WO2009010897A2

WO2009010897A2 - Spout arrangement for juice extractor

Info

Publication number: WO2009010897A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/052732
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heimo Obersteiner
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2007-07-13
Filing date: 2008-07-08
Publication date: 2009-01-22
Also published as: WO2009010897A3

Abstract

A juicer (1000) comprising a juice collector (108) having a central opening for admitting a drive spindle (114) and an inner juice collection portion with a spout (108a), wherein the spout is configured to receive a rotatable crooked tube (310) to prevent dripping of the juice is disclosed. The crooked tube (310) has to be turned around for activating the drip-stop function and provides good visualization for ON/OFF position of drip-stop function.

Description

Spout arrangement for juice extractor

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The subject matter relates to a juice extractor for extracting liquids from fruits and/or vegetables and more specifically to the spout arrangement in the juice extractor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Patent document WO2005002404 discloses an electric juicing device comprising housing, a juice collector, a pulp collector, lid and feed tube and a collection jug. Once the juicing is finished and the collection jug is taken away, drops of juice remaining in the juice collector drips on the desk. This pollutes the desk.

It would be advantageous to have a simple arrangement for preventing the dripping of the juice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

Accordingly, a juicer comprising a juice collector having a central opening for admitting a drive spindle and an inner juice collection portion with a spout, wherein the spout is configured to receive a rotatable crooked tube to prevent dripping of the juice is disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The above-mentioned aspects, features and advantages will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals indicate identical or similar parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary juicer comprising a spout; Fig. 2 shows the various parts of the exemplary juicer of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b schematically show the principle of working of the spout arrangement according to an embodiment of the subject matter;

Fig. 4 schematically shows the section view and front view of an exemplary juicer in a non- dripping position; Fig. 5 schematically shows the section view and front view of an exemplary juicer in a dripping position; and Fig. 6 schematically shows the principle of working of the spout arrangement for automatic overflow protection.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a juice arrangement 1000 is generally provided in the form of a motor driven domestic appliance capable of extracting the juice from fruits (orange, lemon, grapefruit), especially citrus fruits, and delivering the juice into a vessel positioned adjacent the main body of the appliance.

Such juicer appliances typically incorporate a spout 108a to discharge the juice that is extracted into a vessel which is positioned adjacent to the main body of the juicer. Referring now to Fig. 2, the juicer 1000 comprises:

1. Pusher 100

2. Feeding tube 102

3. Lid 104

4. Centrifugal bowl (anodized aluminum or stainless steel micro mesh filter) 106 5. Juice collector 108 with a spout 108 A

6. Pulp container 110

7. Control knob 112

8. Motor spindle 114

9. Motor base unit 116 10. Juice jug 118

11. Clamps 120

A motorized base unit 116 has an upper surface from which protrudes a motor spindle 114, the upper surface adapted to receive a juice collector 108. The juice collector 108 has a central opening for admitting the motor spindle 114 and has two nested portions namely an outer pulp collection portion and an inner juice collection portion with a spout 108A. The juice collector 108 has a lid 104 with a feeding tube 102. A frusto-conical centrifugal bowl 106 resides with in the juice collector 108 below the feeding tube 102. A pusher 100 is used to feed the fruits and/or vegetables into the feeding tube 102. A juce jug 118 and a pulp container 110 are provided to collect the extracted juice and the pulp. The operation of the juicer 1000 is explained below:

Step 1: Place the centrifugal bowl 106 in the juice collector 108 and mount the centrifugal bowl 106 securely onto the motor spindle 114

Step 2: Place the lid 104 over the juice collector 108

Step 3: Snap the two clamps 120 onto the lid 104 to lock into place Step 4: Place the juice jug 118 under the spout 108 A adjacent to the main body of the juicer Step 5: Cut the fruit/vegetables into pieces that fit into the feeding tube 102 and make sure that the juice jug 118 has been placed under the spout 108A Step 6: Place the pulp container 110 appropriately Step 7: Switch the juicer by turning the control knob 112

Step 8: Put the cut pieces in the feeding tube 102 and gently press them towards the rotating centrifugal bowl 106 by means of the pusher 100

Step 9: Slide the pusher 100 into the feeding tube 102 by aligning the groove in the pusher with the small protrusion on the inside of the feeding tube In operation, the centrifugal bowl 106 rotates. The bottom of the centrifugal bowl 106 is generally designed as a teeth- plate. The shredded fruit pieces are transported along the micro mesh filter sieve wall. The filter mesh (small holes on the sieve wall) separates juice and fruit fibers. The juice flows through the sieve holes and into the juice collector 108. Through the spout 108 A the juice flows directly into the juice jug 118. Further, the solid fruit fibers will spin out of the sieve directly into the pulp container 110.

