AUTOMATIC CARROT JUICE DISPENSER

Abstract

The present invention relates to the carrot juice dispensers. A dispenser (1) comprises a frame structure (2): a bunker (3) configured to store carrots (11). The bunker (3) comprises a bunker floor (4) configured to move in reciprocating motion (B). The dispenser further comprises a step feeder (8) arranged to the bunker floor (4) and configured to collect carrots (11) from said bunker (3) and move collected carrots (11) upwards to a buffer zone gate (9). The buffer zone gate (9) is configured to hold at least one carrot (11) and release hold carrot (11) by opening the buffer zone gate (9). A gravity chute (10) configured to receive the carrot (11) from the buffer zone gate (9) and to slide said carrot (11) into a juicer (12). The juicer (12) is configured to extract a carrot juice from the carrot/-s (11) and dispense said carrot juice.

Claims

1. A carrot juice dispenser (1) comprising: a frame structure (2); a bunker (3) configured to store carrots (11), wherein the bunker (3) comprises a bunker floor (4), two side walls (5), wherein the bunker floor (4) comprises an axle (6) so that the bunker floor (4) may swing(S) around said axle (6), and a reciprocating means (7) configured to provide reciprocating motion (B) to the bunker floor (4) so that the bunker floor (4) can swing(S) around said axle (6); a feeder (8), a buffer zone gate (9) arranged at the upper edge of the step feeder (8) and configured to hold at least one carrot (11) and release hold carrot (11) by opening the buffer zone gate (9); a gravity chute (10) arranged at the upper edge of the step feeder (8) and configured to receive the carrot (11) from the buffer zone gate (9) and to slide the carrot (11) under a gravity to an entrance (13) of a juicer (12) and into it, characterized in that the feeder (8) is a step feeder (8), wherein the step feeder (8) is arranged to the bunker floor (4) so that the step feeder (8) forms one wall of the bunker (3) and is configured to collect carrots (11) from said bunker (3) and move collected carrots (11) upwards by means of reciprocating motion (C) of steps (81) of the step feeder (8); and the gravity chute (10) is so inclined that the carrot (11) is repositioned from generally horizontal orientation at the buffer zone gate (9) to generally vertical position at the entrance (13) into the juicer (12), and wherein the juicer (12) is configured to extract a carrot juice from the carrot/-s (11) and dispense said carrot juice through a juicer outlet (15).

2. The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, wherein the entrance (13) of the juicer (12) comprises a deflection wall (14) arranged at the end of the gravity chute (10) so that the carrot (10) exiting the gravity chute (10) bounces into the deflection wall (14) and fall into the juicer (12) in vertical orientation.

3. The dispenser (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the axle (6) is arranged in the middle section or at one of the end sections of the bunker floor (4).

4. The dispenser (1) according to any of preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one side wall (5) is integral part of the frame structure (2).

5. The dispenser (1) according to any of preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the reciprocating means (7) is selected from the group comprising a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, electric motor with a cam, crank mechanism and motorized linear slide.

6. The dispenser (1) according to any of preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the reciprocating motion (C) of the steps (81) of the step feeder (8) and reciprocating motion (D) of the buffer zone gate (9) is provided by a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or motorized linear slide.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a carrot juice dispenser (1) with closed doors (20) and ready for use.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the carrot juice dispenser (1) as seen in FIG. 1, but with open doors (20).

[0015] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the carrot juice dispenser (1) as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, but with cut-out in a frame structure (2) and doors (20) to illustrate main elements of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 a principal schematic of the carrot juice dispenser (1) as seen in FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrating the principles of the operation.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the carrot juice dispenser (1) as seen in FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrating travel of carrots (11) along the dispenser (1).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The preferred embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the figures to illustrate objectives, advantages, and efficiency of the present invention.

[0019] FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrates one embodiments of the invention from various perspectives. The carrot juice dispenser (1) comprises a frame structure (2) in the form of sheet metal construction. The frame structure (2) forms a casing, and this casing is further enclosed by two doors (20). The dispenser (1) comprises a bunker (3) configured to store carrots (11). The bunker (3) comprises a bunker floor (4), two side walls (5). In presented embodiments of the invention one side wall (5) is made as an additional sheet metal side wall (5), but another side wall is integral part of the frame structure (2). The bunker floor (4) comprises an axle (6) arranged in the middle section thereof so that the bunker floor (4) may swing(S) around said axle (6). A reciprocating means (7) in the form of cylinder is connected to the bunker floor (4) so that the reciprocating means (7) provides reciprocating motion (B) to the bunker floor (4), in result of which the bunker floor (4) swings(S) around said axle (6). The dispenser (1) further comprises a step feeder (8). The step feeder (8) is arranged to the bunker floor (4) so that the step feeder (8) forms one wall of the bunker (3) and is configured to collect carrots (11) from said bunker (3) and move collected carrots (11) upwards by means of reciprocating motion (C) of steps (81) of the step feeder (8). The dispenser (1) further comprises a buffer zone gate (9) arranged at the upper edge of the step feeder (8) and configured to hold at least one carrot (11) and release hold carrot (11) by opening the buffer zone gate (9). The opening of the buffer zone gate (9) is provided by a reciprocating motion (D) of the buffer zone gate (9). The dispenser further comprises a gravity chute (10) arranged at the upper edge of the step feeder (8) and configured to receive the carrot (11) from the buffer zone gate (9) and to slide the carrot (11) under a gravity to an entrance (13) of a juicer (12) and into it. The gravity chute (10) is inclined by about 45 degrees in relation to the horizontal buffer zone gate (9). The carrot (11) falls from the buffer zone gate (9) onto the gravity chute (10) and slides down to an entrance (13) of the juicer (12) and into said juicer (12). The dispenser (1) further comprises a deflection wall (14) arranged at the end of the gravity chute (10) so that the carrot (10) exiting the gravity chute (10) bounces into the deflection wall (14) and fall into the juicer (12) in vertical orientation. The juicer (12) is configured to extract a carrot juice from the carrot/-s (11) and dispense said carrot juice through a juicer outlet (15).

[0020] While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments of which have been shown by way of example in the figures and have been described in detail herein, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.