A method for partial husking of an ear of corn including a first cutting step of partially cutting through the ear of corn at a first end thereof, thus separating a first end of the ear joined to a first part of the husk from the remainder of the ear; a first removing step of removing the first end of the ear together with the first part of the husk from the ear; a second cutting step of partially cutting through the ear of corn at a second end thereof; a second removing step of removing the second end of the ear together with the second part of the husk from the ear; and trimming the remaining part of the husk.
The method of partially husking corn includes the steps of completely severing the first end of the ear of corn. The second end is partially crossed cut. The husk from the partially cut end is then rotated transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the corn ear. Subsequently and substantially concurrently, the husk is removed from the ear of corn by transversely pulling the husk away from the ear and longitudinally moving the ear along its axis. The corn husking apparatus includes a conveyor having corn holding channels which retain the ears of corn. The corn husker has a corn end cutter which cuts the first end of the corn. A trimmer is disposed next to the conveyor downstream and opposite the end cutter. The trimmer partially cross cuts the second end of the corn. A guide is disposed immediately downstream of the trimmer. The guide has an inboard surface which guides and rotates the corn husk away transverse with respect to the movement of the conveyor. A pair of counter rotating pinch rollers are disposed immediately downstream of the guide. The husk is fed by the guide into the rollers. The pinch rollers strip the husk from the ear substantially concurrently with the transverse ejectment of ear from the corn holding channel of the conveyor.
A device for husking corn ears is disclosed. The device removes the husks and silks and at the same time avoids substantial damage to the kernels. The device includes a plurality of rollers and drive means which rotate the rollers at selected speeds in selected directions in a selected sequence. A method of husking corn comprising the steps of cutting the butt end off the ear, and positioning the ear between closely spaced rollers rotating in opposite directions to gently remove the husks is also disclosed.
A mobile system for processing raw ears of corn includes a first mobile processing trailer for receiving raw unhusked ears of corn, holding the ears and disbursing them to a husker for removing corn husks and corn silk from the ears. A conveyer takes the husked ears of corn to a second trailer for further processing. The second mobile processing trailer includes multiple cutting machines to remove the corn kernels from the cob and a saw to slice the fresh ears of corn into mini cobs. A conveyer takes the sliced cobs to a holding bin for transportation to a cannery while a second conveyer removes the corn kernels from the second trailer to a third trailer for washing and cooling. The third trailer includes a pair of rotating sieves and a cooling tank to clean and chill the corn kernels. The chilled kernels are then transported via a conveyer to transportation receptacle for transportation to a cannery for further processing.
A continuous flighted conveyor belt (18) is fed product (12) from a transverse direction. As the belt moves the product forward, offset water jets (56) cause some of the items not seated in a flight (20) to be rotated and captured in the flights. Further movement brings the product (12) to a zone where water jets (72) force all items to one side against a registration plate (76). Excess product and items not captured are forced off the surface of the belt by water jets (62) and are carried away to be fed again. A cutting blade (84) is set an appropriate distance from the registration plate (76) to trim product captured and registered. The products are then forced across the width of the belt by repositioning water jets 102 and stop against a second registration plate (104). A belt (82) covering the top of the belt flights (22) prevents items from escaping through the top of the conveyor. Products registered are trimmed on their other end and are optionally cut into segments of regular length by a gang cutter (44) set an appropriate distance from the registration plate.
