JUICING UNIT AND FRUIT JUICING MACHINE THAT INCLUDES SAID JUICING UNIT

Abstract

A squeezer unit (1), comprising: two female drums (2) with an internal cavity (3), with a central shaft, which can rotate in opposite directions, comprising a number of cavities (4) to house a fruit to be squeezed, two male drums (5) with an internal cavity (6), with a central shaft, located below the female drums (2), in such a way that each male drum (5) can rotate in a direction opposite to that of the corresponding female drum (2) located above the same, the male drums (5) comprising a number of protrusions (7) which can be coupled to the cavities (4) of the female drums (2) to squeeze out the juice, a support (8) for the squeezer unit (1) comprising a frontal plate (9) which can be coupled to the male drums (5) and the female drums (2),
where each of the female drums (2) and the male drums (5) comprises a frontal extension (10) which is coaxial with its central axis, each frontal extension (10) being integral with the body of the corresponding drum (2, 5), and the frontal plate (9) of the support (8) of the squeezer unit (1) comprises, on its side facing the female drums (2) and the male drums (5), four protrusions (12, 15), in such a way that when the squeezer unit (1) is in the assembled position, the extensions (10) of the female drums (2) and the male drums (5) are coupled to the corresponding protrusions (12, 15) of the frontal plate (9) of the support (8).

Claims

1. A squeezer unit (1), comprising: two female drums (2) with an internal cavity (3), with a central shaft, which can rotate in opposite directions, comprising a number of cavities (4) to house a fruit to be squeezed, two male drums (5) with an internal cavity (6), with a central shaft, located below the female drums (2), in such a way that each male drum (5) can rotate in a direction opposite to that of the corresponding female drum (2) located above the same, the male drums (5) comprising a number of protrusions (7) which can be coupled to the cavities (4) of the female drums (2) to squeeze out the juice, a support (8) for the squeezer unit (1) comprising a frontal plate (9) which can be coupled to the male drums (5) and the female drums (2), wherein each of the female drums (2) and the male drums (5) features a frontal extension (10) which is coaxial with its central axis, each frontal extension (10) being integral with the body of the corresponding drum (2, 5), and the frontal plate (9) of the support (8) of the squeezer unit (1) comprises, on its side facing the female drums (2) and the male drums (5), four protrusions (12, 15) in such a way that in the assembled position of the squeezer unit (1) the extensions (10) of the female drums (2) and the male drums (5) couple with the corresponding protrusions (12, 15) of the frontal plate (9) of the support (8).

2. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the frontal extensions (10) of the female drums (2) and the male drums (5) feature a truncated conical shape.

3. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the frontal extensions (10) of the female drums (2) and the male drums (5) feature a cylindrical shape.

4. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the protrusions of the frontal plate (9) of the support (8) of the squeezer unit (1) are housings (12) with a hollow cylindrical shape.

5. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 4, where the housings (12) of the frontal plate (9) of the support (8) have a chamfered free edge (13).

6. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the housings (12) of the frontal plate (9) of the support (8) have their joint (14) to the frontal plate (9) in a chamfered manner.

7. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the protrusions of the frontal plate (9) of the support (8) of the squeezer unit (1) are shafts (15).

8. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises a number of lateral wedges (16) associated with the male drums (5) for the extraction of the peel of the squeezed fruit.

9. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the internal cavities (3, 6) of the female drums (2) and the male drums (5) comprise at least one truncated-conical section (17) and narrow toward the frontal part of the squeezer unit (1).

10. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the support (8) further comprises a rearward plate (18) with a number of orifices (19) which, when the squeezer unit (1) is assembled, surround the corresponding central shafts and the internal cavities (3, 6) of the female drums (2) and of the male drums (5), the male drums (5) and the female drums (2) being located between the frontal plate (9) and the rearward plate (18).

11. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the support (8) comprises removable linking means (20) which may be attached to a frame (22) of the juicing machine (26) to which the squeezer unit (1) is coupled.

12. A squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, where the frontal plate (9) of the support (8) of the squeezer unit (1) comprises lateral handles (21).

13. A fruit juicing machine (26) incorporating a squeezer unit (1) as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a frame (22) from which the following frontally protrude: two parallel shafts (23) for the female drums (2) of the squeezer unit (1), which can rotate in opposite directions, two parallel shafts (24) for the male drums (5) of the squeezer unit (1), located below the shafts (23) for the female drums (2), in such a way that each shaft (24) can rotate in a direction opposite to that of the corresponding shaft (23) located above the same, and a cutting blade (25) located between the two female drums (2) when the squeezer unit (1) is assembled on the frame (22).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] What follows is a non-limiting illustration of the object of the present invention, making reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 portrays a perspective view of the squeezer unit of the invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 portrays a perspective view of a fruit juicing machine with a squeezer unit as in FIG. 1, the squeezer unit being separated from the frame of the machine.

[0020] FIG. 3 portrays the drums of the squeezer unit in FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 4 portrays a male drum of the squeezer unit in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 5 portrays a front view of the elements of the squeezer unit in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 6 portrays a rear view of the elements of the squeezer unit in FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 7 portrays a view of the elements of one embodiment of the support for the squeezer unit in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 8 portrays a view of the elements of another embodiment of the support for the squeezer unit in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the squeezer unit in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] FIG. 1 portrays a squeezer unit 1 according to one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 portrays said squeezer unit 1 located facing the frame 22 of a fruit juicing machine 26.

