GB2360933A

GB2360933A - A juicer comprising a reamer and a press plate

Info

Publication number: GB2360933A
Application number: GB0008686A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ka Nam Ho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-07
Filing date: 2000-04-07
Publication date: 2001-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-07
Also published as: GB0008686D0; GB2360933B; GB2360933A8; GB2360933B8

Abstract

A reamer 1 for use with a press plate 13, the reamer comprising a rotatable reaming portion 2 and at least one arm 7 extending radially outwardly from the reaming portion 2 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the reaming portion 2. The press plate 13 has an upper surface (14, Fig. 3) having an aperture (18, Fig. 3) at an edge thereof comprising an entrance to a collector (20, Fig. 3). The reamer and press plate can be combined and incorporated into a juicer comprising a base with a motor and a drive shaft (29) extending upwardly through a juice collection jug 25 and engaging the reamer 1. The reaming portion 2 may be domed and the reamer 1 may have two arms 7 which comprise a lobe where the upper surface is curved and smooth and have fin at there distal end. The collector may have pores which allow the passage of liquid but not solids. The press plate may further comprise a plunger (26, Fig. 7)

Description

2360933 "Improvements in or Relating to Juicers- THIS INVENTION relates

to.jtiicei,s, and in particular to a reanier and press plate that can be employed with existing juicers.

A juicer is a machine that extracts the jince froni frult, usually CM-LIS fi-Ult.

Conventionally, an essential featui-e ofa inanual _Ikiicei. Is a ribbed or otherwise textured dome, comprising a rearner. The is diniensioned SLIC11 that half of a citrus fruit or the like may be placed thei-con thereby presenting the flesh of the fruit to the reamer. The fi-ult is then pushed downwardly onto the reamer and rotated. The relative motion of the flesh of the fi-Lllt and the reamer squashesjuice fi-om the fi-ult and at least parfly shreds a\vay the pulp and seeds fl.om the peel. The peel is then i-eii,.oved.

Often, the reamer is provided a cii-culai. dish which has a raised lip running around its edge. The pulp. seeds and julce of the fi-ult collect in the annular channel defined between the lip and the reamer. The Juice may be poured from the channel by ineans of a sl)oiii piovided in the raised lip, leaving the majority of the pulp and secels In the channel.

Electrically powered juicers are also avalilable which have a drive rnechanisrn for rotating the reamer on a base adapted to collect juice.

However, both manual and powered juicers suffer from the drawback that substantial quantities ofj'ttice rernaln In the pulp left In the channel.

A further drawback of conventional i-caiiiei"s is that the regular profile of the reamer causes little disturbance of the fi-ulit being pressed and does not produce the maximuin volume of Juice fi-oni the fi- ult.

Another drawback of powei-ed _1'i.leci.s Is that the constant i-mation of the i-caiiieidoes not disturb the flesh of the fi-uit sufficiently to allow the niaxinium volume of juice to be extracted.

It is an object of the invention to seek to pi-ovide a i-eainei- and pi. ess plate foluse with ajuicei. to allevI'ate the above di.awbacks.

Accordingly, one aspect of the pi-eseni Invention pi.ovides a i-caiiiejfol. use with a press plate, the reamer coi-npi-lsliig: a wtatable ieaiiiiii(, poi-tion having an axis c of rotation; and at least one arin extending i-adially outwardly fi-oni the reaming portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis of i-otation of the reaming poilion.

Advantageously, an uppei. sui-flice of the i-eaming poilion is donied.

Preferably, the domed rean-iing portion has a substantially circular base.

Z Conveniently, the upper sut-face ofthe i-eanling portion is peaked.

Advantageously, the uppei- sin-face of the portion conipi-ises elongate Z_ ribs and grooves.

Preferably, the at least one ann coinprises a lobe.

Preferably, the reamer has a substantially semicircular channel at tile junction of the at least one lobe and the reaming portion.

Conveniently, an upper surface of the or each arin is curved.

Advantageously, the upper surface of'the or each arin Is sinooth.

Preferably, the reamer has an arcuate slot in a lower surface of the or each arm, the centre of arc of the slot being the axis of rotation of the reamer.

