JP2003259967A - Centrifugal separator of juicer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a centrifugal separator of a juicer that can unerringly block a discharge opening without involving wear of the inwall of an opening and closing wall even if used for a long period. <P>SOLUTION: A centrifugal separation basket 25 having a filter portion 30a in which many small holes 30e to pass the juice content of an ingredient are formed on its periphery is provided with discharge openings 31a and 31b to permeate fibers. An adjustment ring 26 having blocking portions 34a, 34b and 34c to block the discharge openings 31a and 31b is provided in the outside periphery of the centrifugal separation basket 25 by rotatably engaging with the centrifugal separation basket 25. The part of the filter portion 30a in which the blocking portions 34a, 34b and 34c slide when the adjustment ring 26 rotates is a non-mesh portion 30d in place of the small holes 30e. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centrifugal separator for a juicer for making juice from materials such as vegetables and fruits. 2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional juicers include an inverted conical centrifugal basket rotated by the driving force of an electric motor as a centrifugal separator. A cutter for sliding down the material to be cooked (cook) is provided on a bottom surface of the centrifugal basket, and a filter portion inclined upward in an inverted conical shape is provided at a peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the centrifugal basket. The filter section has a large number of small holes for allowing the liquid component to pass therethrough. [0003] In order to make juice using a juicer equipped with such a centrifugal separator, materials such as cut vegetables and fruits are provided at the bottom of the centrifugal basket by a push rod called a piston. Press against cutter. On this occasion,
The material pressed against the cutter is pulverized by the high-speed rotation of the cutter and is rubbed down. [0004] The grated material is guided toward the upper end of the centrifugal cage along the inclined filter portion of the centrifugal cage by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the centrifugal cage. Then, in this guiding process, the liquid component passes through the filter section by centrifugal force and is collected in the juice cup via the juice receiving case section of the separation case arranged to cover the outer periphery of the centrifugal basket. [0005] The solid components such as fibers of the grated material do not pass through the filter portion but are discharged to the scum case portion that collects scum from the opening at the upper end of the centrifugal basket by centrifugal force. [0006] One type of juicer of this kind is one that can obtain a juice according to taste from a clear juice containing no pulp or fiber as a material to a juice containing a large amount thereof by a user's selection. Are known. In this juicer, for example, a filter hole of a centrifugal basket is provided with a discharge hole through which flesh of a predetermined size passes, and an annular groove is formed in a circular holding frame that is a lower frame of the centrifugal basket. Fit a ring that can move in the circumferential direction,
An opening / closing wall for opening and closing the discharge hole is provided on the ring, and a positioning mechanism for positioning the ring at a closing position for closing the discharge hole and an open position for opening the discharge hole with the opening / closing wall is provided. In the juicer having such a structure, the ring is rotationally operated to slide the opening / closing wall along the outer peripheral surface of the filter portion, thereby positioning the ring at the closed position.
