US3714887A

US3714887A - Apparatus for crushing fruit in an inert gas

Info

Publication number: US3714887A
Application number: US00107176*[A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Johnson
Original assignee: Up Right Inc
Current assignee: Up Right Inc
Priority date: 1971-01-18
Filing date: 1971-11-18
Publication date: 1973-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-02-06

Abstract

An enclosed fruit-crusher, discharging into an enclosed tank filled with an inert gas, which, as it is filled with crushed fruit, displaces the inert gas from the tank through the crusher and out the crusher inlet, thereby preventing entry of oxidizing air into the crusher or tank at all times during filling and crushing. Inert gas under pressure is introduced into the tank as crushed fruit is discharged therefrom, thereby refilling the tank with inert gas and preventing contact of the crushed fruit with oxidizing air during emptying.

Description

United States Patent 1 Johnson 1 Feb. 6, 1973 1 1 APPARATUS FOR CRUSHING FRUIT IN AN INERT GAS [75] Inventor: Wallace J. S. Johnson, Berkeley,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Up-Right, Inc., Berkeley, Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 107,176

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 65,576, Aug. 20,

1970, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl ..99/239 [51] Int. Cl. ..A23l 1/02 [58] Field of Search ..99/239, 234, 240, 269, 271, 99/276, 277, 277.1, 277.2, 100, 105-106,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1939 Watkins ..99/239 UX 2,540,345 2/1951 Pipkin ..99/239 X 3,083,634 4/1963 Rietz 3,256,808 6/1966 Hunt 3,301,684 l/1967 Bosy 3,301,685 l/l967 Harwell 3,447,337 6/1969 Skruch et al ..99/239 X Primary ExaminerR0bert W. Jenkins Assistant Examiner-Arthur 0. Henderson Att0rneyMellin, Moore & Weissenberger [57] ABSTRACT An enclosed fruit-crusher, discharging into an enclosed tank filled with an inert gas, which, as it is filled with crushed fruit, displaces the inert gas from the tank through the crusher and out the crusher inlet, thereby preventing entry of oxidizing air into the crusher or tank at all times during filling and crushing. lnert gas under pressure is introduced into the tank as crushed fruit is discharged therefrom, thereby refilling the tank with inert gas and preventing contact of the crushed fruit with oxidizing air during emptying.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEDFEB 6l973 3,714,887 SHEET 10F 3 INVENTOR. WALLACE J. S. JOHNSON F|G 1 BY ATTORNEYS PATENTEU EB 6 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG 4 INVENTOR. WALLACE J. S. JOHNSON ATTORNEYS PATENIEDFEB elm 3,714,887

SHEET 30F 3 FlG 7 INVENTOR. WALLACE J. S. JOHNSON ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR CRUSI-IING FRUIT IN AN INERT GAS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 65,576, filed Aug. 20, 1970, now abandoned, and entitled APPARATUS FOR CRUSHING FRUIT IN AN INERT GAS.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the crushing and handling of fruit in general and to grapes in particular. Heretofore, it has been the customary practice to crush fruit by various mechanical means in an atmosphere of air. Exposure of the flesh of most fruits to air, for even a short time, causes oxidation ,of the flesh and a resulting loss of aroma and flavor. Such oxidation is well illustrated by taking a bite from an apple and witnessing, within minutes, the oxidized browning of the flesh. The loss of flavor and aroma is readily apparent from the second bite.

Grape pulp is highly susceptible to oxidation. In the normal case wherein grapes are to be made into grape juice or wine, the grapes are harvested in bunches and the bunches are dumped into a crushing device which removes the stems simultaneously with the crushing of the fruit into a slurry, or must, comprised of juice, pulp, seeds and skin. The exposure of this must to air, during crushing or in the handling thereof after crushing, results in an undesirable diminishment of the quality of the product.

It is the primary object of this invention to overcome this loss of quality by providing an inert gas atmosphere for the crushing of fruit and for the handling of the crushed fruit thereafter.

