Apparatus and method for cutting and cleaning generally elongated food products using a fluid vortex

Abstract

A method for cutting generally elongated food products includes creating a fluid vortex in a container, the fluid vortex having an axis with a center located substantially above an outlet of the container. The generally elongated food products are deposited in the container. The fluid vortex aligns the generally elongated food products with the axis of the fluid vortex and directs the generally elongated food products into an outlet leading to a food slicing element to form a plurality of food slices. An apparatus for cutting generally elongated food products and a method are provided for washing the food product in a first container, slicing the food product to form a plurality of food slices, and washing the food slices in a second container.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to cutting food products, and more particularly to cutting food products having a generally elongated shape. [Background technology]

[0002] Apparatus and methods for cutting products (used interchangeably herein as "produce"), particularly food products, in the food processing field are known in the art. For example, food products of various types are cut and further pre-processed before being transformed by thermal processes, such as frying or baking, for ultimate sale to the consumer.

[0003] Various fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, onions, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and bananas, are known to contain surface substances, such as starch or latex, that can impair the flavor of foods when they are processed for final consumption, for example, in a deep fryer or dehydrator. Removal of latex from foods can be important because a certain percentage of consumers have an allergic reaction to latex. Even during food processing, the presence of latex can be undesirable. For example, conveyor belts can deposit or accumulate latex while transporting freshly cut products. Cleaning and removing latex from conveyor belts can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. Accumulation of latex on frying equipment can damage the equipment or shorten its useful life. With bananas, latex is found throughout this product. When the latex is fresh and fluid, it can be washed off; however, within a few hours, the latex becomes sticky and turns into dark spots on the skin of the fruit, resulting in a deterioration of the quality of foods made from the fruit. While water-washing of fruits and vegetables, such as plantains, is known for removing latex, additional liquids specially formulated to remove fresh latex from the fruit or vegetable are often required. For example, BANASPAR-S® is often used in post-harvest washing processes for bananas and plantains to prevent staining or premature ripening.

[0004] Equipment for automatically and continuously washing food is known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,566 discloses a slicing process for relatively firm vegetables or fruits, which includes feeding the vegetables or fruits on a vertical conveyor and guiding the vegetables or fruits to an extension slicer to produce slices of the vegetables or fruits, which are then discharged into water. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002 / 0122859 discloses a food processing system that conveys food in a fluid medium to a processing means, which includes tools that perform processing operations on the food, such as cutting potatoes into sticks for French fries. Korean Patent Publication No. 2006 / 0134943 discloses a food processing system that divides a food stream into multiple streams to transport the food to multiple slicers, washes the food slices, conveys the slices, and distributes the slices on a conveyor for further processing. US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0135926 discloses a rotatably drivable cutting blade for a machine for slicing food products. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 6,413,566 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2002 / 0122859 [Patent Document 3] Korean Patent Publication No. 2006 / 0134943 [Patent Document 4] US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0135926 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Despite the various options discussed above, there remains a need for an effective, versatile, and economical solution for cutting, washing, or both cutting and washing products, such as food products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A method for cutting generally elongated food products includes creating a fluid vortex in a container, the fluid vortex having an axis with a center located substantially above an outlet of the container. The generally elongated food products are deposited in the container. The fluid vortex aligns the generally elongated food products with the axis of the fluid vortex and directs the generally elongated food products into an outlet leading to a food slicing element to form a plurality of food slices. An apparatus for cutting generally elongated food products and a method are provided for washing the food product in a first container, slicing the food product to form a plurality of food slices, and washing the food slices in a second container.