The discharge hole of the filter unit is closed by the opening / closing wall. When the juicer is operated in this state, the pulp does not jump out of the discharge hole, and a clear juice consisting only of the liquid component that passes through the filter portion is obtained. On the other hand, the ring is rotated and positioned at the open position to open the discharge hole. When the juicer is operated in this state, in addition to the juice component permeating the filter section, fibers and pulp pass through the discharge hole of the filter section and accumulate in the juice cup together with the juice. [0008] Incidentally, the filter portion is usually made of stainless steel, and since a large number of small holes in the filter portion are formed by etching, the peripheral portion of the small hole is sharp. . On the other hand, there is an aspect that the opening / closing wall for opening / closing the discharge hole is made of resin and is weak against friction. Therefore, as described above, when the opening / closing wall is slid along the filter portion when opening / closing the discharge hole, the peripheral edge of the small hole of the filter portion may damage the inner wall of the opening / closing wall. Become. In addition, by continuing to use in such a state for a long period of time, the inner wall of the opening / closing wall is gradually worn, and a gap is generated between the filter portion and the inner wall of the opening / closing wall, and the discharge hole is reliably closed. There is a problem that can not be. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and a centrifugal separator for a juicer capable of reliably closing a discharge hole even when used for a long period of time without abrasion of an inner wall of an opening / closing wall. The challenge is to provide According to the present invention, there is provided a filter having a plurality of small holes formed on a peripheral surface thereof for transmitting juice of a material. And a centrifugal cage provided with a discharge hole of a predetermined size through which the fibers of the material pass through the filter portion, and a closing portion for closing at least a part of the discharge hole, and the centrifugal cage has An adjusting ring rotatably fitted, and a positioning for positioning the adjusting ring at a predetermined position by rotating the adjusting ring and sliding the closing portion along the outer peripheral surface of the filter portion. A centrifugal separator for a juicer having a mechanism, wherein the small holes of the filter portion in a range where the closing portion slides when the adjusting ring rotates are eliminated. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the juicer 10 incorporating the centrifugal separator according to the present invention includes a main body 12 having an electric motor 11 (see FIG. 1) as a drive source, Detachably mounted on the main body 12,
A detachable case 14 in which a cylindrical juice receiving case portion 13a having an open upper end is formed inside, and a case portion 13b formed integrally with the outside of the juice receiving case portion 13a is detachable in the juice receiving case portion 13a. And a centrifugal separator 15 for sliding down the juice material into juice and comminuted parts, and a lid 17 which covers the upper part of the centrifuge 15 and the separation case 14 and is detachably attached to the main body 12. And A charging cylinder 18 for charging the material into the centrifugal separator 15 is formed on the lid 17.
, A piston 19, which is a push rod for pushing a juice material, is removably inserted. A juice case 21 for receiving juice from an outlet 20 (see FIG. 1) formed in the juice receiving case portion 13a is mounted on a mounting table 12a provided at a lower portion of the main body 12.
A juice case lid 22 is detachably attached to the juice case 21. Juice case lid 22
Has an opening 23 formed therein, so that the juice from the outlet 20 accumulates in the juice case 21 through the opening 23. A coupling 24 is fixed to the output shaft 11a of the electric motor 11, and the centrifugal separator 15
By coupling the coupling 24 and a coupling 36 of the centrifugal separator 15 described later, the drive rotationally moves, for example, in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from above the centrifugal separator 15. The centrifugal separator 15 is, as shown in FIG.
An inverted conical centrifugal cage 25 that gradually increases in diameter from the lower end to the upper end, an annular synthetic resin adjustment ring 26 rotatably fitted to the outside of the lower part of the centrifugal cage 25,
An annular holder 27 that rotatably holds the adjusting ring 26 below the centrifugal cage 25 is provided. The centrifugal cage 25 includes an annular holding frame 28 made of resin and a cylindrical filter member 30 whose lower part is held by the holding frame 28 and whose diameter increases upward.
And a synthetic resin annular reinforcing frame 29 holding the upper edge of the filter member 30. The filter member 30 is made of stainless steel,
It has a plurality of filter units 30a. Each of these filter portions 30a has a number of small holes 30e through which a liquid permeates.
Mesh portion 30c in which the small holes 30e are formed.
And a non-mesh portion 30d processed flat. Further, the plurality of filter portions 30a are arranged along the circumferential direction of the filter member 30, and in the lower portion of the filter member 30, that is, in the vicinity of the annular holding frame 28, a region other than the filter portion 30a is provided. 3
A discharge hole 31a having a diameter larger than the small hole 30e of zero and a discharge hole 31b smaller than the diameter of the discharge hole 31a and larger than the small hole 30e are formed in pairs. The discharge holes 31a and 31b are arranged as shown in FIG. That is, a pair of discharge holes 31a is arranged on a virtual straight line in the radial direction perpendicular to a virtual straight line connecting the pair of joints 30b of the filter member 30, and the pair of discharge holes 31
On both sides of the imaginary line connecting a, a pair of discharge holes 31b are respectively arranged on imaginary lines making an angle of approximately 45 ° with the imaginary line. The non-mesh portion 30d is provided around these discharge holes 31a and 31b. Further, a cutter 32 disposed inside the centrifugal basket 25 is fixed to the upper surface of the annular holding frame 28. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of projections (locking portions) 33 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holding frame 28 at positions corresponding to the joints 30b of the filter member 30. Each projection 33 extends in the up-down direction as shown in FIG. The protrusion 33 functions as a component of a positioning mechanism described later. Each of the discharge holes 31 is provided on the upper surface of the adjustment ring 26.
