HK1089916B - Juicer - Google Patents

Description

Juice extractor

Technical Field

The invention relates to a juicer, in particular to a juicer for fruits and vegetables.

Background

Fruit and vegetable juicers are well known. Such devices are sometimes prone to leakage of the extracted juice from the edges of the juicer housing. The vibration of a juicer is also well known, so that the juicer moves on top of a bench on which it is placed. In existing juicers, the lid and feed tube are typically integrally moulded from a polymeric material. The polymer can be moulded in a transparent material, thereby providing the advantage of being able to observe the flow of pulp to ensure that there are no obstructions. In the case of a feed tube comprising an internal knife, this knife is also an integrally moulded part. Steel has a strength greater than that of the moulded polymer used for this purpose, but the complex shapes required to form the lid, feed tube and blade have not previously been solved.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to solve some of the drawbacks of the prior art to provide a more commercially satisfactory alternative or an advantage over known juicing devices.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a front view of a juicer, pulp collector, and juice collection jug according to the teachings of the present invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the juicer with the lid removed;

figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the top of the juicer shown in figure 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of the juicer and pulp collector;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6(a and b) is a front and rear perspective view of the juice jug;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the jug shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6 (b);

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view through the lid, feed tube and blade;

figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through the juicer;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of a juicer and a specially designed juicer station;

figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of a juicer according to the teachings of the present invention; and

fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the lid.

Fig. 14(a) is a perspective view of the propeller.

Fig. 14(b) is a partially exploded perspective view of the propeller.

Detailed Description

General of

As shown in figure 1, the juicer 10 includes a housing 11, a lid having a feed tube 12, a pulp collector 13 and a collection jug 14. A motor within the housing rotates a grating disk 20 located below the feed tube 12.

The housing 11 also includes a lower compartment 15 and an upper compartment or juice collector 16. Inside the lower compartment 15 is the motor of the juicer, the controller 17 and the power supply. The lower compartment 15 also includes a flared lower edge 19. To maximize stability, the base 18 of the device is mounted below the flared rim 19. In a preferred embodiment, the base has a rubber foot in which a notch-like structure 18a is formed, as explained below.

Juice collector

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, the upper compartment or juice collector is a removable component, preferably made of stainless steel. As shown in fig. 3, the internal compartment of the juice collector 16 or the collection reservoir 16a comprises a central aperture 21 surrounded by an upturned rim 22. The collection reservoir of the juice collector 16 is defined by an outer wall 23. The upper end of the inner compartment is defined by a horizontal rim 24 surrounding a central aperture 25. The rim 24 prevents juice from escaping from the reservoir 16a and prevents pulp from entering the reservoir 16 a. The juice-blocking rim 26 is integral with the outer wall 23 and the horizontal rim 24, wherein the rim 26 is slightly inclined from the vertical and terminates in a "U" or "J" shaped rim 27.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the juice-stopping ring 26 includes a pair of opposed indentations 30 for positioning tabs extending outwardly from the underside of the lid to orient the lid relative to the juice collector. It can be seen that the juice-blocking rim 26 does not completely surround the side wall 23 of the juice collector. Conversely, the juice-stopping ring 26 includes a notch 32. The sides of the notch 32 are defined by a tapered or rolled portion 33 of the juice-stopping ring 26, thereby defining a spout. The spout also includes a downwardly turned lip portion 34, the lip portion 34 being shown in fig. 3 and extending below the level of the horizontal edge 24. Thus, a gap 35 is formed between the lip 34 and the side wall 23, which gap is capable of receiving the edge of the pulp collector 13 or pulp chute, as will be described further below. These components allow the waste pulp to flow efficiently into the collector 13 or chute.

Fruit pulp collector

As shown in fig. 1-4 and 10, the pulp collector 13 comprises a vessel having a generally 'D' shaped cross-section that conforms to the profile of the housing 11. In the preferred embodiment, the upper edge 40 of the pulp collector 13 includes an arcuate or concave portion that abuts (in use) the housing 11. As shown in fig. 3, the concave portion 41 of the rim 40 closely conforms to the outer surface of the sidewall 23 and fits into the gap 35 defined by the descending lip 34 and the sidewall 23. The upper edge 40 also includes a flared portion 42 that forms a handle for easy grasping. In the preferred embodiment, one side of the pulp collector 13 is entirely concave to conform to the external shape of the housing 11. The lower portion 43 of collector 13, which abuts housing 11, is also preferably serrated to accommodate the flared edges 19 of housing 11. It is important that the descending lip 34 and sidewall portion 33 of the spout 32 extend below the level of the upper edge 40 of the collector 13 when the pulp collector 13 is in use.

