Method and a machine for producing puree, or juice, from food products with high production capacity

A machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, from a product of animal or vegetable origin, provides a hollow body having a longitudinal axis. In the hollow body a sieve is mounted having a plurality of holes, in order to result co-axial to the hollow body same. The machine also includes a rotor mounted coaxially in the sieve and having a plurality of blades arranged to cause a centrifugal force to the product to treat, in order to separate it into a main product that crosses the sieve and that is discharged through a first outlet and into a waste material that, instead, cannot cross the sieve and is discharged through a second outlet.

This application is a 371 of PCT/IB2013/050067, filed on Jan. 3, 2013, which claims priority to Italian Application No. PI2012A000001, filed Jan. 4, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for the food industry, and, in particular it relates to a machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice from food products of vegetable origin, or animal.

The invention relates, furthermore, to a machine for extracting juice and puree from vegetable or animal food that carries out this method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

As well known, the industrial extraction of juice and puree mainly from food products, in particular from plant products, such as fruit and vegetables, but also from animal products, such as meat and fish, is effected by means of rotating machines, such as rough extraction machines and finishing extraction machines.

The rotating machines of the prior art comprise, in particular, a driven impeller, or rotor, which is caused to rotate quickly about a rotation axis by a motor. More precisely, the rotor is peripherally equipped with a plurality of blades and is mounted within a perforated wall, or sieve, having cylindrical or conical shape.

During its rotation about its rotation axis, the rotor brings a centrifugal force to the treated product that causes it to pass selectively through the sieve.

This way, the treated product is filtered through the holes of the sieve and the useful part, i.e. the main product containing the pulp and the puree, is conveyed and withdrawn through a first outlet for being then subject to further treatments, whereas a part to dispose of, which in case of fruit contains mainly the skin and the seeds, is carried axially opposite to the inlet and is automatically conveyed towards a discharge exit.

Normally, the efficiency of the extraction machine is the ratio between the useful amount extracted by the machine and the input amount. Under same other conditions the extraction efficiency increases normally with increasing the angular speed, since the higher is the angular speed, the higher is the contribution of the centrifugal force to bringing the puree through the holes of the sieve and then the higher is the efficiency of the process.

In the prior art machines the product to treat is fed by a single feeding duct. This is usually connected to a cylindrical distributor through which the product to treat is started towards the rotor. The distributor is usually mounted in a position co-axial to the hollow body in which the rotor and the sieve are housed.

In case of high amount of product to treat, i.e. of high flows of product as input, the prior art machines tends to unbalance and to vibrate due to an unbalanced load of the blades on the radial surface of the rotor. Furthermore, owing to a high stiffness of the machine different loads can be achieved, owing to different apparatus that can be used upstream of the machine for feeding the product.

Another drawback observed in the prior art machines is that for treating a high amount of product it is necessary to provide a large, and therefore heavy, rotor and sieve unit. This causes complex operations of extraction and of introduction of the sieve from/into the machine which are periodically carried out for extraordinary and planned maintenance of the machine.

More in detail, as well known, the sieve is mounted to a support frame, or “sieve cage”. The support of the sieve comprises a plurality of ring portions coaxial to each other and connected by a predetermined number of connection portions. Each connecting portion is arranged at a predetermined distance from the side of the ring portions. Therefore, between each connecting portion and the plurality of ring portions “stairs” are formed that prevent an extraction of the sieve from the machine by sliding. More in detail, on the inner wall of the hollow body grooves are provided that owing to the presence of the stairs show obstacles against a free sliding of the sieve cage. Therefore, it is possible to extract the sieve cage only partially by sliding. So, it is necessary lifting the sieve cage manually, or by mechanical lifting devices, for passing the obstacles and to complete the extraction from the machine.

Another drawback of the large prior art machines is the difficulty of monitoring by a visual control the correct operation. More in detail, in order to carry out the visual control of the different parts of the machine in operating conditions, the wall of the hollow body has a inspection porthole. However, for large machines such a solution is scarcely effective since through the porthole it is possible to see only one very limited part of the inside of the machine.

