Multi-lane fruit guide assembly 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;
• a hollow fruit guide body connected to said frame and comprising a bottom wall and an upper wall spaced therefrom, said upper wall having a series of alternating ridges and valleys therein defining a plurality of fruit lanes.

A method for making 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:

• removably fastening a vibrator to a frame to be positioned between the fruit conveyor and the multi-position fruit feeder so that the vibrator is removable in an upward direction;
• and
• removably fastening a fruit guide body to the frame and comprising a bottom wall and an upper wall spaced therefrom so that the fruit guide body is removable in the upward direction, the upper wall having a series of alternating ridges and valleys therein defining a plurality of fruit lanes.

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:

• molding the fruit guide body from a moldable material to have a bottom wall and an upper wall spaced therefrom so that the fruit guide is a hollow fruit guide body with the upper wall having a series of alternating ridges and valleys therein defining a plurality of fruit lanes.