ES2229957B1 - CONTAINER OF A SINGLE USE FOR FRUIT AND CORRESPONDING PROCEDURES AND DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Single-use container for squeezing fruit and corresponding procedures and device. The container has a bottom (7) and an upper opening and which defines a longitudinal axis (9). It also comprises a squeezing chamber containing fruit (11) prepared to be squeezed, a filtering surface with liquid outlet holes (25) and a lid (1) with a support area (3), where the lid ( 1) It is capable of being displaced along the longitudinal axis (9) by an external force applied on the support area (3) so that the volume of the squeezing chamber is reduced. The fruit can be squeezed by applying an external force in the direction of the longitudinal axis (9) on the lid (1) using a device comprising a rod and a support (35) suitable for supporting the container.

Description

Single-use container for squeezing of corresponding fruit and procedures and device.

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a container of a only for fruit squeezing that has a bottom and a upper opening and defining a longitudinal axis.

The invention also relates to a process of making a fruit juice, at a manufacturing process of a container according to the invention and a device for squeezing fruit.

State of the art

There are machines and devices on the market for obtaining fruit juice, which allow the supply to consumer of freshly squeezed fruit juice. This type of machines, which can be both manually operated and automatic, always consist of obtaining the juice through the  direct contact of the piece of fruit to be squeezed with some element of the machine that presses, crushes and / or crushes the fruit. Without However, these types of machines have several drawbacks, in Particularly related to cleaning and maintenance. Is it is necessary to constantly remove pulp-like waste, seeds, skin and other elements that inevitably become general and which, if not removed, would end up preventing the production of juice. This requires frequent manual cleaning. There is also the added inconvenience of possible fermentation of waste, with the consequent deterioration of the flavor and quality of the juice obtained, which makes frequent manual cleaning more necessary. On the other hand the machine elements in direct contact with the fruit and juice obtained must be able to withstand a relatively corrosive environment and simultaneously must be made of materials suitable for the food industry.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims to overcome these inconvenience This purpose is achieved by a container single use for squeezing fruit of the type indicated at principle characterized in that it comprises a squeeze chamber containing fruit prepared to be squeezed, an area of filtered with some liquid outlet holes and a lid with a support area, where the lid is suitable to be moved according to the longitudinal axis of the vessel by an external force applied on the support area so that the volume is reduced from the squeeze chamber.

Effectively the container according to the invention allows the squeezing of the fruit in a clean way, since that the waste generated by the process of obtaining the juice they remain inside the container, which is for single use only and, therefore, it is replaced by another new, filled container also fruit, to make a new squeeze. On the other hand virtually no part of the machine is in contact with the corrosive environment, eventually with the exception of a stem that move the lid. Therefore the squeezing machine is very also simplified from the point of view of maintenance. OR that is, the basic idea of the invention consists of a container that contains inside the fruit to be squeezed and that is simultaneously the container container of the fruit for sale and distribution, the squeeze chamber to obtain the juice, and the container waste container (pulp, nuggets, skin, etc.). In addition, the container allows to distribute the fruit already expressly prepared for subsequent squeezing: it can be properly cleaned, may be bare, pitted, chopped, may be formed by combination of different types of fruit in the same container for form mixed juices, etc. Optionally the same container can serve as a glass from which the juice can be consumed.

On the other hand it facilitates the obtaining of juices which normally cannot be done in a simple way in private homes or in public places like bars, cafes or Hotels. So most fruit juicers They are basically citrus-oriented, for example oranges. However, the container according to the invention may be filled with a wide variety of fruits, such as grapes, peaches, pears, melon, plums, etc., as well as any mixture thereof.

Preferably the bottom has a surface conical exterior, and advantageously the bottom has, additionally, an outer surface with lower anchoring means. Indeed, the conical bottom better resists the efforts of that the container will be subjected during the squeezing of the fruit. On the other hand, the external anchoring means allow fixing the container to a machine support responsible for exercising the compression force through the appropriate stem. Advantageously the rod performs a turning movement at the same time as performs a movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis to compress the fruit, thus transmitting to the lid of the container a pair of forces that makes it move by movement helical. In this case the lower anchoring means serve, also, so that the container does not rotate around its axis longitudinal. Preferably the lower anchoring means are radially arranged partitions that simultaneously act as reinforcement nerves. In this way these partitions comply with the double function of serving as lower anchoring means and of further strengthen the bottom of the container.

Advantageously the container according to the invention is at least partially transparent. It allows fulfill a double function, on the one hand of technical type, in the sense that allows an eye inspection of its content to detect possible problems, and on the other hand a type function commercial, since for the potential buyer it can be particularly attractive to see the fruit contained in the container.