closing portion 34 serving as an opening / closing wall for opening / closing a and 31b
a, 34b and 34c are provided to protrude upward. Each of the closing portions 34a to 34c is arranged as shown in FIG.
a, and the two pairs of closing portions 34b close the two pairs of discharge holes 31b. Further, a pair of closing portions 34c is provided adjacent to the closing portion 34a, and the closing portion 34c closes the discharge hole 31a. Each of the closed portions 34a to 34c is chamfered (R) at both edges on the circumferential direction and at the upper edge in order to reduce scattering due to collision with the juice. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the adjusting ring 26 is rotatably fitted to the outer peripheral side of the annular holding frame 28, and the holder 27 is held by the caulking pin 35 as shown in FIG. It is fixed to 25 annular holding frames 28.
The adjustment ring 26 is rotatably held by the holder 27 so as not to come off the annular holding frame 28. By rotating the adjustment ring 26, the closing portion 34
Reference numerals a to 34c close and open the discharge holes 31a and 31b while sliding along the filter portion 30a. Therefore, the inner walls of the closing portions 34 a to 34 c are respectively provided with the discharge holes 31 within the range in which the adjustment ring 26 rotates.
a, 31b and the non-mesh portion 30 provided around it
It will slide along d. On the lower surface of the holder 27, the above-mentioned coupling 36 which is detachably connected to the coupling 24 of the electric motor 11 is formed. The centrifuge 15 has a centrifuge cage 25.
And a positioning mechanism 37 for positioning the rotational position of the adjustment ring 26 with respect to. The positioning mechanism 37, as shown in FIG.
It has a projection 33 of the annular holding frame 28 and a locking piece 39 formed inside the adjustment ring 26. As shown in FIG. 6, the locking pieces 39 are formed in a pair of recesses 38 provided inside the adjustment ring 26, respectively. This locking piece 39 is connected to one end 38 of the recess 38.
a and extends in the circumferential direction, and the extending direction is opposite to the rotation direction of the centrifugal cage 25. The recess 38 penetrates in the up-down direction (thickness direction).
9 and a gap 38 having a predetermined width between the side 38 c of the recess 38.
8d are formed. Thereby, the centrifugal cage 25
Even if the fibers flowing down along with the liquid component toward the juice receiving case portion 13a enter the gap 38d, the fibers are likely to flow downward together with the liquid component, so that the fibers hardly remain in the gap 38d. The locking piece 39
A predetermined gap 4 between the tip of the groove 38 and the other end 38b of the recess 38.
0c is formed, the leading end of the locking piece 39 is a free end, and the locking piece 39 functions as a cantilever spring that elastically deforms radially with the base (rear end) 39a as a fulcrum. It has become. The adjusting ring 26 is connected to the discharge hole 31a,
Rotation position shown in FIG. 10 for closing 31b, discharge hole 31a
In any one of the rotation position shown in FIG. 11 for closing the discharge hole 31b and opening the discharge hole 31b, and the rotation position shown in FIG. 12 for opening the discharge holes 31a and 31b, as shown in FIG. The lower part of the place 38 is not closed by the flange 27f of the holder 27 but is open. Further, since the other end 38b of the recess 38 is opened to the inside of the adjustment ring 26 by the gap 40c, the width in the radial direction is larger than the width of one end of the gap 38d. This makes it easier for the fibers and the like pressed against the end 38b by the rotation of the centrifugal basket 25 to flow downward, thereby preventing the fibers and the like from accumulating at the end 38b. The engaging piece 39 is formed with two convex portions 41a and 41b projecting inside the adjusting ring 26.
