GB2401810A

GB2401810A - Removable filter in centrifuge basket

Info

Publication number: GB2401810A
Application number: GB0309300A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Hartshorn; Edward Goodwin
Original assignee: GOODWIN HARTSHORN Ltd
Current assignee: GOODWIN HARTSHORN Ltd
Priority date: 2003-04-24
Filing date: 2003-04-24
Publication date: 2004-11-24

Abstract

A removable filter (all of fig. 1) is arranged to cover the internal surfaces, including the base portion of a basket (9,fig.4) of a rotating centrifuge. The filter may be produced of a permeable material such as paper. The filter may be used in arrangements extracting juice from fruit pulp or the like in a combined centrifuging and filtering action. The filter may also feature corrugated sidewalls 1, a tab 2, and a central hole 3, and may be constructed in the form of a disc (7,fig.3) and strip of material (6,fig.3) which is sewn together.

Description

Filter Membrane for Centrifugal Domestic Appliances This invention relates

to a filter membrane for domestic appliances utilising a centrifugal separation process to extract fluids from solid materials. Relevant domestic appliances include, but are not limited to juice extractors, coffee makers and food processors.

The invention will be described by referring specifically to centrifugal juice extractors.

Centrifugal juice extractors are well known devices which extract juice from appropriate solid material (particularly fruits and vegetables) by first turning the material into pulp and then spinning this pulp at such a speed that the juice is caused to be separated from the fibrous material. The most important features of the juice extractor for the purposes of this patent application are the component that separates the juice from the pulp (the centrifugal basket) and the component that turns the solid material into pulp (the cutter plate). The centrifugal basket is so shaped that it contains pulp on its inside surface whilst rotating, but the surface against which the pulp is held is porous and so allows juice to pass through the surface under centrifugal force. The cutter plate has an abrasive surface which, when brought into contact with appropriate solid material and whilst spinning at an appropriate speed, transforms the solid material into pulp.

Centrifugal juice extractors are difficult to clean, particularly because the centrifugal basket becomes clogged up with pulp.

According to the present invention a disposable or reusable permeable membrane is inserted into the centrifugal basket, and sits in place under the cutter plate, such that it prevents pulp from coming into direct contact with the basket, and may be used to remove the pulp after the juice extracting process has been completed.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which.

Figure 1 shows in perspective, a filter bag die-formed from a sheet of material (in a similar manner to the process used to form coffee filter papers for catering percolators).

Figure 2 shows in perspective, an alternative filter bag formed by sewing together two sheets of material.

Figure 3 shows in perspective, the filter bag shown in figure 2 with the vertical sheet partially unattached from the base sheet to show the method of construction.

Figure 4 shows in cross-section a schematic diagram of the assembled lid, basket, cutter plate, cutter mount and collecting body with the filter inserted.

Referring to figure 1, the filter bag comprises a piece of die-cut material, which is formed into a shape consisting of a flat circular disc, having corrugated sidewalls 1 formed on its circumference.

Refemng to figures 2 and 3, the filter is constructed from two components, a strip of material 6 and a disc 7. These two components are sewn together along their mating edge 5.

Referring to figure 4, the filter 13 is placed inside the rotating basket 9, covering its base and sidewall, and the cutter mount 11, incorporating the cutter plate 14, is fixed on top of the filter bag but with a small gap at point 12 for the filter bag to fit undemeath, such that it is not tom when the cutter mount is clamped down. The mounting of the basket, cutter mount and filter bag is concentric.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, the tab details 2 and 4 are created to aid in the task of taking the filter bag out of the rotating basket Referring to figure 1, the central part of the disc 3 is cut out and also may have tabs formed on its edge. The cutter mount offers protection from spinning pulp for the central section of the filter bag during the juice extracting process.

Referring to figure 4, component 8 is the lid of the juice extractor and component 10 is the collecting body, these two components are Axed during the juice extracting process.

Claims

Claims 1 A removable filter that covers the internal surfaces, including

the base, of the rotating basket of a centrifugal domestic appliance.
2. A filter described in 1, produced from an appropriate permeable material.
3. A material described in 2 formed from any non-woven polymer material including paper, viscose, aerated viscose, cellulose, polypropylene, nylon and polyester.
4. A material described in 2 formed from any woven polymer material including viscose, cellulose, polypropylene, nylon and polyester.
5. A material described in 2 formed into a mesh using any metal or polymer material including stainless steel, viscose, cellulose, polypropylene, nylon and polyester.
6. A material described in 2 formed from any perforated material including stainless steel, aluminium, aluminium alloys, viscose, cellulose, polypropylene, ABS, nylon and polyester.
7. A material described in 2 formed from a combination of the materials described in 3, 4, sands.
8. A filter described in 1, to be used in juice extractors, food processors, coffee makers, tea makers and food mixers
9. A filter described in 1, produced from more than one piece of material.
10. A filter described in 1, with tab details formed onto its edges, such that it may be easily taken out of the basket.
11. A filter bag described in 1, formed in a variety of ways, including die-pressing and binding together of flat sheets of material to form a three dimensional surface.
12 A filter described in 1, with the central section cut out, such that other components within the juicer may pass through the bag without causing the bag to tear.
13. A mounting method for the filter bag described in 1, in which the central section of the filter is protected from pulp during motion.