| 摘要 |
A method for dry peeling potatoes includes punching the periphery of a potato to form a partially peeled potato having a standardized dimension, moving the partially peeled potato under and over other cutting members to remove the remainder of the potato skin. According to a presently preferred method, the potato is punched with an oval-cylindrical punch and the punch is utilized to hold the potato as a workpiece for further cutting operations. An apparatus according to the invention includes a plurality of punches which are arranged in carriers for transport through an assembly line; a plurality of plungers arranged along the assembly line for pushing a potato into a punch, for removing scraps, for repositioning the potato in the punch for further cutting operations, for removing the peeled potato from the punch, and optionally for cutting the peeled potato into a plurality of pieces; a plurality of movable cutting knives arranged along the assembly line for removing skin from opposite sides of the potato as it is held in the punch; and a conveying means for moving the carriers to the plungers and knives along the assembly line. Circular and linear assembly lines are disclosed. The invention produces approximately half the waste as compared to known methods and apparatus. Moreover, the waste is dry and usable for cattle feed, for example, and need not be processed as a pollutant. |
