Roller drive system for a fruit oil extractor
AssigneeBrown International Corporation
InventorsRonald C. Bushman, Scott R. Alexander, David J. Hancock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for extracting oil from the peel of whole citrus fruit includes a frame and a plurality of parallel horizontal rolls including toothed projections for piercing the outer surface of the whole fruit. Each of the plurality of rolls is rotatably supported via a rotatable shaft that is mounted to the frame. A plurality of motors are secured to the frame, each of the plurality of motors are mechanically coupled to a corresponding shaft of the rolls, wherein each motor independently rotates the shaft and roll. The apparatus also includes a controller for individually controlling the rotational speed of each of the rolls.
Claims15
An apparatus for extracting oil from the peel of whole citrus fruit comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the frame, and including toothed projections for piercing the outer surface of the whole fruit, with the rollers spaced apart from each other to form troughs between them adapted for receiving the whole fruit, so that when the fruit is in the apparatus, it is supported on no more than two rollers;
- a plurality of motors, with substantially each motor of the plurality of motors driving a roller;
- and
- a controller for separately controlling the rotational speed of each of said rollers by controlling the rotational speed of substantially each motor, such that a speed differential is created between substantially each successive roller.
A fruit processing machine comprising:
- a plurality of drive motors;
- a plurality of rollers, with each roller linked to a corresponding one of the drive motors;
- and
- control means for individually and separately controlling rotational speed of each of the motors, to create a rolling speed differential between substantially each adjacent roller.
A machine for extracting fruit oil from whole fruit, comprising:
- a frame;
- a plurality of rollers on the frame, with the rollers spaced apart from each other to form troughs between them adapted for receiving whole fruit;
- toothed projections on substantially each of the rollers for piercing the outer surface of the whole fruit;
- a motor associated with substantially each of one of the rollers;
- and
- a controller linked to substantially each of the motors, for individually controlling the speed of each motor to create a rolling speed differential between substantially each one of the rollers.
A fruit processing machine comprising:
- a plurality of drive means;
- a plurality of rollers, with each roller linked to a corresponding one of the drive means;
- and
- control means for separately controlling a rotational speed of each of the drive means, and for creating a rolling speed differential between substantially each one of the rollers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.