Christopher P Theis

US Patent:

20140065275, Mar 6, 2014

Filed:

Aug 26, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/987739

Inventors:

Michael A. Hoffman - Pueblo CO, US
David C. Bullock - Pueblo CO, US
Christopher G. Theis - Pueblo CO, US
Christopher A. Hildreth - Pueblo CO, US
Tim Vaughan - Pueblo CO, US
John P. Keeton - Pueblo CO, US
Dwight Blickensderfer - Pueblo CO, US

International Classification:

A23N 7/08

US Classification:

426482, 99589

Abstract:

A system for automatically forming chunks and spears at high speed from unpeeled fruit items is provided. The fruit is sliced into unpeeled wedges. The unpeeled wedges are conveyed into a plurality of staggered transverse chunking blades, wherein the flesh, but not the peel, is cut sequentially from the center of each wedge outwardly, flattening each wedge. A peel removal knife is located to sever the peel of each wedge from the center outwardly after the transverse chunk cutting blades have cut the flesh. Spears may be formed by deleting some of the transverse chunking blades.

US Patent:

20160113320, Apr 28, 2016

Filed:

Dec 22, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/757371

Inventors:

Michael A. Hoffman - Pueblo CO, US
David C. Bullock - Pueblo CO, US
Christopher G. Theis - Pueblo CO, US
Christopher A. Hildreth - Pueblo CO, US
Tim Vaughan - Pueblo CO, US
John P. Keeton - Pueblo CO, US
Dwight Blickensderfer - Pueblo CO, US

International Classification:

A23N 7/00
B26D 7/26
B26D 9/00
B26D 3/26

Abstract:

A system for automatically forming chunks and spears at high speed from unpeeled fruit items is provided. The fruit is sliced into unpeeled wedges. The unpeeled wedges are conveyed into a plurality of staggered transverse chunking blades, wherein the flesh, but not the peel, is cut sequentially from the center of each wedge outwardly, flattening each wedge. A peel removal knife is located to sever the peel of each wedge from the center outwardly after the transverse chunk cutting blades have cut the flesh. Spears may be formed by deleting some of the transverse chunking blades.