A juicing machine comprises: an electric motor; a variable frequency drive configured to control the speed of the electric motor; a juicing mechanism that has at least one extraction assembly that operates cyclically to extract juice; and at least one sensor that determines the position or positions of the extraction assembly during a cycle.

A fruit squeezing system, with a feed system and cutting and squeezing devices with a pair of cup assemblies that are vertically displaceable by vertical displacement device and rotationally, in opposite directions, by rotation device; below these a cutting assembly with a blade and peel extraction device; and one pair of fixed squeezer balls, each of these below one of the cup assemblies, for the vertical squeezing of the fruit halves by the vertical displacement of the cup assemblies. The system has a first motor exclusively for the operation of the vertical displacement device; device for the measurement of the intensity thereof, and a control unit which independently governs the first motor and halts it when the intensity measured exceeds a pre-set range of values.

A press for citrus fruits has a press head, which executes a press stroke and includes two accommodating dies, each for one fruit half. The dies are arranged on either side of a blade and are pivoted in opposite directions via parallel shafts between an upper accommodating position and a lower pressing position. Rams are assigned to the press head and interact with the dies in the lower pressing position A discharging device for discharging the skins of the pressed fruit halves. Includes a comb whose fingers engage in grooves of the rams. The grooves are oriented in the direction of the parallel shafts. The comb is displaceable between a lower starting position, with fingers lowered in the grooves, and a discharging position, with fingers raised above the rams and sloping down toward the shafts to a discharging opening.

An improved citrus juice finisher is provided for producing thin juice. A first aspect is an improved screen design with small perforations having diverging walls in the direction of juice moving through the screen to prevent blinding of the screen by entrained particles. A second aspect is a juice modulator which pulverizes the entrained particles to a desired size and viscosity. A third aspect is an improved multi-vane finisher with increased yield and capacity.

Fruit-squeezing machine with automatic fruit (7) feeder (1) and cutting and squeezing means that have a pair of rotating assemblies of three fruit (7) receiving cups (4) and a cutting assembly (5) with a blade (10) and means for extracting the rinds after squeezing the fruit, and a pair of squeezing balls (6) below the cup assemblies (4). Additionally, the machine has a juice-collecting tray (2) with a fixed? filter (8), and rind-collecting means. The cup assemblies (4) rotate towards the inside of the machine, which has motor means that synchronize the continuous movements of the feeder (1) with the movement of the cutting and squeezing means.

A juicer and a blender device. The juicer and blender may share a common motor. A combination electric juicer and blender device comprising: a chassis that supports a housing within which is contained an electric motor; the housing supporting a juicer having a removable juice collection chamber with a lid and a feed tube; the housing having a base that supports a removable blending jug; and the motor providing power, both independently or concurrently, to a rotating blade in the blending jug and the juicer.

A two stage system for extraction of oil from whole citrus fruit is provided. The first stage is known in the art and includes a first plurality of toothed rollers which convey citrus as the teeth penetrate and rupture oil glands. The oil passes into a first water pan. A novel second stage uses a second plurality of toothed rollers to continue the penetration and rupturing of oil glands. The second plurality of rollers are positioned in an isolated second pan to partially submerge the citrus. A middle phase liquor with extremely low oil concentration is transferred into said second pan to initiate desorption of oil from the citrus. The desorption technique in one embodiment increases yield by 4% or more. This technique is expected to increase yield even more as the recovery by the first stage is reduced.

Citrus fruit pressing devices, apparatus and methods are disclosed. Several features that can reduce the incidence of rupturing oil pockets in the fruit peel can be employed to improve the taste of the juice pressed from the fruit. One feature includes cutting (307) the peel at least partly along a circumference of the fruit to reduce rupturing of oil pockets when the fruit is flattened and the surface of the fruit is folded over. Another feature includes utilizing a curved knife, which can provide a relatively deep cut and a smooth expansion of the peel. According to other aspects, juice extraction can be improved by employing one or more protrusions in a surface of the pressing element to press areas of the fruit in which the peel of the fruit is not present. Another aspect is directed to using the pressing speed to control the pulp content of the juice.

An energy recovery system for machines each having a mechanical power transmission system that generate energy in a first portion of a mechanical power transmission system cycle and draw energy from an energy source in a second portion of the cycle incudes a power distribution assembly configured to receive energy generated during the first portion of the cycle, a plurality of actuator controller devices configured to selectively output energy to a corresponding actuator of each of the plurality of machines, each of the plurality of actuator controller devices electrically coupled to the power distribution assembly and configured to reuse energy received by the power distribution assembly, and, a controller for each of the plurality of actuator controller devices programmed to adjust the output energy of the corresponding actuator controller device to substantially maintain a voltage level of the power distribution assembly relative to a voltage level setpoint.

A juicer and a blender share a common base. The juicer and blender may share a common motor. The juicer has a spout that discharges into the blender.