[0008] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an elevated side view of one embodiment of an apparatus of the present invention for cutting and cleaning products, such as elongated food products. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 as seen from the front upper right. [Figure 3] 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 as seen from the upper right rear. [Figure 4] 2 is a front upper right perspective view of one embodiment of the upper section of the device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of the upper section of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a right side view of the upper section of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a left side cross-sectional view of the upper section of FIG. 4. [Figure 8]5 is a perspective view of a portion of the upper section of FIG. 4, showing a fluid inlet to the vessel that creates a swirling (vortex) fluid within the vessel. [Figure 9] 9 is a plan view of a portion of the upper section shown in FIG. 8 taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7. [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment for creating a fluid vortex of the present invention to facilitate cutting of a product by an apparatus of the present invention. [Figure 12] 5 is a perspective view from the bottom right of the upper section of FIG. 4, illustrating one embodiment of a cutting module or element of the device of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a front upper right perspective view of one embodiment of the cleaning portion of the device of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a left side view of the cleaning portion of FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 is a right side view of the cleaning portion of FIG. 13. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a front upper right perspective view of one embodiment of the filtration portion of the device of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a plan view of the filtering portion of FIG. 16. [Figure 18] 1 is a schematic diagram showing flow direction in one embodiment of the slicing and washing process of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the process flow of one embodiment of the present invention in a side view, with the flow toward the right. [Figure 20] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the process flow of one embodiment of the present invention in a downwardly tilted configuration. [Figure 21] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the process flow of one embodiment of the present invention in a vertical top-down format. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Apparatus and methods are provided for cutting a generally elongated product. The product may be of any suitable type and optionally may be a food product. The food product may optionally have a generally elongated shape and may optionally be referred to as a generally elongated food product. The food product may optionally be a fruit or vegetable. Examples of generally elongated fruits or vegetables include bananas, cucumbers, pumpkins, carrots, cassava, sweet potatoes, malanga, and taro.

[0011] The apparatus and method of the present invention may optionally align an elongated product, such as an elongated food product or an elongated food product, with an inlet or an inlet leading to a cutting or slicing device. The apparatus and method may optionally provide a fluid, such as a liquid, formed in any suitable manner to convey or direct the elongated product into alignment with an inlet or an inlet leading to a cutting or slicing device. The fluid may optionally be a washing fluid or a washing liquid. The fluid may optionally align the elongated product along its axis (which may be referred to as its elongated axis) as it enters the cutting or slicing device. The aligned axis may optionally be centered on the outlet. The aligned axis may optionally be substantially perpendicular to the cutting or slicing element. The fluid may optionally be referred to or described as a swirling or vortex element. The fluid may optionally be referred to or described as a vortex. The swirling or vortex element flow or vortex may have an axis. The axis can optionally be substantially centered on the outlet or the axis can be aligned with the outlet. The swirling or vortex element flow or vortex can optionally taper inward as it approaches the cutting or slicing element. The swirling or vortex element flow or vortex can optionally have a diameter or lateral dimension that decreases as the fluid approaches the inlet of or leading to the cutting or slicing element. A water thrust ring, for example in the form of a tilted curtain, can optionally be provided to provide a relatively large thrust force on the fluid against the fluid cutting or slicing element and to provide stability to the turbulent flow geometry inside the chamber for positioning and slicing the product.

[0012] The fluid may be conveyed in a vessel having an outlet that leads to or discharges into the cutting or slicing device. The vessel may optionally be referred to as a feed vessel, module, vessel, tank, hopper, or any combination thereof. The vessel may optionally be cylindrical in shape. The vessel may optionally taper or converge inwardly toward its outlet. Optionally, the vessel may have a conical portion that tapers or converges inwardly toward the vessel outlet. The fluid may optionally swirl or swirl or form a vortex within the cylindrical vessel. The fluid may optionally swirl or vortex within the cylindrical vessel, which narrows the diameter of the swirling or vortexing fluid as the fluid approaches the vessel outlet. The cylindrical vessel may optionally taper or converge inwardly toward the outlet to facilitate tapering or narrowing of the swirling or vortexing fluid or vortex. The swirling or vortex fluid or vortex may have an axis that is substantially coaxial with or centred on the outlet of the vessel.

[0013] The swirling or vortex motion of the fluid within the vessel can be created in any suitable manner. For example, a pressurized or high-velocity fluid can optionally be introduced into the vessel in any suitable manner to form a swirling or vortex-moving fluid or vortex. The pressurized or high-velocity fluid can optionally be generated by a pump. The pressurized or high-velocity fluid can optionally be in the form of one or more fluid jets. The pressurized or high-velocity fluid can optionally be introduced or directed by, for example, one or more jet ports along the inside of the outer wall of the vessel to cause the fluid to swirl or vortex within the vessel. The vessel can optionally be provided with a plurality of fluid or liquid jet ports or pressurized fluid inlet ports spaced around the circumference of the vessel to create a vortex or swirling fluid or vortex within the vessel. The pressurized or high-velocity fluid, e.g., jet, can optionally be introduced or directed into a cylindrical vessel by, for example, a jet or fluid port substantially perpendicular to the radius or diameter of the vessel. The pressurized or high-velocity fluid can optionally be introduced into the cylindrical vessel tangentially to the cylinder. As the water level in the vessel increases due to sedimentation, the volume of fluid or water begins to rotate, which eventually creates a vortex or swirling motion or swirling fluid that can advantageously carry out the subsequent slicing process. A pressurized or high velocity fluid, e.g., a jet, can optionally be directed towards the outlet of the vessel.

