METHOD FOR BORING INTO A COCONUT WITH A THREADED STOPPER INCORPORATED INTO SAME

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new method for drilling the coconut with an integrated screw cap, which consists of the following stages: coconut cleaning; making a cut in the endocarp of the coconut; cleaning and sanitation of the cutting area; and, placement of the screw cap to maintain the aseptic area.

Claims

1. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap, characterized in that it allows in the same process to perform: a) coconut cleaning; b) a hole in the coconut endocarp; c) cleaning and sanitizing the cutting area; and d) the placement of a screw cap, in such a way that it allows storage and commercialization in the same way as it will reach the final consumer.

2. The method for drilling coconut with an integrated screw cap referred to in claim 1, wherein the step of cleaning the coconut consists in removing the exocarp and mesocarp (external and internal face of the bast) from the coconut to subsequently polish the endocarp eliminating excess fibers (husk).

3. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 2, wherein once the endocarp is cleaned and polished, coconuts between 8 and 10 months of maturity are selected, discarding those that present depressions in the circumference or that present collapses in its structure.

4. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 2, wherein once the coconut is selected, roughing of irregular bumps on the surface of the endocarp is performed in order to improve its aesthetic appearance and functionality derived from the balance of its structure.

5. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 1, wherein the step of making a hole in the coconut endocarp consists in identifying the most viable face for cutting, preferably using the flattest side of the coconut, which is positioned with said face facing the cutting tool.

6. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 5, wherein the position of the cutting tool will be in an axis perpendicular to said selected face of the coconut, so centered with the circumference of the coconut.

7. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 5, wherein once the coconut is placed with the selected face in the referred position, a circular cut is made in the endocarp with a tool of specialized cut within a certain variety. The resulting hole should be deep enough to reach the endosperm of the coconut.

8. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 7, wherein the cutting should be performed at a speed of 1,700 rpm and a pressure of 800 N/mm.sup.2 and will result in a hole between 06 and 30 millimeters in diameter.

9. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 7, wherein once the hole is made, the cutting tool is removed, which removes the cut portion of the endocarp leaving the endosperm exposed.

10. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 1, wherein the cleaning and sanitizing stage of the cutting area begins with the injection of ozone gas (O3) at the time of cutting the endocarp with two objectives: a) generate a current that raises the micro particles that result from the cutting stage; and b) keep the cutting tool sanitized.

11. The method for drilling coconut with an integrated screw cap referred to in claim 1, wherein simultaneously an aspiration of the micro particles resulting from the endocarp cutting stage is performed, thereby avoiding: a) its accumulation in the cutting stage, either seated on the surface of both the coconut and at the station where the process is implemented; b) air circulation of the area surrounding the workstation; and c) the cross contamination of possible spores housed in the pores of the endocarp, which would otherwise contaminate the freshly drilled coconut, the workstation and the other coconuts that are undergoing the present process or that are stored nearby.

12. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 1, wherein once the coconut endosperm has been exposed, a gel with bactericidal spray-drying properties is applied on the exposed surface.

13. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 1, wherein the step of opening the easy-open cap begins with the application of food grade adhesive to the area of fastening the cap, consisting of: a) the underside of the skirt and b) to the outer face of the crown flange (FIG. 2).

14. The method for drilling coconut with integrated screw cap referred to in claim 13, wherein once the adhesive is applied, the crown of the cap is placed in the endocarp surrounding the orifice made, matching the center of the circumference of the same with the center of the crown of the cap, which will allow the clamping area to adhere to the coconut, by aligning a) the inner face of the cutting wall with the outer face of the crown flange, and b) the outer face of the endocarp in the area surrounding the hole to the bottom of the skirt.

15. The method for drilling coconut with an integrated screw cap referred to in claim 14, wherein once the crown of the cap is attached it joins the screw cap to prevent contamination of the endosperm and coconut juice.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0013] The figures presented in the drawings section are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended in any way to make an exhaustive description of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a coconut, which has previously been removed from the exocarp and mesocarp, a circular cut has been made on the flattest face of the endocarp (bone), leaving the endosperm (pulp) in sight.

[0015] FIG. 2 it is observed, the structure of the screw cap, which consists of two parts, a cap and a threaded crown, which are divided into three main elements: iii) the cap; ii) the crown skirt and i) the crown tab.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows the coconut, to which a circular cut has been made in the endocarp leaving the endosperm in sight, in whose cut the lower face of the skirt and the outer face of the flange of the threaded crown of The screw cap

[0017] FIG. 4 shows the coconut with the threaded crown, adhered to the circular cut, indicating the placement of the screw cap, for the proper closing of the screw cap.

[0018] FIG. 5, the final product is visualized once the screw cap is attached to the coconut, with its two main elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WAY OF MAKING THE INVENTION

[0019] The novel method consists of the following stages:

[0020] 1) Shelling or uncovering the coconut, then the endocarp (bone) is polished to remove excess fibers.

