US 7,487,719 B2
	Method for separating banana clusters into separate bananas
Raul Fernandez, Weston, Fla. (US); Gonzalo Marquez, Miami, Fla. (US); Kevin Forsyth, Pembroke Pines, Fla. (US); Julio Vasquez, Batavia, Ohio (US); Mark Bakhakh, St. Petersburg (Russian Federation); Yury Buch, St. Petersburg (Russian Federation); Sergey Klimin, St. Petersburg (Russian Federation); Vladimir Vasiliev, St. Petersburg (Russian Federation); Oleg Feigenson, St. Petersburg (Russian Federation); Illya Ilyin, St. Petersburg (Russian Federation); and Yuriy Yaess, St. Petersburg (Russian Federation)
Assigned to Chiquita Brands International, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/427,166.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/695371, filed on Jun. 30, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0095771 A1, May 03, 2007
Int. Cl. A23N 15/00 (2006.01); A23N 15/02 (2006.01); B26D 7/06 (2006.01); B26D 1/44 (2006.01); B26D 1/147 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 99—638  [99/537; 99/642; 99/643; 426/478; 426/518; 56/244; 56/245; 56/249; 56/290; 56/295]

10 Claims

1. Method for separation of a banana cluster into individual fruits, using a cutter having a cutting edge, wherein a banana cluster is hung on a cable in such a way that the cluster hanging point is the place where the fruit stalks converge, such that the cable is threaded between individual bananas, after which the cluster and/or cutter are moved one toward the other, thereby cutting the banana fruit stalks with the cutter at a point lower than the cluster hanging point.