[0014] The method and apparatus of the present invention may optionally include a first washing step in which the food product is washed in a first container with or without a washing fluid, which may be a swirling or vortex fluid or a vortex in the first container, and the method may include a second washing step in which the food product is sliced to form a plurality of sliced products and the sliced products are washed in a second container. If the first washing step includes a swirling or vortex fluid or a vortex, the fluid may optionally rotate, twist, or otherwise change the position of the food product periodically or constantly, thereby facilitating cleaning of the food product in the fluid. The second washing step may optionally include a step of submerging the plurality of sliced products in the second container. The washing step of the present invention avoids the use of chemical additives used to remove surface materials, such as latex and starch, from food products.

[0015] The methods and apparatus of the present invention may optionally include a feeding and slicing module, an optional tank module, an optional filtering module, or any combination thereof. The feeding and slicing module may optionally include a hopper, tank, container, or vessel within which an optional vortex, or a swirling or swirling fluid, is formed that positions and urges the product to be sliced toward the slicing element, where the product is cut. The axis of the food product may optionally be substantially centered on the outlet of the container and optionally on the slicing element as the product approaches the slicing element. The swirling or swirling fluid or vortex may taper inward as it approaches the cutting or slicing element, for example, to facilitate aligning the axis of the food product with the container outlet and, optionally, the slicing element. The feeding and slicing module may optionally initiate washing of the product to be cut. Within the optional vortex, or swirling or swirling fluid, the product constantly changes position, e.g., from vertical to horizontal and vice versa, until it reaches a region where it is aligned with the axis of the fluid and then enters the slicing element. The optional tank module may include a main tank containing fluid suitable for providing additional washing to the washed and cut product coming from the feed and slicing module. The optional filtration module may include multiple separation tanks and filters, e.g., for filtering fluid containing solid waste from the washing process and recirculating it back into the system.

[0016] The figures accompanying this specification illustrate one embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention for cutting bananas. It will be appreciated that the method and apparatus of the present invention can be used with any food or other product, for example, any product that has a generally elongated shape. Suitable food products include cucumbers, pumpkins, carrots, cassava, sweet potatoes, malanga, and taro, among others.

[0017] The accompanying figures show one embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention, providing a vertical configuration with downward flow, e.g., the feed of the product to be cut is through the upper portion of the apparatus, while the outlet and tub containing the washed product are located in the lower portion of the apparatus. The configuration, e.g., the direction of flow, can be changed without affecting the essential requirements of the present invention. For example, other configurations can be provided, such as a vertical orientation with upward flow (feed from bottom and outlet / wash at top), a horizontal orientation with flow directed to the right or left (feed, outlet / wash along the same horizontal line), or an inclined orientation with upward flow (feed at bottom and outlet / wash at top). Some example configurations are illustrated by block diagrams in Figures 19-21.

[0018] The term "plurality" as used herein may optionally refer to any plurality, including numbers ranging from 2 to 20. The term "at least" as used may refer to a minimum value or lower limit for the element to which it refers. The terms "surface material," "solids or residue," and "suspended solids" are used interchangeably herein and refer to particles that fall off the product to be cut and are transferred to the washing fluid.

[0019] The apparatus of the present invention may be of any suitable type. For example, the apparatus 10 described herein includes a feeding and slicing module 11, an optional tank module 12, and an optional filtration module 13 (see FIGS. 1-3).

[0020] The feeding and slicing module 11 may optionally include a container 21, which may also be referred to as a vessel, tank, or hopper, one end of which is optionally coupled to a feed channel 35 through which the product 41 to be sliced is delivered. The feeding and slicing module 11 may optionally include a slicing element 36 (see FIGS. 4-7 and 12) coupled to the other end of the hopper 21, for example, by a base 23. The base 23 and the slicing element 36 may optionally be coupled by coupling means 24 (see FIG. 6), such as a bearing and shaft, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that other elements known in the art may be used for this purpose. A drive means 22 (see FIGS. 4, 6, 7, and 12) may be provided to impart motion to the slicing element 36. The drive means may optionally be coupled to a transmission system including pulleys and a belt (not shown) for transmitting motion to the slicing element 36. The drive means 22 may optionally include an electric motor of any suitable type known in the state of the art.