Another drawback of the large machines of the prior art is that owing to the large size of the sieve and of the rotor, and then to the respective high weights, high loads and actions are generated that can cause the misalignment of the rotor and of the sieve, i.e. a lack of coaxiality of the same. A similar problem occurs also when the sieve is put in the machine at the start-up, or at the end of a maintenance operation.

The misalignment of the sieve with respect to the rotor can bring to concentrating the loads and the actions in determined parts of the machine and to cause the blades of the rotor to slide on the surface of the sieve. This would cause an acceleration of the wear of the blades of the rotor and of the surface of the sieve and can affect the quality of the final product.

For all the drawbacks as above exposed, the prior art machines do not allow exceeding a predetermined production capacity, usually about 120-130 t/hr, to avoid the risk of overloading the different mechanical parts and of affecting the correct operation of the same.

A machine and a method for making puree, or juice, of the prior art with the above described limits is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,085.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a feature of the invention to provide a machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, which achieves a high production capacity without causing the above described drawbacks of the machines of the prior art.

These and other features are accomplished with one exemplary machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, from a food product, in particular of vegetable origin, said machine comprising:a hollow body having a longitudinal axis;a sieve having a plurality of holes and mounted in said hollow body in a position substantially co-axial to said hollow body same and,a rotor mounted in said sieve in a position substantially co-axial to it, said rotor arranged to rotate in the sieve and having a plurality of blades arranged to cause a centrifugal force to the product to treat, in order to separate said product to treat into a main product comprising said puree, or juice, which crosses said sieve and is discharged through a first outlet, and a waste material that, instead, cannot cross said sieve and is discharged through a second outlet;a distributor integral to said hollow body and arranged to receive said product for distributing it to said rotor;

whose main feature is that at least a first and a second feeding duct of the product to treat in said distributor are provided, said at least one first and second feeding duct arranged to feed said product along a respective feeding direction substantially tangential to said distributor, in order to balance the feeding in a radial direction of said product to treat towards said rotor and to obtain a substantially equally distributed load on said blades.

Advantageously, the first and the second feeding ducts are configured to feed said product to treat in a direction concordant to the peripheral rotation of said rotor about said longitudinal axis.

It is also provided a case where the first and the second feeding ducts supply said product to treat in a direction which is opposite to the direction concordant to the peripheral rotation of said rotor about said longitudinal axis, i.e. in a direction opposite to the peripheral rotation of said rotor about said longitudinal axis.

Notwithstanding reference has been generally made to one sieve and to one rotor, it can be also provided that the machine comprises a plurality of rotors mounted coaxially and/or a plurality of sieves mounted coaxially. The technical solution that provides a plurality of sieves and/or a plurality of rotors is particularly advantageous in case of machines of large capacity. This way, in fact, both the maintenance operations of the sieve and of the rotor and the disassembly/assembly thereof are remarkably assisted.

The technical solution provided by the present invention makes it possible to process a high amount of product without affecting the stability of the machine and then the correct operation of the mechanical parts involved, as well as to obtain, therefore, a production rate very higher than obtainable with prior art machines of similar kind. The above described structure of machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, from a food product, in particular of animal or vegetable origin, is particularly advantageous case of high capacity production for example higher than 130-140 t/hr of product to treat.

In particular, the sieve can be fixed, or movable, with respect to the rotor in operating conditions.

In particular, the first and the second a duct can be arranged in diametrically opposite positions with respect to said longitudinal axis. Similarly, if it is provided an even number of feeding ducts, the feeding ducts of each couple can be arranged in diametrically opposite positions with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Advantageously, both the first and the second feeding ducts are provided substantially horizontal. Therefore, both the first and the second feeding directions are substantially horizontal.

In a possible exemplary embodiment, the distributor has at least one first, a second and a third feeding duct. In this case, the first, the second and the third feeding duct can be arranged at an angular distance of about 120°.

