JP2003259969A - Centrifugal separator of juicer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a centrifugal separator of a juicer capable of easily cleaning residue of a solid content such as fibers. <P>SOLUTION: Holes 31a and 31b to pass fibers are provided in a centrifugal separation basket 25, and a protrusion 33 protruding to an adjustment ring 26 engaged with the centrifugal separation basket 25 is formed on the outside periphery of the centrifugal separation basket 25. The adjustment ring 26 is provided with blocking portions 34a, 34b and 34c blocking the holes 31a and 31b. In addition, engagement pieces 39 that can elastically deform to the adjustment ring 26 are drawn in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the centrifugal separation basket 25. The engagement pieces 39 positions the adjustment ring 26 in the blocking position and opening position of the holes 31a and 31b by the elastic engagement of a plurality of protrusions 41a and 41b formed thereon and the protrusion 33 of the adjustment ring 26. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centrifuge for a juicer that makes juice from materials such as vegetables and fruits, and more particularly to a centrifuge that is easy to wash after use.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A juicer comprises a centrifuge basket having an inverted conical shape that is rotated by the driving force of an electric motor. To make juice using a juicer, pieces of chopped vegetables and fruits are pressed by a push rod called a piston into a cutter at the bottom of a centrifuge basket.
The material pressed against the cutter is crushed by the high-speed rotation of the cutter and grated.

The grated material is guided toward the upper end of the centrifuge basket by the centrifugal force associated with the rotation of the centrifuge basket along the inclined filter portion of the centrifuge basket. In this guiding process, the liquid component passes through the filter portion by the centrifugal force, and is collected in the juice cup through the juice saucer arranged on the outer circumference of the centrifuge basket.

The solid components such as fibers of the grated material are discharged through the opening at the upper end of the centrifuge basket into a case that collects dregs, without passing through the filter section, by centrifugal force.

As one of the juicers of this type, for example, the juicer described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-11209 is known. In this juicer, as shown in FIG. 15, a filter 101 of the centrifuge basket 100 is provided with a through hole 102 through which a pulp of a predetermined size is passed, and a circular holding frame 103, which is a lower frame of the centrifuge basket 100, has an annular shape. A groove 103a is formed, a ring 104 that is movable in the circumferential direction is fitted in the annular groove 103a, and an opening / closing wall 105 for opening and closing the through hole 102 is provided in the ring 104. There is provided a positioning mechanism 106 for positioning the ring 104 in a closed position where the ring is closed and an open position where the through hole is opened.

The positioning mechanism 106 is provided with a protrusion 107 protruding from the holding frame 103 on the outer peripheral surface of the ring 104, and has a plurality of holes 108 (only one of which is shown in the figure) for engaging with the protrusion 107. It is configured by penetrating in a radial direction from the inside of the annular groove 103a toward the outer peripheral surface of the circular holding frame 103.

The ring 1 is rotated by rotating the ring 104.
The protrusion 107 of 04 is elastically engaged with the hole 108 (not shown) of the other side to position it in the closed position and close the through hole 102 of the filter 101 with the opening / closing wall 105. When the juicer is operated in this state, the pulp does not jump out from the through hole 102, which allows the filter 10
A clear juice consisting of only the liquid component that permeates 1 is obtained. On the other hand, by rotating the ring 103, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
By elastically engaging with 08, the through hole 102 is opened by positioning at the open position. When the juicer is operated in this state, fibers and pulp in addition to the juice component passing through the filter 101 pass through the through hole 102 of the filter 101 and accumulate in the juice cup together with the juice.

That is, by operating the opening / closing mechanism 106, it is possible to separately prepare clear juice that does not contain pulp and juice that is rich in fiber and that contains pulp.

[0009]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional juicer, the hole 108 that engages with the protrusion 107 of the ring 104 to define the rotational position and the closed position of the ring 104 has the circular holding of the centrifuge basket 100. Frame 103
Is formed in the radial direction, that is, in the lateral direction. The hole 108 has a relatively small diameter, and one opening end 108a of the hole 108 facing the annular groove 103a has a ring 10
The outer peripheral surface 104a of No. 4 is closed, and the other open end of the hole 108 is open.

Therefore, during the operation of the juicer, during the process in which the solid component passing through the through hole 102 of the centrifuge basket 100 drops together with the liquid component toward the juice tray arranged outside the centrifuge basket 100, the centrifuge is used. 100 isolated baskets
When the solid component flowing along the inside of the hole 108 enters the hole 108, the hole 108 is closed at one end 108a and has a small diameter.
It is not easy to wash away solid components that have accumulated.