The problem of oxidization is aggravated when grapes are harvested by mechanical harvesters, such as those which use rods to beat against the vines to dislodge the bunches therefrom. In such process, many of the grapes will be crushed during the harvesting. If there is an appreciable time lag between the harvesting and the later crushing of the bunches, the alreadycrushed grapes will oxidize and their quality will deteriorate.

It is therefore a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for crushing and handling grapes in an inert gas atmosphere which apparatus can be mounted on a mobile mechanical grape harvester so that the grapes can be precessed immediately after they are removed from the vines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides'an enclosed container means, the upper portion having a suitable crusher for the type of fruit being harvested, and the lower portion acting as a storage tank for the crushed fruit slurry.

The container means has an open inlet at its top through which fruit is introduced. The fruit is then crushed and the must collects in the lower, or storage, portion of the container. The container means is initially filled with an inert gas, and, as fruit enters the inlet the inert gas within the container is displaced out of the same inlet, countercurrent to the fruit going in. Entry of air through the open inlet is prevented by the countercurrent flow of inert gas, and is also prevented if the inert gas used has a greater density than air, such as carbon dioxide.

In addition, an enclosed conveyor may be used to convey fruit upwardly to the inlet opening of the container. In such case, as fruit is carried through the conveyor, the inert gas will be displaced from the container down through the conveyor countercurrent to the fruit movement therethrough. Such flow of inert gas prevents the oxidation of such fruit as may be crushed in the conveyor. Additionally, the downward slope of the enclosed conveyor enables the containers to be filled with an inert gas having a density less than air, as, for example, nitrogen.

As the fruit is crushed, the slurry drains into and fills the lower container portion, displacing the inert gas therein upwardly.

In one form of the invention, when it comes time to empty the must from the container, a valve is closed to prevent flow of inert gas from the container inlet and the interior of the container is connected to a source of inert gas under pressure. This gas pressure forces the contents out through the bottom outlet of the container while refilling the container with inert gas. By virtue of this emptying step, the apparatus is maintained full of inert gas, and the apparatus is immediately ready for a new charge of fruit thereinto.

In another form of the invention, the must is pumped from the container means while inert gas is introduced into the container, so that the container remains full of inert gas. In this form of the invention, must may be discharged without interruption of the harvesting and crushing operations.

Thus,. at all times during crushing, storage and discharge, the fruit is maintained out of contact with oxidizing air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a grape harvester having a conveyor, crusher and storage container mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the, harvester of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the conveyor, crusher and storage container of FIG. 1, with portions cut away to show internal details;

FIG. 4 is a depiction of the apparatus of FIG. 1 as the storage container is discharged into a tank trailer;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the storage container illustrating a modification of the outlet therefrom;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the storage container illustrating another modification of the outlet therefrom;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a modification of the invention wherein the crusher and storage containers are combined as a single container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein FIGS. 1-4 illustrate one embodiment of the invention, grape-harvesting machine comprises an inverted-U-shaped frame 11, mounted on wheels 12, so that the machine may straddle and move down a row of grapevines. For purposes of simplicity in the present application, the grape-picking apparatus carried by the machine between the side walls thereof has been omitted from FIGS. 1 and 2. If desired, such apparatus may be of the type illustrated and described in the Kaessbohrer and Horn application, Ser. No. 864,127, filed Oct. 6, 1969, which application has been assigned to the assignee of the present application.

The harvesting machine 10 has mounted on each side thereof an upper enclosed container and a lower enclosed container 16 therebelow. The upper container 15 has disposed therein a suitable grape stemmer and crusher 17. For purposes of illustration here, a grape stemmer and crusher as described in U. 5. Pat. No. 3,478,796 is generally shown, such apparatus having beater blades 18 rotating within a perforated revolving drum 19. The crushed slurry below the drum 19 is carried by a conveyor screw 20 to the outlet 21 of the crusher container 15. The grape stems are pushed through the drum and discharged through a chute 22 downwardly into a bag 23 tied onto the chute. Further details of the crusher and stemmer are shown in said U. S. Pat. No. 3,478,796, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable crushers may be used if desired.

The crusher container 15 is provided with an inlet 24 at its upper end through which fruit is introduced for crushing by the crusher device 17. Save for the inlet 24,

to the crusher.