In a possible exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first and the second feeding ducts are connected to a feeding main duct by a connection fitting. This way, said first and said second feeding ducts are connected to a same feeding means through said main duct.

Alternatively, the first and the second feeding duct can be independent. In this case, each feeding duct can be connected to respective product feeding means.

Therefore, it is possible to adapt the machine to different operating conditions and to different needs, adapting the size of the ducts to the spaces to arrange.

In particular, the distributor can engage in a removable way with the body of the machine. This way, it is possible to provide easily and quickly to the change of a first distributor with a second distributor different from the first. For example, the first and the second distributor can have a different number of feeding ducts and/or it can have feeding ducts oriented in a different way with respect to the distributor same and/or it can have feeding ducts of different diameter.

This way, it is possible to make a machine that is highly flexible adapting it to different needs by simply changing the first distributor with another distributor different from the first.

In particular, the distributor has an inner wall which is substantially cylindrical, or conical, co-axial to the hollow body and said first and said second feeding ducts are configured to feed said product along a respective direction substantially tangential to said inner wall of said distributor.

With a feeding direction of the product substantially tangential to the distributor it is meant that the flow speed of the entering product has a tangential component that is larger than the radial component. In particular, each duct among the first and the second feeding duct is configured to feed said product in said distributor along a respective feeding direction that form a predetermined angle α with a line tangential to said cylindrical wall of said distributor, with α set between about −60° and about +60°.

Advantageously, an adjustment means is provided for adjusting the relative position of the sieve and of the rotor, said adjustment means arranged to provide the coaxiality between sieve and rotor.

In particular, the problem of the coaxiality between sieve and rotor is particularly felt in the machines of large size for which the loads that bear on the different parts of the machine are higher.

Advantageously, the sieve is integral to a containing wall of the hollow body and a support means is provided arranged to support cantilever-like said hollow body.

In particular, the adjustment means for adjusting the relative position of the sieve and of the rotor comprises a force application means which is adapted to apply a predetermined correction force Fc on said containing wall at a position located at a predetermined distance d from said support means, said correction force Fc arranged to cause a predetermined controlled movement of said containing wall and, accordingly, of the sieve to it integral. This way, it is possible to displace the sieve up for arranging it in a position co-axial to said rotor.

In particular, the application means can be arranged to apply a correction force substantially vertical, such that the movement caused on the containing wall of the hollow body and, accordingly, of the sieve, is a substantially vertical movement.

In case of more feeding ducts, i.e. at least one first and a second feeding duct, the actions to which in operating conditions both the sieve and the rotor are subjected cause an unbalance to the body of the machine along unpredictable directions. In this case, the adjustment means for adjusting the relative position of the sieve and of the rotor can comprise at least one among:a first force application means which is adapted to apply a first correction force Fc1 on said containing wall of said hollow body at a predetermined application point, said first correction force Fc1 having a first predetermined direction and being, then arranged to cause a controlled movement of said sieve along said first predetermined direction; anda second force application means which is adapted to apply a second correction force Fc2 on said containing wall of said hollow body at a predetermined application point, said second correction force Fc2 having a second predetermined direction and being, then arranged to cause a controlled movement of said sieve along said second predetermined direction;or a combination thereof.

Preferably, the first and the second force application means are configured to apply said first and said second correction force Fc1 and Fc2 along directions substantially orthogonal to each other, i.e. the first and the second predetermined directions are substantially orthogonal to each other.

In particular, the first correction force Fc1 can be substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the hollow body. In this case, the first correction force Fc1 is arranged to cause a controlled substantially vertical movement to the sieve.

Advantageously, the first force application means is arranged to apply the first correction force Fc1 in correspondence, or near to, of the lowermost point of the cylindrical body.

In particular, the second adjustment means can be arranged to apply the second correction force Fc2 along a substantially horizontal direction. In this case, the second correction force Fc2 is arranged to cause a controlled movement substantially horizontal to the sieve.