When the juicing is finished, it is necessary to take away the juice jug 118 for emptying or for cleaning. Once the juice jug 118 is taken away, the juice that is still left in the juice collector 108 runs through the spout 108 A and drops on the desk. This may pollute/contaminate the desk (on which the juicer is placed). Also, when the juicer is taken away for cleaning, the remaining juice in the juice collector 108 will drip while the juicer is being carried to the dishwasher.

Hence, it would be advantageous to have a simple arrangement to prevent dripping of the juice.

Detailed description of the embodiments

Accordingly, a juicer comprising a juice collector having a central opening for admitting a drive spindle and an inner juice collection portion with a spout, wherein the spout is configured to receive a rotatable crooked tube to prevent dripping of the juice is disclosed. The spout is not designed as a plug -valve or spigot (i.e. a regulator for controlling the flow of a liquid from a reservoir) or as a drip-stop that closes and seals off the juice outflow. A crooked (e.g. bent) tube is rotatably mounted as a spout for juice outlet. This is simple in design and needs fewer parts (e.g. plastic or metal). The term crooked tube here refers to a tube marked by bends or angles. In other words, the tube is not straight or aligned. In an embodiment, the rotatable crooked tube is an elbow that can be selectively positioned to allow or prevent the flow of the juice. Once the juicing is finished and the juice jug 118 is taken away, the elbow can be turned around to prevent dripping of the remaining juice in the juice collector. Fig. 3a shows the juice collector 108 along with the spout 108 A. The spout

108A is provided at the bottom of the juice collector 108. The elbow 310 fits into the spout 108 A and the elbow is in the non-dripping position. The elbow 310 prevents the dripping of the juice.

Referring now to Fig. 3b, the elbow 310 is in the dripping position and allows the juice to flow through.

In a further embodiment, the elbow is rotatable within the spout approximately in the range of about 180° (Cf. Fig. 3b) relative to the dripping position to prevent dripping of the juice.

The operation of the elbow to activate the drip-stop function is simple. One has to rotate the elbow in the range of about 180° to activate the drip- stop function. Further the mounting of the elbow on to the spout is easy.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary juicer. The various parts of the juicer namely pusher, feeding tube, lid, centrifugal bowl, juice collector, motor shaft, juice collector with a spout and a motor unit are known from the patent document WO 2005002404 which is incorporated herewith by reference. When the elbow 310 is in the closed position, approximately 0.2 Liters of juice is collected. Without the elbow, 0.2 Liters of juice would have dripped on the desk and contaminated the desk. With the discbsed elbow, it is possible to prevent the discharge of 0.2 Litres of juice. This requires a simple turn around operation of the elbow. This is shown in Fig. 5. It is clear from the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 that the pollution or contamination can be p^revented. Further, the elbow 310 provides good visualization capabilities for ON/OFF position of drip- stop.

In a still further embodiment, the elbow is positioned to provide automatic overflow protection. This is shown in Fig. 6. The term automatic here refers to operation of the juicer with minimal human intervention or independent of external control. Reference numeral 602 shows the level of the juice before the juice overflows into the inner parts of the juicer. Before the juice overflows into the inner parts of the juicer, the elbow lets out the juice. This avoids pollution and/or electrical damage (due to the juice getting inside the juicer). This is advantageous since the disclosed arrangement provides automatic overflow protection. The disclosed spout arrangement can be implemented in all appliances which prepare liquids (e.g. espresso machine, jar from smoothie -maker, citrus- presses) in continuous flow for defined amounts.

In summary, a juicer comprising a juice collector having a central opening for admitting a drive spindle and an inner juice collection portion with a spout, wherein the spout is configured to receive a rotatable crooked tube to prevent dripping of the juice is disclosed.

While the subject matter has been illustrated in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the subject matter is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art of practicing the claimed subject matter, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugates does not exclude the presence of elements other than those stated in a claim or in the description. Use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" preceding an element or step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps. The Figures and description are to be regarded as illustrative only and do not limit the subject matter. Any reference sign in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A juicer comprising: a juice collector having a central opening for admitting a drive spindle and an inner juice collection portion with a spout, wherein the spout is configured to receive a rotatable crooked tube to prevent dripping of the juice.

2. The juicer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable crooked tube is an elbow that can be selectively positioned to allow or prevent the flow of the juice.

3. The juicer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elbow is rotatable within the spout approximately in the range of about 180° relative to dripping position to prevent dripping of the juice.

4. The juicer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elbow is positioned to provide automatic overflow protection.