[0021] To aid in washing the products 41 before cutting (which may conveniently be referred to as first washing), the apparatus 10 may optionally include a washing fluid distribution module 73 including a plurality of pipes connected to one or more water conducting (note that "water" here is merely representative of a fluid, and "water conducting" as used herein means "conducting a fluid") means 31. The pipes of the distribution module 73 distribute a flow of washing fluid to one or more locations, such as a first location within the feed channel 35, such as the feed channel inlet 35a, to help push the products 41 toward the hopper 21 where they will be washed; the pipes of the distribution module further distribute the flow of washing fluid to the inlet of the hopper 21 and in the direction of the slicing element 36, to drive the products 41 toward the slicing element as they are washed; and the pipes of the distribution module still further distribute the flow of washing fluid to a third location within the hopper 21, where a vortex, swirling motion, or swirling liquid 32 is formed (FIG. 7). The inlet of the vessel for introducing the cleaning fluid into the vessel may be conveniently referred to as the cleaning fluid inlet port.

[0022] The vessel, e.g., hopper 21, of the present invention may optionally be cylindrical in shape, e.g., a cylinder having a perimeter formed by a cylindrical wall 101 (see FIGS. 7-10). The vessel may optionally have a first or upper portion 21a and a second or lower port 21b. A portion of the vessel, e.g., second portion 21b, may taper inward toward the vessel outlet 102. Such a tapered portion of the vessel may be conveniently referred to as the conical portion of the vessel 21. The vessel 21 may optionally have a plurality of fluid, liquid, or water jet ports 103, sometimes referred to as pressurized fluid ports or inlet ports, spaced around its periphery to create a fluid vortex or swirling or swirling fluid 32 within the vessel. The vessel has a diameter indicated by the letter D in FIG. 9, and each of the plurality of fluid jet ports 103 is optionally oriented substantially perpendicular to the diameter of the vessel. Pressurized or high-velocity fluid can optionally be introduced into the cylindrical vessel 21 tangentially to the cylinder. As the water level in the vessel 21 increases due to sedimentation or accumulation, the volume of fluid or water begins to rotate, eventually creating a vortex or swirling motion or swirling fluid 32 that can advantageously facilitate the subsequent slicing process. Each of the plurality of fluid jet ports 103 can optionally be directed toward the vessel outlet 102 (see FIG. 8). Two or more sets of the plurality of fluid jet ports 103 can optionally be provided in the vessel 21, e.g., with a first set longitudinally spaced from a second set on the axis of the cylindrical or other shaped vessel 21 (see FIG. 7). The water conducting means 31 providing fluid to the jet ports 103 can optionally include a plurality of pipes 107 having respective inlets 108 coupled to any suitable fluid source, e.g., fluid distribution pipes or modules 73. The feed channel 35 may optionally have an inlet port (not shown) similar to the fluid, liquid or water jet port 103 within the vessel 21 to promote the formation of the vortex 32 .

[0023] The vortex or swirling fluid or vortex 32 may have an axis 106 (see FIG. 13 ), which may optionally be substantially coaxial with the outlet 102 of the container 21. The fluid vortex or vortex or swirling fluid 32 may optionally align a generally elongated food product or other product with the vortex axis 106 and direct the generally elongated food product into the outlet 102 and towards the product slicing element 36 to form a plurality of sliced products from the food product.

[0024] The apparatus 10 may optionally include at least a thrust ring 38 to create a fluid ring 111 for directing the product 41 toward the slicing element 36 (see FIG. 10 ). The fluid ring is a cylindrical wall or an inclined fluid curtain that optionally narrows around the vortex or swirling or swirling fluid as it moves toward the vessel 102. The fluid ring 111 may optionally be in the direction of the tangential flow of the vortex 32 and have an inclination angle A, for example, optionally ranging from 45° to 80°, or optionally 60°. Optionally, a thrust ring 38 may be provided that allows an operator to selectively change the inclination angle A of the fluid ring 111. The thrust ring may provide a relatively large pushing force on the fluid (including the vortex 32) within the vessel 21 toward the cutting or slicing element 46 and may provide stability to the turbulent flow geometry inside the chamber for positioning and slicing the product 41.

