APPARATUS FOR REMOVING RIND FROM SPHEROIDAL FRUITS

An apparatus and method for removing rind from a spheroidal food article, such as a melon is provided. The apparatus includes a carriage assembly having revolving spindles that retain a melon on its axis and revolve the melon on its equator. The spindles are aligned with a first axis when the carriage assembly is in an initial position. A cutting assembly is located adjacent to the carriage assembly. The cutting assembly includes reciprocating knifes that are positioned on either side of the melon and aligned with the equator thereof. The knifes are configured with a blade dimensioned to extend through the rind of the melon, without extending substantially into the flesh of the melon. A rotating assembly is provided for rotating the carriage assembly between the initial position and a completed position, and parallel to the first axis. The spindles revolve the melon on its equator, so that the knifes initially remove rind from the melon along the equator thereof. The rotating assembly rotates the carriage assembly toward the completed position for rotating the melon about its axis, so that the knifes can continuously remove rind from the melon as the carriage assembly is rotated toward the completed position. Thus, the entire rind is substantially removed from the melon. Additionally, knife members that extend beneath cups of the spindles may be provided. The knife members are simultaneously rotated through each pole of the melon to disengage the melon from the spindles, without removing excessive flesh from the melon.