WO2005099531A1

WO2005099531A1 - Juicer feed tube

Info

Publication number: WO2005099531A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000509
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keith James Hensel; Stephen John Mcclean
Original assignee: Breville Pty Limited
Priority date: 2004-04-19
Filing date: 2005-04-07
Publication date: 2005-10-27

Abstract

A feed tube (16) for a juicer or other appliance is adapted for safety and to pre-score fruit and vegetables. The feed tube has a bore (23) that incorporates a plurality of internal fingers (20) spaced around the bore. In some examples, these fingers lie in a common plane located below the rim (21). In some embodiments, a pusher (17) is provided having cooperating grooves (28). A pusher alignment feature (22) is taught.

Description

Juicer Feed Tube

Field of the Invention The invention relates to fruit and vegetable juicers and more particularly to an improved feed tube for a fruit and vegetable juicer.

Background of the Invention A larger diameter feed tube in a fruit and vegetable juicer is considered a distinct advantage in the marketplace. A larger diameter feed tube means that more fruit or vegetable material may be placed into the feed tube during a juicing operation. In addition, a larger diameter feed tube means that larger diameter fruits may be reduced to juice without having to pre-cut the fruit or vegetables to fit into the feed tube of the juicing apparatus. However, human safety concerns have, in the past, limited the effective maximum diameter of juicer feed tubes. It will be appreciated that the teachings of the invention are taught with reference to a fruit and vegetable juicer, but that the benefit of these teachings may be applied to other devices or appliances that incorporate a feed tube.

Objects and Summary of the Invention It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a juicer having a larger diameter feed tube than prior art devices. It is another object of the invention to provide a feed tube for a juicer that is safe. It is a further object of the invention to provide a feed tube for a juicer that is adapted to pre-score fruit and vegetables. Accordingly, there is provided a feed tube having a main opening. The feed tube incorporates a plurality of secondary fingers. In particular embodiments, the feed tube has a rim and the secondary fingers are located below the rim. In some embodiments, a pusher is provided. The pusher incorporates a pilot groove that is adapted to co-operate with a projection on the rim. The feed tube may also incorporate longitudinal guide slots. Brief Description of the Drawing Figures

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective of a juicer. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective of a juicer lid, feed tube and pusher.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective of a juicer lid, feed tube and pusher, partially cross-sectioned.

Figure 4 is a cross section of a juicer lid, feed tube and pusher.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective of a juicer lid, feed tube and pusher, partially cross-sectioned .

Figure 6 is a top perspective view of a juicer lid, feed tube and pusher.

Figure 7 is an inverted perspective of a juicer lid with feed tube.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a pusher.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternate pusher.