[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a centrifuge which can easily wash the residue of solid components such as fibers.

[0012]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a hole having a predetermined size which has a filter portion which allows the juice component of the material to pass therethrough and which allows the fiber of the material to pass therethrough. A centrifuge basket provided in the filter portion, an adjusting ring having a closing portion for closing the hole and rotatably fitted in the centrifuge basket, and the closing ring by rotating the adjusting ring. A centrifuge device for a juicer, comprising a positioning mechanism for positioning an adjusting ring at a closed position where a portion closes a hole and an open position where the hole is opened, wherein the positioning mechanism adjusts with the centrifugal basket. One end of the ring is fixed to the other end, and one end is fixed to the other end and is separated from the other peripheral surface by a predetermined distance and extends in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the centrifugal separation basket, and the other end is a free end. Becomes A locking piece which are characterized by having an engaging portion for positioning the engaging adjusting ring with the locking portion provided in the engaging piece in the open position and the closed position.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a juicer 10 incorporating a centrifugal separator according to the present invention has a main body 12 in which an electric motor 11 (see FIG. 1) is incorporated as a drive source, Removably mounted on the main body 12,
A case 13b in which a cylindrical juice saucer 13a with an open upper end is formed inside and the juice saucer 13a is placed outside the juice saucer 13a
Container 14 integrally formed with juice and saucer 13a
A centrifugal separator 15 that is removably disposed in the container and that slides down the juice material to separate it into a juice portion and a dross portion.
And a lid 17 detachably attached to the main body 12 while covering the upper part of the centrifugal separator 15 and the container 14.

The lid 17 is formed with a charging cylinder 18 for charging the material into the centrifugal separator 15.
A piston 19, which is a push rod for pushing the juice material, is removably inserted in 8. Also, the main body 1
A juice case 21 for receiving juice from the outlet 20 (see FIG. 1) formed in the juice tray 13a is placed on the placing table 12a provided at the lower part of 2. A juice case lid 22 is detachably attached to the juice case 21. An opening 23 is formed in the juice case lid 22, and the juice from the outlet 20 is collected 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 is
By coupling the coupling 24 and the coupling 36 of the centrifugal separator 15 which will be described later, when the centrifugal separator 15 is viewed from above, it is driven and rotated counterclockwise, for example.

As shown in FIG. 3, the centrifugal separator 15 has a
An inverted conical centrifuge basket 25 whose diameter gradually increases from the lower end to the upper end, and an annular synthetic resin adjustment ring 26 rotatably fitted to the outside of the lower part of the centrifuge basket 25,
An annular holder 27 that rotatably holds the adjusting ring 26 under the centrifuge basket 25 is provided.

The centrifuge basket 25 has an annular holding frame 28 made of resin, and a tubular filter member 30 whose lower portion is held by the holding frame 28 and whose diameter increases toward the upper side.
And an annular reinforcing frame 29 made of synthetic resin that holds the upper edge of the filter member 30.

The filter member 30 has a plurality of filter portions 30 each having a large number of small holes (not shown) through which liquid passes.
a. 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, in the region excluding the filter portion 30a, the filter members 30a are provided. A discharge hole 31a having a diameter larger than the small hole and a discharge hole 31b having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the discharge hole 31a and larger than the small hole are formed in pairs.

The discharge holes 31a and 31b are arranged as shown in FIG. That is, the pair of discharge holes 31 a are arranged on a virtual straight line in a radial direction perpendicular to the virtual straight line connecting the pair of joint portions 30 b of the filter member 30, and the pair of discharge holes 31 are arranged.
On both sides of the imaginary line connecting a, a pair of discharge holes 31b is arranged on each imaginary line forming an angle of about 45 ° with the imaginary line. Further, a cutter 32 arranged inside the centrifugal separation basket 25 is fixed to the upper surface of the annular holding frame 28.

As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of protrusions (locking portions) 33 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holding frame 28 at positions corresponding to the joint portions 30b of the filter member 30. Each protrusion 33 extends vertically as shown in FIG. The protrusion 33 functions as a component of a positioning mechanism described later.

On the upper surface of the adjusting ring 26, each discharge hole 31
projections 34a, which serve as closing portions for opening and closing a and 31b,
34b and 34c are provided so as to project upward.

