Compact Citrus Juicer Cup Rotation for Space-Limited Installations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing citrus juice machines with cutting blades and two cups and juicing balls are too large for installations with limited space, making them unsuitable for establishments with space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A compact citrus juice machine design featuring a single fruit reception cup and a single squeezing ball, with a horizontal tilting blade and synchronized mechanisms for fruit cutting and squeezing, allowing for efficient use of space by rotating the cup and ramp to compress the fruit halves against the ball.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two cups and two juicing balls are used to juice both halves simultaneously, then juice production efficiency is improved, but machine size increases making it unsuitable for space-constrained establishments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of two separate juicing stations into a single cup and squeezing ball assembly. The cup rotates to present different fruit halves to the same squeezing ball at different times, merging what would traditionally require two separate juicing mechanisms into one compact unit, thereby reducing machine size while maintaining simultaneous processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The cup is designed to rotate dynamically during the juicing cycle, transitioning between different positions to present both upper and lower fruit halves to the stationary squeezing ball. This dynamic rotation allows a single squeezing ball to process multiple fruit halves sequentially, achieving the productivity of two juicing stations with the space of one
2Volume of moving object
If a single cup and single squeezing ball are used, then machine size is reduced for space efficiency, but juice production efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cup rotation mechanism ensures continuous juicing operation by constantly presenting new fruit halves to the squeezing ball. As one fruit half is being squeezed, the cup rotates to position the next half, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous productive action, thus preserving juice production efficiency despite using a single squeezing ball
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic rotation of the cup to present different fruit halves to the squeezing ball in a rhythmic sequence. This periodic action allows the single squeezing ball to process multiple halves systematically, maintaining productivity through organized cyclic operation rather than requiring simultaneous multi-ball operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The compact design enables efficient citrus juice extraction while minimizing space requirements, facilitating installation in smaller spaces without compromising juice production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The rail is pushed towards the upper position by means of a spring
Implementation Method 2
a vertical piston rod which rests on a magnet joined with the plate of the rack
Implementation Method 3
propelled by means of a spring towards the minimum inclination position of the blade
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 2e~2h
AI summary
Citrus juice machine with a fruit feed chute (1), fruit cutting and squeezing means and a peel collection tray (8). The cutting and squeezing means have a fruit reception cup (13), located below the fruit feed chute; devices to initiate the rotation of the cup between a vertical fruit reception position and an inverted position; a horizontal tilting blade (4) facing the rotating trajectory of the cup to cut the fruit in an upper and lower half; a retaining stop (5) for the upper half of the fruit; a ramp (7) to support the lower half of the fruit during the rotation of the cup from its vertical position to an inverted position; a squeezing ball (6) located below the cup.