Tubular Filter Press Assembly for Plant-Based Milk Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for preparing plant-based milks, such as nut milks, are inefficient in filtering out pulp and fibers, leading to messy handling and difficult cleaning, posing health hazards due to inadequate filtration and hygiene issues.
Innovation Solution
A press assembly comprising a tubular filter with a porous side wall and a removable stopper, coupled with a receptacle and a plunger having wiper blades, which compresses plant-based raw materials to separate liquids from solids within the filter, allowing efficient filtration and easy removal of residual solids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a sieve or cloth bag is used for straining pureed matter, then the filtration process is simple, but the filtration efficiency is insufficient and handling is messy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous filter medium with controlled pore sizes to achieve efficient separation of plant-based milk from pulp and fibers. The porous structure allows liquid to pass through while retaining solid particles, resolving the contradiction between simple process design and high filtration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated filtration assembly with a porous filter as an intermediary component between the pureeing stage and the final product. This mediator enables effective separation without requiring complex handling procedures, maintaining simplicity while improving filtration quality.
2Device complexity
If a sieve or cloth bag is used for straining, then the setup is simple, but cleaning is difficult and health hazards arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the filtration function into a separate, removable porous filter component that can be easily detached from the processing vessel. This allows the filter to be removed and cleaned separately, making maintenance simple while keeping the overall device design straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent describes embodiments where the porous filter can be disposed of after use, eliminating cleaning requirements entirely. This disposable approach resolves the cleaning difficulty while maintaining simple device architecture, though reusable washable filters are also described as alternatives.
3Device complexity
If traditional straining methods are used, then no special equipment is needed, but hygiene issues and health hazards occur due to inadequate filtration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous filtering materials with controlled pore structures that provide reliable physical barriers to pathogens and contaminants. The porous architecture ensures consistent filtration performance, improving hygiene safety while adding only a simple filter component to the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated filtration assembly with porous filter media as an intermediary between the pureeing process and the final beverage. This mediator provides reliable hygienic separation, preventing contamination while requiring minimal additional equipment beyond the filter itself.
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 effective filtration of plant-based milks, reducing mess and improving hygiene by allowing liquids to pass through the filter while retaining solids, making the process cleaner and safer, and enabling easy disposal and storage of residual solids.
Implementation Method 1
a tubular filter having a porous side wall... causing liquids in the contents to pass through the porous side wall
Implementation Method 2
a tubular filter having a porous side wall
Implementation Method 3
a standalone plunger... pressing the raw materials toward the closed second end of the filter
Implementation Method 4
using a standalone plunger... pressing the raw materials
Data Source
AI summary
A press assembly and a method for producing plant-based milk may include coupling a tubular filter to a receptacle, the tubular filter having an open first end, a porous wall, and a closed second end. Plant-based raw materials are placed into the filter. The raw materials are pressed toward the closed second end of the filter using a standalone plunger having one or more wiper blades conforming to an inner periphery of the tubular filter, such that liquids of the raw materials pass through the porous wall of the tubular filter and into the receptacle. After the pressing operation, residual solids may be easily removed from inside the filter. This may be accomplished by removing a stopper from the bottom end, and expelling the solids by extending the one or more wiper blades through the opening.