US4962777A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems for cleaning and cooling produce
Assignee: Fresh Express Inc
•
Filing: 1985-05-21
•
Granted: 1990-10-16
•
Expires: 2005-05-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce include a mechanism for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing a substantial quantity of deteriorating-causing agents from the surface of the produce, a mechanism for conveying the subdivided produce along a linear path and for directing a flow of humidified cool air under pressure through the conveying means and the layer of the produce and at a temperature low enough to cool the washed produce as the subdivided produce is conveyed along the linear path.
Inventors
- 👤 Laurence D. Bell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:22
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B7/00; A23B7/06; A23B7/04; A23B7/0408; A23B7/0416; A23B7/14; A23B7/144; A23B7/148; A23B7/153; A23B7/158; A23N; A23N12/00; A23N12/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing from the surface of said subdivided produce, a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents, means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40° F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for conveying the washed subdivided produce in the form of a layer along a linear path and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure through said layer and through said conveying means, for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce, said air being at a temperature in the range of about 33° F. to about 40° F., as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path, and means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing from the surface of said subdivided produce, a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents, means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40° F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for conveying the washed subdivided produce in the form of a layer along a linear path and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure through said layer and through said conveying means, for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce, said air being at a temperature in the range of about 33° F. to about 40° F., as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path, and means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce selected from lettuce, cabbage and spinach comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing from the surface of said subdivided produce, a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents; means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40° F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path, and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce, as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path, and means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
177 words
An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce selected from lettuce, cabbage and spinach comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing from the surface of said subdivided produce, a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents; means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40° F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path, and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce, as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path, and means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said solvent is water combined with an oxidizing agent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50° F. to about 75° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50° F. to about 75° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50° F. to about 75° F.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40° F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, through said conveying means, and through said layer and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40° F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path and means for directing flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, through said conveying means, and through said layer and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50° F. to about 75° F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said solvent is water combined with an oxidizing agent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for substantially precluding said flow of humidified cool air, under pressure, from passing around or away from said conveying means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40° F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path and means for directing flow of cool air, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce, as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
135 words
An apparatus for washing and cooling subdivided produce comprising means for washing the subdivided produce with a solvent and for removing deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for maintaining the temperature of the solvent substantially below the boiling point of water, but substantially above 40° F., and sufficiently high to remove a substantial quantity of deterioration-causing agents from the surface of said subdivided produce; means for conveying a layer of the washed subdivided produce along a linear path and means for directing flow of cool air, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce, as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said solvent has an initial temperature in the range of about 50° F. to about 75° F.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said solvent is water combined with an oxidizing agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
89 words
An apparatus for cooling a layer of unblanched, unboiled, subdivided produce comprising means for conveying said layer along a linear path and means below said conveying means for directing flow of humidified cool air upwardly, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
89 words
An apparatus for cooling a layer of unblanched, unboiled, subdivided produce comprising means for conveying said layer along a linear path and means below said conveying means for directing flow of humidified cool air upwardly, under pressure, through said layer and through said conveying means, and at a temperature above the freezing point of water and below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins for cooling said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce moves along said linear path.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for cooling a layer of subdivided unblanched, unboiled produce comprising means for conveying said subdivided produce along a linear path and means below said conveying means for directing flow of cool air, under pressure, upwardly through said conveying means and through said layer, and at a temperature below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins, but above the freezing point of water for cooling said layer of subdivided produce as said layer moves along said linear path.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
81 words
An apparatus for cooling a layer of subdivided unblanched, unboiled produce comprising means for conveying said subdivided produce along a linear path and means below said conveying means for directing flow of cool air, under pressure, upwardly through said conveying means and through said layer, and at a temperature below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins, but above the freezing point of water for cooling said layer of subdivided produce as said layer moves along said linear path.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for cooling a layer of subdivided, unblanched, unboiled produce comprising means for conveying said layer along a linear path and means for directing a flow of cool air, under pressure, through said conveying means and then through said layer, and at a temperature below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins, but above the freezing point of water, for cooling said layer as said layer moves along said linear path.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for cooling a layer of subdivided, unblanched, unboiled produce comprising means for conveying said layer along a linear path and means for directing a flow of cool air, under pressure, through said conveying means and then through said layer, and at a temperature below the temperature of the subdivided produce before cooling begins, but above the freezing point of water, for cooling said layer as said layer moves along said linear path.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising means for agitating said subdivided produce and for removing surface liquid from said subdivided produce as said subdivided produce is conveyed along said linear path.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-15 | 1994-04-16 | 1994-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-15 | 1998-04-16 | 1998-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-15 | 2002-04-16 | 2002-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |