PRESSE-AGRUMES

JUICE EXTRACTOR

Abrégé français

Cette invention concerne un presse-agrumes conçu pour séparer le jus et la pulpe d'un agrume, comprenant une coupelle inférieure (16) recevant un fruit entier et une coupelle supérieure (14) disposée à la verticale de la coupelle inférieure, les deux coupelles pouvant se déplacer l'une par rapport à l'autre selon une direction verticale de manière à presser le fruit placé entre elles. On trouve un couteau supérieur (30) servant à découper un bouchon dans le fruit, ce qui permet de séparer la peau d'une part, le jus et la pulpe d'autre part, et un couteau inférieur (24) qui tranche ledit bouchon et permet au jus et à la pulpe de s'échapper lorsque le fruit est comprimé entre les coupelles supérieure et inférieure. Sous la coupelle inférieure et le couteau inférieur se trouve un tube tamis (26) disposé verticalement qui présente à sa périphérie une pluralité de fentes (38) sur sa longueur effective (36). Un tube plongeur vient coulisser dans le tube tamis et en chasse à force le jus et la pulpe par les encoches dans un réservoir distinct. Les encoches du tube tamis peuvent être équidistantes et de largeur égale ou variable, largeur comprise dans tous les cas de préférence entre 0,5 et 3 mm environ.

Abrégé anglais

An extractor for separating the juice and juice sacs from a citrus fruit that
includes a lower cup (16) for supporting a single piece of citrus fruit and an
upper cup (14) disposed vertically above the lower cup with the upper and
lower cups moveable relative to each other in a vertical direction so as to
cooperate to squeeze the piece of citrus fruit placed therebetween. An upper
cutter (30) is provided for cutting a plug in the citrus to permit the
separation of the peel from the juice and the juice sacs, while a lower cutter
(24) is provided for cutting the plug to allow the juice and juice sacs to
exit therethrough when the fruit is squeezed between the upper and lower cups.
A strainer tube (26) is vertically oriented beneath the lower cup and lower
cutter, with the strainer tube having a plurality of circumferential slots
(38) along its working length (36). A plunger tube is slidingly received
within the strainer tube for forcing the juice and juice sacs outwardly
through the slots and the strainer tube into a separate reservoir. The slots
in the strainer tube may be of equal width and evenly spaced apart or of
varying widths. In any event, the slots are preferably between about 0.5 and
about 3 millimeters in width.

Revendications

CLAIMS
1. An extractor for separating juice and juice sacs
from a citrus fruit, the apparatus comprising:
a lower cup for supporting a single piece of citrus
fruit;
an upper cup disposed vertically above the lower
cup, the upper and lower cups moveable relative to each
other in a vertical direction so as to cooperate to
squeeze the citrus fruit therebetween;
an upper cutter for cutting a plug in the citrus to
permit the separation of the peel from the juice and
juice sacs;
a lower cutter for cutting a plug in the citrus to
allow the juice and juice sacs to exit therethrough;
an elongated strainer tube vertically oriented
beneath the lower cup and lower cutter, the strainer tube
having a plurality of circumferential. slots along at
least a portion of its length so as to define solid space
and free space; and
a plunger tube slidingly received within the
strainer tube for forcing the juice and juice sacs
outwardly through the slots in the strainer tube into a
separate reservoir.
2. The extraction apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the
ratio of solid space to free space is between approximately 4
to 1 and approximately 1 to 4.
3. The extraction apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the
ratio of solid space to free space is between approximately 2
to 1 and approximately 1 to 2.
4. The extraction apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the
ratio of solid space to free space is approximately 1 to 1.
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5. The extraction apparatus of Claim 1 wherein each
slot comprises an open area and at least one land.
6. The extraction apparatus of Claim 5 wherein the
lands of each slot are aligned with the lands of the other
slots to form at least one axially oriented spine.
7. The extraction apparatus of Claim 5 wherein the
lands of adjacent slots are displaced from each other.
8. The extraction apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the
slots in the strainer tube are of equal width and evenly
spaced apart.
9. The extraction apparatus of Claim 8 wherein the
slots in the strainer tube are between approximately 0.5 and 3
millimeters in width.
10. The extraction apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the
slots in the strainer vary in width.
11. The extraction apparatus of Claim 10 herein the
slots in the strainer tube vary between about 0.5 and 3
millimeters in width.
12. A strainer for use in a juice extractor, the
strainer comprising an elongated tubular member having a
plurality of circumferential slots along at least a portion of
its length so as to define solid space and free space, the
ratio of solid space to free space being between approximately
2 to 1 and approximately 1 to 2, and the strainer being
adapted to be vertically oriented in the juice extractor.
13. The strainer of Claim 12 wherein each slot comprises
an open area and at least one land, the land of each slot
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being aligned with the land of the adjacent slots to form at
least one axially oriented spine.
14. The strainer of Claim 13 wherein the slots are of
equal width between about 0.5 and 3 millimeters.
15. A method of extracting juice from a citrus fruit
comprising:
providing a piece of citrus fruit having a peel and
containing juice and juice sacs therein;
providing a strainer comprising a vertically
oriented elongated tube having a plurality of
circumferential slots along at least a portion of its
length so as to define solid space and free space, the
ratio of solid space to free space being between
approximately 4.to 1 and approximately 1 to 4;
separating the juice and juice sacs from the peel
and forcing the juice and juice sacs into the strainer;
and
forcing the juice and juice sacs out through the
strainer through the circumferential slots and into a
juice collection reservoir.
16. The method of Claim 15 wherein each slot in the
strainer comprises an open area and at least one land, the
lands of the adjacent slots being aligned so as to form at
least one axially oriented spine.
17. The method of Claim 16 wherein the strainer further
comprises slots of equal width between approximately 0.5 and 3
millimeters which are evenly spaced apart.
18. The method of Claim 15 wherein the strainer has a
ratio of solid space to free space of between approximately 2
to 1 and 1 to 2.
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Description

