Juicer Lid and Feed Tube Assembly for Leak-Free Pulp Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fruit and vegetable juicers often suffer from leakage of extracted juice, vibration, and instability due to the limitations of polymer materials used in their construction, particularly in forming complex shapes for the lid, feed tube, and knife.
Innovation Solution
A juicer design that incorporates a stainless steel juice collector and pulp collector with a polymeric lid and feed tube, featuring a stainless steel feed tube with a tapered knife, a juice-stopping rim, and a pulp collector with a concave shape to prevent leakage and enhance stability, along with a mounting tray for bench-top stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If polymer material is used for lid and feed tube, then transparency for viewing pulp flow is achieved, but strength and structural integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lid assembly is segmented into two distinct materials: the lid body and feed tube outer structure are made of transparent polymer for viewing, while the internal knife and reinforcing elements are made of stainless steel for strength. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid assembly uses a composite construction combining transparent polymer material for the lid body and feed tube with stainless steel internal components including the knife. This composite approach allows the structure to simultaneously achieve transparency for monitoring pulp flow and sufficient mechanical strength for cutting operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If polymer material is used for lid and feed tube, then ease of molding complex shapes is achieved, but leakage resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The feed tube is segmented into polymer outer structure for molding ease and stainless steel internal components including a tapered knife for leakage prevention. The juice collector is also segmented with a polymer body and a separate juice-stopping rim that protrudes into the collection chamber to prevent leakage at the interface between moving and stationary parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The juice-stopping rim is strategically positioned at the critical leakage point where the feed tube interface meets the collection chamber. This localized feature provides enhanced leakage resistance precisely where needed without requiring the entire feed tube to be made of higher-strength material.
3Device complexity
If juice collector and pulp collector are integrated, then device complexity is reduced, but leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The juicer is segmented into distinct functional chambers: the juice collection chamber with a juice-stopping rim that protrudes into the chamber to prevent leakage, and the pulp collection chamber separated by a partition wall. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining reliable separation between juice and pulp streams.
4Strength
If stainless steel is used for feed tube and knife, then strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed tube assembly is segmented into a polymer outer structure that can be easily molded into complex shapes with integrated features like the tapered knife recess, and a separate stainless steel tapered knife that provides the cutting function. This segmentation allows each material to be manufactured using its most suitable process.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of forming the complex feed tube shape directly from steel, the invention inverts the approach by creating the complex outer shape in polymer and inserting the steel knife component into a prepared recess. This reversal of the traditional manufacturing sequence simplifies the formation of complex geometries while maintaining steel strength where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A lid (12) of a juicer provides several important functions. It prevents juice from escaping, it diverts pulp efficiently toward a collector (13) or chute (150), it cooperates with a locking bar to keep the device safe and closed and it provides a platform for the feed tube. The lid (12) comprises a polymeric cap (52) (for example a polycarbonate) to which is secured a metal, preferably stainless steel feed tube (51). Importantly the combination of clear cap (52) and steel feed tube provides all of the advantages of both, that is, adequate strength in the feed tube and knife and the ability to see under the cap.