The projections 34a to 34c are arranged as shown in FIG. 6, the pair of projections 34a closes the pair of discharge holes 31a, and the two pairs of projections 34b form the pair of discharges. The hole 31b is closed. Further, a pair of protrusions 34c is provided adjacent to the protrusion 34a,
The protrusion 34c closes the discharge hole 31a. Each of the protrusions 34a to 34c is chamfered (R) on both edges on the circumferential direction side and an upper edge in order to reduce the scattering due to the 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 holding frame 28,
As shown in FIG. 1, the holder 27 is fixed to the annular holding frame 28 of the centrifuge basket 25 by the caulking pin 35. The holder 27 causes the adjustment ring 26 to have an annular holding frame 28.
It is rotatably held so as not to come off. By rotating this adjusting ring 26, the discharge holes 31a, 3
1b is closed or opened by the protrusions 34a to 34c. On the lower surface of the holder 27, the electric motor 11
The coupling 36 is formed so as to be detachably coupled to the coupling 24 of FIG.

The centrifugal separator 15 is also provided with a positioning mechanism 37 for positioning the rotational position of the adjusting ring 26 with respect to the centrifugal basket 25.

The positioning mechanism 37, as shown in FIG.
The annular holding frame 28 includes a protrusion 33 and a locking piece 39 formed inside the adjustment ring 26.

As shown in FIG. 6, the locking pieces 39 are respectively formed in a pair of recesses 38 provided inside the adjusting ring 26. The locking piece 39 is provided at one end 38a of the recess 38.
To the circumferential direction, and the extending direction is opposite to the rotation direction of the centrifugal separation basket 25. Recess 3
8 penetrates in the vertical direction (thickness direction), and the locking piece 39
And a side portion 38c of the recess 38 with a gap 38 of a predetermined width.
d is formed. In addition, the tip of the locking piece 39 and the recess 3
A predetermined gap 40c is formed between the other end 38b and the other end 38b, and the tip of the locking piece 39 is a free end, and the locking piece 39 uses the base (rear end) 39a as a fulcrum. It functions as a cantilever spring that elastically deforms in the radial direction.

The adjusting ring 26 has the above-mentioned discharge hole 31a,
The rotation position and the discharge hole 31a shown in FIG.
11 and the rotation position shown in FIG. 12 for opening the discharge holes 31a and 31b and the rotation position shown in FIG. 12 for opening the discharge holes 31b, as shown in FIG. The lower portion of the place 38 is not closed by the flange 27f of the holder 27 but is in an open state.

Moreover, since the other end 38b of the recess 38 is opened to the inside of the adjusting ring 26 by the gap 40c, the width of the gap 38d in the radial direction is wider than the width of one end of the gap 38d.

Further, the locking piece 39 is formed with two convex portions 41a and 41b projecting inward of the adjusting ring 26,
The height H2 of the convex portion 41b is set higher than the height H1 of the convex portion 41a, and the convex portion 41b is formed at the tip of the locking piece 39. The convex portion 41a and the base portion 39 of the locking piece 39
There are recesses 40b, 40b which engage with the projection 33 of the annular holding frame 28 between the space a and the space between the projection 41a and the projection 41b. Further, the width of the gap 40c between the convex portion 41b and the end portion 38b of the recess 38 is set so that the protrusion 33 of the annular holding frame 28 can be engaged.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the annular holding frame 28
When the protrusion 33 of the adjustment ring 26 is engaged with the recess 40a of the locking piece 39, as shown in FIG.
34b closes the discharge holes 31a and 31b of the centrifugation basket 25. Further, the protrusion 33 of the annular holding frame 28 is fixed to the locking piece 3
9, the protrusion 34c of the adjustment ring 26 closes the discharge hole 31a of the centrifuge basket 25 as shown in FIG. 11, and the protrusion 33 of the annular holding frame 28 as shown in FIG. When engaged with the gap 40c, the discharge holes 31a and 31b of all the centrifugation baskets 25 are opened as shown in FIG.

The protrusion 33 and the recesses 40a, 4
The centrifugal basket 25 and the adjustment ring 26 are integrally driven and rotated by the engagement with 0b and 40c.

In the operation of switching the adjusting ring 26 to each rotational position, as shown in FIGS.
Will overcome the spring force of the locking piece 39 and the projection 33 will ride over the projections 41a and 41b. However, the locking piece 39 elastically deforms in the radial direction with the base 39a as a fulcrum, When the projection 33 rides over the convex portion 41a, a force larger than the force when riding over the convex portion 41b is required. However, since the height of the convex portion 41a is set lower than that of the convex portion 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 operation feeling.