Conveniently, the or each arin has a fin oil a distal end thereof.

Advantageously, the or each fin has a distal edge that is substantially perpendicular to the axis rotation of the rearning portion, and which is substantially level with the distal end of the arni.

Preferably. the rearner has two arnis.

A nother aspect of the present nvention provides a press plate having- an upper press surface having an apenure at an edge thereof, and a collector dependulg from the press plate, the aperture cornprising all earance to the collector.

Conveniently, the upper press surface is substantially cli-ciilai.

Preferably, the aperture is arcuate, the curvature thereof corresponding substantially to the curvatin,e ofthe press plate.

Advantageously, the upper press surface comprises a conical surface having a plurality of elongate slots.

4 Preferably, the reamer has a raised barrier ad.jacent to the aperture.

Conveniently, the raised barrier is oil the side of the aperture nearest the centre of the press plate.

Advantageously, the rearner has a raised collar extending around tile perimeter of the press surface.

Preferably, the reamer is further provided with a handle niounted oil the raised collar.

Conveniently, the collector has pores In a lo,,iej- surface thereof.

Advantageously, the pores allow liquid to pass therethrough but do not allow solids to pass therethrough.

Preferably, the rearner is further provided witli a plunger.

Conveniently, the plunger has a pressing, portion of substantially equivalent dimensions to an internal surface ofthe collector.

Advantageously, the plunger is dlinensioned to bc received in a slide fit in tile collector.

Preferably, the plunger is rernovable froin the press plate.

Conveniently, registration means are located oil the rearner and the press plate to locate the reamer with respect to the press plate to allow relative rotational motion of the rearner with respect to the press plate the rearner and the press plate are so registered.

Advantageously, the registration means comprise: a substantially circular lip depending froin a lower surface of the reanier, the 111) having an outwardly extending rim; and a substantially circtilar central hole in tile press plate, the lip and the hole jourrialling the reanier and the press plate to one another.

Preferably, the at least one ai-iii rests stibstantially oil the press surface and a distal end of the arm rests at an edge of the press surface.

Conveniently, the raised barrier passes tiii.oii,,,li the arciiate,i-oove on the 1 C underside of the at least one arin kvlieii the rean-ier rotates x-itil respect to the press plate.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a jiticer having.. base with a motor therein; a Liice collection volinne liaviii(, all tipper opening, the jince j 1- collection volume being located on top of the base; a drive shaft extending upwardly from the motor throiigh tiie.-)iiice collection volinne., and a rearner and a press plate according to the ab,,.)!e.

Advantageously, the drive shaft enIgages tile reanier.

Preferably, the drive shaft rotates thereby catising rotation of the reamer with respect to the press plate.

Conveniently, the rotatiori of the drive sliaft is alternately clockwise and anticlockwise.

6 Advantageously, the press plate stibstaiit'all, covei-s the tippei. opellillg of the juice collection volume.

In order that the present mventloii may be i-noi-e readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a i.eamei- eiiibo(iylii,, tile pi-esellt lilvelitioll, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the reamer of Figure 1.1 Figure 3 is a perspective view of a press plate embodying the present Invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the reamei, of Figiii.e 1 with tile press plate of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side view of the reanier of 1"[,,tii-e 1 with the press plate of Figure 3 being shown in cross sectioll; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a Jincei. iiick)i-poi,atl'iig the i- caiiiei. of' Figui.e 1 and the press plate of F1gui-e 3'. arid Figure 7 is a perspective view of the Jiilcei- of Figure 6 with a plunger embodying the present inventioll.

A. uicei. for use with the pi,esetit iiiveiitl'oii compi-Ises a 'iig li, 'iig a handle and J _1 M a spout. The jug has a motor M the base thei-cof. wid a dnve shaft extending upwardly from the base substaimally tlii-oitl,-li the eciiti.e of' tile jug. The drive shaft tenninates approximately level witli the top of the jug. A press plate 7 covers the top of thejug, and a rearner rests oil top of the press plate. engaging and being driven by the drive shaft throuilh a central aperture in the filter.

