Michael S Lipford

US Patent:

54109558, May 2, 1995

Filed:

May 5, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/238522

Inventors:

Douglas F. Paterson - Colorado Springs CO
Konrad Meissner - Lafayette CA
William V. Redd - Broomfield CO
Anthony D. Oliver - Rye CO
Michael S. Lipford - Pueblo CO
Don A. Perry - Manitou Springs CO
C. Richard Schoner - Palm Desert CA

Assignee:

Atlas Pacific Engineering Company - Pueblo CO

International Classification:

A23N 422

US Classification:

99543

Abstract:

A pear processing method and apparatus is provided which includes several mechanisms for properly orienting the pear prior to coring, peeling and seed celling of the pear. Each pear is tumbled between a pair of orienting rolls to a position wherein the stem of the pear is oriented downwardly. Whiskers on one of the rolls speed up this orienting of the pear. A friction clutch on the other roll helps maintain the pear in its proper position, once the proper alignment has been attained. The pear is dropped downwardly into a transfer cup having four resilient fingers which tend to orient the pear. The pear is then pushed out of the transfer cup downwardly into a feed cup having a concave receptacle for centering the stem of the pear and three upwardly extending arms which grasp and center the blossom end of the pear. The pear is then transferred to a station wherein the pear is cored and thereafter peeled and seed celled simultaneously. The stem and blossom are also trimmed.

US Patent:

54352380, Jul 25, 1995

Filed:

Mar 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/218253

Inventors:

Douglas F. Paterson - Colorado Springs CO
Konrad Meissner - Lafayette CA
William V. Redd - Broomfield CO
Anthony D. Oliver - Rye CO
Michael S. Lipford - Pueblo CO
Don A. Perry - Manitou Springs CO
C. Richard Schoner - Palm Desert CA

Assignee:

Atlas Pacific Engineering Company - Pueblo CO

International Classification:

A23N 414

US Classification:

99564

Abstract:

A pear processing method and apparatus is provided which includes several mechanisms for properly orienting the pear prior to coring, peeling and seed celling of the pear. Each pear is tumbled between a pair of orienting rolls to a position wherein the stem of the pear is oriented downwardly. Whiskers on one of the rolls speed up this orienting of the pear. A friction clutch on the other roll helps maintain the pear in its proper position, once the proper alignment has been attained. The pear is dropped downwardly into a transfer cup having four resilient fingers which tend to orient the pear. The pear is then pushed out of the transfer cup downwardly into a feed cup having a concave receptacle for centering the stem of the pear and three upwardly extending arms which grasp and center the blossom end of the pear. The pear is then transferred to a station wherein the pear is cored and thereafter peeled and seed celled simultaneously. The stem and blossom are also trimmed.

US Patent:

54927170, Feb 20, 1996

Filed:

Mar 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/218256

Inventors:

Douglas F. Paterson - Colorado Springs CO
Konrad Meissner - Lafayette CA
William V. Redd - Broomfield CO
Anthony D. Oliver - Rye CO
Michael S. Lipford - Pueblo CO
Don A. Perry - Manitou Springs CO
C. Richard Schoner - Palm Desert CA

Assignee:

Atlas Pacific Engineering Company - Pueblo CO

International Classification:

A23L 1212

US Classification:

426665

Abstract:

A pear processing method and apparatus is provided which includes several mechanisms for properly orienting the pear prior to coring, peeling and seed celling of the pear. Each pear is tumbled between a pair of orienting rolls to a position wherein the stem of the pear is oriented downwardly. Whiskers on one of the rolls speed up this orienting of the pear. A friction clutch on the other roll helps maintain the pear in its proper position, once the proper alignment has been attained. The pear is dropped downwardly into a transfer cup having four resilient fingers which tend to orient the pear. The pear is then pushed out of the transfer cup downwardly into a feed cup having a concave receptacle for centering the stem of the pear and three upwardly extending arms which grasp and center the blossom end of the pear. The pear is then transferred to a station wherein the pear is cored and thereafter peeled and seed celled simultaneously. The stem and blossom are also trimmed.

US Patent:

54132061, May 9, 1995

Filed:

Mar 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/218254

Inventors:

Douglas F. Paterson - Colorado Springs CO
Konrad Meissner - Lafayette CA
William V. Redd - Broomfield CO
Anthony D. Oliver - Rye CO
Michael S. Lipford - Pueblo CO
Don A. Perry - Manitou Springs CO
C. Richard Schoner - Palm Desert CA

Assignee:

Atlas Pacific Engineering Company - Pueblo CO

International Classification:

B65G 4724

US Classification:

198383

Abstract:

A pear processing method and apparatus is provided which includes several mechanisms for properly orienting the pear prior to coring, peeling and seed celling of the pear. Each pear is tumbled between a pair of orienting rolls to a position wherein the stem of the pear is oriented downwardly. Whiskers on one of the rolls speed up this orienting of the pear. A friction clutch on the other roll helps maintain the pear in its proper position, once the proper alignment has been attained. The pear is dropped downwardly into a transfer cup having four resilient fingers which tend to orient the pear. The pear is then pushed out of the transfer cup downwardly into a feed cup having a concave receptacle for centering the stem of the pear and three upwardly extending arms which grasp and center the blossom end of the pear. The pear is then transferred to a station wherein the pear is cored and thereafter peeled and seed celled simultaneously. The stem and blossom are also trimmed.

US Patent:

54310954, Jul 11, 1995

Filed:

Mar 23, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/035667

Inventors:

Douglas F. Paterson - Colorado Springs CO
Konrad Meissner - Lafayette CA
William V. Redd - Broomfield CO
Anthony D. Oliver - Rye CO
Michael S. Lipford - Pueblo CO
Don A. Perry - Manitou Springs CO
C. Richard Schoner - Palm Desert CA

Assignee:

Atlas Pacific Engineering Company - Pueblo CO

International Classification:

A23N 1502

US Classification:

99636

Abstract:

A pear processing methods and apparatus is provided which includes several mechanisms for properly orienting the pear prior to coring, peeling and seed celling of the pear. Each pear is tumbled between a pair of orienting rolls to a position wherein the stem of the pear is oriented downwardly. Whiskers on one of the rolls speed up this orienting of the pear. A friction clutch on the other roll helps maintain the pear in its proper position, once the proper alignment has been attained. The pear is dropped downwardly into a transfer cup having four resilient fingers which tend to orient the pear. The pear is then pushed out of the transfer cup downwardly into a feed cup having a concave receptacle for centering the stem of the pear and three upwardly extending arms which grasp and center the blossom end of the pear. The pear is then transferred to a station wherein the pear is cored and thereafter peeled and seed celled simultaneously. The stem and blossom are also trimmed.