[0021] 2) Select coconut between 8 and 10 months of maturity, discarding those that present depressions in the circumference or that present collapses in their structure.

[0022] 3) Roughing of irregular coconut bumps in order to improve its aesthetic appearance and its functionality derived from the balance of its structure.

[0023] 4) Identify the most viable face for the cut, preferably using the flattest side.

[0024] 5) Position the coconut with the selected face facing the cutting tool, which will preferably be placed on an axis perpendicular to said face and centered with the circumference of the coconut.

[0025] 6) Making the circular cut sufficiently deep, using a specialized cutting tool within a certain variety, until reaching the endosperm (pulp) at a speed of 1,600 rpm and a pressure of 800 N/mm.sup.2, (the result is observed in FIG. 1).

[0026] 7) At the time of starting the cut, ozone gas (O3) is injected with two objectives: a) generate a current that raises the micro-particles resulting from the cutting stage; and b) keep the cutting tool sanitized.

[0027] 8) At the moment of starting the cut, simultaneously to the two previous steps, an aspiration of the micro particles resulting from the cutting stage is carried out, which avoids: a) their accumulation in the cutting stage, whether seated on the surface of both the coconut and the station where the process is implemented; b) air circulation of the area surrounding the workstation; and c) the cross contamination of possible spores housed in the pores of the endocarp, which would otherwise contaminate the freshly drilled coconut, the workstation and the other coconuts that are undergoing the present process or that are stored nearby.

[0028] 9) The cutting tool is removed, which removes the cut portion of the endocarp leaving the endosperm (pulp) exposed (the result is shown in FIG. 1).

[0029] 10) Application of a gel with rapid spray drying bactericidal properties on the exposed surface of the endosperm (pulp).

[0030] 11) Application of food grade adhesive to the fastener area of the cap, consisting of: a) the bottom face of the skirt and b) to the outer face of the crown flange (FIG. 2).

[0031] 12) Placing the crown in the endocarp, matching the center of the circumference of the crown to the center of the circumference of the hole, which will allow the clamping area to adhere to the coconut, by aligning a) the inner face of the cutting wall with the outer face of the crown flange, and b) the outer face of the endocarp in the area surrounding the hole to the lower face of the skirt (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5).

EXAMPLES

[0032] Next, we describe the best way to implement the method to drill coconut with integrated screw cap. It starts by shelling or stripping the coconut leaving the endocarp in view, it is polished to give a better visual presentation, then with a specialized cutting tool a circular cut of 26 mm in diameter is made at a speed of 1,600 rpm and a pressure of 800 N/mm.sup.2, until reaching the pulp of the coconut taking care not to damage its integrity. Preferably, the cutting tool used will be a snack or a diamond cutting tip.

[0033] During the cut, ozone gas (O3) is injected to lift the generated micro particles and keep the cutting tool sanitized, once the cut has been made at sufficient depth, the cut endocarp is removed leaving the pulp in sight, Then a quick visual inspection of the endosperm conditions is carried out, since in some cases it may be rotten due to diseases of the fruit, this stage makes it possible to guarantee 100% product quality.

[0034] An important element for the proper functioning of the method that will be claimed below, is the use of a cap consisting of a threaded crown and a cap for which it can be made of two materials: plastics such as High Density Polyethylene (PAD), Low Density Polyethylene (PEBD), Ethylene

[0035] Polyterephthalate (PET), Vinyl Polychloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP) and/or Polystyrene; and metallic like aluminum. Said cap should preferably have a diameter of 26 mm for both the threaded crown and the cap, facilitating its incorporation in a simple and practical way (FIG. 5).

[0036] The next stage consists of cleaning and sanitizing the exposed surface, a food grade adhesive is placed on the flange and the bottom face of the thread skirt which is placed in the cut, previously made, so that it has contact with the endocarp of the coconut, matching the center of the circumference of the crown with the center of the circumference of the hole, which will allow the clamping area to adhere to the coconut, finally proceed to seal with a plastic cover to keep the area fully aseptic.

[0037] The invention of the perforated coconut with integrated screw cap, as you can see is new (novel), because despite its practical and simple conformation it has no resemblance to any previous proposal or cited in this document.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

[0038] The present invention has industrial application in the food sector, particularly for obtaining coconut juice easily, without losing its nutritional properties and without using conservatives, this is achieved by drilling the endocarp (also known as bone) of the coconut and without touching the endosperm that serves as a natural barrier between the environment and the juice of the coconut, placing an open-easy screw cap, which facilitates its consumption quickly and safely exceeding the current state of the art used for the same purposes.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0039] In the relative section of the figures, the description uses the following reference signs; iii) the screw cap; ii) the crown skirt and i) the crown tab.

LIST OF CITED PATENTS

[0040] CA2902013, CN204916468, 1115606U, CA2844398, WO2016141431, WO2014146031, U.S. Pat. No. 8,709,519, WO201611536, US20150164130, US20150048110