[0025] The optional vertical downward tilt of the illustrated apparatus 10 causes the product 41 to move downward under the influence of gravity and with the assistance of the fluid within the container 21 in the direction of the slicing element 36. It will be appreciated that when other configurations are used, for example, vertical upward or horizontal rightward or leftward flow, the method and apparatus of the present invention can include any suitable type of additional transport element, such as a conveyor belt or pump, to drive the product 41 toward the slicing element 36.

[0026] The slicing elements 36 may be of any suitable type. Optionally, the slicing elements may include discs known in the art, such as those commercially available from the manufacturer URSCHEL®. Optionally, the slicing elements 36 may include a deflector 33 having an outlet 33a for directing the sliced product in a desired manner and in the direction of consumption, such as to an outlet conveyor 75.

[0027] The tank module 12 may optionally include a main tank 71 (see FIGS. 13-15 and 18 ), positioned adjacent the slicing elements 36 to receive, for example, sliced product and optionally perform a second cleaning process, and an optional secondary tank 72 for distributing fluid throughout the system. The main tank 71 may contain any fluid suitable for cleaning sliced product, such as fresh water or oil, and those skilled in the art will determine the nature of the fluid and the type of product being processed by the apparatus 10 according to the desired purpose. Once the product 41 is cut by the slicing elements 36, it may be directed into the main tank 71 with the aid of an eccentric force ejecting the product from the slicing elements 36 and the flow of cleaning fluid. The product 41 may then be directed to an output conveyor 75 with the aid of a deflector 33. As can be seen in FIG. 18 , the level of the cleaning fluid in the main tank 71 may optionally be located above the slicing elements 36 to facilitate transport and cleaning of the product 41 in the tank 71.

[0028] For food products such as fruits and vegetables, tank 71 may optionally contain fresh water for cutting and rinsing, as these fruits and vegetables may have undesirable surface materials, such as starch or latex. Tank 71 may optionally contain oil at room temperature. Oil may be advantageously used in an additional manner, for example, when cooling the cut product later in the fryer, since the product may optionally be introduced directly into the fryer after the cutting step. If cutting is performed underwater, a pre-frying step may be required to evaporate all of the water to prevent it from entering the fryer and causing damage. In addition to rinsing surface materials from product 41, both water and oil may optionally prevent product 41 from sticking as it exits slicing element 36 in the form of slices.

[0029] The main tank 71 may optionally be in the shape of an inverted pyramid, as seen in Figures 13-15 and 18, so that the cleaning fluid is directed to a secondary tank 72, which may optionally be located adjacent to the tank 71. As will be appreciated, the shape of the tank 71 may be modified according to the process needs of the apparatus of the present invention. Extraction means 77, such as a submersible pump (see Figure 14), may optionally be located within the secondary tank 72 to direct the fluid from the main tank 71 to the distribution module 73, from which the fluid will be distributed to the apparatus 10. A clarification means 78 may optionally be located at the bottom of the secondary tank 72 to remove solid process debris that has accumulated by settling within the secondary tank 72. The clarification means 78 may optionally be connected to a separation tank 91 located within the filtration module 13, as described below, to begin the process of filtering the cleaning fluid and recycling it to the apparatus 10.

[0030] A dispensing element 76 may optionally pump clean replacement fluid into the process (see FIG. 14). The dispensing means 76 may optionally include a sprinkler, such as a fan sprinkler, to pump fresh fluid towards the main tank 71.

[0031] Optional filtration module 13 (see FIGS. 16 and 17) collects fluid from sub-tank 72 via separation tank 91. Separation tank 91 may optionally include a settling tank with an internal divider that separates the fluid from solid waste present in high concentrations and brings it to the bottom where it is extracted from the process, e.g., by a clarification means (not shown), e.g., a valve. The settling tank's internal divider may also allow low-solids fluid to be withdrawn from the top via filtration means 92 so that such withdrawn fluid passes through the remainder of the filtration step of module 13. Optionally, filtration means 92 may include a pump that directs the low-solids fluid from the settling tank to a plurality of separators 93 that separate suspended solids contained in the fluid for subsequent collection, e.g., in a waste tank 94 located at the outlet of separator 93. The plurality of separators may optionally include at least two hydrocentrifuges. Waste tank 94 is optionally connected by a connection means, such as a pipe, to filter 95, which may optionally be a basket-type filter. It will be appreciated that any other device may be used for this purpose, with filter 95 connected to the suction of filter pump 92, with the purpose of filtering the contents of waste tank 94 and then removing the collected solids by clarification means 96. The fluid filtered in filtration module 93 is optionally returned to tank 71, for example, by pump 92. The returned fluid may optionally be returned to apparatus 10 via distribution module 73, for example, by pump 77.