I- Tuming to Figures 1 and 2, a reamer 1 embodvAig the present invention comprises a central dome 2. The dome 2 is peaked and is suitably dimensioned so that half of an ordinary-sized citrus fi-tilt inay be placed thereon, with the fleshy part of the fruit facing downwards. The central dome 2 has a contoured outer surface which is provided \vith a series of radially extending elongate ribs 3 and grooves 4 which run down the outer surface 5 from the peak of' the dome 2 to the base 6 of the dome 2.

The dome 2 is further provided with two arms, in the forill of radial lobes 7, which extend radially outwardly fi.oni the eircuniference of the base of the dome 2 in opposite directions to one another.

Each radial lobe 7 has a smoothly rounded upper surface 8 which adjoins with the outer surface of the donie 2 alon-g a scillicii-ele passing fi. on, tile base 6 of the dome 2 to a high point which is approximately onethird of the height of the dome 2 and then back down to the base of the dorne 2. Each lobe 7 has a substantially fiat lower sin-face that slopes do\%,.ii\vai-cll) away froill the central dome 2. A raised fin 9 is provided oil the upper sin-face 8 of each radial lobe 7 and comprises ail upright plariar surface which extends radially away frorn a tip of the lobe 7 toward the centre of the dome 2. One edge of the fin 9 rises substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the dome 2 from the tip of each lobe 7.

An arcuate channel 10 is provided along the intersection of the dome 2 and each radial lobe 7.

8 An arcuate groove 11 is provided oil the lowei. siti-face of each radial lobe 7, the centre of arc of which is the centre of the donie 2.

A recess is provided at the centre of the underside (not shown) of tile realfler 1. The recess is intended to recel vc a cii.] ve shaft of a Jincer rnotor.

The underside of the rearner 1 is also provided with all annular lip 12 (see Figure 5) which depends froni the base of the doine.

Figure 3 shows a press plate 13) for use \,Iiii a jiticer einbodying the present invention. The press plate 1 ') is substantially circulai. in shape, and has a fi-ustoconical upper press surface 14 which slopes downwardly away fl-orn the centre, and which has a central hole 15 tliei. etlii-oitLIi. The central hole 15 is dimensioned to receive the annular lip 12 in slide fit engagen-ient to 'ournal the 1 1 g _1 reamer 1 to the press plate 13). The press sui-face 14 is provided with a nuinber of elongate slots 16 thereon, extending i-adially fi-oni the centre of the press surface 14 of the press plate 1 3). The slots 16 are ol'apl)i.opt-lite width such that juice may pass therethrough but pulp and seeds inay not. A raised collar 17 extends around the circumference of the press surface 14.

The press plate 13 is furthet- provided with an aretiate al)el-ttli-e 18 at one edge of the press surface 14 thereof. A raised 111) 19 is piovided along an inner edge of the aperture 18 nearest the centre ofthe piess suiTace 14.

The press plate 13) I's provide(] Integrally vith an elongate collector 20 that depends downwardly fl-oiii the perwre 18. The aperture 18 is thils tile open' 11 1 ing to the collector 20. The collector 20 has solid side walls 2 1 which define a chamber of the same cross-sectional shape as the aperture 18. The press plate 13 is further provided with a handle In the forin of' a thumb tab 22, which is 9 mounted on the raised collar 17 aiid which exteiids radlally away fl-om the centre of the press surface 14 of the press plate 1 3).

Figures 4 and 5 show the reainer 1 located top of the press surface 14 of the press plate 13 with the aiiiittlai. lip 12 of tlic i.caiiiet. jotinialled M the ceiaral hole 15 of the press plate 1 3), the i-eanier 1 resting oil the'press surface 14 of tile press plate 13. When the rearrier 1 and the press plate 13 are placed together in this way, the upright edges of the fitis 9 of the radial lobes 7 lie adjacent the outer collar 17. The slope of the lower siii-iac.es of' the ractial lobes 7 matches the slope of the frusto-conical press siii-f,,ic.- 14 of the press plate 1 3). so that the lower surfaces of the radial lobes 7 rest flush agali-ist the press surface 14.