The outlet 21 of crusher container 15 is connected by a flexible conduit 33 to the inlet 34 of the storage container 16. The inlet is provided with a flapper valve 35 connected by line 36 passing through the wall of conduit- 33 to a ring handle 36a, so that during discharge the inlet may be closed against gas flow upwardly through inlet 34. A check valve and hose connection 37 is provided so that gas under pressure may be introduced into the storage container, the check valve preventing gas flow from the container.

A normally closed and sealed manhole 38 is provided for periodic routine inspection and cleaning of the storage container. A conveyor screw 39, powered by motor 40, is disposed in the bottom of the tank to assist in moving the slurry contained in the tank towards the container discharge outlet 41 and into sump 42, the outlet 43 of which is connected to discharge conduit 44.

The discharge conduits 44 of both storage containers 16 extend upwardly above the storage containers and are joined to a single conduit 45 which leads through a flexible conduit section 46 and a rigid section 47 to a flexible section 48. The rigid section 47 is suspended by a turnbuckle and cable device 49 to frame 11, and the flexible section 48 is normally trained back on the frame, out of the way, when the harvesting machine is in operation. The discharge end of flexible section 48 is capped at 50 so that dust and debris will not enter the conduit during harvesting.

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION If the storage tanks are not already filled with an inert gas, a tank of inert gas under pressure, for example, carbon dioxide or nitrogen, is connected by hose 56 to the inlet37 of the storage container. Flapper valve 35 is opened and the discharge conduit cap 50 is removed.

If an inert gas lighter than air is used, for example nitrogen, the gas introduced into storage container 16 will rise into the crusher container 15 and the air in both containers will be gradually displaced out through the discharge conduit 44. When all of the air has been displaced, the containers l5 and 16, the discharge conduits 44 and the conveyor shrouds 27 will all be filled with such gas.

If an inert gas heavier than air is used, for example carbon dioxide, the introduced gas will displace the lighter air upwardly, through the

containers

15 and 16 and out the inlet opening 24. Discharge conduits 44 will also be filled with such gas. Since such gas is heavier than air, the conveyor shrouds 28 would be initially filled with air after

containers

15 and 16 have been filled with gas. I v

The gas tank 55 is disconnected, and the harvesting machine 10 is then used to straddle and travel along a row of grapevines, harvesting bunches of grapes therefrom which are deposited in the conveyor troughs 29 and carried upwardly by screws 28 and dumped into the crusher containers. The grapes are stemmed and crushed, the crushed must flowing by gravity, assisted by screw 20, into the storage containers l6 and the stems being ejected into the stem disposal chutes 22.

The continuous flow of grape bunches into the crusher containers displaces the inert gas therefrom, which gas flows countercurrent to the grape bunches out of the crusher container outlets and down through the conveyor shrouds 27. As the must fills the storage containers 16, the level thereof in the discharge conduits will rise, approximately to the level in'container 16, but the upper surface of such must in the discharge conduits will only be in contact with the inert gas therein.

Thus, during crushing, the grapes and the crushed must will be in contact only with the inert gas in the containers. Additionally, the displaced gas flowing downwardly through the conveyor shrouds will also protect the partially crushed grapes therein from oxidizing contact with air.

When the harvesting machine reaches the end of a row of vines, the flexible discharge conduit 48 is inserted into the inlet opening 57 of a suitable enclosed tank trailer 58 whichis also filled with an inert gas. Gas tank 55 is again connected to storage container inlet 39, flapper valve 35 is closed, and inert gas is introduced into the storage container. The pressure of this gas forces the must out through the discharge conduits into the tank trailer. During this time the bags 23 of stems may be removed, emptied and refastened.

After the storage containers have been emptied, the gas pressure is turned off and the gas supply lines 56 are disconnected. The discharge conduit is stored back on the frame, and the flapper valves 35 are reopened. The containers l5 and 16 are thus again full of inert gas and the machine is ready to harvest the next row of vines.