Best Mode and Other Embodiments of the Invention

As shown in Figure 1 a juice extractor or juicer 10 comprises a motor housing 11 having a drive coupling 12. In this example, a juice collecting ring with spout 13 sits atop the housing and is removable from the housing 11. The ring 13 includes a central opening through which a filter basket 14 and grating disk 18 attach to the coupling 12. The cover or lid 15 supports a feed tube 16. The feed tube may be integral or removable from the lid 15. The feed tube has an upper rim or mouth 21 and a lower rim or exit opening 31. Fruits and vegetables are introduced through the feed tube. They pass down the length of the feed tube and contact the rotating grating disk 18. The action of the disk 18 reduces the input to juice, which is collected and pulp, which is discarded. A feed tube pusher 17 is used to force the contents of the feed tube toward the grating disk 18. In this example the feed tube is round in cross section, but other cross sections are encompassed by the teachings provided here. For a variety of reasons, it is advantageous to provide a wider rather than a narrower internal bore in a feed tube 16. A wider feed tube 16 will admit larger diameter fruits such as apples or more feed volume. In order to address the safety concerns associated with wider feed tube bores, and as shown in Figure 2, the internal passage or bore of a feed tube 16 is provided with a plurality of secondary fingers 20. The secondary figures are projections that extend into the interior of the feed tube and are preferably spaced around the interior surface of the feed tube 16, extending into the bore and located at or below the upper rim 21 of the feed tube. In the present example, the secondary fingers are located just below the upper rim 21 , but they can also be located considerably below the rim. The secondary fingers 20 act as a safety feature that limits the effective diameter of the feed tube bore because the secondary fingers alert and therefore discourage a user from inserting a hand into the feed tube. The secondary fingers are not provided as guides for the pusher, therefore they need not and preferably do not extend further than required for scoring and safety purposes. The upper and inner directed edges of each secondary finger 20 are also adapted to penetrate or score the skin of fruits such as apples, pears etc prior to reaching the grating disk 18. In preferred embodiments, each of the secondary fingers 20 lies in a common horizontal plane or circumference of the feed tube 16. In preferred embodiments, the secondary fingers 20 are located toward the upper end of the feed tube 16 but below the rim 21. The interior tips of the secondary fingers 20 define a passage or diameter (see d1 , Figure 4) that is acceptable for safety purposes. The secondary fingers are accommodated by secondary longitudinal grooves 28 that extend along the length of the pusher 17. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the primary finger or alignment projection 22 extends into the mouth 23 of the feed tube 16. It is located on or close to the upper rim 21 and above the secondary fingers. The projection 22 is preferably wider or longer (or both) than any secondary finger. The upper rim 21 may be removable for cleaning purposes, if required. The projection 22 prevents the pusher 17 from entering the mouth 23 of the feed tube 16 unless the pusher pilot groove 24 is in registry with the projection 22. The primary finger cannot enter a secondary groove 28. The pilot groove 24 tapers from a maximum width to a narrower width that is in registry with a primary longitudinal groove 25 that extends the full length of the pusher 17. The location of the pilot groove and primary groove 25 is shown in this example as conveniently indicated with a visual marker 26 located on the head 27 of the pusher 17. The primary groove is preferably wider or deeper (or both) than any secondary groove 28 so that only it can receive the primary finger. No secondary groove 28 should be wide enough (or deep enough) to admit the primary finger 22. Together, the pilot groove 24 and primary groove 25 ensure that the pusher 17 is in alignment before descending into the feed tube 16. If properly aligned, the secondary grooves 28 will align with each of the secondary fingers 20. This prevents the secondary fingers 20 from being damaged by the pusher 17. To accommodate small errors in misalignment, each of the secondary grooves 28 is provided with smaller secondary pilots 29 that lead into the secondary grooves 28. Note that there is a secondary finger 22a located below the primary finger 22. It may be the same size as the other secondary fingers, or longer than a secondary finger so long as it is not longer than the primary finger. The upper extent of this secondary may be joined to the primary finger. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the primary or alignment finger 22 is advantageously used in conjunction and preferably vertically aligned with an anti-rotation knife 39 located at the bottom of the feed tube 30. Because the anti-rotation knife 39 may be larger than any of the secondary fingers 20, the primary groove 25 in the pusher 17 can accommodate it. In preferred embodiments a deep pilot groove 24 can receive the anti-rotation knife 39 when the pusher 17 is fully inserted in the feed tube allowing the anti-rotation knife 39 to be radially longer than the depth of the primary groove 25 . As shown in Figure 4, a conventional feed tube would have a diameter typically no greater than d1, the diameter defined by the inner tips 40 of the secondary fingers 20. Applications of the principles of the present invention now provide for a feed tube with diameter d2 which is able to receive fruit with a maximum dimension of diameter of d2 as shown by the insertion of the apple 41 into the mouth 23 of the feed tube 16. As shown in Figure 5, numerous secondary fingers 50 may be provided about the bore of the feed tube. In this example 10 secondary fingers 50 and 10 secondary grooves 51 , each with a pilot 54 are used with a primary finger 53, primary pilot 24 and primary groove (not shown). In this example, the feed tube 56 is formed separately joined and sealed with respect to the lid 57. As shown in this figure, some secondary fingers 58 are located in a second horizontal plane that is above the plane of the other fingers 50. This arrangement is particularly useful when there are many secondary fingers. Having too many secondary fingers in one plane makes insertion of e.g. whole fruit more difficult. Thus, secondary fingers can alternate in vertical distance from the grating disk so that friction in any one plane is reduced. Secondary fingers may be located in more than two planes. Secondary fingers in this embodiment and others are conveniently, but need not be, equally spaced, radially or vertically. In another embodiment 60 and as shown in Figures 6-8, the primary finger arrangement as disclosed above can be reversed. This entails providing a groove 61 in the bore 62 of the feed tube. The groove 61 is located between adjacent secondary fingers 63. The groove 61 extends away from the center of the tube and is, in this example, "V" shaped. It provides an easy visual and physical way of aligning the feed tube and pusher. As shown in Figure 7, the bottom extent 70 of the feed tube that forms the groove 61 is beveled. The bevel prevents the wall of the feed tube, in the area of the groove 61 from interfering with the conical sidewalls of the filter basket 14. Also note that the anti-rotation knife 72 is located, for example, opposite the groove 61 , not in vertical alignment with the primary finger as disclosed above. As shown in Figure 8, a pusher 80 is provided to cooperate with the feed tube embodiment 60 disclosed above. The pusher is characterized as having a protruding longitudinal ridge 81 that fits within the feed tube's groove 61. The pusher can only descend the feed tube when the ridge 81 is within the groove 61. This automatically aligns the secondary knives 63 with the longitudinal secondary grooves 82 of the pusher. Figure 8 also illustrates that the bottom portion 83 of the ridge is beveled so as to not extend beyond the beveled bottom 70 of the feed tube's groove 61. Another embodiment of a pusher 90 is shown in Figure 9. In this example, the full length longitudinal grooves 91 in the pusher are all large enough to accommodate the primary and the secondary fingers. In preferred embodiments the grooves 91 are also large enough and configured to accept or pass over the anti-rotation knife 72 if there is one. When the enlarged grooves 91 are located in radial symmetry with the long axis of the pusher, the pusher can have as many rotational orientations as grooves. In this example, the pusher 90 can be inserted in a feed tube five different ways. While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to particular details of constructions, these should be understood as not having been provided as limitations to the scope of spirit of the invention. In particular, the precise number of secondary fingers and their precise size are considered to have been disclosed as examples and not limitations.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An appliance with a feed tube, wherein the feed tube comprises:

