A longitudinally movable infeed mechanism that allows for variations in the effective length of a peeler that uses rotating rolls to clean, peel or otherwise treat the exterior of objects, such as potatoes. The infeed mechanism has a surface, which can be the upwardly-facing surface of a conveyor belt, that conveys or is part of a structure that conveys the objects into the peel bed. A terminal end of the surface may move longitudinally parallel to the rolls, and may have a wall that prevents objects from moving past it. Thus, movement of the terminal end and wall defines the effective peel bed length and restricts the objects to that peel bed, permitting variation in amount of peeling by movement of the infeed mechanism.

A floodable peeling device having a vessel with an interior cavity surrounded by an interior wall, an inlet proximal to a first end and off-center relative to a center axis, an outlet proximal to a second end, a section of the interior cavity intermediate the first end and the second end having a circular cross-section and a plurality of peeling members supported within the interior cavity and proximal to the interior wall. A stream of fluid enters the interior cavity through the inlet and a plurality of bodies having peels thereon are introduced into the interior cavity proximal to the inlet. The stream of fluid causes the plurality of bodies to be moved in a spiraling pattern within the interior cavity of the vessel, thereby causing the bodies to engage the plurality of peeling members, each of which, upon engagement with a body, removes a piece of the peel.

A floodable peeling device having a vessel with an interior cavity surrounded by an interior wall, an inlet proximal to a first end and off-center relative to a center axis, an outlet proximal to a second end, a section of the interior cavity intermediate the first end and the second end having a circular cross-section and a plurality of peeling members supported within the interior cavity and proximal to the interior wall. A stream of fluid enters the interior cavity through the inlet and a plurality of bodies having peels thereon are introduced into the interior cavity proximal to the inlet. The stream of fluid causes the plurality of bodies to be moved in a spiraling pattern within the interior cavity of the vessel, thereby causing the bodies to engage the plurality of peeling members, each of which, upon engagement with a body, removes a piece of the peel.

A method of peeling tubers includes providing a peeler device defining a cavity surrounded by a peeling mechanism, inputting tubers to be peeled into the cavity, directing electromagnetic radiation from an illumination device into the cavity-detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected into lens of a camera from tubers located in the cavity during a peeling operation by the peeling mechanism, and operating the peeler device based on the reflected electromagnetic radiation detected by the camera. Also disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the method.

A method of peeling tubers includes providing a peeler device defining a cavity surrounded by a peeling mechanism, inputting tubers to be peeled into the cavity, directing electromagnetic radiation from an illumination device into the cavity-detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected into lens of a camera from tubers located in the cavity during a peeling operation by the peeling mechanism, and operating the peeler device based on the reflected electromagnetic radiation detected by the camera. Also disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the method.

A peeling process and system comprising a primary peeling device; a sorting device arranged to sort product output from the primary peeling device into peeled product and partially peeled product; a secondary peeling device arranged to receive the partially peeled product output from the sorting device; and a peel control system to monitor the peel quality of product detected in at least one position after the primary peeling device and control the peeling system in response to same.

A peeling process and system comprising a primary peeling device; a sorting device arranged to sort product output from the primary peeling device into peeled product and partially peeled product; a secondary peeling device arranged to receive the partially peeled product output from the sorting device; and a peel control system to monitor the peel quality of product detected in at least one position after the primary peeling device and control the peeling system in response to same.

An automatic cutting device for three-flower tangerine peel includes a base frame, a cutting component and a moving component are mounted on the base frame, and the moving component applies pressure to the citrus on the cutting component through a linkage component to complete the cutting of tangerine peel. The cutting component includes three sets of tool holder support columns in a surround arrangement, a spring fixed base is arranged behind the tool holder support column, an arc-shaped chute is arranged at the top of the tool holder support column, and a sliding rod is L-shaped. The sliding rod includes an active rod connected to a tool holder and a driven rod located in the chute, the driven rod is elastically connected to the spring fixed base, and a trajectory and force strength of the tool holder are controlled by a spring limit.