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JUICE EXTRACTOR
The present invention relates to a citrus juice extractor
and, more particularly, to a citrus juice extractor that
provides for a pulpier juice product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The juice of citrus fruits has long been popular as a
beverage due to its flavor, as well as its nutritional and
health promoting properties.
In currently available industrial-scale machines for .
citrus juice extraction, the citrus fruit is placed one-at-a-
time between a series of two opposed cups that move toward
each other. A hole is cut in the skin or peel of each citrus
fruit, and as the cups move together to squeeze the fruit, the
internal components of the fruit, including juice, pulp (or
juice sacs) and seeds, plus the cut portion of the peel are
forced through the hole cut in the fruit and into a strainer
tube. The juice and some pulp then are forced outward through
the strainer tube and collected in a reservoir, while the
undesired seeds and peel remain in the tube and. are
subsequently disposed of. See, generally, U.S. Patent Nos.
5,996,485 and 5,655,441, which disclose two different
configurations for juice extractors, and which are
incorporated herein by reference.
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Over time, it has been determined that many people prefer
the taste of juice with intact pulp cells or juice sacs. In
extractors of the type described in the above-identified
patents, the strainer tubes are believed to be configured
and/or oriented in such a way to restrict the flow of intact
juice sacs therethrough, at times resulting in loss of
valuable pulp into waste streams or less desirable byproducts.
Flow restriction which can be characteristic of prior
extractors also can result in a significant number of fruit
sacs becoming cut or otherwise damaged when passing through
the strainer tube. Further, while pulpier juice is desired,
the travel of extraneous pulpy material into the primary juice
stream through the strainer tube must be avoided.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present
invention to provide a juice extractor which provides for
pulpier, more flavorful juice product.
More specifically, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a juice extractor that incorporates an
improved strainer tube assembly that permits more of the
desirable pulp to flow therethrough while limiting the travel
of the undesirable portions of the inside of the fruit into
the juice stream.
Another object of this invention is to provide an
improved citrus juice extraction apparatus and method which
satisfy a desirable texture profile analysis of pulp juice
while reducing pulp damage and increasing pulp extraction
efficiency and desirable pulp yield.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These objects, as well as others which will become
apparent upon reference to the following detailed description
and accompanying drawings, are provided by an extractor for
separating the juice and juice sacs from a citrus fruit that
includes a lower cup for supporting a single piece of citrus
fruit and an upper cup disposed vertically above the lower cup
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with the upper and lower cups moveable relative to each other
in a vertical direction so as to cooperate to squeeze the
piece of citrus fruit placed therebetween. An upper cutter is
provided for cutting a plug in the citrus to permit the
separation of the peel from the juice and the juice sacs,
while a lower cutter is provided for cutting the plug to allow
the juice and juice sacs to exit therethrough when the fruit
is squeezed between the upper and lower cups. A strainer tube
is vertically oriented beneath the lower cup and lower cutter,
with the strainer tube having a plurality of circumferential
slots along its working length. A plunger tube is slidingly
received within the stainer tube for forcing the juice and
juice sacs outwardly through the slots and the strainer tube
into a separate reservoir. The slots in the strainer tube may
be of equal width and evenly spaced apart or of varying
widths. In any event, the slots are preferably between about
0.5 and about 3 millimeters in width.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automated juice
extraction machine which may incorporate the present
invention.
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal view in partial
cross-section of a single juice extracting mechanism embodying
the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the internal
portions of the citrus being forced through the strainer tube
and into a reservoir.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a strainer tube
according to the present invention, also showing an
alternative slot arrangement.
Fig. 5 is a p°erspective view of another alternative
design for the strainer tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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With reference to Fig. 1, there is seen a juice extractor
machine, generally designated as 10, made up of five
individual extractor units 12, each having an upper cup 14 and
a lower cup 16, ganged together in a common frame 18.
Before the citrus fruit is placed on the individual
extractor unit 12, it is unloaded either manually or otherwise
into a hopper from which it is conveyed through a washing
process, typically a series of brushes where the fruit is
gently scrubbed to remove field oils, soil, mold and dust.
Fruit is then typically discharged onto a roller grader where
workers or automatic sorters select the fruit to remove broken
pieces, leaves and other undesirable materials from the flow
of fruit supply. The fruit is then typically conveyed to a