In particular, the first and the second force application means is mounted to a support that makes it possible to provide a relative movement with respect to the hollow body of the machine. This way, it is possible to arrange in turn the means for applying the force along a predetermined direction of correction according to the type of misalignment between sieve and rotor, for example occurred in operating conditions. In other words the means for applying the correction force are provided orientable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hollow body of the machine.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention the means for applying the correction force Fc on the lateral containing wall of the hollow body may comprise:a nut screw element integral to the wall of the hollow body;at least one screw arranged to engage, in particular by a screw threaded coupling, with said nut screw element for applying said correction force Fc on said lateral containing wall of the hollow body.

In particular, the screw is adapted to apply said force substantially vertical at the point arranged in the substantially axial position, i.e. of a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the hollow body and orthogonal to it and arranged in the lowermost position of the hollow body.

Advantageously, a motor means is provided operatively connected to said rotor by a drive shaft, said motor means arranged to rotate said rotor about a rotation axis.

In particular, the support means is arranged at a connection flange to connect a first portion of the hollow body, in which, for example, the sieve and the rotor are housed with a second portion of the hollow body arranged to house, for example, the only drive shaft.

Advantageously, the connection flange is provided with a weakening, by a reduction of thickness, in order to augment the elasticity and reduce the stress generated at the flange during the step of relative positioning between sieve and rotor.

In a possible exemplary embodiment, the application means is arranged to apply the above described correction force Fc at the external wall of said distributor, advantageously, at the farthest end from the connection flange.

Advantageously, a frame provides a support for the sieve, or “sieve cage”, to which the sieve is integral, said support of the sieve comprising a plurality of ring portions coaxially connected by a predetermined number of connection portions.

According to what provided by an aspect of the invention, each connecting portion is arranged substantially “aligned” with an outer edge of said plurality of ring portions, to avoid the production of “stairs” between the outer edge of the ring portions and each connection portion. This way, it is possible to provide an easy and precise sliding movement of the sieve cage in the hollow body. In particular, this structure provides the full extraction of the sieve from the machine easily and simply. The extraction of the sieve from the machine is, in fact, a step necessary both for carrying out planned maintenance, for example, for cleaning the sieve, or to replace it with a clean sieve, and for carrying out extraordinary maintenance, for example for replacing a damaged sieve with a new one.

In particular, the support of the sieve, or “sieve cage”, may comprise:a first plurality of ring portions arranged in a first sieve section at a first pitch p1;at least a second plurality of ring portions arranged at a second pitch p2, with p2>p1, at a second sieve section, said second sieve section being farthest from the first sieve section by an inlet through which the product to treat is put in the hollow body.

Advantageously, the following are provided:a first connecting portion arranged at an axial plane of the hollow body at a top portion of the sieve cage;a second connecting portion arranged at an angular distance set between about +125° and about +135°, for example at about +130°, from the first connection portion;a third connecting portion located opposite to the second angular portion with respect to the axial plane, i.e. arranged at an angular distance set between about −125° and about −135°, for example at about −130°, from the first connection portion.

In particular, the angular distance of the second and of the third connecting portion with respect to the first connecting portion depends on the thickness S of the ring portions of the sieve cage.

Advantageously, a carriage for handling the sieve cage and the sieve to it integral is provided, said carriage for handling having a plane support that in use is arranged substantially at a same height of the distributor the machine in order to allow arranging on it the sieve cage once slidingly extracted from the hollow body.

In particular, the hollow body has an inspection device for monitoring its inner parts and testing the correct operation of the different mechanical parts.

Preferably, the inspection device comprises a plurality of couples of inspection windows arranged through the length of the lateral containing wall of the hollow body, each couple of inspection windows comprising a first and a second inspection windows overlapped to each other. More in detail, at the first inspection window of each couple, in use, a light source is arranged whereas through the second inspection window the inside of the hollow body lighted from the above described light source can be inspected, for example by an operator.