Preferably, the support area comprises some upper anchoring means suitable for a pair to be applied of forces in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

Indeed, as previously stated it is advantageous that the displacement of the lid is a movement helical. To properly transmit the torque of the shank or punch of the machine to the lid, it is convenient that the cover comprises upper anchoring means in its area of superior support Advantageously these upper anchoring means they are a second partitions that extend radially, preferably cross-shaped, although another suitable alternative It consists of providing a cross-shaped groove in the support area. In the latter case, the stem or punch will have a tip similar to a screwdriver star.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is obtained when the filtering surface is in the top. In this case the juice squeezed out through these holes and It remains in the container, but above the lid. It allows pour the juice through the top opening of the container into a glass, and It even allows you to use the container itself as a glass. Advantageously the liquid outlet holes arranged in the lid are elongated and curved, forming arcs of circumference. It Reduces the risk of the filter being clogged by the pulp and others undone of the half-squeezed fruit.

Preferably the lid has ribs in its inner face that reinforce it. These nerves can be radial and, eventually, of increasing height between a minimum value in the periphery of the cover (in order to reduce friction against side walls of the container) up to a maximum value in the center of the lid. Alternatively the lid may have partitions that they extend circumferentially and serve to help in the Crushed fruit.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is obtained when the filtering surface is in the opposite the upper opening and defines the lower part of The squeeze chamber. It must be understood as "opposite side" not strictly the bottom of the container, but in general all the area of the container that is at the bottom, that is, the background, the section of the side walls, or both at the same time. Among other things, this solution allows to have a surface higher filtration, which facilitates filtering and reduces the risk that the filtrate surface is clogged by debris from Half-squeezed fruit. Advantageously the squeeze chamber It has a cylindrical side wall and the filtering surface It is at the bottom of the cylindrical side wall. In this case it is particularly interesting that the container comprises a outer side wall that surrounds the cylindrical side wall, is say that the bottom of the container has a double wall, and that the bottom has an exit opening. In this way the juice squeezed passes through the cylindrical side wall, which comprises the filtering surface, and flows between the side wall cylindrical and the outer side wall down, to exit to through the outlet opening arranged at the bottom. This way you can pick up the squeezed juice in a glass or jar arranged below the container. In this embodiment of the invention it is also particularly advantageous that the lid have arc-shaped nerves on your face interior, which facilitates the operation of crushing and squeezing of Fruit.

The invention also aims at a procedure of elaboration of a fruit juice characterized because it comprises the positioning steps of a container of according to the invention on a support, and [b] application of a external force in the direction of the longitudinal axis on the cover of the container. Preferably the procedure includes, in the stage application of a force, the simultaneous application of a moment of forces or torque in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

The object of the invention is also a manufacturing process of a container according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises the steps of [a] selection and preparation of the fruit to be squeezed, [b] introduction of the fruit in the squeeze chamber of a container according to the invention, and [c] positioning of the container lid.

The container according to the invention is a container that contains the fruit inside and that serves as single-use squeeze chamber (i.e. it is not reusable) However, it requires a machine or device able to move the lid inwards to take place The fruit squeeze. Therefore, another object of the invention It is a device for squeezing fruit characterized because It comprises a rod suitable for compressive strength and to be applied on the support area of a container of according to the invention, and a support suitable for supporting the container. The device for squeezing is, therefore, of great simplicity, with few moving parts and easy to clean and to maintain. Preferably the rod comprises a head that it has superior anchoring means corresponding to the upper anchoring means of the container lid. That's it advantageous that the support has lower anchoring means corresponding to the lower anchoring means of the container.

In case the container has an opening output at its bottom, as in the case of one of the ways of preferred embodiments described above, then it is it is convenient that the support has a passage opening that allows  the passage of the liquid from the outlet opening, and that the device has a space below the opening of outlet suitable to accommodate a conventional glass, a jug or Similary.

In principle the container according to the invention (as well as the corresponding squeezing device) they can be of any size, however it is particularly interesting that is small in size, so that it can be manually manipulated and so that the juice obtained is in a such amount that can be consumed immediately. So, advantageously the volume of the container is such that it contains the adequate amount of fruit to obtain a maximum of 5 liters of juice This size may be of interest fruit for establishments such as hotels, where there is consumption relatively high juice (for example orange juice during breakfast time). The amount of fruit needed to get 5 liters of juice will vary from one fruit to another, but can be determined by an expert in the field in a way Simple for each type of fruit. Approximately it can be assumed that it will be necessary to provide a maximum volume of container of about 10 liters. These volumes are volumes maximums in the sense that if they are larger they are already complexes of Manipulate manually Another preferred container size is that which allows to obtain approximately one liter of juice. This volume is a volume that may be of interest in large amounts of applications, both in hotels, restaurants and bars and at the level domestic, for families, etc. Finally another big size interest is that which allows to obtain a smaller volume of juice or equal to 0.33 liters (and particularly less than or equal to 0.20 liters), which corresponds roughly to the volume consumed by a person. In this case the container is an individual container, and allows to obtain the necessary juice for each person at the time precise in what you want to consume.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and features of the invention they are appreciated from the following description, in which, without no limitation, preferential modes of embodiment of the invention, mentioning the drawings that are accompany. The figures show:

Fig. 1, a side elevation view, partially sectioned, of a first embodiment of a container of according to the invention, together with the rod and the means of Bottom anchorage of a device for squeezing fruit from according to the invention.

