Juicer

Abstract

Juice press for pressing fruit, comprising a receiving bowl and a pressing head, wherein the receiving bowl and the pressing head are designed to be movable relative to each other, wherein the receiving bowl has air passage openings and the pressing head has liquid passage openings.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a juice press for pressing fruits, in particular citrus fruits.

[0002] Various types of juice presses are known from current technology. There are presses that process whole fruits, as well as presses where the fruits are halved before pressing. In the latter case, the fruit half is placed in a receiving tray and pressed against a pressing surface, causing the juice to be extracted.

[0003] Such presses can be designed as automatic juice presses that automatically feed in, cut and press the fruit, but also as manual juice presses, where the pressing process is carried out, for example, via a lever arm.

[0004] The juice obtained during the pressing process can flow through the pressing surface or to the side of it and is directed from the juice press into a glass or a collection container via an outlet.

[0005] One disadvantage of conventional juicers is that pressed fruit pulp occasionally gets stuck in the collection tray. In such cases, the next piece of fruit or fruit half cannot be properly collected and falls out of the tray before juicing. This can lead to significant malfunctions, even damage or destruction of the juicer.

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a juicer that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. This objective can thus be seen, among other things, as providing a juicer that prevents the pulp and juice residue extracted after pressing from becoming stuck in the collection trays, thereby ensuring trouble-free and continuous operation.

[0007] To solve the problem, a juice press for pressing fruit is provided, wherein the juice press comprises a receiving bowl and a pressing head, wherein the receiving bowl and the pressing head are designed to be movable relative to each other, wherein the receiving bowl has air passage openings and the pressing head has liquid passage openings.

[0008] The receiving tray is preferably designed to hold a fruit half and keep it in position during the pressing process. The fruit half can rest with the peel side inside the receiving tray, so that the cut surface is exposed and comes into contact with the press head.

[0009] The receiving tray can have a recess for holding a fruit, preferably half a fruit. Preferably, the recess is hemispherical or adapted to the shape of the fruit. This allows the receiving tray to form the counter-support surface for the pressing process.

[0010] The press head serves as a pressing surface that presses against the fruit half in the receiving bowl to extract the juice. The press head can be, for example, dome-shaped or conical.

[0011] The press head has openings for liquid passage. These are channels or slots through which the juice extracted during the pressing process can escape and be directed away from the press head. This prevents the juice from backing up and ensures a continuous flow towards the outlet.

[0012] The receiving tray and the pressing head are designed to be movable relative to each other; that is, they are not coupled at a fixed distance but can move relative to each other. This can be achieved, for example, by lowering the pressing head axially onto the fruit or raising it towards the fruit, or alternatively or additionally by moving the receiving tray against the pressing head.

[0013] Preferably, the receiving tray and the pressing head are movable in such a way that the pressing head is at least partially located within the recess of the receiving tray in a pressing position.

[0014] Air vents are openings or channels in the collection tray that allow air to pass from the outside to the inside. During the pressing process, these openings prevent a vacuum from forming between the fruit and the collection tray, which could cause the pressed fruit residue to stick. They thus serve to equalize pressure and prevent the fruit residue from becoming trapped in the collection tray.

[0015] Preferably, the collection tray is positioned above the press head. This allows juice escaping through the air vents to drip downwards towards the press head. Residual liquid can thus be directed straight into the pressing area and carried away along with the main juice flow.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the receiving tray is movable and / or the pressing head is rigidly designed. Preferably, the receiving tray is rotatable and / or vertically displaceable. The movable design of the receiving tray allows the fruit to be flexibly positioned relative to the pressing head. The receiving tray can thus receive a fruit half coming from above and be rotated to align it so that the cut surface of the fruit half faces the pressing head located below. The receiving tray can then be moved vertically downwards towards the pressing head, pressing the fruit half against the pressing head and extracting the juice. This design has the advantage that the pressing head remains rigidly fixed in the machine and does not require any complex guides or bearings. All movements for positioning and extracting the juice are performed via the receiving tray.This simplifies the design, reduces the number of moving parts in the pressing area, and achieves a robust and hygienically advantageous construction.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the juice press comprises several pressing heads and / or several receiving trays. This allows several fruit halves to be pressed in a short time. Preferably, the receiving trays and the associated pressing heads are arranged such that both halves of a fruit can be received and pressed simultaneously.

[0018] According to the invention, several receiving trays are also designed such that the fruit halves held therein can be pressed on a common pressing head. Several receiving trays can be movably designed to move closer together to the same pressing head.

[0019] Preferably, the receiving trays and the pressing heads are arranged such that at least one, preferably two, three, four or five receiving trays can be approached by each pressing head.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, several receiving trays can be rotatably mounted about a common axis of rotation. For this purpose, the receiving trays can be arranged on a common shaft so that they can be aligned with the aid of this shaft in such a way that each receiving tray can be positioned with its opening facing a pressing head. Preferably, the openings of the recesses in the receiving trays are directed radially outwards. The multiple receiving trays and / or pressing heads significantly increase the productivity of the juice press, as several fruits or fruit halves can be processed simultaneously. The arrangement on a common axis of rotation also allows for a compact design and simple control of the movements.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the air vents of one or more receiving trays are arranged distributed across their outer surface. Preferably, the air vents are positioned at different heights. This distribution across the outer surface ensures uniform pressure equalization during the pressing process. The arrangement at different heights guarantees sufficient ventilation of the receiving chamber regardless of the size of the fruit used or the immersion depth of the press head. This reliably prevents the formation of a negative pressure or vacuum that could suction the fruit half into the receiving tray.