The height H2 of the projection 41b is set higher than the height H1 of the projection 41a, and the projection 41b is formed at the tip of the locking piece 39. The convex portion 41a and the base 39 of the locking piece 39
a, and between the protrusions 41a and 41b are recesses 40b, 40b with which the protrusions 33 of the annular holding frame 28 engage. The width of the gap 40c between the projection 41b and the end 38b of the recess 38 is set so that the projection 33 of the annular holding frame 28 can be engaged. Then, as shown in FIG.
When the projection 33 of the adjustment ring 26 is engaged with the recess 40a of the locking piece 39, as shown in FIG.
a, 34b are discharge holes 31a, 31b of the centrifugal cage 25.
To close. When the projection 33 of the annular holding frame 28 is engaged with the recess 40b of the locking piece 39, the closing portion 34c of the adjustment ring 26 closes the discharge hole 31a of the centrifugal basket 25 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
8 is engaged with the gap 40c, the discharge holes 31a, 3a of all the centrifugal cages 25 as shown in FIG.
1b is opened. The projections 33 and the recesses 40a, 4a
The centrifugal cage 25 and the adjustment ring 26 are integrally driven and rotated by the engagement with Ob and 40c. In the switching operation of the adjusting ring 26 to each rotational position, as shown in FIGS.
Overcomes the spring force of the locking piece 39 and the projection 33 gets over the projections 41a and 41b, but the locking piece 39 is elastically deformed in the radial direction with the base 39a as a fulcrum, When the projecting portion 33 gets over the convex portion 41a, a force larger than the force when the projecting portion 33 gets over the convex portion 41b is required. However, since the height of the projection 41a is set lower than that of the projection 41b, the rotational operation force of the adjustment ring 26 is substantially constant regardless of the rotational position. Therefore, the adjustment ring 26 can be rotated with the same operational feeling. Although the positioning mechanism for closing and opening the discharge holes 31a and 31b has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if the opening amounts of the discharge holes 31a and 31b can be adjusted. Good. Next, the juicer 1 configured as described above
The operation of 0 will be described. Prior to placing the centrifugal separator 15 in the separation case 14 mounted on the main body 12, the adjusting ring 26 is moved to the above-mentioned desired rotational position in order to obtain a juice corresponding to a desired degree of the fiber component. Set to. afterwards,
The centrifuge 15 is separated from the separation case 1 such that the coupling 36 is coupled to the coupling 24 of the electric motor 11.
Set in 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the lid 17 is attached to the separation case 14, and the juice case 21 is mounted on the mounting table 12a. When the centrifugal separator 15 is driven and rotated in one direction by the drive of the electric motor 11, the material such as cut vegetables and fruits is centrifuged by the centrifugal separator basket 15 using the piston 19. 25 is pressed against a cutter 32 provided at the bottom. The material pressed against the cutter 32 is pulverized by the high-speed rotation of the cutter 32 and is ground down. The grated material is placed in a centrifugal basket 25.
Due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the centrifuge cage 25, the centrifuge cage 25 moves toward the upper end of the centrifugal cage 25 along the inclined surface of the filter member 30. During this movement process, the liquid component permeates through the small holes 30e of the filter section 30a due to centrifugal force, and becomes the juice receiving case section 13a arranged on the outer periphery of the centrifugal basket 25.
And the outlet 2 of the juice receiving case portion 13a.