The above operations are repeated until harvesting is complete. By the above procedure, mechanically harvested, grapes may be crushed in a fraction of a minute after they are harvested, and the crushed must is never exposed to oxidation or contamination. Superior quality juice or wine is the result.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of the invention, as used in instances wherein it is not desired to discharge the storage container through a discharge conduit hav- .ing an upwardly extending trap arrangement as described above. In such case, a valve 60 is disposed in the discharge conduit 44 adjacent the outlet of sump 42, which valve is closed at all times save during actual discharge. Otherwise the system of operation is the same as above described.

If desired, the downwardly inclined shrouded conveyor may be eliminated and grape bunches simply dropped into the crusher inlet either by hand or by a horizontal or upwardly inclined conveyor. If so, the open inlet should be located at the upper end of the crusher container and above the crushing apparatus therein, and an inert gas heavier than air should be used. Thus, even though the crusher container is open upwardly at its inlet, the heavier inert gas will remain in the container and will not be displaced by the air above. Entry of grape bunches, however, will again displace the inert gas upwardly through the inlet, countercurrent to the grapes being put into the apparatus. If a horizontal or upwardly inclined conveyor is used, and sealed to the inlet, the displaced gas will also flow through the conveyor to protect any crushed grapes therein from oxidation.

In many instances, such as where the vineyard being harvested has long rows of vines and/or a heavy crop, the container 16 will be filled before the harvester reaches the end of a row and it would be desirable to unload must from the tank into a separate tank vehicle moving alongside the harvester while the harvester is in motion and operation.

To accomplish this, discharge conduit 44 is connected to the separate tank vehicle, e.g., such as tank trailer 58, which moves with the harvester, and screw 39 is rotated to discharge the must through conduit 44. The gas tank 55 is mounted on the harvester and the operator turns on the gas tank valve to admit gas into storage container 16 at the same time as screw 39 is turned on. The inflow of gas is adjusted so that there is an excess of that required to replace the must being discharged. The excess gas flows up into the crusher container and out through the conveyor. In this manner the crusher and storage containers are maintained full of inert gas during discharge while permitting crushing to continue, with the must from the crusher passing down into the storage container. After the storage container has been emptied, screw 39 is turned off, the gas tank valve is turned off and the discharge conduit 44 is disconnected from the tank trailer. Harvesting and crushing then continues until the storage container again needs emptying.

In some instances, discharge conduit 44 must go up and over an adjacent vine row to the separate moving tank trailer, and the screw 39 may not be able to provide sufficient pressure to force the must through the conduit 44. In this case, a paddle pump 70 or other suitable pump is added to the system, FIG. 6, at the entrance to conduit 44 to provide the pressure necessary to discharge must from storage container 16 while must is flowing thereinto from the crusher. The paddle pump 70 and screw 39 would cooperate in emptying the storage container and they would be turned on and off simultaneously. Preferably they would both be driven by the single motor 40. This screw and pump system of emptying the storage container 16 requires a lesser amount of inert gas to operate the system as compared to utilizing gas pressure for discharge.

FIG. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention wherein the separate crusher and storage containers are combined as a single non-pressure, enclosed container 100 with the grape stemmer and crusher 117 disposed in the upper portion of the container to discharge the crushed must into the large catch-basin lower portion thereof. The container is, as before, mounted on a mobile harvesting vehicle, and grapes are carried up through shroud 27 by conveyor 28 and dumped through container inlet 124. The must is discharged from the outlet opening 141 of container 100 by screw 139 and paddle pump 170, both operated by motor 140. The gas tank 55 is also mounted on the harvesting machine and is connected to container 100 by gas line 156.

The operation of a harvester equipped with the apparatus of FIG. 7 is essentially the same as previously described, in that the container is initially filled with inert gas, which gas is displaced upwardly through the container inlet and down through the shroud, countercurrent to the grapes as they are conveyed into the container and crushed therein. The stems pass out of the container, down chute 122 into bag 23. When it is desired to discharge the crushed must, screw 139 and paddle pump 170 are turned on, together with the gas tank valve. During discharge, grapes may continue to be harvested and crushed.

