Multi-lane fruit guide assembly having integral ridge ends for a juice extractor and related methods
View Patent ↗A fruit guide assembly may include a frame to be positioned between the fruit conveyor and the multi-position fruit feeder, a vibrator connected to the frame, and a fruit guide body having a series of alternating ridges and valleys therein defining a plurality of fruit lanes. Each pair of adjacent ridges may extend 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. This defines integrally formed cantilevered ridge ends for supporting the fruit. In other embodiments, the fruit guide body may be used without a vibrator, for example. The fruit guide body may include an upper wall and a bottom wall spaced therefrom defining a hollow fruit guide body. For example, the fruit guide body may include rotationally molded polyethylene.
1. A fruit juice extractor comprising:
a fruit conveyor;
a multi-position fruit feeder;
a fruit guide assembly to guide fruit from said fruit conveyor to said multi-position fruit feeder, said fruit guide assembly comprising
a frame to be positioned between the fruit conveyor and the multi-position fruit feeder,
a vibrator connected to said frame, 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.
2. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 1 wherein said fruit guide body comprises an upper wall and a bottom wall spaced therefrom defining a hollow fruit guide body.
3. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 2 wherein said bottom wall has stiffening features therein.
4. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 1 wherein said fruit guide body comprises a polymer.
5. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 1 wherein said fruit guide body comprises rotationally molded polyethylene.
6. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 1 wherein said fruit guide body has a plurality of fastener receiving passageways therein at side and medial positions; and further comprising a respective fastener extending through each fastener receiving passageway to fasten said fruit guide body to said frame at the side and medial positions.
7. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 1 wherein said fruit guide body is removably fastened to said frame to be removable therefrom in an upward direction.
8. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 1 wherein said vibrator is removably fastened to said frame to be removable therefrom in an upward direction.
9. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a base plate having an opening in a medial portion thereof; and wherein said vibrator at least partially extends through the opening in said base plate.
10. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 9 wherein said frame further comprises a pair of mounting ears connected to opposite sides of said base plate; and further comprising a plurality of vibration dampeners and associated fasteners connected to said pair of mounting ears.
11. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 9 further comprising a mounting flange connected between said vibrator and said base plate.
12. A fruit juice extractor comprising:
a fruit conveyor;
a multi-position fruit feeder;
a fruit guide assembly to guide fruit from said fruit conveyor to said multi-position fruit feeder, said fruit guide assembly comprising
a frame to be positioned between the fruit conveyor and the multi-position fruit feeder,
a vibrator connected to said frame, and
a hollow fruit guide body connected to said frame and comprising an upper wall and a bottom wall spaced therefrom, said hollow fruit guide 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 hollow cantilevered ridge ends for supporting the fruit.
13. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 12 wherein said bottom wall has stiffening features therein.
14. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 12 wherein said hollow fruit guide body comprises a polymer.
15. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 12 wherein said hollow fruit guide body comprises rotationally molded polyethylene.
16. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 12 wherein said hollow fruit guide body has a plurality of fastener receiving passageways therein at side and medial positions; and further comprising a respective fastener extending through each fastener receiving passageway to fasten said hollow fruit guide body to said frame at the side and medial positions.
17. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 12 wherein said hollow fruit guide body is removably fastened to said frame to be removable therefrom in an upward direction.
18. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 12 wherein said vibrator is removably fastened to said frame to be removable therefrom in an upward direction.
19. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 12 wherein said frame comprises a base plate having an opening in a medial portion thereof; and wherein said vibrator at least partially extends through the opening in said base plate.
20. A fruit juice extractor comprising:
a fruit conveyor;
a multi-position fruit feeder;
a fruit guide assembly to guide fruit from said fruit conveyor to said multi-position fruit feeder, said 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.
21. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 20 wherein said fruit guide body comprises an upper wall and a bottom wall spaced therefrom defining a hollow fruit guide body.
22. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 21 wherein said bottom wall has stiffening features therein.
23. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 20 wherein said fruit guide body comprises a polymer.
24. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 20 wherein said fruit guide body comprises rotationally molded polyethylene.
25. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 20 wherein said fruit guide body has a plurality of fastener receiving passageways therein at side and medial positions; and further comprising a respective fastener extending through each fastener receiving passageway to fasten said fruit guide body to said frame at the side and medial positions.
26. A fruit juice extractor according to claim 20 wherein said fruit guide body is removably fastened to said frame to be removable therefrom in an upward direction.
27. 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 fruit feeder and to define integrally formed cantilevered ridge ends for supporting the fruit.
28. A method according to claim 27 wherein forming the fruit guide body comprises forming the fruit guide body to comprise an upper wall and a bottom wall spaced therefrom defining a hollow fruit guide body.
29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising forming the bottom wall to have stiffening features therein.
30. A method according to claim 28 wherein forming the fruit guide body comprises forming the fruit guide body by rotationally molding a polymer.
31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the polymer comprises polyethylene.
32. A method according to claim 27 wherein forming the fruit guide body comprises forming the fruit guide body to have a plurality of fastener receiving passageways therein at side and medial positions.