In particular, each couple of inspection windows is arranged at a predetermined distance from a couple of next inspection windows, in order to cover all the length of the hollow body in which the sieve is housed. This way, it is possible to inspect all the length of the sieve.

Alternatively, a single couple of inspection windows with elongated shape of predetermined length is provided, in particular of length larger than half the length of the containing wall of the hollow body that houses the sieve. Advantageously, its length is substantially equivalent to the length of all the containing wall of the hollow body that houses the sieve.

According to another aspect of the invention, a machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, from a food product, in particular of animal or vegetable origin, said machine comprising:a hollow body having a longitudinal axis and defined laterally by a lateral containing wall;a sieve (30) having a plurality of holes (35) and mounted in said hollow body (10) in a position substantially co-axial to said longitudinal axisa rotor mounted in said sieve in a position substantially co-axial to said longitudinal axis, said rotor arranged to rotate in said sieve and having a plurality of blades arranged to cause a centrifugal force to the product to treat, in order to separate said product to treat into a main product comprising said puree, or juice, which crosses said sieve and is discharged through a first outlet, and a waste material that, instead, cannot cross said sieve and is discharged through a second outlet;a distributor integral to said body and arranged to receive said product for distributing it to said rotor;a cantilever support means for said hollow body;an adjustment means for adjusting the relative position of the sieve and of the rotor, said adjustment means comprising a force application means which is adapted to apply a predetermined correction force Fc having a predetermined direction on said side containing wall at a position located at a predetermined distance d from said support means, said correction force Fc arranged to cause a predetermined controlled movement, in a corresponding direction, of said containing wall and, accordingly, of the sieve to it integral.

In particular, the adjustment means for adjusting the relative position causes a lifting of the sieve up to a position co-axial to rotor.

In particular, the application means is arranged to apply a correction force substantially vertical, such that the movement caused on the containing wall of the hollow body and, accordingly, of the sieve is a substantially vertical movement.

Advantageously, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the adjustment means for adjusting the relative position of the sieve and of the rotor comprises:a first force application means which is adapted to apply a first correction force Fc1 on said containing wall of said hollow body, said first correction force Fc1 being substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of the hollow body and being, then arranged to cause a controlled substantially vertical movement of said sieve;a second force application means which is adapted to apply a second correction force Fc2 on said containing wall of said hollow body, said second correction force Fc2 being substantially horizontal, and being, then arranged to cause a controlled movement substantially horizontal of said sieve, said second force application means arranged to apply said force substantially horizontal at a second application point.

In particular, the adjustment means for adjusting the relative position of the sieve and of the rotor may comprise:an nut screw element integral to the wall of the hollow body;a first screw arranged to engage with the nut screw element for applying a first correction force Fc1 on said lateral containing wall of the hollow body at the point P1 at a lowermost position of the hollow body, said first correction force Fc1 having a first application direction;a second screw arranged to engage with the nut screw element integral for applying a second correction force Fc2 at a second point of the containing wall of said hollow body, said second correction force Fc2 having an application direction substantially orthogonal to the application direction of said first correction force Fc1.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, from a food product, in particular of animal or vegetable origin, said machine comprising:a hollow body having a longitudinal axis and defined laterally by a lateral containing wall;a sieve having a plurality of holes and mounted in said hollow body in a position substantially co-axial to said longitudinal axis;a rotor mounted in said sieve in a position substantially co-axial to said longitudinal axis, said rotor arranged to rotate in said sieve and having a plurality of blades arranged to cause a centrifugal force to the product to treat, in order to separate said product to treat into a main product comprising said puree, or juice, which crosses said sieve and is discharged through a first outlet, and a waste material that, instead, cannot cross said sieve and is discharged through a second outlet;a distributor integral to said body and arranged to receive said product for distributing it to said rotor;a cantilever support means for said hollow body;a support of the sieve, or “sieve cage”, to which the sieve is integral, said support of the sieve comprising a plurality of ring portions coaxially connected by a predetermined number of connection portions;

wherein each connecting portion is arranged substantially level to an outer edge of the plurality of ring portions to avoid the production of “stairs” between the edge of the ring portions and each connection portion.

