Juice extraction machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing commercial-scale fruit juice extraction machines face issues with waste disposal, as the waste-bin is located far from the extraction point, leading to random expulsion of peel, pith, and pulp, causing sticking and cleaning difficulties, and the fruit-rack design does not allow smooth sliding of fruits onto the mobile peeler during the second stage.
Innovation Solution
A compact design featuring a swing-lidded waste-bin with semicircular sides positioned close to the peelers for easy waste removal and a smooth, curved fruit-rack synchronized with the mobile peeler to facilitate fruit sliding and prevent waste from flying upwards, along with a spiral cross-spring mechanism for synchronized fruit feeding and peeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the waste-bin is located far from the extraction point, then the machine structure is simplified, but waste expulsion becomes random causing sticking and cleaning difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The waste-bin is segmented into a fixed portion and a rotatable portion, allowing the bin to be divided into functional zones. The fixed portion remains stationary while the rotatable portion can be rotated independently to facilitate waste removal, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and ease of waste removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste-bin transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with rotatable capabilities. The rotatable portion can rotate to different positions, enabling easy access and removal of waste without complicating the overall machine structure, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If the fruit-rack has a non-smooth surface, then the fruit is held securely during movement, but the fruit cannot slide easily onto the mobile peeler causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The fruit-rack employs different surface qualities in different locations. The main body has a non-smooth surface for secure holding, while the discharge area has a smooth surface to facilitate easy sliding onto the mobile peeler. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between secure holding and easy sliding.
Solution Approach 2:
The fruit-rack incorporates curved surfaces with specific radii of curvature that match the fruit geometry. The smooth curved discharge surface allows fruit to slide easily by reducing friction and guiding the fruit naturally onto the mobile peeler, while maintaining secure holding in other areas.
3Device complexity
If the peeler is hollow, then the structure is simplified, but waste is thrown towards the top part of the machine instead of into the waste-bin
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary waste deflection device is introduced between the hollow peeler and the top part of the machine. This intermediary structure redirects waste that would otherwise be thrown upward, guiding it into the waste-bin instead, thus resolving the waste dispersion problem while maintaining the simplified hollow peeler structure.
4Ease of manufacture
If the machine is made compact, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the waste-bin cannot be positioned close to the peelers for easy waste removal
Solution Approach 1:
The waste-bin is segmented with a rotatable portion that can be positioned close to the peelers when needed for efficient waste removal, while the overall compact design is maintained. The segmentation allows flexible positioning without increasing the overall machine footprint, resolving the contradiction between compactness and waste removal efficiency.
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 solution enhances waste removal efficiency, reduces fruit damage, keeps the machine cleaner, and simplifies cleaning, while maintaining a compact and productive machine structure with fewer parts and lower manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a smooth, curved fruit-rack synchronized with the mobile peeler to facilitate smooth fruit sliding
Implementation Method 2
smooth-surfaced and slightly curved (with a broad radius), serving as a waiting stage before the fruit falls onto the peelers
Data Source
AI summary
Improvements to a juice extraction machine, particularly a commercial-scale fruit juice extraction machine that is extremely light and compact for very easy handling and transportation, which is noteworthy for its unusual construction configuration that includes, among other items, a swing-lidded waste-bin on its front whose walls are close to the peeler cups when closed, allowing easy removal of wastes such as pith, pulp and peel when open. The invention comprises a fruit-rack sub-set (1) with a curved concave cross-section whose movement is synchronized with the axle (51) that powers the mobile peeler (2), such fruit-rack (1) being attached to the mobile peeler sub-set (2) through slots (3) and with the machine including a cross-spring (4) attached at the bottom of the feeder/dispenser pipe (5), with such cross-spring (4) having a means of activation (6) located on the fruit-rack sub-set (1); the improved machine (M) comprises a swing-lidded waste-bin (7) on its front part, with such swing-lidded waste-bin (7) having substantially semi-circular sides (8) close to the mobile (2) and fixed (2B) peelers and with the mobile peeler (2) connected to a gear-motor sub-set (31) and the fixed peeler (2B) concatenate with the filter and piston sub-set (67) assembled in the fixed peeler (2B).