Description

The invention relates to a device for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products, particularly pome fruit such as apples and/or pears. The invention further relates to a vending machine comprising a device as described in this document.

The invention also relates to a method for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products, particularly pome fruit such as apples and/or pears.

Devices for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products are known. An example of a known device for extracting juice from apples is known for example from NL 2015851. The known device is relatively complex because it comprises relatively many steps with associated components for example such as a grating unit and pressing chamber for supplying juice.

Consequently, an aim of the present invention is to provide an improved device for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products.

This aim is achieved with the device for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products as defined in claim 1.

The device for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products, particularly pome fruit such as apples and/or pears, comprises at least one receiving chamber for receiving at least one of the products, at least one pusher, as well as a screw press rotatable about a rotation axis for extracting juice from the product. In the device, the pusher can push the product that is located in the receiving chamber against a part of an outer side of the screw press extending around the rotation axis.

By means of the screw press and the pusher interacting therewith, an improved device is provided, since through this interaction, juice can be extracted from fruit and/or vegetable products relatively simply and reliably. In particular, the device is suitable for pome fruit such as apples and pears. For example, for supplying apple juice, an apple located in the receiving chamber is pushed against the screw press by means of the pusher and by means of the screw press it is as it were shredded (peeled), in particular pulverized, for processing by means of the screw press. The screw press is configured for pressing the pulverized product, so that by means of the screw press rotating about the rotation axis, juice can be extracted from the product in an efficient manner.

In one aspect, a filter is placed at least around a further part of an outer side of the screw press extending around the rotation axis.

The further part of the outer side of the screw press may directly adjoin the part against which the product is to be pushed by means of the pusher. However, it is also possible that this further part is located at a distance, viewed in the direction of the rotation axis. One function of the screw press is to convey the pulverized product in a direction of transport for further processing, particularly pressing. By means of the further part of the screw press, the pressing of the pulverized product located at or against the outer side of the screw press takes place, wherein the filter comprises a usual function and stops relatively coarse pulverized product (pulp), and lets juice through to a space located behind or around it. In order to lead the juice away, this space may communicate with a juice-collecting space. In particular, the juice obtained by means of the screw press may be displaced in the device under the effect of gravity. The juice-collecting space may be a component of a filling unit of the device, wherein by means of the filling unit, portable containers are to be filled in a metered manner, for example by using a sluicing mechanism, which may optionally be provided with sensors for measuring the filling level of the juice-collecting space. Portable containers may be glasses, bottles or packs, and the containers normally have a volume of 0.1-10 litres. The filling unit may be positioned under the receiving chamber, the pusher and the screw press, to provide a vertical arrangement of the device so that a compact device can be provided with respect to surface dimensions. The filter may be fastened detachably in the device, so that the filter can be taken out of the device by an operator for cleaning, maintenance or replacement. From a hygienic viewpoint, cleaning of the device after use may be desirable or possibly may even be required in order to guarantee a defined juice quality for consumption.

In a further aspect, the screw press comprises at least partially the shape of a truncated cone, wherein the diameter of the screw press is maximum at the part of the outer side against which the product is to be pushed by means of the pusher. The part of the outer side against which the product is to be pushed by means of the pusher may comprise a cylindrical shape. By means of this configuration, a relatively sturdy and reliable screw press can be provided, with which on the one hand through the interaction between pusher and screw press, a product is pulverized, and on the other hand juice can be extracted from the product continuously (without steps in-between) by pressing by means of the screw press. In particular, the further part of the screw press, the filter as well as the space may at least partially comprise the shape of a truncated cone to provide a pressing chamber in which, by means of the truncated-cone part of the screw press, an efficient pressing process can be carried out, wherein the diameter of the truncated cone may decrease in the direction away of the receiving chamber (seen in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw press).

The device may further be provided with a downcomer connected to the receiving chamber, wherein the product can be brought by means of the downcomer into the receiving chamber under the effect of gravity. Introduction of product into the receiving chamber in this way is relatively simple and reliable.

In another aspect, the pusher performs a reciprocating (to and fro) motion, wherein in a forward motion a product can be pushed against the screw press and in a backward motion a new product can be brought into the receiving chamber. A pusher of this kind makes a reliably functioning as well as compact device possible, wherein by means of the pusher, two functions can be performed efficiently in the device, namely the filling of the receiving chamber as well as the pushing of product against the screw press.

