Self-Feeding Juicing Cone Mechanism for Gentle Fruit Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users seek a simple automatic juicer that is gentle on fruits, unlike centrifugal or masticating juicers, but does not require manual pushing of the fruit onto an electrically turned juicing cone, as existing electric juicers can be rough on fruits and require manual effort.

Innovation Solution

An automatic juicer with a motor, gear, and shaft assembly that lifts and rotates an upward-facing juicing cone into a fruit, using a collet and shaft mechanism to translate rotation into vertical movement, allowing the cone to push into the fruit and release juice, while a strainer and bowl filter and collect the juice, preventing pulp clogging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If centrifugal or masticating juicers are used, then juice extraction is automated, but the fruit is damaged rough and requires manual effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of juicing processVSAvoidfruit damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional juicing approach by making the juicing cone movable and upward-facing instead of stationary and downward-facing. The cone is pushed up into the fruit by automated shafts, reversing the traditional direction of force application and enabling gentle automated extraction without fruit damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The juicing cone is designed to be self-feeding, automatically pushing itself up into the fruit through the threaded shaft mechanism without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by converting rotational motion into automatic vertical advancement, eliminating the need for users to manually push fruit onto the cone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If manual juicing cone pushing is required, then fruit damage is reduced, but user effort is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit damageVSAvoidmanual pushing effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical pushing action with an automated mechanical system. Threaded shafts driven by a motor convert rotational motion into automatic vertical movement of the juicing cone, substituting user effort with an automated electromechanical system that gently pushes the cone into the fruit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded shaft mechanism acts as an intermediary between the motor and the juicing cone. It translates the motor's rotational output into controlled vertical motion, mediating the force application to achieve both automation and gentleness in the juicing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If strainer advances with juicing cone, then juice collection is improved, but pulp clogging occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejuice collection efficiencyVSAvoidpulp clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies reverse action by having the rotating juicing cone scrape against the stationary strainer. Instead of the strainer moving with the cone (which causes clogging), the cone's rotation creates a scraping action that clears pulp from the strainer surface, inverting the motion relationship to prevent harm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 provides a gentle and efficient juice extraction process that is automatic, reducing fruit damage and eliminating the need for manual pushing, while effectively separating juice from pulp and preventing clogging.

Implementation Method 1

The outer shaft includes external threads which engage internal threads of a fixed collet at the base of the fixed guide to translate rotation into vertical translation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectScrew mechanism: Screw

Implementation Method 2

a motor, gear and shaft assembly which rises as a unit lifting and turning the juicing cone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

a gear set in the base and engaging the motor, and a shaft assembly extending above the base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 4

A strainer and a bowl below the juicing cone filter and catch the juice

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS8511225B2Automated juice extractor

Publication Date: 2013.08.20 RIVERA ADRIAN

AI summary

An automatic juicer turns and pushes an upward facing juicing cone into a fruit for releasing and collecting juice. The juicer includes a base containing a motor, gear and shaft assembly which rises as a unit with the juicing cone. A fixed guide extends upward from the base and inner and outer shafts reside inside the fixed guide and are driven by the motor and gear assembly to rotate and advance the juicing cone into the fruit. The juicing cone, strainer and a bowl release and catch the juice. The outer shaft includes threads to vertically advance and retreat the outer and inner shafts when the outer shaft turns. The inner shaft rises with the outer shaft and lifts and rotates the juicing cone, thereby releasing juice from the fruit. The bowl is fixed to the base.