According to still another aspect of the invention, a machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, from a food product, in particular of animal or vegetable origin, said machine comprising:a hollow body having a longitudinal axis and defined laterally by a lateral containing wall;a sieve having a plurality of holes and mounted in said hollow body in a position substantially co-axial to said longitudinal axis;a rotor mounted in said sieve in a position substantially co-axial to said longitudinal axis, said rotor arranged to rotate in said sieve and having a plurality of blades arranged to cause a centrifugal force to the product to treat, in order to separate said product to treat into a main product comprising said puree, or juice, which crosses said sieve and is discharged through a first outlet, and a waste material that, instead, cannot cross said sieve and is discharged through a second outlet;a distributor integral to said body and arranged to receive said product for distributing it to said rotor;a support of the sieve, or “sieve cage”, to which the sieve is integral, said support of the sieve comprising a plurality of ring portions coaxially connected by a predetermined number of connection portions;

wherein the support of the sieve, or sieve cage, comprises:a first plurality of ring portions arranged in a first sieve section at a first pitch p1;a second plurality of ring portions arranged at a second pitch p2, with p2>p1, at a second sieve section, said second sieve section being farthest from the first sieve section from an inlet of the product to treat in said hollow body.

In particular, the support of the sieve, or sieve cage, comprises:a first plurality of ring portions arranged at the first sieve section with a first pitch p1;a second plurality of ring portions arranged at a second sieve section at a second pitch p2, with p2>p1, said second sieve section being farthest from the first sieve section from the inlet of the product to treat, and at leasta third plurality of ring portions arranged at a third sieve section located between said first and said second sieve section, said ring portions of said third plurality arranged with a third pitch p3, with p1<p3<p2.

This structure of the sieve cage assists the sliding of the product extracted on the surface of the sieve at the portion of the sieve closest to the outlet of the extraction section, i.e. opposite to the entrance of the product to treat in the machine, where the product extracted is much thicker for gradual enrichment in the fibrous fraction of the product.

Advantageously, to avoid that, owing to the larger distance between the ring portions, in operating conditions, they can deform for high actions to which they are subject, the ring portions of the sieve section farthest from the inlet of the product have a thickness higher than the ring portions the portion of the sieve closest to the entrance of the product in the machine. This way, the ring portions of the sieve section arranged more upstream with respect to the entrance of the product are stiffened enough for resisting to the larger deformation owing to the above described actions.

In particular, in the sieve section farthest from the inlet of the product to treat the connecting portions can be arranged only in the lowermost part of the sieve cage. This way, the sliding of the product extracted along the surface of the sieve is assisted reducing remarkably the risk of having a jamming of the product between the sieve and the sieve cage.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, from a food product, in particular of animal or vegetable origin, said machine comprising:a hollow body having a longitudinal axis and defined laterally by a lateral containing wall;a sieve having a plurality of holes and mounted in said hollow body in a position substantially co-axial to said longitudinal axis;a rotor mounted in said sieve in a position substantially co-axial to said longitudinal axis, said rotor arranged to rotate in said sieve and having a plurality of blades arranged to cause a centrifugal force to the product to treat, in order to separate said product to treat into a main product comprising said puree, or juice, which crosses said sieve and is discharged through a first outlet, and a waste material that, instead, cannot cross said sieve and is discharged through a second outlet;a distributor integral to said body and arranged to receive said product for distributing it to said rotor;a support of the sieve, or “sieve cage”, to which the sieve is integral, said support of the sieve comprising a plurality of ring portions coaxially connected by a predetermined number of connection portions;

wherein the support of the sieve, or sieve cage, comprises:a first plurality of ring portions arranged at a first sieve section, said first plurality of ring portions having a first thickness s1 and at least;a second plurality of ring portions arranged at a second sieve section, said second plurality of ring portions having a second thickness s2, with s2>s1, said second sieve section being farthest from the first sieve section from an inlet of the product to treat in said hollow body.

In a possible exemplary embodiment, the support of the sieve, or sieve cage, comprises:a first plurality of ring portions arranged at the first sieve section and have a first thickness s1;a second plurality of ring portions arranged at a second sieve section and have a second thickness s2, with s2>s1, said second sieve section being farthest from the first sieve section from the inlet of the product to treat, and at leasta third plurality of ring portions arranged at a third sieve section located between said first and said second sieve section, said ring portions of said third plurality having a third thickness s3, with s1<s3<s2.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS EXEMPLARY

InFIG. 1for example a machine100is shown, according to the invention, for making puree, or fruit juice starting from vegetable or animal food, such as an extractor or a fine extractor. Machine100comprises a hollow body10in which a sieve30to it co-axial and having a plurality of holes35is housed. Machine100also comprises a rotor40mounted in sieve30coaxially, or in any case in a position substantially co-axial to it, and arranged to rotate about a rotor longitudinal axis101. More in detail, rotor40has a plurality of blades46arranged to generate a centrifugal force in the product fed into machine100, in order to separate the product to treat into a main product comprising the puree, or juice, which crosses sieve30and is discharged through a first outlet5, and a waste material that, instead, cannot cross sieve and is discharged through a second outlet6. In particular, the rotor30is wheeled about its axis101by motor means80operatively connected to rotor30by a drive shaft85.

Furthermore, a distributor70is provided integral to hollow body10and arranged to receive the product to treat for distributing it to rotor40, i.e. for feeding the food in sieve30. Distributor70can have, for example, an inner wall which is substantially cylindrical77, or conical, co-axial to hollow body10.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a first feeding duct71and at least one second feeding duct72are provided in distributor70to feed the product to treat. More in detail, the first and the second feeding duct71and72supply the product to treat along a respective feeding direction171and172substantially tangential to distributor70. In particular, each feeding direction171and172is substantially tangential to an inner wall77of distributor70and is, for example, concordant to the peripheral rotation42of rotor40about longitudinal axis101. This way, a balanced feeding of the product to treat to rotor40is obtained and therefore a substantially equally distributed load on the blades46of rotor40. In an exemplary embodiment not shown in detail in the Figures, but in any case according to the invention, feeding ducts71and72supply the product to treat in distributor70along a respective feeding direction not concordant to the peripheral speed of rotor40about longitudinal axis101.

With a direction substantially tangential to distributor70a feeding direction is sought where the flow speed150of the fed product has a tangential component152larger than the radial component153(FIGS. 5 and 6). Normally, therefore, the feeding direction151of the flow150can form a predetermined angle α with the line tangential to the cylindrical wall of the distributor, with α set between about −60° and about +60°, in particular set between about −40° and about +40°.

The technical solution provided by the present invention makes it possible to process a high amount of product without affecting the stability of the machine and then the correct operation of the different mechanical parts involved and to obtain, therefore, a production rate very larger than that obtainable with prior art machines of similar kind without the risk of jamming, or of malfunctioning. The above described structure of the machine for extracting puree, or fruit juice, from a product of animal or vegetable origin, is particularly advantageous in case of high capacity, for example higher than 130-140 t/hr of product to treat.

As shown in Fig., the first and the second feeding ducts71and72can be arranged in diametrically opposite positions with respect to longitudinal axis101. In an exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 1, both the first and the second feeding ducts71and72are provided substantially horizontal. Therefore, both the first and the second feeding directions171and172are substantially horizontal. The first and the second feeding ducts71and72are connected to a feeding main duct75by a connection78. This way, the first and the second feeding ducts71and72can be connected to a same feeding means160through main duct75.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention and not shown in the figures, the first and the second feeding ducts71and72can be connected to different feeding means for the product to treat and to be fed into machine100.