The outer side of the screw press may at least partially comprise grooves. The grooves may be spiral grooves or annular grooves. In the case of annular grooves, the centre line of the ring shape coincides with the rotation axis of the screw press. The depth of the grooves may decrease in a direction away from the receiving chamber. In this way it is possible by means of the screw press to provide less and less space for the pulverized product, so that the pressing force of the screw press does not decrease in a direction away from the receiving chamber (seen in the direction of the rotation axis of the screw press), but rather increases. Furthermore, by means of a drive mechanism, both the screw press may be driven rotatably and simultaneously the pusher may be movable to and fro. A device of this kind requires only one drive mechanism for driving both the pusher and the screw press, so that it is possible to provide a device with a minimum number of components and/or to provide a compact device. For optimum interaction, the direction of motion of the pusher may extend substantially perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the screw press. In a further aspect, the device is an automatic device with an interface for controlling the device, for example an interface for a user for input of a desired amount of juice. After input in the interface by a user, the process in the device for extracting juice from the fruit and/or vegetable products is started automatically. Possibly the user will need to position a container correctly for starting the delivery of juice, but even this operation can be carried out automatically, if required.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide an improved method for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products.

This aim is achieved with the method for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products as defined in claim 17.

The method for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products, particularly pome fruit such as apples and/or pears, comprises the following steps: at least one of the products is received in at least one receiving chamber, wherein, by means of a pusher, the product that is located in the receiving chamber is pushed against a part of an outer side of a screw press extending around the rotation axis, so that juice is extracted from the product by means of the screw press.

By means of these steps, an improved method is provided, since juice can be extracted from fruit and/or vegetable products relatively simply and reliably. Moreover, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the device described in this document including the advantages described herein. By means of the method, a juice container, for example a container described above, may be filled with freshly pressed juice in a metered manner, for sale for consumption.

The aspects described in this document will be explained hereunder on the basis of an embodiment example in combination with the figures. The invention is not, however, limited to the embodiment example described hereunder. Rather, a number of variants and modifications are possible, which also make use of the idea of the invention and consequently fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the possibility is mentioned of combining the features/aspects that are only mentioned in the description and/or are shown in the figures, with the features in the claims or features shown in other figures, in so far as compatible.

Reference is made to the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a machine for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products, particularly pome fruit such as apples and/or pears; Figs. 2a-d show different views of parts of a device in the vending machine shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of a filter of the device shown in Figs. 2a-d, including an enlarged view of a passage in the filter.

In the figures, the same components are given the same reference symbols.

The machine 100 shown in Fig. 1 is a vending machine for selling freshly pressed juice to users. The machine comprises a device 1 shown partially in Figs. 2a-d, for extracting juice from fruit and/or vegetable products, particularly pome fruit such as apples and/or pears. The machine comprises a frame for carrying the device 1 as well as a housing 101 , so that for the most part the device 1 is not visible in Fig. 1.

The device 1 comprises a storage container 3, rotatable about a vertical rotation axis. The rotatable storage container 3 may also be provided with rotating components and non-rotating components. For example, the vertical edge 4 of the storage container may be a stationary (non-rotating) edge 4, wherein the bottom 5 is configured as rotating, so that the bottom 5 rotates relative to the edge 4. For example apples or pears (not shown) may be provided in the storage container 3. Only as an example, the action of the device 1 will be discussed hereunder on the basis of apples. In a bottom 5 of the storage container 3, a number of recesses may be provided, into which an apple may fall through rotation of the storage container 3 about the vertical rotation axis if a recess 7 is free. A recess 7 with an apple therein is rotated to a position in which the apple can fall further into the device, i.e. by means of rotation of the storage container 3, an apple can fall into a receiving chamber (see Figs. 2a-d) of the device 1 under the effect of gravity. For this purpose, the device 1 may be provided with a downcomer 13, which is connected to the receiving chamber 11. By means of the downcomer 13, the apple may be brought from a recess 7 aligned with the downcomer 13 into the receiving chamber 11 under the effect of gravity, if there is a space for the apple in the downcomer 13 or the receiving chamber 11. It is for example possible that the downcomer is filled with a number of apples, so that an apple located in an aligned recess 7 cannot fall into the downcomer 13. The downcomer 13 is provided with a sensor 17, which detects whether the downcomer 13 is full, and which is connected by a communication link to a drive system for rotating the storage container 3 about the vertical rotation axis until the downcomer 13 is filled in a predetermined manner with apples that come from the recess/recesses 7 of the storage container 3. In this way, a product feed mechanism is provided that only requires rotation of the storage container 3 to fill the receiving chamber 11 with apple(s) under the effect of gravity. A configuration of the product feed mechanism different from that shown, for example with traps, is possible.

Figs. 2a-d show important components of the device 1 for juicing, i.e. the receiving chamber 11 , a pusher 21 and a screw press 23, which will be described hereunder in more detail. Seen in the vertical direction, these components are located under the storage container 3, wherein a filling unit 25 of the device 1 is located underneath. This vertical arrangement of the device 1 not only ensures that the processes can be carried out therein by means of movements under the effect of gravity, but also that a relatively compact device 1 , and therefore machine 100, can be provided, in particular the length and the width of the device 1 , which define the area to be occupied by the device 1 , are smaller relative to the height of the device 1. The height of the device 1 measured from a base on which the machine 100 is placed is for example at least 1.5 times greater than the smallest dimension (width or length) of the device 1. Therefore the machine 100 in which the device 1 is incorporated will take up a small area (length times width), which is particularly desirable in commercial premises such as restaurants or supermarkets.