a tube having an internal bore, an upper rim and an exit opening; a plurality of secondary fingers extending into the bore.

2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:

the secondary fingers have upper edges that are adapted to score fruit or vegetable matter descending the feed tube.

3. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:

the secondary fingers are located in two or more horizontal planes.

4. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:

the secondary fingers are equally spaced around the bore, one secondary finger being located below a primary alignment finger.

5. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:

the tube has a primary alignment finger that is located on the upper rim of the feed tube.

6. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:

the tube has a primary alignment finger that is located above any secondary finger.

7. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:

the secondary fingers have inner edges that are adapted to score fruit or vegetable matter descending the feed tube.

8. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:

the feed tube further comprises an anti-rotation knife located adjacent to the exit opening.

9. The appliance of claim 8, wherein:

the anti-rotation knife is in vertical alignment with a primary alignment finger.

10. The appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pusher; the pusher having secondary longitudinal grooves, at least equal in number to the number of secondary fingers.

11. The appliance of claim 10, wherein:

the pusher has a primary groove to accommodate a primary alignment finger.

12. The appliance of claim 10, wherein:

the secondary longitudinal grooves have pilots.

13. The appliance of claim 11 , wherein:

the primary groove has a pilot.

14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein:

the pilot of the primary groove accommodates an anti rotation finger located adjacent to the exit opening of the feed tube.

15. The appliance of claim 11 , wherein:

the pusher has a visual indicator that indicates the position of the primary groove.

16. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:

the tube further comprises a longitudinal groove.

17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein:

a bottom extent of the tube that forms the groove is beveled.

18. The appliance of claim 16, further comprising:

a pusher having a cooperating longitudinal ridge.

19. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein:

secondary fingers are located in more than one horizontal plane.

20. The appliance of claim 18, wherein:

an anti-rotation knife is provided in the bore, other than in vertical alignment with the groove.