The top inner surface of the pulp collector 40 must mate with the lid surface to avoid leakage of air and liquid 52. Thus, the pulp collector can be difficult to disassemble. To overcome this drawback, the interior of the pulp collector 40 also has one or more vertical ribs 140 near its edge 40, as shown in fig. 2 and 3. When the handle 42 of the pulp collector is lifted, the rib acts as a fulcrum on the lid, preventing the pulp container from being pressed up against the lid, and pivoting the lip 41 down, making the collector easy to move.

Lid and feed tube

The cover 12 of the device provides several important functions. It prevents juice from escaping, effectively directs the pulp to the collector 13 or chute 150 (fig. 11), cooperates with the locking bar 31 to maintain the device in a safe and closed position, and provides a platform for mounting the feed tube 51. As shown in fig. 1-5 and 8-11, the lid 12 includes a polymeric lid 52 (e.g., polycarbonate) to which is secured a metallic, preferably stainless steel (feed tube) 51. As shown in the above figures, and clearly in fig. 5, the polymeric cover 52 includes two main blades, and when viewed from above, it takes the shape of the number "8". The larger blades cover primarily the juice collector, while the smaller blades cover primarily the pulp collector 13 or chute 150. Importantly, the combination of the clear polymer cap 52 and the steel feed tube provides two advantages, namely, sufficient strength of the feed tube and blade, and the ability to view the condition beneath the polymer cap.

As shown in fig. 3, the perimeter of the polymeric cover 52 is expanded 55 where it contacts the interior of the pulp collector 13 or chute 150. The extension 55 is intended to increase the contact area between the polymeric cover 52 and the chute 150 or collector 13 while maintaining a smooth and continuous interior surface 56, the interior surface 56 leading from the area above the juice collector to the outlet area 57 of the polymeric cover 52. By providing a smooth, non-tortuous and continuous inner curved surface 56, the polymeric cover 52 facilitates the introduction of pulp into the pulp collector 13 or chute 150 without causing air turbulence or flow disruption in the pulp flow path that is readily attached to the lower surface of the polymeric cover. The extensions or edge thickenings 55 also ensure that there is no space or "cavity" on the surface where juice collects and eventually spouts out.

As shown in FIG. 2, the polymeric cover also includes a descending rim 57 which mates with the juice-stopping rim 26 and which is contoured around substantially the area of the juice collector other than in the area of the spout 32. As shown in fig. 3-4 and 8-11, the descending rim 57 of the lid 12 extends to the upper surface of the horizontal rim 24 of the juice collector 16 to form a cover. Since the rim 57 is more perpendicular than the ring 26, the outer surface of the descending rim and the inner surface of the juice-stopping ring 26 are angled so as to create a gap 70. In a preferred embodiment, the gap is tapered with the narrowest portion at the bottom and the widest portion at the top. In prior devices, the gap was too narrow and juice falling to the bottom of the lid rim was ejected by internal air pressure and thus outside the device. By providing a tapered gap, it is believed that the lower air escape rate and pressure drop within the gap 70 causes juice to pool within the gap rather than be expelled from the gap. The juice then drains through the juice collector nozzles 32, 34 into the pulp collector. This makes the device easy to use and clean. The juice collecting capacity of the lid 12 is enhanced by providing a horizontal shoulder 71 at the edge of the polymeric lid to cover the edge 27 of the juice-stopping ring.

The upper surface of the polymeric cover 52 features a pair of opposing cam surfaces 59. Each cam surface 59 includes a ramp portion 60 and a detent 61. As is well known in such devices, the locking bar 31 is mounted on a pivot 62 that is adapted to rotate and move vertically as the underside of the locking bar 31 passes up the ramp portion 60. This movement of the pivot 62 actuates the safety switch to prevent power from being transmitted to the motor when the locking bar 31 is not in its closed position.