The extraction of juice from fruit and/or vegetable products, particularly pome fruit such as apples and/or pears, by means of the device 1 will be explained on the basis of Figs. 2a-d. The device 1 shown is an automatic device with an interface 28 for controlling the device, for example an interface for a user for input of a desired amount of juice. After input in the interface by a user, the process in the device for extracting juice from the fruit and/or vegetable products is started automatically. The device 1 is provided with the receiving chamber 11 for receiving at least one of the products, with the pusher 21 as well as with the screw press 23, rotatable about a horizontal rotation axis 30 (Fig. 2c), for extracting juice from the product. By means of the pusher 21 , the product located in the receiving chamber 11 is to be pushed against a part 23a of an outer side 31 of the screw press 23 extending around the rotation axis 30. The pusher 21 performs a to and fro motion, shown by the two indicated directions of double-headed arrow 22. In a forward motion, the product is to be pushed against the part 23a of the outer side 31 of the screw press, wherein through the interaction between the rotation of the screw press 23 and the pusher, the product is pulverized until the pusher 21 reaches an end position relative to the screw press 23, so that no product, or only a minimum amount of product, is located between the pusher 21 and the part 23a of the outer side 31 of the screw press 23. The direction of movement 22 of the pusher 21 extends substantially perpendicularly to the rotation axis 30 of the screw press 23. After reaching the end position of the pusher 21 , the pusher 21 will be returned to a starting position as shown in Figs. 2a,b,c. During this return motion to the starting position, a new product is to be brought into the receiving chamber 11 because owing to this return movement towards the starting position of the pusher 21 , the end of the downcomer 13 is opened and a new product can fall into the receiving chamber 11 , from which juice is to be extracted in the same way. The device 1 comprises a single drive mechanism (not shown) for simultaneously driving both the reciprocating motion of the pusher 21 and the rotating motion of the screw press 23.

The outer side 31 of the screw press 23 comprises spiral-shaped grooves 33, which can be applied in part 23a for the pulverizing of product through interaction with the pusher 21. Thus, a screw device 1 is provided, with a pumping/pressing function as well as a conveying function.

As can be seen, the screw press 23 comprises at least partially the shape of a truncated cone, wherein the diameter of the screw press is maximum at the part 23a of the outer side 31. The part 23a of the outer side 31 comprises a cylindrical shape. The outer side 31 of the screw press 23 extending around the rotation axis 30 comprises a further part 23b as well as an end part 23c. The further part 23b of the outer side 31 of the screw press 23 directly adjoins the part 23a against which the product is to be pushed by means of the pusher 21. A filter 41 extending around the rotation axis 39 (Figs. 2a, 3) is located around the further part 23b. The further part 23b of the screw press 23, the filter 41 as well as a space 43 forming the pressing chamber comprise the shape of a truncated cone, whose diameter decreases in a direction away from the receiving chamber, i.e. towards the end part 23c of the screw press 23, i.e. in the direction of transport P1 of the screw press 23. In the pressing chamber, by means of the further part 23b, the pressing takes place of the pulverized product located on or against the outer side 31 of the screw press 23. The depth of the grooves 33 decreases in a direction away from the receiving chamber 11 , particularly in the case of the grooves 33 of the further part 23b. As a result, there is less and less space for the pulverized product that is located around the screw press, so that the pressing force is maximized towards the end part 23c. By means of the filter 41 , the juice is allowed to pass through to the channel-shaped space 43 located around it (Fig. 2c). This space 43 is connected to a further space 45 located under the part 23a of the screw press 23, to discharge the juice to a juice-collecting space (not shown). The juice-collecting space is a component of the filling unit 25, wherein portable containers are to be filled with juice in a metered manner by means of the filling unit 25.

The filter 41 shown in Fig. 3 is fastened detachably in the device 1 , wherein the filter 41 is provided at the ends with fastening sections 41 a, b, between which the filtration section 41c is located. The filter 41 comprises a wall 47 provided with perforated passages 49. An end 49b of the passage 49 located near the screw press 23 comprises a smaller opening than an end 49b of the passage 49 located away from the screw press 23. With this kind of design, the risk of blockages of the passages 49 is limited in a constructionally relatively simple way. The passage 49 has a continuous shape, i.e. for example the passage 49 has the shape of a truncated cone or truncated pyramid, for further reducing the risk of blockage.

Near the end part 23c of the screw press 23, the device 1 is provided with a drain 51 , for discharging the residual product from the pressing chamber of the device 1.

The device is suitable for the processing of certain unpeeled products such as apples and pears. It is, however, also possible to place peeled products in the storage container 3 or to fit a peeling mechanism in the device (not shown), so that the pusher 21 can press a peeled product against the screw press 23.