Machine for the extraction of juice from grapes

An apparatus for extracting juice from grapes in a continuous operation, comprising:

• a compression chamber in which grapes are pressed to produce juice and pressed grape skins, said chamber having an opening at one end thereof for receiving grapes therein and an outlet at an opposite end thereof from which pressed grape skins can be ejected;
• means for forcing grapes in said opening of said compression chamber;
• a moveable flexible filtering belt defining the bottom of the compression chamber through which the juice may be filtered and removed;
• and
• an inflatable element defining the top of the compression chamber for applying predetermined pressure to the grapes, said inflatable element being shaped such that said compression chamber progressively decreases in size along the length of the chamber from the end having the opening therein to the end having the outlet therein.

A machine for the extraction of juice from grapes in a continuous operation, comprising:

• a horizontally elongated box-shaped structure having a substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein the width of the structure is greater than its height;
• a frame for supporting said box-shaped structure;
• a compression chamber in the box-shaped structure for pressing grapes to produce juice and pressed grape skins, said chamber having an opening at one end thereof for receiving grapes therein and an outlet at an opposite end from which the pressed grape skins can be ejected, said compression chamber progressively decreasing in cross-sectional area along the length of the chamber from the end with the opening therein to the end with the outlet therein;
• an inlet chamber positioned in the box-shaped structure proximate said opening of said compression chamber;
• a hopper positioned on an upper part of the box-shaped structure through which grapes may be fed to said inlet chamber;
• a pushing device including a reciprocating sliding ram for forcing grapes from said inlet chamber into said opening of said compression chamber;
• an inflatable element defining the upper surface of the compression chamber for applying a predetermined pressure to the grapes in said compression chamber;
• a flexible filtering belt defining the bottom surface of the compression chamber and through which juice produced in the compression chamber is filtered and removed, the filtering belt being movably supported on a frame and two end rollers wherein at least one of said rollers is power driven;
• and
• a collection trough positioned below said compression chamber for receiving juice from the compression chamber, said collection trough including an outlet from which juice may be removed.

An apparatus for extracting juice from grapes in a continuous operation, comprising:

• a compression chamber in which grapes are pressed to produce juice and pressed grape skins, said chamber having an opening in one portion thereof for receiving grapes therein and an outlet in another portion thereof from which pressed grape skins can be ejected, said compression chamber progressively decreasing in size from the portion having the opening therein to the portion having the outlet therein;
• means for introducing grapes in said opening of said compression chamber;
• a moveable flexible filtering belt defining the bottom of the compression chamber through which the juice may be removed;
• an inflatable element defining the top of the compression chamber for applying predetermined pressure to the grapes;
• and
• a sheet of flexible material secured to form the underside of said inflatable element for contact with grapes in the compression chamber to reduce friction and wear of the inflatable element from movement of grapes in the compression chamber.