This invention relates to food processing and, in particular, blanching and dehydration of foods. Conventional blanching and dehydration requires use of steam and forced hot air. This invention is the first to effectively use infrared radiation energy to perform simultaneous blanching and dehydration of fruits and vegetables. Since this technology does not involve the addition of steam or water in the process of blanching, it has been named “infrared dry-blanching” (IDB) technology. IDB is intended to be a replacement for current steam, water and/or microwave blanching methods. It can be used to produce many kinds of value-added dried, refrigerated, frozen and dehydrofrozen foods such as fruit and vegetable products. In general, the advantages of IDB include (1) uniform heating which enhances energy efficiency and limits damage from over-heating, (2) capability of zone heating to address differential density, (3) ability to treat large or small lots with the same piece of equipment, (4) portability, since equipment can be built on wheels, and (5) a safe, non-toxic process with no harmful side-effects to humans or the environment.

This invention relates to food processing and, in particular, blanching and dehydration of foods. Conventional blanching and dehydration requires use of steam and forced hot air. This invention is the first to effectively use infrared radiation energy to perform simultaneous blanching and dehydration of fruits and vegetables. Since this technology does not involve the addition of steam or water in the process of blanching, it has been named “infrared dry-blanching” (IDB) technology. IDB is intended to be a replacement for current steam, water and/or microwave blanching methods. It can be used to produce many kinds of value-added dried, refrigerated, frozen and dehydrofrozen foods such as fruit and vegetable products. In general, the advantages of IDB include (1) uniform heating which enhances energy efficiency and limits damage from over-heating, (2) capability of zone heating to address differential density, (3) ability to treat large or small lots with the same piece of equipment, (4) portability, since equipment can be built on wheels, and (5) a safe, non-toxic process with no harmful side-effects to humans or the environment.

The system for cleaning fresh and freshly-cut produce is designed to clean produce as soon as practicable after the produce is cut. As the produce falls downwardly, a spray manifold directs a produce-washing liquid upwardly so that the produce-washing liquid directly sprays and impacts the falling produce. The impact of the produce-washing liquid causes the produce to tumble and the descent of the produce is slowed, and consequently the produce is thoroughly coated and cleaned by the produce-washing liquid. In an alternative embodiment, a suspending fluid (preferably air) is simultaneously directed to the falling produce to slow the descent of the produce and further ensure that the produce is thoroughly washed and directly sprayed by the produce-washing liquid.

A food processing apparatus including a tank having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, the tank having an inner wall defining a compartment and including a solid, imperforate wall portion, fluid being contained in the compartment, and a rotatable auger mounted in the compartment, the auger for advancing food product within the compartment from the inlet end toward the outlet end, the auger including flights having a flight wall with a radial edge, a clearance space being defined between the radial edge of the flights and the solid, imperforate wall portion of the inner wall. Flow of fluid through the clearance space may be inhibited. One of the inner wall and the flight wall may include a perforated wall portion. Flow of fluid between the first auger section and the second auger section may be provided through the perforated wall portion.

A food processing apparatus including a tank having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, the tank having an inner wall defining a compartment and including a solid, imperforate wall portion, fluid being contained in the compartment, and a rotatable auger mounted in the compartment, the auger for advancing food product within the compartment from the inlet end toward the outlet end, the auger including flights having a flight wall with a radial edge, a clearance space being defined between the radial edge of the flights and the solid, imperforate wall portion of the inner wall. Flow of fluid through the clearance space may be inhibited. One of the inner wall and the flight wall may include a perforated wall portion. Flow of fluid between the first auger section and the second auger section may be provided through the perforated wall portion.

A multi-functional food processing machine suitable for processing green beans or any other suitable ingredient is presented. The multi-functional food processing machine contains a tumbler chassis, a tumbler drum, a motor, and a cutting element. The tumbler chassis contains an inlet hopper, and an outlet spout. The tumbler drum contains a plurality of gaps and a plurality of tumbler fins. The motor is torsionally engaged to the tumbler drum. The plurality of gaps is peripherally distributed about the tumbler drum. The plurality of tumbler fins is peripherally connected within the tumbler drum. The inlet hopper traverses into the tumbler drum. The outlet spout traverses from the tumbler drum to the tumbler chassis, opposite to the inlet hopper. The cutting element is operatively engaged to the tumbler drum, where the cutting element is configured to cut bean tips that passes through the plurality of gaps.

A multi-functional food processing machine suitable for processing green beans or any other suitable ingredient is presented. The multi-functional food processing machine contains a tumbler chassis, a tumbler drum, a motor, and a cutting element. The tumbler chassis contains an inlet hopper, and an outlet spout. The tumbler drum contains a plurality of gaps and a plurality of tumbler fins. The motor is torsionally engaged to the tumbler drum. The plurality of gaps is peripherally distributed about the tumbler drum. The plurality of tumbler fins is peripherally connected within the tumbler drum. The inlet hopper traverses into the tumbler drum. The outlet spout traverses from the tumbler drum to the tumbler chassis, opposite to the inlet hopper. The cutting element is operatively engaged to the tumbler drum, where the cutting element is configured to cut bean tips that passes through the plurality of gaps.

The invention relates to a horizontal axis pressure washer that allows removing the mucilage from fermented coffee efficiently with a low consumption of water and power. The main characteristic of the pressure washer of the present invention is the rotor located horizontally in a circular basket, where said rotor comprises several rows with three types of fingers specialized in three tasks: cleaning, shaking and injecting water with pressure. Said combination of functionalities allows the complete elimination of mucilage from fermented coffee.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a potato product for finish-frying, a processing line therefor and a potato product for finish-frying. The method according to the invention includes the steps of: —supplying a quantity of potatoes of a potato variety with an underwater weight equal to or lower than 300 g/5 kg; —washing, peeling and cutting the supplied potatoes to form a basic potato product; —blanching the basic potato product to form a blanched potato product; —drying the blanched potato product; —applying a coating to the blanched and dried potato product to form a coated potato product; and —pre-frying the coated potato product to form a pre-fried potato product, wherein the steps provide a potato product, the energetic value of which is lower than 190 kCal/100 g after finish-frying.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a potato product for finish-frying, a processing line therefor and a potato product for finish-frying. The method according to the invention includes the steps of: —supplying a quantity of potatoes of a potato variety with an underwater weight equal to or lower than 300 g/5 kg; —washing, peeling and cutting the supplied potatoes to form a basic potato product; —blanching the basic potato product to form a blanched potato product; —drying the blanched potato product; —applying a coating to the blanched and dried potato product to form a coated potato product; and —pre-frying the coated potato product to form a pre-fried potato product, wherein the steps provide a potato product, the energetic value of which is lower than 190 kCal/100 g after finish-frying.