Squeezing system

Abstract

Squeezing system that comprises at least one female drum (1) and at least one male drum (2), one close to the other and which rotate in a synchronous manner, one in the opposite direction to the other, the female (1) having on its side at least one cavity (6) apt for lodging the fruit to be squeezed, and the male drum (2) likewise having on the side at least one protuberance (5) apt for engaging in a portion of the rotation path and apt for being tightly lodged in the cavity (6) of the female drum (1) during each rotation, compressing and squeezing the fruit; the rotation axle (3) of the female drum (1) not being parallel to the rotation axle (4) of the male drum (2), both crossing at a point in space, being preferably coplanar and concurrent and being deployed one with respect to the other at an angle other than 0 or 180, in which the female (1) and male (2) drums have one of their bases larger than the other, preferably adopting a a frustoconical shape.

Claims

1. A squeezing system comprising: at least one female drum and at least one male drum proximate to the female drum; wherein the at least one female drum and the at least one male drum rotate in a synchronised manner, and in an opposite direction to each other, the female drum having in a lateral side surface at least one cavity configured for lodging fruit to be squeezed and the male drum having on a side at least one protuberance configured for embedding during a portion of a rotation path and further configured for tightly lodging in the cavity of the female drum on each rotation compressing and squeezing the fruit, wherein: a first longitudinal axis of a rotation axle about which the female drum is disposed and rotates and a second longitudinal axis of a rotation axle about which the male drum is disposed and rotates and disposed such that the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis cross in space; the first longitudinal axis disposed with respect of the second longitudinal axis a relative angle other than 0; and the first longitudinal axis disposed with respect of the second longitudinal axis a relative angle other than 180.

2. A squeezing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the female drum during its rotation forms a frustoconical shape with one base larger than the other.

3. A squeezing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the male drum during its rotation forms a frustoconical shape with one base larger than the other.

4. A squeezing system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are coplanar.

5. A squeezing system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising two female drums and two male drums.

6. A squeezing system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the female drums are facing each other by their respective side at a minimum constant distance and rotate in the opposite direction with respect of the other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 displays a squeezing system in one embodiment out of all the possible ones, with two female drums (1) and two male drums (2) with the rotation axles of female drums (3) deployed in a non-parallel manner, at an angle with respect of the rotation axles of male drums (4), the assembly being at the moment of the cycle in which protuberances (5) of the male drums are lodged in cavities (6) of the female drums.

(2) FIG. 2 displays the squeezing system in one embodiment out of all the possible ones, with two female drums (1) and two male drums (2) at a moment of the cycle in which cavities (6) of female drums (1) begin to face each other during their rotation path and show the maximum opening in order to be able to house fruit inside them, and protuberances (5) of male drums (2) are distanced from cavities (6) of female drums (1). Rotation axles (3) of the female drum and rotation axles (4) of the male drum are also visible.

(3) FIG. 3 displays an exploded view of the main components of the squeezing system and thus showing female drums (1), male drums (2), rotation axles (3) of the female drums, rotation axles (4) of the male drums, protuberances (5) of the male drums, cavities (6) of the female drums, as well as a possible execution of a guide and retention subsystem having a surface (7) that accompanies the cut fruit, as well as a possible execution of a cutting subsystem having a cutting wire (8).

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(4) The following is a description of the invention, which is not the only one, but rather simply explanatory for the purpose of better understanding it.

(5) For simplicity's sake the embodiment displayed in the figures will be used.

(6) The squeezing system that is explained in this specific embodiment comprises: Two female drums (1) Two male drums (2) Some rotation axles (3) of the female drums and some rotation axles (4) of the male drums deployed at an angle to each other.

(7) In which the female drums:

(8) Have a frustoconical shape and each one of them has on its side a cavity (6) apt for lodging the fruit to be squeezed.

(9) The two female drums (1) have the same size and rotate at the same speed and in a synchronised manner between them.

(10) Rotation axles (3) of the female drums (3) are not parallel to rotation axles (4) of the male drums, but rather are deployed at an angle.

(11) Rotation axles (3) of the female drums are coplanar and concurrent.

(12) The female drums rotate in a synchronous manner with respect of the male drums with which they are related.

(13) As the female drums rotate in a synchronous manner, one in the opposite direction to the other and given the specific initial position, during each rotation cavities (6) of each one of the female drums coincide facing each other (FIG. 2)

(14) Both female drums are close to each other and at a constant distance, their sides being parallel and almost adjoining the large bases of each one of them, as well as with the small bases of each one of them.

(15) A guide and retention element (7) is located close to female drums having an accompanying surface for the cut fruit on its path and a cutting element that has a cutting wire (8) located between both drums.

(16) In regard to the male drums:

(17) Each one has a protuberance (5) apt for being lodged in cavities (6) of the female drums.

(18) Rotation axles (4) of the male drums are not parallel to the rotation axles (3) of the female drums, but rather are deployed at an angle, being coplanar and concurrent.

(19) The rotation axles of male drums (4) are coplanar and concurrent.

(20) The rotation of the male drums is synchronised with the female drums with which they are are related.

(21) Each male drum rotates in the opposite direction of the female drum with which it is related.

(22) The squeezing system so defined has, the following cycle:

(23) By the action of a feeding subsystem that can be forced by gravity or any other meansand which is not a subject of the present inventionthe fruit is carried to the area between cavities (6) of both female drums at a moment in which cavities (6) are empty and are on the way to facing each other, as shown in FIG. 2.

(24) Once there, the fruit is housed, embraced and trapped by the cavities which forcefully direct it towards a cutting wire (8), preferably located parallel to both female drums,and which is not a subject of the present invention.

(25) After being cut into two halves, each one of the fruit portions are maintained in their cavity, preferably with the contribution of guide and retention element (7),which is not a subject of the present invention, and thus continue their path until, at the moment in the cycle shown in FIG. 1, the protuberances, embedding them in the cavities, are what retain, compress and squeeze the fruit.

(26) After the squeezing, the rind or the remains of the fruit are expelled from the male drums with a system,which is not a subject of the present invention, and a new cycle starts.

(27) To carry out the squeezing cycle in a globally automated manner, besides the cutting, guide and retention subsystems, it is recommended to have auxiliary subsystems such as feeding or rind extraction, among others, which are not shown in the present document as they are complementary to the squeezing process as such and common to many machines that already exist.