APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERFORATION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

摘要

An apparatus and method for the perforation of the skins or hulls of food pieces to more efficiently produce a dried, shelf-stable product. The apparatus contains two parallel and adjacent blade wheels positioned longitudinally within a frame in substantially the same horizontal plane at a distance from each other such that the blades' teeth contact product passing between the blade wheels and make perforations. Each blade wheel comprises a plurality of circular blades with a plurality of teeth around the circumference mounted on a rotatable shaft. In one aspect, a guard is provided for each blade wheel to ensure that no product remains on the blades after perforation. The shape, size and number of blades and the distance between the blade wheels may be modified with respect to the size and shape of the product and the strength of the product's skin or hull.