[0032] A support structure 74 is provided for supporting the apparatus 10 and all of the structural elements of the apparatus, such as those described above (see Figures 1-3 and 13-15).

[0033] The present invention provides a method for using, for example, device 10 to cut product, clean product, or both.

[0034] The method may optionally include providing a container having an outlet in communication with the product slicing element, creating a fluid vortex in the container having an axis, and depositing generally elongated food products in the container, the fluid vortex aligning the generally elongated food products with the axis of the fluid vortex and directing the generally elongated food products into the outlet leading to the product slicing element, thereby forming a plurality of sliced products from the generally elongated food products. Such a method may optionally include any other method step described herein.

[0035] The method may optionally include a first washing step of washing the food product in a first container, a step of slicing the food product to form a plurality of food slices, and a second washing step of washing the food product in a second container, wherein the first and second washing steps remove surface materials, latex, starch, and any combination thereof from the food product. Such a method may optionally include any other method steps described herein.

[0036] The method may optionally include the following steps:

[0037] The product to be cut 41 is fed into the feed and slicing module 11 .

[0038] To facilitate the process in the case of food products, the food products may optionally be supplied without skin and without off-cuts or tips. The product 41 may optionally be positioned in the feeding and slicing module 11 with its longest side parallel to the feeding channel 35.

[0039] The fed product is conveyed to slicing element 36 .

[0040] The feed channel 35, with the flow of washing fluid therein provided by the distribution module 73, transports the product 41 towards the container 2, and then towards the vortex, or swirling or swirling fluid 32, which is formed in the container, for example, by the above-mentioned water-conducting means 31. Once the product 41 enters the container or hopper 21, the product 41 is entrained or carried by or tangentially coupled to the vortex 32, constantly changing its vertical-horizontal-tangential position relative to the vortex 32. With the aid of the fluid flow provided by the distribution module 73, the product reaches zone 34 shown in FIG. 11, where the product is aligned or positioned in a vertical position, or positioned or substantially aligned with the axis of the vortex, before entering the slicing element 36. The vortex optionally tapers inward within zone 34. The axis of the vortex in zone 34 is optionally centered on or aligned with outlet 102 of container 21. The product in zone 34 is optionally substantially perpendicular to slicing element 36.

[0041] The product 41 is cut with a slicing element 36 .

[0042] The product 41 previously washed in the vessel 21, e.g., in the vortex 32, is directed to the slicing element 36 where it is sliced. The washed and cut product may optionally be removed from the apparatus 10, e.g., by an output conveyor, and the product may be subjected to a further processing step, e.g., frying, at this point.

[0043] Alternatively, additional washing of the product 41 may be performed, optionally, to ensure that all desired material is removed from the product surface. The additional or second washing may optionally include removing surface material from the cut product, for example, by submerging the cut product in some suitable fluid contained in tank 71, to obtain a clean cut product. When the product 41 is cut and pumped into tank 71 containing the fluid, the fluid may change color, appearance, or both due to surface material transferred from the cut product. For example, latex may cause water to turn yellow and oil to become cloudy. To maintain a clean fluid, the fluid may optionally be replaced, for example, periodically or constantly, as determined by the operator. Factors affecting fluid replacement include the type of process. In the case of oil, the oil may be filtered to remove residual surface material and then reused in the process.

[0044] Remove the cut and cleaned product.

[0045] After removing the surface material into the fluid-containing tank 71, the product optionally reaches an output conveyor 75, for example, due to the eccentric force exerted by the slicing elements 36 and deflector 33, which optionally transports the cut product out of the apparatus 10 toward other possible steps in the process, such as frying, and can optionally act as a filter to separate the cleaned product slices from any debris or surface material remaining in the fluid. A stream of clean fluid can optionally be fed through a dispensing element 76 located proximate to the output conveyor 75 to thoroughly clean the cut product and replenish the washing fluid to the apparatus 10. The cut product can then be sent to the next processing step.

[0046] The fluid containing the surface material is filtered and returned to the device 10 .