Next, the juicer 1 configured as described above is used.
The operation of 0 will be described.

Prior to placing the centrifuge 15 in the container 14 mounted on the body 12, an adjustment ring 26 is provided in order to obtain juice according to the desired degree of fiber content.
Is set to the desired rotational position described above. Then, the centrifuge 15 is set in the container 14 so that its coupling 36 is coupled to the coupling 24 of the electric motor 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the lid 17 is attached to the container 14 and the juice case 21 is placed on the mounting table 12a.
Place on.

When the centrifuge 15 is driven and rotated in one direction by driving the electric motor 11, a material such as chopped vegetables or fruits is used by the piston 19 to cause the centrifuge basket of the centrifuge 15 to move. It is pressed against a cutter 32 provided at the bottom of 25. The material pressed against the cutter 32 is crushed by the high-speed rotation of the cutter 32 and grated.

The grated material is placed in a centrifuge basket 25.
Due to the centrifugal force associated with the rotation of the centrifugal separation basket 25, the centrifugal separation basket 25 moves toward the upper end of the centrifugal separation basket 25 along the inclined surface of the filter member 30.

In this moving process, the liquid component permeates through the small holes of the filter portion 30a by the centrifugal force, and the centrifugal separation basket 2
5 is discharged into the juice pan 13a arranged on the outer periphery of the juice container 5 and collected in the juice case 21 from the outlet 20 of the juice pan 13a.

On the other hand, for example, the adjusting ring 26 has the discharge hole 31.
When held in the rotational position where a and 31b are closed, the 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 portion of the centrifuge basket 25. It is released into the dregs case 13b,
It is collected as a dreg in the dregs case 13b.

Further, when the adjusting ring 26 is in the rotation position for closing the discharge hole 31a and opening the discharge hole 31b or the rotation position for opening the discharge holes 31a, 31b, the discharge hole opened according to those positions. Solid components such as fibers or pulp from 31a and 31b are juice saucer 1
It is discharged to 3a and stored in the juice case 21 together with the liquid component.

Therefore, by adjusting the rotational position of the adjusting ring 26, clear juice with a small amount of fibers and pulp, juice containing a small amount of solid components such as fibers and pulp, and juice containing a large amount of these solid components are produced. Can be divided.

A gap 38d is formed in the adjusting ring 26, but the gap 38d is opened in the vertical direction. Therefore, the fibers that flow down with the liquid component toward the juice tray 13 from the outside of the centrifuge basket 25 easily flow downward together with the liquid component even if they enter the gap 38d. It is hard to remain.

For the fibers and the like that have entered the gap 38d of the adjusting ring 26, the centrifuge basket 25 is in the direction of the arrow (see FIG. 6).
Since it is rotated to the end portion 38b of the slit-shaped recess 38, the gap 40c is formed between the end portion 38b and the tip of the locking piece 39. The width of the portion 38 near the end portion 38b is wide. For this reason, the fibers or the like pressed against the end portion 38b easily flow downward and are prevented from accumulating at the end portion 38b.

By the way, when the locking piece 39 is extended in the rotational direction, the fibers are pressed against the end portion 38a of the gap 38d, and the width of the gap 38d is narrow, so that the fibers are collected in the gap 38d. It will be easier.

Further, even if fibers or the like are accumulated in the end 38b of the recess 38, the recess 38 is opened in the vertical direction and the width of the recess 38 near the end 38b is wide. By flowing running water such as tap water into the recess 38 of the centrifugal separator 15 taken out of the container 14, the residue can be easily drained from the recess 38 of the centrifugal separator 15, and thus the centrifugal The separation device 15 can be stored hygienically.

In this embodiment, the protrusion 33 is formed on the annular holding frame 28 of the centrifuge basket 25, and the annular holding frame 28 is formed.
Although the locking piece 39 is formed on the adjustment ring 26 fitted to the
The protrusion 33 may be formed on the adjustment ring 26, and the locking piece 39 may be formed on the annular holding frame 28.

Further, a recess (not shown) is provided in the annular holding frame 28 instead of the protrusion 33, and a locking piece 39 is provided in this recess.
The annular holding frame 28 may be positioned by engaging the convex portions 41a and 41b.

