Sweeper and filter assembly for beverage preparation machines

Abstract

Sweeper and filter assembly for beverage preparation machines comprising a sweeper associated with a filter, the sweeper comprising a carrier band mounted on at least two shafts. The carrier band can perform the filtering function itself as it is made from a filtering material or is provided with suitable orifices. The carrier band is flexible and preferably elastic. The shafts on which the band is mounted are supported by a casing, where at least one of said shafts engages a drive element comprising a motor and an electronic device for managing the motor. At least one scraper is provided joined to the casing in order to clean the carrier band. The motor of the drive element is independent from the motor of the juicing machine, the device having sweeping and filtering cycles independent of the juicing cycles of the main machine.

Claims

1. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR A BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE comprising: a flexible carrier band, wherein the band is permeable; a pair of shafts about which said band is mounted in a continuous tank tread configuration so as to define an upper part of the band and a lower part of the band, wherein the band is configured to carry and filter a product of beverage preparation and the upper part of the band is disposed to catch the product of beverage preparation; and a casing disposed within the beverage preparation machine, wherein the shafts, with the mounted band, are removably connected to the casing such that the band is under tension, and wherein the casing further comprises: a main scraper disposed adjacent one of the shafts; a non-return wall disposed adjacent one of the shafts opposite the main scraper; and a secondary filter is formed in a bottom part of the casing adjacent the main scraper, wherein at least one of the shafts is configured to couple to a drive element disposed in the beverage preparation machine comprising a motor and an electronic device for managing the motor, wherein the casing, together with the shafts, mounted band, main scraper, and secondary filter disposed within the casing, is removably connected to the beverage preparation machine.

2. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 wherein the flexible carrier band is made from an elastic material.

3. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 wherein the flexible carrier band is made from a permeable material so as to function as a filter.

4. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 wherein the flexible carrier band has perforations so as to function as a filter.

5. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 wherein the upper part of the flexible carrier band is inclined and the band moves in an upward direction.

6. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 wherein the drive element is separated from a filtering area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the carrier band (1) in this case perforated to act as a filter, the shafts (2) and (3) on which said band is mounted, the casing (4) that supports the carrier band and the shafts, where the shafts are housed in bearings (5) provided on the casing itself, and also shows the main scraper (6), the additional filter (7), the non-return wall (8) and a handle (9) that allows stiffening the assembly and facilitates handling the casing.

(2) FIG. 2 also shows an exploded view, in this case from a lower perspective, of the carrier band (1) showing its bottom face (10), the shafts (2) and (3) and the casing (4) with the bearings (5) provided on the casing, as well as showing the main scraper (6), the additional filter (7) and the non-return wall (8).

(3) FIG. 3 shows the mounted assembly formed by the carrier band (1) and the casing (4), with the shafts (2) and (3) at the ends of the shafts (2) and (3) resting on the bearings and also at the ends of the shafts a gear (11).

(4) The motor and the management device have not been represented as these elements are easily understood without the need for explanatory drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(5) An embodiment of the invention is described herein by way of illustration that is not meant to be unique or to limit the scope of the invention.

(6) The invention, a filter and sweeper assembly for juicing machines, comprises two clearly differentiated areas related to each other.

(7) A carrier and filtering area that comprises:

(8) A flexible and permeable band (1) made from an elastic material having a plurality of perforations.

(9) Two shafts (2) and (3) on which the flexible band is mounted in the form of a tank tread and which limit the path thereof, one of the shafts placed at a greater height than the other such that the flexible band is inclined.

(10) A casing (4) that supports the shafts.

(11) Attached to this casing is a main scraper (6), an additional filter (7), an anti-return wall (8) and a handle (9).

(12) The shafts (2) and (3) have at their ends a gear (11) meant to engage the rotation shaft of the motor such that, when connected, the rotation of the motor is transmitted to the shaft and therefore to the carrier band.

(13) The juice with the pulp and seeds falls on the carrier band; the juice passes through its orifices while the pulp, seeds and other remains are carried toward the end of the carrier band and fall into the waste container.

(14) If any remains continue to be adhered to the carrier band and do not fall by gravity, a scraper (6) is provided to remove them.

(15) For greater effectiveness, an additional filter (7) is provided on the bottom part of the casing.

(16) The second area of the device, not shown in the drawings, comprises the motor and management electronics for the motor, both located internally to the juicing machine, away from the filtering area to avoid contact with the juice.

(17) The motor engages gears that transmit the motion to one of the shafts (2) or (3) and thereby to the carrier band (1), preferably by friction, although other means for transmitting the motion are not discarded.

(18) The electronic management of the motor allows several filter cleaning programs, such that the movements of the filtering area can coincide with those of the juicing elements of the juicing machine to clean the latter as it is used, and also allows cleaning programs independent of the movement of the juicing machine.