[0028] “Squeezer unit” is understood to mean the set of components of the juicing machine in which the fruit is squeezed, and which form a unit which may be separated from the remainder of the juicing machine, e.g. for the cleaning thereof.

[0029] In this description, the “front side” is understood to be that which faces the user of the machine. For example, in FIG. 2 the front side of the frame 22 would be that marked by the arrow corresponding to said frame 22 (that is, that located in the forward position in said figure). Likewise, the front side of the squeezer unit 1 is that which faces the user of the juicing machine 26 once assembled (that is, in the forward position in FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0030] When the juicing machine 26 is to be used, the squeezer unit 1 is coupled to the front side of the frame 22 of said juicing machine 26. FIG. 2 portrays the position prior to said coupling or assembly.

[0031] The fruit juicing machine 26 which incorporates the squeezer unit 1 further comprises a frame 22 from which the following frontally protrude (see FIG. 2): [0032] two parallel shafts (23) for the female drums (2) of the squeezer unit (1), which can rotate in opposite directions, [0033] two parallel shafts (24) for the male drums (5) of the squeezer unit (1), located below the shafts (23) for the female drums (2), in such a way that each shaft (24) can rotate in a direction opposite to that of the corresponding shaft (23) located above the same, and [0034] a cutting blade (25) located between the two female drums (2) when the squeezer unit (1) is assembled on the frame (22).

[0035] The squeezer unit (1) of the embodiment (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, for example) comprises: [0036] two female drums (2) with an internal cavity (3), with a central shaft, which can rotate in opposite directions, comprising a number of cavities (4) to house a fruit to be squeezed, [0037] two male drums (5) with an internal cavity (6), with a central shaft, located below the female drums (2), in such a way that each male drum (5) can rotate in a direction opposite to that of the corresponding female drum (2) located above the same, the male drums (5) comprising a number of protrusions (7) which can be coupled to the cavities (4) of the female drums (2) to squeeze out the juice, [0038] a support (8) for the squeezer unit (1) comprising a frontal plate (9) which can be coupled to the male drums (5) and the female drums (2),
Each of the female drums 2 and the male drums 5 of the squeezer unit 1 features a frontal extension 10 which is coaxial with its central axis, each frontal extension 10 being integral with the body of the corresponding drum 2, 5, and the frontal plate 9 of the support 8 of the squeezer unit 1 comprises, on its side facing the female drums 2 and the male drums 5, four protrusions 12, 15 (FIGS. 7 and 8), in such a way that in the assembled position of the squeezer unit 1 the extensions 10 of the female drums 2 and the male drums 5 couple with the corresponding protrusions 12, 15 of the frontal plate 9 of the support 8.

[0039] The protrusions 7 of the male drums 5 may feature a shape complementary to that of the cavities 4 of the female drums 2. For example, they may feature a convex spherical shape, facing a concave spherical shape of the cavities 4.

[0040] The frontal extensions 10 of the female drums 2 and of the male drums 5 may feature a truncated conical shape (as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example), but they may also feature other shapes (e.g. cylindrical).

[0041] In FIG. 7 it may be seen that the protrusions of the frontal plate 9 of the support 8 of the squeezer unit 1 may be housings 12 with a hollow cylindrical shape. On coupling the frontal plate 9 to the female drums 2 and the male drums 5, the extensions 10 of said female drums 2 and male drums 5 couple within the housings 12 with a hollow cylindrical shape 8 (for example, as in FIG. 1).

[0042] Likewise, as may be seen in FIG. 7, the housings 12 of the frontal plate 9 of the support 8 may present a chamfered free edge 13, and the housings 12 of the frontal plate 9 of the support 8 may have a joint 14 to the frontal plate 9 in a chamfered manner, in order to prevent the accumulation of dirt and thus to improve the cleanliness in those areas.

[0043] In FIG. 8 it may be seen that the protrusions of the frontal plate 9 of the support 8 of the squeezer unit 1 are shafts 15, directed inward (that is, toward the frame 22 in its assembled position). On coupling the frontal plate 9 with the female drums 2 and the male drums 5, these shafts 15 couple with the extensions 10 of said female drums 2 and male drums 5, being inserted into their respective internal cavities 3, 6.

[0044] In FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6 a number of lateral wedges 16 may be seen; these, being associated with the male drums 5, are for the extraction of the peel of the squeezed fruit.

[0045] FIG. 9, which is a cross-sectional view of the squeezer unit 1 in FIG. 1, reveals that within the internal cavities 3, 6 of the female drums 2 and of the male drums 5 there is at least one truncated-conical section 17, and that said cavities 3, 6 narrow toward the frontal part of the squeezer unit 1.

[0046] The support 8 of the squeezer unit 1 may further comprise a rearward plate 18 (FIGS. 5-8) with a number of orifices 19 which, when the squeezer unit 1 is assembled, surround the corresponding central shafts and internal cavities 3, 6 of the female drums 2 and of the male drums 5, the male drums 5 and the female drums 2 being located between the frontal plate 9 and the rearward plate 18. The rearward plate 18 is attached to the frontal plate 9 by linking means.

[0047] The support 8 comprises removable linking means 20 which may be attached to the frame 22 of the juicing machine 26 to which the squeezer unit 1 is coupled.

[0048] Likewise, the frontal plate 9 of the support 8 of the squeezer unit 1 may comprise lateral handles 21 to facilitate the grasping of the squeezer unit and its removal, when applicable.

[0049] Any modifications comprised within the scope defined by the following claims may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention described above.