wherein said one or more powerful vacuums are below said plurality of berries and wherein said one or more air knife dryers are substantially above said plurality of berries;   wherein said one or more powerful vacuums are substantially aligned with said one or more air knife dryers, such that each of said one or more powerful vacuums is substantially below one of said one or more air knife dryers;   wherein said one or more powerful vacuums (a) removes a surface moisture from said plurality of berries, and (b) firmly but gently holds said plurality of berries against said berry preparation device, such that said plurality of berries are substantially prevented from being blown out of said berry preparation device by said one or more air knife dryers;   wherein said berry preparation device moves said plurality of berries through said first drying portion, through a hole in a wall separating said first room and said second room, and then through said second drying portion;   wherein said second drying portion comprises one or more powerful vacuums and one or more air knife dryers;   wherein said one or more powerful vacuums and said one or more air knife dryers of said second drying portion have substantially the same configuration as those in said first drying portion;   wherein placement of said second drying portion allows said plurality of berries to dry more completely due to said lower relative humidity of said second room;   removing said plurality of berries from said berry preparation device;   packaging said plurality of berries;   wherein said washed and dried plurality of berries are ready-to-eat and have a shelf life of at least 21 days;   wherein said plurality of berries are blueberries;   wherein said berry preparation device removes a bloom on said plurality of blueberries, such that said blueberries have an attractive appearance;   
     
     
         20 . A berry preparation device comprising:
 a berry preparation device; and   a plurality of trays that are configured to hold a plurality of berries;   wherein said berry preparation device is contained within two rooms, a first room and a second room;   wherein said plurality of trays are loaded into said berry preparation device;   wherein said berry preparation device comprises a first wash portion, a second wash portion, a third wash portion, a first drying portion, and a second drying portion;   wherein said first wash portion, said second wash portion, said third wash portion, and said first drying portion are within said first room; and   wherein said second drying portion is within said second room.   
     
     
         21 . The berry washing method of  claim 20 , wherein said first and second rooms are maintained as a substantially clean rooms and with positive pressure;
 wherein a temperature of said first room is approximately 1-5° C.;   wherein said second room has a relatively low humidity, and wherein said first room has a relatively high humidity; and   wherein a temperature of said second room is approximately 1-5° C.   
     
     
         22 . The berry washing method of  claim 20 , wherein said first wash portion is configured to wash said plurality of berries in an oxidizer sanitizer wash;
 wherein said second wash portion is configured to wash said plurality of berries in a surfactant sanitizer wash;   wherein said third wash portion is configured to wash said plurality of berries in a final rinse sanitizer;   wherein said first wash portion comprises a rain drip wash;   wherein said berry preparation device automatically moves said plurality of trays through said first wash portion, such that said plurality of berries are washed by said first wash portion within said plurality of trays;   wherein oxidizer sanitizer wash is circulated out of the first wash portion, to a first chiller, and then recirculated back into said first wash portion, such that a temperature of said oxidizer sanitizer wash is kept between approximately 1-5° C.;   wherein said berry preparation device automatically moves said plurality of trays from said first wash portion to said second wash portion;   wherein said second wash portion comprises a plurality of sprayers;   wherein said berry preparation device automatically moves said plurality of trays through said second wash portion, such that said plurality of berries are washed by said second wash portion within said plurality of trays;   wherein surfactant sanitizer wash is circulated out of the second wash portion, to a second chiller, and then recirculated back into said second wash portion, such that a temperature of said surfactant sanitizer wash is kept between approximately 1-5° C.;   wherein said berry preparation device is configured to automatically decelerate and tip over said plurality of trays after said plurality of trays exit said second wash station, such that said plurality of berries are gently removed from said plurality of trays while creating a plurality of empty trays;   wherein said berry preparation device further comprises a tray removal device that automatically removes said plurality of empty trays;   wherein said berry preparation device is configured to transport said plurality of berries to said third wash portion;   wherein said third wash portion comprises a waterfall wash device and wherein said berry preparation device is configured to automatically move said plurality of berries through said third wash portion, such that said plurality of berries pass under said waterfall wash device; and   wherein said berry preparation device is configured to automatically move said plurality of berries from said third wash portion to said first drying portion.   
     
     
         23 . The berry washing method of  claim 21 , wherein said first drying portion comprises one or more powerful vacuums and one or more air knife dryers;
 wherein said one or more powerful vacuums are substantially below said plurality of berries and wherein said one or more air knife dryers are substantially above said plurality of berries;   wherein said one or more powerful vacuums are substantially aligned with said one or more air knife dryers, such that each of said one or more powerful vacuums is directly below one of said one or more air knife dryers;   wherein said one or more powerful vacuums (a) removes a surface moisture from said plurality of berries, and (b) firmly but gently holds said plurality of berries against said berry preparation device, such that said plurality of berries are substantially prevented from being blown out of said berry preparation device by said one or more air knife dryers;   wherein said berry preparation device is configured to move said plurality of berries through said first drying portion, through a hole in a wall separating said first room and said second room, and then through said second drying portion;   wherein said second drying portion comprises one or more powerful vacuums and one or more air knife dryers;   wherein said one or more powerful vacuums and said one or more air knife dryers of said second drying portion have substantially the same configuration as those in said first drying portion;   wherein placement of said second drying portion allows said plurality of berries to dry more completely due to said lower relative humidity of said second room.   
     
     
         24 . The berry washing method of  claim 23 ,
 removing said berries from said berry preparation device;   packaging said berries;   wherein said washed and dried plurality of berries are ready-to-eat and have a shelf life of at least 21 days;   wherein said plurality of berries are blueberries; and   wherein said berry preparation device removes a bloom on said plurality of blueberries, such that said blueberries have an attractive appearance.