[0022] Preferably, the air openings, arranged at a common height, are formed along a circular path on the outer surface of the receiving tray and are preferably evenly spaced from one another. The circular arrangement of the air openings ensures symmetrical pressure equalization across the entire circumference of the receiving tray. The uniform spacing of the openings ensures that ventilation is always homogeneous, regardless of the position of the fruit half. This prevents localized areas of negative pressure that could cause the fruit halves to stick. Furthermore, the regular arrangement simplifies the manufacturing of the receiving tray.

[0023] The air vents, positioned at different heights, are preferably offset from each other circumferentially. This staggered arrangement of the air vents at multiple heights creates a uniform pressure equalization throughout the entire interior of the receiving tray. Furthermore, this increases the stability of the receiving tray.

[0024] Preferably, the juice press includes a plate, preferably in the form of a perforated plate, which is arranged parallel to the path of relative movement between the receiving tray and the pressing head and / or positioned at a distance from the receiving tray and the pressing head. The plate can serve as a protective element against fruit halves accidentally falling out of the receiving tray. Without this plate, fruit residue could get between the pressing device and a viewing window located in the front area, potentially causing damage or even destruction of the viewing window. The plate reliably prevents such damage.

[0025] Preferably, the distance between the receiving trays is chosen to be so small that the fruit halves are largely prevented from falling out by design. In this case, the plate provides an additional safety layer.

[0026] The perforated plate design also ensures a clear view of the pressing device from the outside, allowing the user to observe the pressing process without compromising the plate's protective function. The plate, preferably in the form of a perforated plate, can be designed as a transparent plate.

[0027] The invention will be explained again below using the figures as an example. Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a receiving tray 1 of a juice press according to the invention in two different perspective views. Fig. Figure 1A shows the receiving tray looking from the outside, while Fig. Figure 1B provides a view of the depression designed to hold the fruit half. The receiving tray 1 includes air openings 10, each forming a channel through the tray's wall and allowing air to pass from the outside to the inside. The air openings are arranged on two circular paths at different heights. Within each circular path, the openings are spaced uniformly around their circumference, while the openings of the two circular paths are offset from each other. Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a juice press according to the invention. The juice press comprises the receiving trays 11, 13, which are mounted on the shafts 12, 14. By rotating the shafts 12, 14, the receiving trays 11, 13 can be aligned so that the openings of the recesses point towards the pressing heads 2, 20. The receiving trays 11, 13 can also be lowered so that the pressing heads 2, 20 protrude into the recesses of the receiving trays. In this way, the fruit halves located in the receiving trays are reliably pressed. Fig. Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a juice press according to the invention, in which three receiving trays 15, 16, 17 are arranged on a common shaft. The receiving trays 15, 16, 17 can be positioned by rotating the shaft so that each receiving tray 15, 16, 17 can be brought close to the pressing head 21. The illustrated juice press comprises a total of six receiving trays and two pressing heads, with three receiving trays assigned to each pressing head and being able to be brought close to it. Fig.Figure 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a juice press according to the invention, in which two receiving trays 18, 19 are arranged on a common shaft. The receiving trays 18, 19 can be positioned by rotating the shaft so that each receiving tray 18, 19 can be brought close to the pressing head 22. The openings of the receiving trays 18, 19 are arranged such that they are oriented in opposite directions. The illustrated juice press comprises a total of four receiving trays and two pressing heads, with each pair of receiving trays being assigned to and able to be brought close to one pressing head. Reference symbol list 1 receiving tray 2 Press head 10 air vents 11 Receiving tray 12th wave 13 Receiving tray 14 wave 15 Receiving tray 16 Receiving tray 17 Receiving tray 18 Receiving tray 19 Receiving tray 20 Press head 21 Press head 22 Press head

Claims

[1] Juice press for pressing fruit, comprising a receiving bowl and a pressing head, wherein the receiving bowl and the pressing head are designed to be movable relative to each other, wherein the receiving bowl has air openings and the pressing head has liquid openings. [2] Juice press according to claim 1, wherein the receiving bowl has a depression for receiving a fruit, preferably a fruit half, preferably wherein the depression is hemispherical. [3] Juice press according to claim 2, wherein the receiving bowl and the pressing head are movable relative to each other such that the pressing head is in a position at least partially in the recess of the receiving bowl. [4] Juice press according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the receiving bowl is movable and / or the pressing head is rigid, preferably wherein the receiving bowl is rotatable and / or vertically displaceable. [5] Juice press according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the juice press comprises several pressing heads and / or several receiving trays. [6] Juice press according to claim 5, wherein the receiving bowls and the pressing heads are arranged such that at least one receiving bowl can be approached to each pressing head. [7] Juice press according to claim 5 or 6, wherein several receiving bowls are designed to approach the same press head. [8] Juice press according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein several receiving bowls are rotatably mounted about a common axis of rotation. [9] Juice press according to claim 8, wherein the openings of the recesses of the receiving bowls are directed radially outwards. [10] Juice press according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the air openings of the one or more receiving bowls are arranged distributed over the outer surface, preferably wherein the air openings are positioned at different heights. [11] Juice press according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the air passage openings positioned at one height are arranged along a circular path and are preferably spaced evenly apart from each other. [12] Juice press according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the air passage openings positioned at different heights are offset from each other in the circumferential direction. [13] Juice press according to one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a plate, preferably in the form of a perforated plate, which is arranged parallel to the path of the relative movement between the receiving bowl and the press head and / or is positioned at a distance from the receiving bowl and the press head.

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