As mentioned previously, the lid also serves as a means for locating and supporting the feed tube 51. In the preferred embodiment, the polymer cover 52 is a transparent polymer such as polycarbonate or SAN (styrene). As shown in fig. 8-10 and 12-13, the polymeric cap 52 includes a central aperture 80 that receives the stainless steel feed tube 51. As shown in the above figures, the lower half of the interior of the feed tube 51 is equipped with a tapered blade 81 that is welded to the interior or to the top of the feed tube 51. Because the gap 82 between the bottom 83 of the feed tube and the cutting disk on the bottom surface of the strainer 84 is relatively small, the blades 81 help to prevent uncontrolled tumbling of large fruit, such as apples, as such large fruit is squeezed through the strainer.

As shown in FIG. 13, in order for the cap 52 to confine the feed tube 51, the feed tube 51 is provided with a ring flange 85. The flange 85 has through holes 86 through which threaded fasteners 87 pass. A sealing gasket 88 is mounted between the feed tube 51 and the inner rim 89 of the bore 80. Gasket 88 includes a neck 91 and a peripheral ring 92. The neck 89 seals between the feed tube 51 and the vertical edge 89 of the bore. The ring 92 seals between the flange 85 and the top of the cover 52. The ring portion 92 of the spacer also includes a through hole 93 through which the fastener 87 passes. The fasteners 87 may also extend through recesses 94 formed in the periphery of the hole 80 into turnbuckles (turnbosses) 95 formed in a retaining ring 96 located beneath the polymer cover 52. Thus, the gasket 88 is sandwiched between the flange 85 of the feed tube and the retaining ring 96. In the preferred embodiment, the ring 96 is made of nylon or other tough plastic that resists cracking and crack propagation. This combination of materials ensures that the lid assembly can be washed in a dishwasher.

It should also be noted that the feed tube 51 carries two different orientation marks which aid in the accurate positioning of the pusher. The first indicia 97 is physically formed on the upper edge of the feed tube 51 and the second indicia includes an aperture 98, such as a triangular aperture formed in the flange 85. The hole 98 mates with a similarly shaped protrusion 99 formed on the upper surface of the gasket 88. In this manner, the projection 99 resides within the aperture 98, is visible within the aperture 98, and provides a visual contrast to the stainless steel coating of the flange 85. The first indicia may interfere with insertion of the pusher unless the pusher is properly oriented. As shown in fig. 14, the pusher 200 is sized to enter the feed tube 51, but only when the longitudinal slot 201 of the pusher is aligned with the blade 81. The first indicia 97 is thus aligned with the blade and can enter the slot 201. The bottom 202 of the slot is expanded to make it easier for the pusher to be inserted into the feed tube. The propeller thus has a better feel, the upper knob or bulb 203 is expanded, equipped with a rubber clip ring 204, and also equipped with an internal weight, such as a metal disc 205.

Collecting pot

As shown in figures 1, 6, 7 and 10, the utility of the juicer is enhanced by the provision of a specially designed collection jug 14. Fig. 1 shows that the juice collection compartment 16 includes a tubular output 100 which exits the juice collector from a lower position. The jug 14 comprises a body 101, a handle 102 and a lid 103. The handle 102 defines the rear of the jug. Opposite the handle 102, the jug has a spout 104 defining the front of the jug. The cover 103 has a scalloped outlet or release portion 105 that is generally aligned with the spout 104. The lid also includes a pour shield (pourshield)106 integral with the lid 103 and generally located below the scalloped portion 105. As shown in fig. 7, a shield 106 extends downwardly from the lower surface of the lid 103 and forms an input aperture 107 leading to the spout 104. The bulk of the liquid flowing from the jug passes through the inlet aperture 107 and, due to the line contact between the face 108 of the shield and the inner surface 109 of the jug, is generally unable to flow to any other flow path. In this way, when subsurface liquid can enter the input aperture 107 and exit through the scalloped portion 105, foam that may be present on the surface of fruit and vegetable juices is not dispensed. The lid also has a second relief portion 110 which cooperates with a notch 112 in the upper edge of the jug 14 to form a port into which the output overflow pipe 100 can enter. It is noted that the notch or juice entry point is located on the side of the jug and therefore does not interfere with the handle or spout. The notch 112 is not oriented on the centre line of the jug but closer to the handle so that when the jug is tilted at an angle to dispense juice, the juice level is lowered relative to the notch 112 so that juice does not leak out of the notch when the jug is tipped. The base 130 of the jug is recessed in the area below the indentation 112 so that the jug can ride on the rim 19 of the housing. This allows the kettle to be located closer to the housing. After pouring the juice from spout 104, the remaining foam/bubbles can be poured out of the jug without removing the polymer lid through the notch 112.