If it is desired to operate the apparatus of FIG. 7 as a gas pressure discharge system, the container inlet 124 may be valved, as is the inlet 34 of FIG. 3, so that the container may be pressurized.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for crushing fruit in an inert gas comprising:

a. a first enclosed container having an inlet opening at the upper end thereof,

b. means in said first container for crushing fruit ine. means for preventing flow of gas from said second container up through said first container and out the inlet opening thereof when said interior of said second container is subjected to superatmospheric pressure,

f. a source of inert gas filling said first and second containers.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means (d) comprises a valve.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim l, wherein said means (d) comprises a conduit'connected to said outlet opening, said conduit extending upwardly above the top of said second container.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and further including a source of inert gas under superatmospheric pressure, and means for connecting said source to said second container. 1'

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, and further including a mobile vehicle, said first and second containers being mounted on said vehicle for transportation thereby.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further including a shroud connected at one end to the inlet of said first container and extending therefrom, said shroud having an opening at the other end thereof, and conveyor means disposed in said shroud and extending beyond the opening thereof for conveying fruit through said shroud and into the inlet opening of said first container.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, and further including a mobile vehicle, said first and second containers and said conveyor means being mounted on said vehicle for transportation thereby, and further including a source of inert gas under superatmospheric pressure and means for connecting said source to said second container.

8. Apparatus for crushing, transporting and discharging fruit in'an inert gas comprising:

a. a mobile vehicle,

b. enclosed container means mounted on said vehicle, said container means having an inlet opening at the upper end thereof and an outlet opening at the lower end thereof,

. means in the upper portion of said container means for crushing fruit introduced into said container means through said inlet opening,

. a source inert gas filling said container means, said gas being displaceable out through said inlet opening upon introduction of fruit in through said inlet opening,

. said source of inert gas under superatmospheric pressure,

f. means for simultaneously discharging crushed fruit through said outlet opening and for introducing inert gas from said source into said container means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said lastnamed means includes a valve means for preventing discharge of inert gas from said inlet opening when the interior of said container means is subjected to superatmospheric pressure.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said last-named means is operable to discharge crushed fruit through said outlet opening when the interior of said container means is at atmos heric ressure.

11. Apparatus as set for h m 0 arm 8, wherein said

Claims

1. Apparatus for crushing fruit in an inert gas comprising: a. a first enclosed container having an inlet opening at the upper end thereof, b. means in said first container for crushing fruit introduced into said container through said inlet opening, c. a second enclosed container disposed below saiD first container and in fluid communication therewith, said second container having an outlet at the lower end thereof, d. means for preventing discharge of crushed fruit through said outlet of said second container when the interior of said second container is at atmospheric pressure, and for allowing discharge through said outlet when said interior of said second container is subjected to superatmospheric pressure, e. means for preventing flow of gas from said second container up through said first container and out the inlet opening thereof when said interior of said second container is subjected to superatmospheric pressure, f. a source of inert gas filling said first and second containers.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means (d) comprises a valve.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means (d) comprises a conduit connected to said outlet opening, said conduit extending upwardly above the top of said second container.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and further including a source of inert gas under superatmospheric pressure, and means for connecting said source to said second container.

8. Apparatus for crushing, transporting and discharging fruit in an inert gas comprising: a. a mobile vehicle, b. enclosed container means mounted on said vehicle, said container means having an inlet opening at the upper end thereof and an outlet opening at the lower end thereof, c. means in the upper portion of said container means for crushing fruit introduced into said container means through said inlet opening, d. a source inert gas filling said container means, said gas being displaceable out through said inlet opening upon introduction of fruit in through said inlet opening, e. said source of inert gas under superatmospheric pressure, f. means for simultaneously discharging crushed fruit through said outlet opening and for introducing inert gas from said source into said container means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said last-named means includes a valve means for preventing discharge of inert gas from said inlet opening when the interior of said container means is subjected to superatmospheric pressure.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said last-named means is operable to discharge crushed fruit through said outlet opening when the interior of said container means is at atmospheric pressure.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said source of inert gas is mounted on said vehicle for transport thereby.