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 BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES characterised by comprising: A carrier and filtering area that comprises: 1. At least one flexible carrier band (1). 2. At least two shafts (2) and (3) on which said band is mounted. 3. A support casing (4) on which the shafts are mounted which comprises additional auxiliary elements. 4. At least one main scraper (6). 5. At least one filter. A drive and motion management element comprising: 1. A motor. 2. An electronic device for managing the motor. 3. A transmission between the motor and the shafts.

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

3. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 characterised in that the flexible band is made from a permeable material and is itself a filter.

4. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 characterised in that the carrier band has perforations and is itself a filter.

5. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 characterised in that the upper part of the flexible band is inclined.

6. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 characterised in that the flexible band (1) is mounted on the shafts (2) and (3) in the form of a tank tread.

7. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 characterised in that the casing comprises a main scraper (6) and an additional filter (7).

8. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 characterised in that at least one of the shafts engages the drive element.

9. SWEEPER AND FILTER ASSEMBLY FOR BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINES according to claim 1 characterised in that the drive element is separated from the filtering area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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).

[0055] 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).

[0056] 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

[0057] 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.

[0058] The invention, a filter and sweeper assembly for juicing machines, comprises two clearly differentiated areas related to each other.

[0059] A carrier and filtering area that comprises:

[0060] A flexible and permeable band (1) made from an elastic material having a plurality of perforations.

[0061] 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.

[0062] A casing (4) that supports the shafts.

[0063] Attached to this casing is a main scraper (6), an additional filter (7), an anti-return wall (8) and a handle (9).

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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.

[0067] For greater effectiveness, an additional filter (7) is provided on the bottom part of the casing.

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] 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.