The arcuate groove 11 in the lower surface of each lobe 7 is positioned Such that as a lobe 7 passes over the aperture 18, the raised lip 19 of tile press plate 1 3) passes through the respective gi-oove 11.

The lower surface 23) of' the colicctor 20 1 \vith a plurality ot pores 24, which are suitably dii-nensioiied to allow Jitice to pass, but to retaiii solids such as pulp and seeds.

Figure 6 shows the rean-ier 1 and tile press plate 13) wheii placed on a jug 25.

The press plate 1 3) covers the upper Of the iti,, 25.

I Referring now to Figure 7, the juicer is provided with a pluiigei- 26 which comprises an elongate arcuate back 27 and an al-CLiate foot 28, the foot 28 being orthogonal to the back 27. The back 27 is shaped such that the curvature thereof matches the curvature of the outer edge of the arcuate aperture 18 defining the opening to the collector 20. The foot 28 is shaped such that It conforms to the shape of the lower ii-itenial sttil',c.tce 23) ofthe collector 20.

In use, the press plate is placed oil top of the jug 25 so that the top opening of the jug 25 is covered by the press plate 1 3). The reanier 1 Is then located oil the filter 13 locating the end of the drive shaft 29 ill the recess oil tile underside of the reamer 1.

Half of a citrus fruit is placed oil top of the dome 22 of the reamer 1, with the fleshy pail of the fruit facing downwards. as described above. The outer skin of the fruit is then gripped by the iiser, and ptished down while the reamer 1 rotates. The ribs 3 and grooves 4 ofthe donie 2 catise the ptilp of the frult to be shredded by this action, and the pulp, seeds and J'tilce ofthe frillt to fall onto the press surface 14 of the press plate 13). The sinoothness and cia-vature of the radial lobes 7 of the reamer 1 prevent pails of the fruit adhering to the upper surfaces 8 of the lobes 7 and also serves to internlittently lift pails of the fruit from the dome thereby, distw-bing the fi-Lilt and facilitating J111ce extraction.

Juice running down the sides of the doine 2 the radial lobes 7 flows into the channels 10 adJacent the lobes 7, and nins onto the press stirface 14.

The juices passes through the pores 24 ill the lowei. sin-face 223) of the collector and into the jug 25.

Once no more pulp, seeds and Race call be extracted froni the fruit by this method, the fi-ult is removed fi-oni the central doine 2 As previously described, the ralsed 111) 19 of rhe press plate 1 3) does riot present an obstacle to rotation of the reanier 1 wlith respect to the press plate 13, as the arcuate grooves 11 on the lower surface of each lobe 7 pass ovel. the lip 19 as the lobe 7 passes over the aperture 18. The lip 19 acts as a barrier as the fruit is being pressed onto the dome 2. and helps to prevent ptilp and seeds from falling 11 directly through the aperture 18 thereby maximising the till-le which ju' > 1 1 j ice bearing pulp remains on the press surface 14 being pressed oil by the lobes 7.

Preferably, the drive shaft call rotate first Hi one direction for a predetermined peiiod of tirne and then ill the opposite direction for a slinflar length of time. This rotational motion of the rearner 1 back and forth with respect to the press surface 14 of the press plate 13) agitates the flesh of the fruit and serves to extract more juice than simple unidirectional rotation. Juice remains in the pulp which has been reanied from the fruit and which now rest oil the press surface 14 of the press plate 1 3). Thisjul-Ce is extracted by the sweeping motlion of the radial lobes 7 which pass over and press onto tile pull) oil the press plate, thereby squashing the pulp. The julce is 1)ressed out, and call flow into tile collector 20, and hence into the -lug 25. Juice resting oil the press surface 14 may also be pushed into the collector 20 by the sweeping motion ofthe lobes 7, or may pass through the slots 16.

When no furtlierjuice earl be extracted from the polp by, the above method, the plunger 26 is used to press ally renialning julce fi-om the pulp ill the collector 20 into the jug 25. The user grips the back 27 ofthe plunger 26, and inserts the foot 28 of the plunger 25 into the collector 20. The back 27 of the plunger 26 is sufficiently long that the foot 27 may be pressed against the lower surface 23 of the collector 20 while the back 27 Is gripped by the user. Hence, tile user may use the foot 28 of tile plunge,; 26 to press the pulp and in [lie collector 20 against the lower surface 23) of' the collector 20, thereby squeezing any remaining juice out of the pulp, through the pores 24 and into tile "ug 25. As W j described above, the pores 24 ill the lower surface 23 of the collector 20 do not allow solids to pass, and so the pulp and seeds are retained ill the chamber of the collector 20.