[0047] The method and apparatus of the present invention may optionally include filtering and recycling the filtered fluid to the apparatus 10 for subsequent use. The fluid located in the main tank 71 and containing surface material removed from the cut product may optionally be directed to a secondary tank 72, from which it may optionally be sent by a clarification means 78 to a separation tank 91 of the filtration module. Within the separation tank 91, solid waste may optionally be filtered out of the fluid, and the filtered fluid may be directed by a pump 92 toward a plurality of separators 93. The filtered fluid may optionally undergo a separation process in the separators 93, thereby continuing to remove solid waste from the fluid. From the separators, the fluid may optionally be sent to the main tank 71, from which it is directed or forced by a submersible pump 77 to the distribution module 73. The waste-containing fluid that reaches the waste tank 94 may optionally undergo another filtration step in a filter 95 to facilitate the filtration process, and then the fluid may be returned to a plurality of separators 93, from which the fluid is sent to the apparatus 10 as described above.

[0048] There is provided an apparatus for cutting and washing food products of generally elongated shape, the apparatus having a container having a first end connected to a feed channel for feeding the product to be sliced, a slicing element for slicing the fed food product, the slicing element being connected to a second end of the container, the apparatus having transmission means for directing washing fluid towards the container and into its interior and forming a vortex for positioning and urging the product to be sliced towards the slicing element and performing a first (first) wash.

[0049] The container may optionally be a hopper, and the slicing element and the base may be coupled by a coupling means optionally including a bearing and a shaft. The apparatus may optionally include a drive means for imparting motion to the slicing element, which may optionally include a slicing disk. The apparatus may optionally include a thrust ring for creating a fluid ring tangential to the vortex flow direction at an inclination angle of, for example, 45° to 80° to further direct the product toward the slicing element, and a main support structure for supporting all of the apparatus's downstream elements. The slicing element may optionally include a deflector for directing the sliced product toward an output conveyor. The apparatus may optionally include a tank module including a main tank configured adjacent to the slicing element to receive the sliced product and perform a second washing, and a secondary tank for distributing washing fluid throughout the system. The main tank may optionally be in the shape of an inverted pyramid. The secondary tank may optionally include extraction means for directing fluid from the primary tank toward the fluid distribution module, which optionally includes a submersible pump, and the fluid distribution module may include a plurality of pipes connected to the transmission means for distributing the cleaning fluid toward the slicing module. The secondary tank may optionally include clarification means for removing solid waste from the process. The apparatus may optionally include a dispensing element for delivering clean replacement fluid to the system and may optionally include a sprinkler. The apparatus may optionally include a tank module including a primary tank configured adjacent the slicing element to receive the sliced product and perform a second cleaning, and a secondary tank for distributing the cleaning fluid throughout the system, and a filtration module for filtering the cleaning fluid and sending it back to the system, which optionally includes a separation tank, filtration means, and a plurality of separators.The separation tank of the filtration module may optionally include a settling tank and clarification means for extracting solids from the system, the settling tank having an internal partition for separating solid waste present in high concentrations in the wash fluid. The filtration means may optionally include a pump for driving the solid-lean wash fluid from the settling tank to a plurality of separators, the plurality of separators optionally including at least two hydrocentrifuges. The apparatus may optionally include a waste tank located at the outlet of the plurality of separators to receive suspended solids separated from the wash fluid in the plurality of separators. The apparatus may include a filter connected to the waste tank for filtering the contents of the waste tank to remove solids collected by the system through the clarification means, the filter optionally comprising a basket-type filter.

[0050] A method for cutting and cleaning food products of generally elongated shape is provided, the method comprising the steps of feeding a product to be cut into a feed channel; feeding the food product through the feed channel towards a hopper to form a vortex in the hopper; conveying the fed food product to a slicing element and slicing the food product with the slicing element, the conveying direction optionally being horizontal with flow oriented to the right or left, vertical with upward or downward flow, or diagonal with upward or downward flow, the method further comprising cutting the food product by passing the food product through the slicing element in a direction which may be horizontal with flow oriented to the right or left, vertical with upward or downward flow, or diagonal with upward or downward flow.

[0051] The method may optionally include washing the cut food products and removing surface material by submerging the cut food products in a suitable fluid contained in the main tank, thereby obtaining clean cut food products, and removing the cleaned food slices, for example, by an output conveyor. The method may optionally include supplying a cleaning fluid to the cleaned cut food products to clean them, and replenishing the cleaning fluid to the system, for example, by a dispensing element. The method may optionally include filtering the fluid containing the surface material from the food products in a filtration module, and returning the filtered fluid to the system. The objective of the method may optionally be to remove surface material, including, for example, latex and starch, from the food products. The fluid contained in the tank may optionally be water, oil, or a combination thereof. The food products may be generally elongated in shape and may optionally be fruits, vegetables, bananas, cucumbers, pumpkins, carrots, cassava, sweet potatoes, taro, or malanga.