sizing roller to separate the fruit into sizes equivalent to
the size range of the upper and lower cups of the individual
extractor units in order to ensure the maximum yield and
quality. The fruit is then conveyed to the proper extractor
machine 10, such as that shown in Fig. 1 where the individual
fruits roll down the chutes 20 so that each piece of fruit
will nest in the lower cup of the individual extractor units
12 .
With reference now to Figures 2 and 3, there is seen an
individual extractor unit 12 with the upper and lower cups 14,
16, respectively. The upper cup 14 is supported on a cross
bar 22 which moves in a fixed up and down direction by means
of a cam-operated drive (not shown) contained in the top
portion of the extractor machine 10. The lower cup 16 is
rigidly positioned and secured to the frame 18.
As illustrated, the upper and lower cups 14, 16 are
formed as interdigitated cups having fingers that intermesh
together as the upper cup is moved into the lower cup. The
cam-operated drive system forces the upper cup 14 into the
lower cup 16 and presses the fruit against a circular cutter
tube 24 located at the base of the lower cup 16 and on top of
an elongated prefinishing or strainer tube 26. The cutter 24
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cuts a plug in the bottom of the fruit 28 to allow the
internal portions of the fruit access to the interior of the
strainer tube 26.
An upper cutter 30 is associated with the upper cup 14
and cuts a plug in the top of the fruit to permit separation
of the peel from the internal portions of the fruit 28 as the
fruit 28 is squeezed between the upper and lower cups 14, 16.
The inner portion of the fruit 28 is forced down into the
strainer tube 26 (Fig. 3), and a plunger tube (not seen)
received on the interior of the strainer tube 26 moves
upwardly to force the inner portions of the fruit 28 that are
appropriately sized through the strainer tube and into a juice
manifold or reservoir 32, where the juice 34 is collected.
The peel is discharged between the upper cup and upper cutter.
In keeping with the invention, it has been determined
that both the configuration and the orientation of the
strainer tube 26 affects the quality of the juice and pulp
within the juice extracted from the fruit. Specifically, it
has been found that a vertically oriented strainer tube 26
having a plurality of circumferential slots along its working
length provides for a juice, and especially juice pulp, having
a preferable texture profile. This is believed to occur
because the combination of circumferential slots and vertical
orientation results in enhanced pulp collection volumes and
less damage to the pulp as it passes through the strainer tube
26.
Referring more specifically to the strainer tube, it has
a working length 36 along which the circumferential slots are
positioned. Working length 36 has both solid space and open
or free space. The ratio of solid space to free space is
between about 1 to 4 and about 4 to 1, preferably the ratio is
between about 2 to 1 and about 1 to 2. Most preferably the
ratio is on the order of about 1 to 1.
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In the illustrated embodiments, the free space is in the
form of circumferential slots 38, and the solid space is in
the form of metal or polymer land areas between the slots,
both circumferential land areas 40 between the slots and
axially oriented land areas 42 between slot sections. The
axially oriented lands 42 provide structural support. Each
axially oriented land 42 can be in axial alignment with
adjacent axial lands to form a spine 44 as in the upper
position of working length 36. Offset orientations also are
acceptable and can be advantageous in reducing obstructions
for passage of juice pulp through the circumferential slot
sections. One such possible offset arrangement is illustrated
in~the lower portion of the working length shown in Fig. 4.
It also can be advantageous to combine the spine structure
with the offset structure, one of the possible combinations in
this regard being thus shown in Fig. 4.
With further reference to Fig. 4, there is seen an
embodiment of the strainer tube 26. The strainer tube 26
includes a plurality of circumferential slots 38 along its
working length 36. As illustrated, the width of the slots 38
is equal, and the slots are evenly spaced by the
circumferential land areas 40 along the working portion of the
strainer tube 26. In practice, the width of the slots
preferably is between approximately 0.5 and 3 millimeters, and
the width of the circumferential land areas preferably is
between about 0.5 and about 3 millimeters. Slot widths and
land widths can vary along the working length.
With reference to Fig. 5, there is seen an alternate
embodiment of the strainer tube 26a of the present invention.
In the strainer tube 26a of Fig. 5, the width of the slots
varies. Specifically, the slots are of two different
alternating widths. Again, the widths of the slots are
between 0.5 and 3 millimeters. In this illustrated
embodiment, the slots are evenly spaced apart with the width
of slots 46 being 1 millimeter and the width of slots 48 being
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2 millimeters. The typical spacing between the slots can be
between 0.5 millimeter and 3 millimeters. Spines 50 can be
provided as shown, or offset land arrangements can be
substituted.
Thus, a juice extractor has been provided that meets the
objects of the foregoing invention. While the invention has
been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments,
there is no intent to limit it to the same. Instead, the
scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

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