Once this is complete, the press plate 13) may be lifted fi-oiii the jug 25, and the collector 20, which at this stage will contaiii crushed seeds and pulp, may be emptied and the contents disposed of. The jug 25 may be used to dispense the juice obtained fl-om the frult.

Although the above-described ciiit-jo(iiiiieiit ci-iil)l(-)ys.j'tticei.s that at.e clecti-lcally (or otherwise) driven, it is envisaged that the presei-it iiiveiitioii will find use in manual extraction of juice fl-om fi-ult. R eaiiiet-s ajid press plates embodying the present invention may be provided separately or together to be applied to existing juicers, thereby, obviatlii-. the iieed to pui.chase a iiew.juleci. or discard an existing one.

While the above embodmiew coiiil)i-ises a i-eiiiiei- llaving tx,\,.0 atills 011 opposite sides of the rearning portion, it is eiiN,isaged that iyiaiiy alternative designs of reamer may be employed with the pi-eseiit I'tiveiitloii. For instance, the reamer could have three anns equispaced around [lie i-etrniilLI portiow or foul. arms, each at riallit anoles to the arnis. In id(ii'oii- the arins iieed iiot be in the form of lobes, aiid may compi-ise slii-jl)le s\veepiiiL, surfaces, comb-11ke protrusions witli the teeth facimg cloviiwai-el.s towand the press surface, or rollers which roll over the press SUffilee as the i-eamet. wtates.

In the present specification "conil)i.;,se" iiiepiis "Iiiclticles oiconsists of' and llcomprising" means "Iiiclii(iiiiky m coiisistliik, ol.

Claims

The features disclosed M the foi-e,,olii(, desci-ll)tlk)ii. or tlie

followillg Clailils, or the accompanying drawings, expressed iii tlieli. specific forms or ill tenris of a means for performing the disclosed fiiiic,-ioii. or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any

13) combination of such features, be willsed for realising the Invention in diverse forms thereof 14 CLAIMS:

A reamer for use with a press plate, the reainet. comprisillg: a rotatable reaming portion liaviiig aii axis of rotatiow ajid c 1 at least one at-in extending radially outwardly from the reanling portion in a direction substantially orthopiial to the axis of rotatioil of the reaming portion.

2. A reamer according to Clalin 1, wherciii aii upper surface of the reaming portion is domed.

3. A reamer accordHig to Clalin 2, k,iiei.ciii the domed i-eiiiijiig poilloii has a substantially circular base.

4. A reamer according to Clalin 2 oi- 3, whereM the iipper surface of the rearning portion is peaked.

5. A reamer according to aiiy one of Clalins 2) to 4. whereM the upper surface of the reaming 1)oiiloii Coinprises cloiigate nbs wid grooves.

6. A reamer according to any i)ji-ececliii,, claim, whereM the at least oiie arm comprises a lobe.

7. A reamer accordirig to Galin 6, liaviii,c a substaiffially sciniciiculai channel at thejunctioii of the at le,,,,st oiie lobe 1wid the Pollioll.

8. A reamer accordnig to aiiy piececiiii(-, clalin. whereiii aii iipper surface of the or each arm is curved.

9. A rearner according to Cialin 8, whereM the upper surface of tile or each arm is smooth.

10. A rearner according to any precediiig claffli. haviii an arcuate slot in a Z_ 9 lower surface of the or each arin, the centre of are of the slot being the axis of rotation of the reanier.

11. A reamer accorduig to any precediii 1 1 g claiin. the or each arin has a fin on a distal end thereof.

12. A reamer according to Claiiii 11, whereM the or each fin has a distal edge that is substantially pei-peiidiciiiai- to the axis rotatioil of' tile reatning poilion, and which is substamially level \Yltli the dIstal end of-the anil.

