Multi-lane fruit guide assembly having integral ridge ends for a juice extractor and related methods

A fruit guide assembly to guide fruit from a fruit conveyor to a multi-position fruit feeder for a fruit juice extractor, the fruit guide assembly comprising:

• a frame to be positioned between the fruit conveyor and the multi-position fruit feeder;
• and
• a fruit guide body connected to said frame and having a series of alternating ridges and valleys therein defining a plurality of fruit lanes, each pair of adjacent ridges extending outwardly beyond an end of an intervening valley to define an opening to permit passage therethrough of a corresponding portion of the multi-position feeder and to define integrally formed cantilevered ridge ends for supporting the fruit.

A method for making a fruit guide body for a fruit guide assembly to guide fruit from a fruit conveyor to a multi-position fruit feeder for a fruit juice extractor, the method comprising:

• forming the fruit guide body to have a series of alternating ridges and valleys therein defining a plurality of fruit lanes, each pair of adjacent ridges extending outwardly beyond an end of an intervening valley to define an opening to permit passage therethrough of a corresponding portion of the multi-position feeder and to define integrally formed cantilevered ridge ends for supporting the fruit.