Centrifugal Juicer Speed Control for User-Selectable Pulp Content

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal juicers lack intuitive and cost-effective methods to control pulp content in freshly extracted juice, requiring manual adjustments that are not user-friendly and complicate cleaning processes.

Innovation Solution

A centrifugal juicer with a circular sieve and motor of variable rotation speed, where the pulp content is controlled through pre-programmed speed settings selected by a user interface, allowing for clear or cloudy juice production without increasing complexity or cleaning difficulties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of the centrifugal bowl is used to control fiber flow, then pulp content can be adjusted, but the operation becomes non-intuitive and the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepulp content controlVSAvoiduser-friendliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameter from manual bowl adjustment to motor speed control. By varying the rotation speed of the motor (first speed for low pulp, second speed for high pulp), the system achieves intuitive pulp content control without requiring users to manually adjust complex mechanical components. This transforms an non-intuitive manual adjustment process into a simple speed selection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of the centrifugal bowl is used to control fiber flow, then pulp content can be adjusted, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepulp content controlVSAvoidcentrifugal bowl structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pulp content control function from the complex mechanical adjustment of the centrifugal bowl and transfers it to the motor speed control system. By removing the need for manual bowl adjustment mechanisms and relying instead on variable motor speeds, the invention simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining adaptability for different pulp content requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If variable motor speeds are used to control pulp content, then ease of use is improved, but additional cost may be incurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepulp content selectionVSAvoidmotor cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the existing capability of typical centrifugal juicer motors to operate at variable speeds, allowing the system to control pulp content using already-available motor functionality. This approach minimizes additional costs by utilizing the motor's inherent variable speed capability rather than requiring specialized or expensive additional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables user-controlled pulp content in juices with minimal additional cost and ease of use, providing consistent control over pulp content in various food types by adjusting rotation speeds based on sieve diameter and motor speed.

Implementation Method 1

a rotating shredding element shreds the food product, which shredding element cooperates with a rotating sieve for extracting the juice from the shredded food product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3151707B1Centrifugal juicer
Publication Date: 2018.10.03 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3151707B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3151707B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3151707B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A centrifugal juicer (100) is disclosed that can be configured to control the pulp content in the juice produced by the juicer. To this end, the centrifugal juicer comprises a pulp content selection function that controls the rotation speed of the motor driving the sieve (132) of the centrifugal juicer. The openings (133) in the sieve are dimensioned such that pulp is forced through the openings at certain rotation speeds of the motor.