From 0 is collected in the juice case 21. On the other hand, for example, the adjusting ring 26 is
When held at the rotational position that closes a and 31b, solid components such as fibers of the grated material do not pass through the filter portion 30a, and are centrifugally separated from the upper end of the centrifugal cage 25 by centrifugal force. The waste is discharged to the waste case portion 13b and collected as waste in the waste case portion 13b. When the adjusting ring 26 is at a rotational position for closing the discharge hole 31a and opening the discharge hole 31b or a rotational position for opening the discharge holes 31a and 31b, the discharge hole opened according to those positions. Solid components such as fibers or pulp are discharged from 31a, 31b to the juice receiving case portion 13a and stored in the juice case 21 together with the liquid components. Therefore, by adjusting the rotational position of the adjusting ring 26, a clear juice having a small amount of fibers and pulp, a juice containing a small amount of solid components such as fibers and pulp, and a juice containing a large amount of these solid components can be produced. Can be divided. Regarding the adjustment of the rotational position of the adjustment ring 26, each time the discharge holes 31a and 31b are closed or opened, the closing portions 34a to 34c slide along the filter portion 30a. A non-mesh portion 30d is provided around the discharge holes 31a and 31b, in which the closing portions 34a to 34c slide, and the small holes 30e are not formed, so that the surface is flat and smooth. Therefore, unlike the related art, the sharp peripheral portion of the small hole 30e does not damage the inner walls of the closing portions 34a to 34c due to friction. For this reason, even if used for a long period of time, the inner walls of the closed portions 34a to 34c do not wear, and the discharge holes 3
It is possible to keep the function of reliably closing 1a and 31b. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the number and arrangement of the discharge holes 31a and 31b and the closing portions 34a, 34b and 34c can be appropriately selected as needed. As described above, according to the present invention,
No small holes are provided in the filter section in the range where the opening / closing wall slides, so that when opening / closing the discharge hole, the inner wall of the opening / closing wall may be shaved by the peripheral edge of the small hole and become worn. Therefore, the opening / closing wall can reliably close the discharge hole even if the device is used for a long time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a part of a juicer provided with a centrifugal separator according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the juicer shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an exploded front view showing the centrifugal separator shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a plan view of the centrifugal basket shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the centrifugal basket shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a plan view of the adjustment ring shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the centrifugal separator shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the centrifugal separator showing a state where the adjustment ring is in a rotation position for closing the discharge holes 31a and 31b. FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the centrifugal separator showing a state where the adjustment ring is in a rotation position for opening the discharge holes 31a and 31b. FIG. 10 is a front view of the centrifugal separator showing a state where the adjustment ring is in a rotation position for closing the discharge holes 31a and 31b. FIG. 11 is a front view of the centrifugal separator showing a state where the adjustment ring is in a rotational position where the discharge hole 31a is closed and the discharge hole 31b is opened. FIG. 12 is a front view of the centrifugal separator showing a state where the adjustment ring is at a rotation position for opening the discharge holes 31a and 31b. FIG. 13 shows the adjustment ring from FIG.
FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the centrifugal separator showing an operation process to a rotation position shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a view showing a state in which the adjustment ring is rotated from the rotational position shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the centrifugal separator showing an operation process to a rotation position shown in FIG. [Description of Signs] 10 Juicer 15 Centrifugal separator 25 Centrifuge cage 26 Adjustment ring 28 Annular holding frame 30a Filter section 30c Mesh section 30d Non-mesh section 30e Small hole 31 (31a, 31b) Discharge hole 32 Cutter 33 Projection 34 ( 34a, 34b, 34c) Closed portion 37 Positioning mechanism 38 Recess 38d Void 39 Locking piece 41 (41a, 41b) Convex

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A predetermined size discharge having a filter portion on a peripheral surface on which a plurality of small holes for permeating a juice of a material is formed, and allowing a fiber of the material to pass therethrough. A centrifugal cage provided with a hole in the filter portion, an adjusting ring having a closing portion for closing at least a part of the discharge hole and rotatably fitted to the centrifugal cage; and an adjusting ring. A centrifugal separator for a juicer comprising a positioning mechanism for positioning the adjustment ring at a predetermined position by rotating the closing portion to slide the closing portion along the outer peripheral surface of the filter portion. The centrifugal separator of a juicer, wherein the small holes in a range in which the closing portion slides when the adjusting ring rotates in the filter portion are eliminated.