Improved fruit and vegetable juicer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal fruit and vegetable juicers face inefficiencies due to a horizontal grating disc and inclined sieve design, leading to suboptimal pulp and juice separation, with pulp collection chamber over-pressurization causing juice loss through gaps.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a secondary processing surface and throttling channel to direct pulp and juice perpendicularly to the sieve, enhancing kinetic energy utilization and juice extraction efficiency, and includes a snorkel or vent above the pulp collection chamber to prevent juice loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a horizontal grating disc and inclined sieve design is used, then the device structure is simple, but the juice extraction efficiency is reduced and pulp-juice separation is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary processing surface that extends the primary horizontal processing surface into a downwardly inclined surface. This dimensional extension allows pulp and juice to be directed at a greater angle toward the sieve, improving separation efficiency without requiring a complete redesign of the basic horizontal disc structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The grating disc is divided into distinct functional zones: a primary horizontal processing surface for initial food breakdown and a secondary downwardly inclined processing surface for directing pulp and juice toward the sieve. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally, improving overall extraction efficiency.
2Loss of substance
If the grating disc is located close to the bottom of the frusto-conical sieve, then the device structure is compact, but pulp collection chamber over-pressurization occurs causing juice loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful factor (excessive airflow into the pulp collection chamber) by introducing a snorkel that selectively removes only air from the chamber while allowing juice to remain. This prevents over-pressurization and juice loss without requiring a larger chamber volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The snorkel acts as an intermediary element between the pulp collection chamber and the atmosphere. It provides a controlled pathway for air removal that prevents pressure buildup, thereby protecting the juice collection system from over-pressurization-induced leakage.
3Ease of operation
If the rotating sieve induces airflow to move pulp into the collection chamber, then pulp transport is enhanced, but the pulp collection chamber becomes over-pressurized
Solution Approach 1:
The snorkel extracts excess air from the pulp collection chamber, removing the harmful pressure buildup caused by airflow from the rotating sieve. This allows the sieve to continue rotating and transporting pulp efficiently while preventing over-pressurization.
Solution Approach 2:
The airflow generated by the rotating sieve, which initially causes over-pressurization, is converted into a beneficial effect. The same airflow that transports pulp is now channeled through the snorkel to actively vent excess pressure from the collection chamber, turning a harmful side effect into a useful function.
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
This configuration improves juice extraction efficiency by optimizing pulp and juice flow, reducing juice loss, and enhancing the utilization of kinetic energy, while minimizing pulp collection chamber over-pressurization.
Implementation Method 1
the rotation of the sieve causes juice to be expelled from the interior of the sieve through the sieve and into a juice collection chamber
Implementation Method 2
The rotating frusto-conical sieve induces or creates an airflow that assists the movement of the ejected pulp into a pulp collection chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
A fruit and vegetable juicing device having a feed tube, a juice collector and a grating disc carrying a frusto-conical sieve, the grating disc having a first array of grating teeth, a secondary processing surface with a second array of grating teeth; each tooth having one leading edge and one trailing edge, wherein the juice collector has either an internal helical ramp with an elevated discharge nozzle or a circumferential trough having a lowest point that leads to a discharge nozzle.