Further, the discharge holes 31a and 31b and the projection 3
The number and arrangement of the 4a, 34b, and 34c can be appropriately selected as necessary.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, the fibers remaining in the positioning mechanism of the adjusting ring for opening and closing the hole through which the solid component is provided in the centrifuge basket are compared with the conventional one. And can be easily washed away, which allows the juicer centrifuge basket to be stored hygienically.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a juicer equipped with a centrifugal separator according to the present invention, with a part thereof broken away.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the juicer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the centrifugal separator shown in FIG. 1 in a disassembled state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the centrifugation basket shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the centrifugation basket shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the adjustment ring shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the centrifugal separator shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the centrifuge showing a state in which the adjusting ring is in a rotation position where it blocks the discharge holes 31a and 31b.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the centrifuge showing a state in which the adjustment ring is in a rotational position where the discharge holes 31a and 31b are opened.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the centrifugal separation device showing a state in which the adjustment ring is in a rotation position where it blocks the discharge holes 31a and 31b.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the centrifugal separator showing a state in which the adjusting ring closes the discharge hole 31a and opens the discharge hole 31b in a rotational position.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the centrifuge showing a state in which the adjusting ring is in a rotational position where the discharge holes 31a and 31b are opened.

13 shows the adjusting ring from the rotational position shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the centrifugal separator showing an operation process to the rotation position shown in FIG. 1.

14 shows the adjusting ring from the rotational position shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of the centrifugal separator showing an operation process to the rotation position shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a conventional juicer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Juicers 15 Centrifuge 25 Centrifuge Basket 26 Adjustment ring 28 annular holding frame 31 (31a, 31b) hole (discharge hole) 32 cutter 33 Locking part (projection part) 34 (34a, 34b, 34c) Blocking part 37 Positioning mechanism 38 recess 38d void 39 Locking piece 41 (41a, 41b) Convex part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A centrifuge basket having a hole on the peripheral surface thereof for allowing the juice component of the material to pass therethrough and having a predetermined size hole for allowing the fiber of the material to pass through, and the hole is closed. An adjusting ring having a closing portion for rotatably fitting into the centrifugation basket, a closing position at which the closing portion closes the hole by rotating the adjusting ring, and an opening for opening the hole. A centrifuge device of a juicer comprising a position and a positioning mechanism for positioning the adjusting ring at a position, wherein the positioning mechanism includes a locking portion provided on one of the centrifuge basket and the adjusting ring, and one end. Is fixed to the other side and is separated from the other peripheral surface by a predetermined distance and extends in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the centrifugal separation basket, and the other end is a free end, and the locking piece is provided on this locking piece. To the locking part Centrifuge juicer, characterized in that an engaging portion for engagement by positioning the adjusting ring in the open position and the closed position. 2. A centrifuge basket having a hole on the peripheral surface for allowing the juice component of the material to pass therethrough and having a predetermined size hole for allowing the fiber of the material to pass through, and the hole is closed. An adjusting ring having a closing portion for rotatably fitting into the centrifugation basket, a closing position at which the closing portion closes the hole by rotating the adjusting ring, and an opening for opening the hole. A centrifuge device of a juicer comprising a position and a positioning mechanism for positioning the adjusting ring at a position, wherein the positioning mechanism includes a locking portion provided on one of the centrifuge basket and the adjusting ring, and one end. Has a locking piece fixed to the other and extending along the circumferential direction at a predetermined distance from the other peripheral surface, and the other end being a free end, engaging with the locking portion. The adjustment ring to the closed position A plurality of convex portions for forming an engaging portion that is positioned at the open position are provided on the locking piece along the circumferential direction, and the convex portions are located closer to the free end side. Juicer centrifuge, characterized in that its height is higher. 3. A centrifuge basket having a hole on the peripheral surface for allowing the juice component of the material to pass therethrough and having a predetermined size hole for allowing the fiber of the material to pass through, and the hole is closed. An adjusting ring having a closing portion for rotatably fitting into the centrifugation basket, a closing position at which the closing portion closes the hole by rotating the adjusting ring, and an opening for opening the hole. A centrifuge device of a juicer comprising a position and a positioning mechanism for positioning the adjusting ring at a position, wherein the positioning mechanism includes a locking portion provided on one of the centrifuge basket and the adjusting ring, and one end. Is fixed to the other and has a locking piece that is separated from the other peripheral surface by a predetermined distance and extends in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the centrifugal separation basket, and the other end is a free end. Adjustment part by engaging the A plurality of protrusions for forming an engaging portion for positioning the lock at the closed position and the open position are provided along the circumferential direction on the locking piece, and the plurality of protrusions are provided on the free end side. The centrifuge for a juicer is characterized in that the height of the convex portion is increased toward the portion.