[0052] The method and apparatus of the present invention provide an efficient system for cutting food products during processing and removing surface material from the food products. As a result of such removal, the food products do not stick to the walls of the processing equipment or to the hands of personnel handling the food products. The processed food products are in excellent condition for final consumption. The system of the present invention avoids the use of chemical additives used to remove surface material.

[0053] The apparatus and method of the present invention are simple, efficient, and economical, while allowing for effective removal of surface materials from cut food products, which may optionally include any material that is undesirable during food processing, such as latex or starch in the case of cutting food products such as fruits or vegetables, and limiting the use of special chemicals for removal of such materials.

[0054] The apparatus and method of the present invention facilitates handling and processing of cut product by delivering a clean product, i.e., product free of surface material, that does not stick to the walls of the processing equipment or the hands of personnel handling it, and also leaves the clean product in excellent condition for end consumption.

[0055] Those skilled in the art may conceive modifications of the invention described herein. It should be noted, however, that the description relates to preferred embodiments of the invention and is provided for illustrative purposes only, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the invention. All obvious modifications within the spirit of the invention, such as changes in the shape, material, and dimensions of the elements, shall be deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A method for cutting a generally elongated food product, the method comprising the steps of: providing a container having an outlet in communication with a product slicing element; creating a fluid vortex having an axis within the container; and depositing the generally elongated food product in the container, the fluid vortex aligning the generally elongated food product with the axis of the fluid vortex and directing the generally elongated food product into the outlet leading to the product slicing element, thereby forming a plurality of sliced products from the generally elongated food product.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a container comprises the step of providing a cylindrical container.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of creating a fluid vortex comprises creating a vortex that includes a portion that tapers inwardly toward the outlet.

4. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of introducing a washing fluid into the container so that the food product is washed by the fluid vortex.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sliced product is washed in an additional washing process.

6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the additional cleaning process comprises submerging the sliced product in an additional container containing cleaning fluid to provide cleaned sliced product and used cleaning fluid.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of removing the used cleaning fluid from the additional vessel, removing suspended solids from the used cleaning fluid to provide clean cleaning fluid, and directing the clean cleaning fluid to the additional vessel.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of directing the clean cleaning fluid into the container.

9. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cleaning fluid removes surface materials, latex, starch, and any combination thereof from the food product.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cleaning fluid is selected from water, oil, and both.

11. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, bananas, cucumbers, pumpkins, carrots, cassava, sweet potatoes, taro, and malanga.

12. 1. A method for cutting and cleaning food products, comprising: a first washing step of washing the food product in a first container; a step of slicing the food product to form a plurality of food slices; and a second washing step of washing the food product in a second container, wherein the first washing step and the second washing step remove surface materials, latex, starch, and any combination thereof from the food product.

13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first cleaning step includes submerging the food item in a vortex, the vortex constantly changing the position of the food item to aid in cleaning.

14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first cleaning step includes submerging the food product in a vortex, the vortex tapering inward to facilitate slicing of the food product.

15. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second cleaning step comprises submerging the sliced product in the second container containing cleaning fluid to provide cleaned sliced product and used cleaning fluid.

16. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of removing the used cleaning fluid from the additional vessel, removing suspended solids from the used cleaning fluid to provide clean cleaning fluid, and directing the clean cleaning fluid to the additional vessel.

17. 1. An apparatus for cutting generally elongated food products, the apparatus comprising: a cylindrical container having a periphery and an outlet; and a product slicing element in communication with the outlet of the container; a plurality of fluid jet ports spaced around the periphery of the container for forming a fluid vortex within the container, the fluid vortex aligning the generally elongated food product with an axis of the fluid vortex and directing the generally elongated food product into the outlet leading to the product slicing element, thereby forming a plurality of sliced products from the generally elongated food product.

18. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the vessel has a diameter, and wherein each of the plurality of fluid jet ports is oriented substantially perpendicular to the diameter of the vessel.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of fluid jet ports is further directed toward the outlet of the vessel.

20. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the container has a portion that tapers inwardly toward the outlet.

21. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the container has a cleaning fluid inlet port for providing a cleaning fluid to the vortex to clean the food products within the vortex.

22. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an additional container for receiving the sliced products and submerging the sliced products in a cleaning fluid for additional cleaning.

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