A two stage system for extraction of oil from whole citrus fruit is provided. The first stage is known in the art and includes a first plurality of toothed rollers which convey citrus as the teeth penetrate and rupture oil glands. The oil passes into a first water pan. A novel second stage uses a second plurality of toothed rollers to continue the penetration and rupturing of oil glands. The second plurality of rollers are positioned in an isolated second pan to partially submerge the citrus. A middle phase liquor with extremely low oil concentration is transferred into said second pan to initiate desorption of oil from the citrus. The desorption technique in one embodiment increases yield by 4% or more. This technique is expected to increase yield even more as the recovery by the first stage is reduced.

A two stage system for extraction of oil from whole citrus fruit is provided. The first stage is known in the art and includes a first plurality of toothed rollers which convey citrus as the teeth penetrate and rupture oil glands. The oil passes into a first water pan. A novel second stage uses a second plurality of toothed rollers to continue the penetration and rupturing of oil glands. The second plurality of rollers are positioned in an isolated second pan to partially submerge the citrus. A middle phase liquor with extremely low oil concentration is transferred into said second pan to initiate desorption of oil from the citrus. The desorption technique in one embodiment increases yield by 4% or more. This technique is expected to increase yield even more as the recovery by the first stage is reduced.

The present invention relates to a device for forming a pattern on a surface of a fruiting vegetable and, more particularly, to a device which can be mounted on an immature fruiting vegetable without a separate fixing device, changes the shape thereof as the fruiting vegetable grows, and is capable of engraving a predetermined pattern on a surface of the immature fruiting vegetable so as to be clearly identified. A device for forming a pattern on a surface of a fruiting vegetable according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a member made of plastic, of an annular shape without a cut portion, having an inner surface and an outer surface, an opening defined by the inner surface, and a pattern formed on the inner surface of the member, wherein the member includes a first folded portion and a second folded portion; the inner surface of the member includes a first opposing surface and a second opposing surface that face each other due to the first folding portion and the second folding portion; the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface can be mounted on the surface of the fruiting vegetable by pressing both surfaces of the immature fruiting vegetable arranged on the opening by elasticity formed by the first folded portion and the second folded portion; and the shape of the member changes so as to correspond to the surface shape of the fruiting vegetable as the fruiting vegetable grows.

A system for coordinated laser marking of mid-conveyance food includes a controller, multiple lasers, and one or more industrial components. The lasers are in network communication with the controller. The controller can send a first instruction set, having a first language, to a first laser, and a second instruction set, having a second language different from the first language, to a second laser, the first laser associated with a first conveyor of multiple conveyors, and the second laser associated with a second conveyor different from the first conveyor. During operation, the first laser applies a marking to a first product as the first product is conveyed along the first conveyor, based on the first instruction set. Also during operation, the second laser applies the marking to a second product as the second product is conveyed along the second conveyor, based on the second instruction set.

A device, which can be used to convey a message on the skin of fruits and/or vegetables, the device having at least one prong capable of piercing the skin of a fruit and/or vegetable and connected to a rigid base that limits the depth the prong pierces the skin of the fruit and/or vegetable. The prongs may be configured in the mirror inverse shape of a character, symbol, picture and/or pattern. The device may be used to convey messages or designs on the skin of bananas.

A device, which can be used to convey a message on the skin of fruits and/or vegetables, the device having at least one prong capable of piercing the skin of a fruit and/or vegetable and connected to a rigid base that limits the depth the prong pierces the skin of the fruit and/or vegetable. The prongs may be configured in the mirror inverse shape of a character, symbol, picture and/or pattern. The device may be used to convey messages or designs on the skin of bananas.

A processing system comprising at least one cylindrical tumbler having a base portion with one or more sidewalls extending upward, where the tumbler tumbles plant material placed inside, and where the tumbled material is trimmed within the tumbler. A motor is in communication with a power source and is mechanically coupled to the base of the tumbler, so that the motor rotates the tumbler. The one or more sidewalls have a plurality of apertures configured to selectively allow one or more plant byproducts to pass through.

An inclusion complex of an amorphous -cyclodextrin, or derivative thereof, with encapsulated ethylene is provided by exposure of the dry solid amorphous -cyclodextrin to ethylene gas under pressure. The inclusion complex will have applications in a number of fields including fruit ripening.

An inclusion complex of an amorphous -cyclodextrin, or derivative thereof, with encapsulated ethylene is provided by exposure of the dry solid amorphous -cyclodextrin to ethylene gas under pressure. The inclusion complex will have applications in a number of fields including fruit ripening.

A method of forming a material structure from structural units contained within a liquid solution in a spray head is described. The liquid solution includes a solvent and a solute, the solute comprising a plurality of the structural units, the structural units including monomer units, oligomer units, or combinations thereof. The method comprises forming droplets of the liquid solution including the structural units, and spraying the droplets on a substrate, thereby substantially increasing the reactivity of the structural units within the droplets relative to the structural units within the liquid solution in the spray head. The increase in reactivity can result from the droplets containing an excess of a particular ion, the ion excess resulting from a voltage applied to conductive walls of the device which dispenses the droplets. The material structure is then formed on the substrate from the more highly reactive structural units within the droplets.