Fixed chassis and waste chute

As shown in fig. 11, a bench-top stationary base pan 120 may be used with the juicer 10 of the present invention. Pressed steel or formed pans have three main functions. The juicer is stable and does not excessively move on the workbench; the juicer is positioned above the discharge port to facilitate pulp treatment; and it collects the dripping liquid.

The chassis includes a contoured surface 121 in which drainage channels 122 are formed. A rear channel 123 is formed in the area around the jug 14. The central channel is adapted to the underside of the housing 11. An island 125 with a central depression 126 is formed in the center of the chassis. The forward end 127 of the chassis includes an exit aperture 128 defined by a cylindrical conduit or collar 129, wherein the cylindrical conduit or collar 129 extends below the bottom surface of the chassis. This collar mates with a cooperating hole in the table and thus serves to locate collar 129 and thereby the chassis relative to the hole in the table. A raised portion 103 formed on the upper surface of the chassis interlocks with a cooperating recess 18a formed in the base 18. The juicer housing is interconnected to the base pan in this manner. The same arrangement may be provided by the reverse way, i.e. forming a raised portion in the base and a depression in the chassis. In this way, the dripping juice is collected in the channels 122, 124 and bypasses around the island 125 to avoid the motor's exhaust duct and flows into the discharge opening 129. After the housing is properly positioned on the base pan, the discharge opening 129 is located directly below the smaller blades of the polymeric cover 52. In this manner, a discharge can or chute 150 can be attached to the edge of the polymer cover and can extend to engage the discharge opening 129 or be directed into the discharge opening 129. This allows pulp waste to be discharged directly from the juicer through the work head into a conduit or waste container.

Claims (15)

1. A lid for a power juicer, the lid comprising:

a polymeric cap having a central aperture formed therein;

said hole receiving and holding a metal feed tube;

said feed tube having an annular flange secured to said polymeric cover;

wherein the polymeric cover has a highly stepped-down rim that mates with a juice-blocking rim of a juice collector;

the angle between the outer surface of the descending rim and the inner surface of the juice-stopping rim creates a conical gap, which is narrowest at the bottom.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein:

the lower part of the inner side of the feeding pipe is connected with a metal conical blade.

3. The lid of claim 1, wherein:

fasteners extend through the flange into a retaining ring located adjacent the bottom side of the polymeric cover.

4. The lid of claim 1, wherein:

a gasket is interposed between the flange and the polymeric cover.

5. The lid of claim 4, wherein:

the gasket further includes a neck that seals between the feed tube and the vertical edge of the polymeric cap and a peripheral ring.

6. The lid of claim 4, wherein:

a fastener extends through the flange into a retaining ring located adjacent the bottom side of the polymeric cover;

the fastener also extends through the gasket interposed between the flange and the polymeric cover.

7. The lid of claim 1, wherein:

the polymeric cover has a lower surface that forms a smooth and continuous surface that extends from above the juice collection area to the pulp discharge area of the polymeric cover.

8. An electric juicer using a lid according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the juicer having:

a housing having a rotating grater disc and a juice collector therein below the feed tube;

an outer wall above the inner horizontal edge comprising a juice blocking edge, the juice blocking edge being slightly inclined from the vertical;

the descending rim of the polymeric cover is contained inside the juice-stopping rim.

9. The juicing device of claim 8, wherein:

the space between the juice-blocking rim and the descending rim of the polymeric cover further defines a gap.

10. The juicing device of claim 9, wherein:

the gap is tapered.

11. The juicing device of claim 9, wherein:

the juice-stopping rim further includes a notch defining a spout, a second gap being formed between the descending height downwardly deflected lip of the spout and the sidewall of the juice collector, the second gap being adapted to receive a pulp collector such that the descending height downwardly deflected lip enters the pulp collector.

12. The juicing device of claim 11, wherein:

the pulp collector has a "D" shaped cross-section,

the pulp collector conforms to the outer surface of the housing.

13. The juicing device of claim 9, wherein:

the gap is narrow at the bottom of the gap and wider at the top of the gap.

14. The juicing device of claim 9, wherein:

the upper extension of the gap is further defined by a horizontal edge formed in the polymeric cover.

15. The juicing device of claim 8, wherein:

the upper surface of the polymeric cover further includes a pair of opposing cam surfaces and each of the cam surfaces includes a detent for receiving a locking bar.