Juice extractor with tapered clean up nozzle
AssigneeFMC Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGregory Schrader, Kevin Socha, Mark Jackson, Michael Suter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A juice extractor includes a juice extraction assembly having a wall surface and fluid outlet thereon. At least one tapered spray nozzle is mounted flush on the wall surface at the fluid outlet for receiving and discharging fluid and configured for preventing build-up on the spray nozzle of product material during extractor operation.
Claims28
A juice extractor comprising:
- a juice extraction assembly having a wall surface and fluid outlet thereon;
- and
- at least one tapered spray nozzle mounted flush on the wall surface at the fluid outlet for receiving and discharging fluid and configured for preventing build-up on the spray nozzle of product material during extractor operation.
A juice extractor comprising:
- an extractor frame;
- an inner wall surface within the extractor frame;
- at least one pair of extractor cups being relatively movable for compressing fruit therebetween;
- at least one fluid delivery conduit having a fluid inlet to be connected to a controllable source of pressurized fluid and a fluid outlet on the inner wall surface;
- and
- at least one tapered spray nozzle mounted flush on the inner wall surface at the fluid outlet for receiving and discharging fluid and configured for preventing build-up on the spray nozzle of product material during extractor operation.
A juice extractor comprising:
- an extractor frame having an interior;
- opposing inner side panels extending vertically within the extractor frame and dividing the interior of the extractor frame into a medial product material area and opposing drive mechanism cavities extending between each side panel and an outer surface covering the extractor frame;
- a plurality of moveable extractor cups mounted for reciprocating movement within the extractor frame;
- a plurality of fixed extractor cups that receive respective moveable extractor cups into engagement therewith for compressing fruit therebetween;
- a plurality of strainer tubes each respectively associated with a fixed extractor cup for receiving juice and pulp and discharging juice;
- a plurality of orifice tubes each mounted for reciprocating movement within a respective strainer tube;
- a drive mechanism operatively connected to the moveable extractor cups, the drive mechanism also operatively connected to the orifice tubes through the drive mechanism cavities;
- a fluid delivery conduit having a fluid inlet to be connected to a controllable source of pressurized fluid and at least one fluid outlet on an inner wall panel;
- at least one tapered spray nozzle mounted flush at said at least one fluid outlet for receiving and discharging fluid and configured for preventing build-up on the spray nozzle of product material during extractor operation.
A method for cleaning a juice extractor comprising a juice extraction assembly and at least one tapered spray nozzle mounted flush on a wall surface and configured for preventing build-up on the spray nozzle of product material during extractor operation, wherein the tapered spray nozzle includes an inlet and an outlet directed toward the juice extraction assembly, the method comprising:
- supplying a pressurized fluid to the inlet during a fluid cleaning cycle for a predetermined period of time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.