Washing a cored lettuce head
View Patent ↗A produce washer includes a holder to position a single piece of produce and a nozzle disposed at a horizontal distance adjacent to the holder. When the produce is a cored lettuce head, the cored lettuce head is positioned in the holder with the cored portion facing the nozzle disposed across the horizontal distance. When the cored lettuce head is positioned in the holder, the nozzle directs a stream of cleansing liquid across the horizontal distance into the cored portion.
1. A produce washer to wash a cored lettuce head having a cored portion, comprising:
a holder to position a single cored lettuce head;
a nozzle disposed at a horizontal distance adjacent to the holder,
wherein the cored lettuce head is positioned in the holder with the cored portion of the cored lettuce head facing the nozzle disposed across the horizontal distance, and
wherein the nozzle directs a stream of cleansing liquid across the horizontal distance into the cored portion when the cored lettuce head is positioned in the holder;
a bar coupled to the holder;
a strut;
a nozzle holder, wherein the nozzle is inserted into the nozzle holder; and
a series of sliding clamps to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder with multiple degrees of freedom, wherein the series of sliding clamps include:
a first sliding clamp coupled to the strut, wherein the first sliding clamp can slide along the bar to be fastened in a plurality of positions along the bar to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder with a first degree of freedom; and
a second sliding clamp coupled to the nozzle holder, wherein the second sliding clamp can slide along the strut to be fastened in a plurality of positions along the strut to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder with a second degree of freedom.
2. The produce washer of claim 1 , wherein the holder includes a rim portion and support bars, wherein the support bars are curved to support and hold the cored lettuce head.
3. The produce washer of claim 1 , further comprising a pivot to couple the bar to the holder and to allow the nozzle to rotate relative to the holder.
4. The produce washer of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is oriented at an angle relative to the horizon.
5. The produce washer of claim 4 , wherein the angle includes a range between about positive 45 degrees to about negative 45 degrees relative to the horizon.
6. The produce washer of claim 4 , wherein the nozzle includes a plurality of nozzles.
7. A mechanical produce washer, comprising:
a holder component to receive a single piece of produce; and
a nozzle assembly disposed adjacent to the holder component at a horizontal distance to direct a stream of cleansing liquid at the piece of produce when the piece of produce is received in the holder component,
wherein the nozzle assembly comprises:
a nozzle;
a bar coupled to the holder component;
strut;
a nozzle holder, wherein the nozzle is inserted into the nozzle holder; and
a series of sliding clamps to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder component with multiple degrees of freedom, wherein the series of sliding clamps include:
a first sliding clamp coupled to the strut, wherein the first sliding clamp can slide along the bar to be fastened in a plurality of positions along the bar to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder component with a first degree of freedom; and
a second sliding clamp coupled to the nozzle holder, wherein the second sliding clamp can slide along the strut to be fastened in a plurality of positions along the strut to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder component with a second degree of freedom.
8. The mechanical produce washer of claim 7 , wherein the holder component includes a basket.
9. The mechanical produce washer of claim 8 , wherein the basket encompasses less than approximately 180 degrees of the piece of produce.
10. The mechanical produce washer of claim 8 , wherein the basket includes a rim portion and support bars, wherein the support bars are curved to support and hold the piece of produce.
11. The mechanical produce washer of claim 10 , wherein the basket includes a lowered side to provide access to the basket to load and unload the piece of produce from the basket.
12. The mechanical produce washer of claim 7 , further comprising a pivot to couple the bar to the holder component and to allow the nozzle assembly to rotate relative to the holder component.
13. The mechanical produce washer of claim 7 , further comprising a clamp coupled to the holder component to affix the produce washer to a conveyer system.
14. The mechanical produce washer of claim 7 , wherein the nozzle assembly includes a plurality of nozzles.
15. The mechanical produce washer of claim 7 , wherein the nozzle assembly includes a nozzle, and wherein the nozzle is oriented at an angle relative to the horizon.
16. The mechanical produce washer of claim 15 , wherein the angle includes a range between about positive 45 degrees to about negative 45 degrees relative to the horizon.
17. A produce washer, comprising:
a holder to position a piece of produce;
a nozzle coupled to holder to direct a stream of cleansing liquid horizontally at the piece of produce;
a bar coupled to the holder;
a strut;
a nozzle holder, wherein the nozzle is inserted into the nozzle holder; and
a series of sliding clams to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder with multiple degrees of freedom, wherein the series of sliding clamps include:
a first sliding clamp coupled to the strut, wherein the first sliding clamp can slide along the bar to be fastened in a plurality of positions along the bar to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder with a first degree of freedom; and
a second sliding clamp coupled to the nozzle holder, wherein the second sliding clamp an slide along the strut to be fastened in a plurality of positions along the strut to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder with a second degree of freedom.
18. The produce washer of claim 17 , wherein the holder is a ring.
19. The produce washer of claim 17 , wherein the holder is a cone.
20. The produce washer of claim 17 , wherein the holder is a basket.
21. The produce washer of claim 17 , further comprising a pivot to couple the bar to the holder and to allow the nozzle to rotate relative to the holder.
22. The produce washer of claim 17 , further comprising a clamp coupled to the holder to affix the produce washer to a conveyor system.
23. A produce packaging system, comprising:
a produce washer including:
a holder to position a piece of produce; and
a nozzle coupled to the holder to direct a stream of cleansing liquid horizontally at the piece of produce;
a bar coupled to the holder;
a strut;
a nozzle holder, wherein the nozzle is inserted into the nozzle holder; and
a series of sliding clamps to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder with multiple degrees of freedom, wherein the series of sliding clamps include:
a first sliding clamp coupled to the strut, wherein the first sliding clamp can slide along the bar to be fastened in a plurality of positions along the bar to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder with a first degree of freedom; and
a second sliding damn coupled to the nozzle holder, wherein the second sliding clamp can slide along the strut to be fastened in a plurality of positions along the strut to allow the nozzle to move relative to the holder with a second degree of freedom; and
a conveyor system to move the produce washer to the piece of produce.