Fig. 2A, a cross-sectional view of the lid of the container of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2B, a top plan view of the lid of Fig. 2A.

Fig. 3, a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, a schematic sequence of manufacturing process and elaboration of a fruit juice according to the invention with the container of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5A, a bottom plan view of the container of Fig. 5B.

Fig. 5B, a side elevation view, partially sectioned from a second embodiment of a container according to the invention.

Fig. 5C, a top plan view of the container of Fig. 5B.

Fig. 6A, a bottom plan view of the lid of Fig. 6B.

Fig. 6B, a side elevation view, partially sectioned, of a second embodiment of a lid according to the invention.

Fig. 6C, a top plan view of the lid of Fig. 6B.

Fig. 7A, a bottom plan view of the container of Fig. 7B.

Fig. 7B, a side elevation view, partially sectioned from a third embodiment of a container according to the invention, without the lateral surface Exterior.

Fig. 7C, a top plan view of the container of Fig. 7B.

Fig. 8A, a bottom plan view of the outer side surface of the container of Fig. 7B.

Fig. 8B, a side elevation view, partially sectioned, of the outer lateral surface of the container of Fig. 7B,

Fig. 8C, a top plan view of the outer side surface of the container of Figure 7B.

Fig. 9A, a bottom plan view of the lid of Fig. 9B.

Fig. 9B, a side elevation view, partially sectioned, of a third embodiment of a lid according to the invention, suitable for the container of the Fig. 7B.

Fig. 9C, a top plan view of the lid of Fig. 9B.

Fig. 10, a partial cross section of the container of Fig. 7B, complete.

Fig. 11, a partial cross section of the container of Fig. 10 including some pieces of fruit.

Fig. 12, a schematic sequence of manufacturing process and elaboration of a fruit juice according to the invention with the container of Fig. 11.

Detailed description of some embodiments of the invention

Figures 1 to 4 show a first form of embodiment of the invention. The container according to the invention has a cover 1 arranged in the upper opening of the container, which has a support area 3 on which it will exert the pressure a rod 5 of the machine or device for the squeezed fruit according to the invention. Cap 1 is suitable to be displaced along the side wall of the container towards the bottom 7 thereof along the longitudinal axis 9 of the container. As previously discussed, stem 5 you can print a pure translation movement to cover 1 or a helical movement to it. In the case of printing a pure translation movement the side wall of the container can be cylindrical or prismatic, in principle with any section cross. However preferably it is cross-sectional circular, since in this case the stem 5 can subject to the lid 1 to a helical displacement, even existence is possible of two families of devices or squeezing machines in the market, one of them that only performs a movement of pure translation and the other that performs a translation movement and simultaneous turn.

Inside the bowl is fruit 11. The container is placed on lower anchoring means 13 provided in the device for squeezing fruit, which are complementary to their own lower anchoring means 15. The lower anchoring means 15 of the container consist of about radially arranged partitions 17 that simultaneously act as  reinforcement nerves The bottom 7 is conical.

The support area 3 of the cover 1 also has upper anchoring means 19 complementary to the means top anchor 21 of the stem 5 so that it can be transmit a pair of forces from the stem 5 to the cover 1, thus achieving the helical movement. The media top anchor 19 of the lid 1 are a few second partitions 23 that extend radially in the form of a cross.

The cover 1 has exit holes of liquid 25 so that the lid 1 defines a surface of filtered through which the squeezed juice will come out, which will remain like this contained in the upper part of the container. From there it can be served in a jar, glass or similar, or the own container can be used as a glass. The inner face of the lid 1 also has reinforcement ribs.

In Fig. 4 all the schematic is shown procedure according to the invention. First of all it introduce the fruit 11 inside the container and place the lid 1 closing the container. The lid 1 may have a sheet removable outer seal in a sealed way its subsequent transport and distribution. When you want to make a juice the container is positioned in the lower anchoring means 13 of the device for squeezing fruit and lowering the rod 5 until it comes into contact with the support zone 3 of the cover 1. From there the rod 5 subjects the cover 1 to a displacement (preferably simultaneous with a turn or at a helical motion) which causes the squeezing of fruit 11 and the juice outlet through the liquid outlet holes 25 arranged in the lid 1. At the end of the squeezing stage they will remain the remains of pulp and other debris inside the container, between lid 1 and bottom 7. The juice is above lid 1 and ready for later consumption.