13. A reamer accordmo to aiiy i)i,ecediii,, clalin, hav c c) mg two ani-is.

14. A press plate having: an upper press surface having:in apertut-e at an edoe tliei-eot',.

c --,> and a collector depeildiiig froin tile press plate, the aperture coillprising an entrance to the collector.

15. A press plate according to Cialin 14, wherein the upper press surface is substantially circular.

16. A press plate accordMig to Claffli 15, xilici-elii the apeilure is arcuate, the Z) curvature thereof correspondlii- sL,,bstaiit'aii,. to the curvature ofthe press plate.

16 17, A press plate accordim, to any oiie of Clai mis 14 to 16, wherein the upper press surface comprises a conical suiTtice having a plurality of elongate slots.

18. A press plate according to any one of Clainis 14 to 17, having a raised Z:> barrier adjacent to the aperture.

19. A press plate accoi-diii,, to Cialin 18, the ralsed barrier is on the side of the aperture nearest the cejiti.e ofthe press plate.

20. A press plate according to any one of Claiiiis 14 to 19, having a raised collar extending around the perimeter of the press surface.

21. A press plate according to Clairn 20, further pi.ovided with a handle mounted on the raised collar.

22. A press plate accordii-ic to any one of Claiiiis 14 to 21, wherein the collector has pores in a lower surface thereof.

23. A press plate accoi-(lliig to Claffli 22 \\lici-ciii the allow biquid to pass therethrough but do iiot,illo\; sollids to pass therethrough 24. A press plate according to any one of Clainis 14 to 23), further provided C) with a plunger.

25. A press plate according to CIalin 24, wherein the plunger has a pressing c por-tion of substantially equivalem diiiieiisloils to an i'iitei.iial surface of the collector.

17 26. A press plate according to Cialin 24 oi. 25, wfiereln the plunger Is l dimensioned to be received in a slide fit In the collector.

27. A press plate according to any one of Clainis 24 to 26, wherein the plunger is removable fi-orn the press plate.

28. A reamer according to any one of Claims 1 to 13) lin conjunction with a press plate according to any one of (.']aims 14 to 27.

29. A reamer and press plate according to Clalin 28, whewill registration means are located on the reamer and the press plate to locate tile reamer with respect to the press plate to allow relative rotational motion of the reamer with respect to the press plate when the reamer and the press plate are so registered.

30. A reamer and press plate according to C!aiiii 29, wlierein the registration means comprise: a substantially circular lip dlepending fiom a lower sm-face of the reamer, C" the lip having an outwardly extending rini; and a substantially circular central liole in the press plate, the lip and the hole journalling the reaniei- and the press plate to one another.

11 1. j A reamer and press plate according to Cialin 29 or 30. wherein the at least one arm rests substantially oil the press siii.face and a distal end of the arm rests at an edge of the press stirface.

32. A reamer and press plate according to any one of' Claims 29 to 3) 1, wherein the raised barrier passes througli the aretiate groove oil the underside of Z:) the at least one arm when the rearner rotates with respect to the press plate.

18 33. A julcer having-, a base with a rnotor thereill, a juice collection volunie having aii tipper ol)eiiiii,,. tile JILice collection volume being located oil top of the basel. a drive shaft extending upwardly froin the motor through the juice collection volume; and a reamer and a press plate according to any, one of Claims 29 to 39 34. A juicer according to Claliin 33), the drive shaft engages the reamer.

35. A julcer according to Claini 34, wherein the drive shaft rotates thereby causing rotation of the reaniet. with respect 10 tile press plate.

36. A juicer according to Claini 35, the i.otatioti ofthe drive shaft is alternately clockwise and ajittelociwisc.

37. Ajuicer according to any one of Clainis 33) to 336 the press plate substantially covers the upper opening of'tlie.j'iilce collection volume.

38. A reamer substantially as described, xvltil reference to Fi ures 1, 2 and 4 to 7 ofthe 9 t 39. A press plate substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 3 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

40. A juicer substantially as lict-ciiibel'oi.e described. vith reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying 19 41. Any novel feature or cotiibliiatioii of features disclosed herein.