In Figs. 5 and 6 another form of embodiment of the invention, which is a variant of the container shown in Figs. 1 to 4. In the present solution both the face inside of the lid 1 as the inner face of the bottom 7 have about arc-shaped ribs 27 whose objective is facilitate the slicing and squeezing of fruit 11 arranged in the inside of the container Other differences are that the holes of liquid outlet 25 is round and that the anchoring means upper 19 arranged in the support area 3 of the cover 1 are a cross-shaped groove.

A third is shown in Figures 7 to 12 embodiment of the invention. In this case the container it has a lid 1 without liquid outlet holes 25, which are arranged in the opposite part of the upper opening of the container, specifically at the bottom of the side wall cylindrical 29. Outside this cylindrical side wall 29 there are an outer side wall 31 that surrounds it and comprising a exit opening 33 at its bottom. In this way the juice squeezed flowing through the cylindrical side wall 29 flows through the intermediate space remaining between the cylindrical side wall 29 and the outer side wall 31 until exiting through the opening of exit 33. In this specific embodiment both the face inner bottom 7 as the inner face of the lid 1 have about arc-shaped ribs 27 serving mainly to facilitate the slicing and squeezing of the fruit 11. In addition, the cover 1 has a cross groove in its area of support 3.

Figure 12 again shows the sequence of the process according to the invention, with such a container as shown in Figures 7 to 11. As differences regarding to the procedure shown in Figure 4, the fact that that the support 35 of the fruit squeezing device has also a hole that faces the outlet opening 33 of the container, under which a glass is placed in which will pick up the squeezed juice.

Claims (21)

1. Single-use container for squeezing fruit, which has a bottom (7) and an upper opening and defines a longitudinal axis (9), characterized in that it comprises a squeezing chamber containing fruit (11) prepared to be squeezed, a filtering surface with liquid outlet holes (25) and a cover (1) with a support area (3), where said cover (1) is suitable for being moved along said longitudinal axis (9) by an external force applied on said support zone (3) so that the volume of said squeeze chamber is reduced. 2. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that said bottom (7) has a conical outer surface. 3. Container according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said bottom (7) has an outer surface with lower anchoring means (15). 4. A container according to claim 3, characterized in that said lower anchoring means (15) are radially arranged partitions (17) that simultaneously act as reinforcing ribs. 5. Container according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is at least partially transparent. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said support area (3) comprises upper anchoring means (19) suitable for a pair of forces to be applied in the direction of said longitudinal axis (9). A container according to claim 6, characterized in that said upper anchoring means (19) are second radially extending partitions (23), preferably in the form of a cross. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said filtering surface is in said lid (1). 9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that said lid (1) has radial ribs on its inner face. A container according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that said liquid outlet orifices (25) are elongated and curved, forming circumference arcs. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said filtering surface is in the opposite part of said upper opening and defines the lower part of said squeezing chamber. 12. Container according to claim 11, characterized in that said squeezing chamber has a cylindrical side wall (29) and said filtering surface is at the bottom of said cylindrical side wall (29). 13. A container according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises an outer side wall (31) that surrounds said cylindrical side wall (29), and that it comprises an outlet opening (33) in said bottom (7). 14. A container according to any of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that said lid (1) has ribs (27) in the form of an arc of circumference in its inner face. 15. Process for preparing a fruit juice characterized in that it comprises the steps of positioning a container according to any of claims 1 to 14 on a support, and [b] applying an external force in the direction of said longitudinal axis (9) on said cover (1). 16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that in said step of applying a force a pair of forces are applied simultaneously in the direction of said longitudinal axis (9). 17. Method of manufacturing a container according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises the steps of [a] selection and preparation of the fruit (11) to be squeezed, [b] introduction of said fruit (11) into the squeezing chamber of a container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, and [c] positioning the lid (1). 18. Device for squeezing fruit characterized in that it comprises a rod suitable for carrying out a compression force and for being applied on the support area (3) of a container according to any one of claims 1 to 14, and a support (35) suitable to support said container. 19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that said rod comprises a head having upper anchoring means (21) corresponding to the upper anchoring means (19) of the lid (1) of said container. 20. Device according to one of claims 18 or 19, characterized in that said support (35) has lower anchoring means (13) corresponding to the lower anchoring means (13) of said container. 21. Device according to any of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that said support has a passage opening that allows the passage of liquid from said outlet opening (33), and that said device has a space below said opening outlet (33) suitable to accommodate a conventional glass.