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 7, distributor70′ comprises, instead, a first feeding duct71, a second feeding duct72and a third feeding duct73. In this case, the angular distance between the different ducts can be about 120°.

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 8distributor70″ can have an even number of feeding ducts larger than two, for example four feeding ducts71a,72a,71b,72b. As described with reference toFIG. 4, feeding ducts71aand71b, or72aand72b, of each couple are arranged in respective diametrically opposite positions with respect to longitudinal axis101.

Distributor70can engage in a removable way with the body10of machine100. This way, it is possible to replace distributor70with a different distributor70′. For example, two distributors70and70′ can have a different number of feeding ducts71, or72, or73, and/or can have feeding ducts71, or72, or73oriented in a different way with respect to distributor70same, and/or can have feeding ducts71, or72, or73having different diameter.

This way, it is possible to make machine100highly flexible adapting it to the different operative needs simply changing distributor70.

As diagrammatically shown inFIG. 9, sieve30is provided integral to a side containing wall11of hollow body10and a support means is provided60arranged to support cantilever-like hollow body10and then sieve30. According to another aspect of the invention, machine100can comprise a means50for adjusting the relative position of sieve30and of rotor40. More in detail, the adjusting means50are adapted to provide a coaxiality between sieve30and rotor40. As well known, in fact, sieve30and rotor40, in particular for machines with high capacity, i.e. higher than about 130-140 t/hr, is particularly felt, since the larger is the size of the different components and the larger is the amount of treated product, the larger are the loads that bear on the different parts of the machine, and this can bring to a misalignment of rotor40and of sieve30. Such technical problem is not particularly felt in the machines that provide a gap, in use, between sieve30and rotor40, larger than about 2-3 mm, but it becomes of significant relevance in machines that provide a distance between sieve30and rotor40less than 1-2 mm. In the latter case, in fact, also a small shift from the condition of coaxiality can bring the blades46of rotor40to scrape on the surface of sieve30and then to wear with time the relative parts, in addition to a not correct working position of machine100.

The means50for adjusting the relative position of sieve30and of rotor40comprise, preferably, a force application means51,52for applying a predetermined correction force Fc on wall11of hollow body10at a respective position P1, P2 arranged at a predetermined distance d from the support means60(FIG. 10B). More in detail, the correction force Fc is selected to cause a predetermined controlled movement of the containing wall11and, accordingly, of sieve30to it integral. This way, it is possible to displace sieve30from a position, in which the centre of the sieve is not arranged on the same axis101of the centre42of rotor40(FIG. 10A) to a position, in which sieve30is co-axial to rotor40(FIG. 10B).

The correction force Fc can be a force exclusively vertical, such that the movement caused on the containing wall11of the hollow body and, accordingly, of sieve30is a substantially vertical movement. Alternatively, a first force application means51is provided adapted to apply a first correction force vertical Fc1 to wall11that contains hollow body10arranged to cause a controlled substantially vertical movement to the sieve, and a second adjustment means52is provided arranged to apply a second correction force substantially horizontal Fc2.

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 10A, the means50for applying the correction force Fc on wall11of hollow body10comprises a nut screw element55integral to wall11of hollow body10and a screw51,52arranged to engage with said nut screw element55at a respective hole57and58for applying the above described correction force Fc on wall11of hollow body10.

As diagrammatically shown inFIG. 9, the support means60can be arranged at a connection flange65, which is located between a first portion of hollow body10awhere, for example, sieve30and rotor40are housed and a second portion of hollow body10b, which is designed to house, for example, the only drive shaft160. More in detail, connection flange65is weakened by a reduction of thickness, in order to augment the elasticity and reduce the stress on flange65same during the step of relative positioning between sieve30and rotor40operated by the adjustment means50.

Always as shown in the example ofFIG. 9, the adjustment means50is adapted to apply the above described correction force Fc at the wall79of distributor70, advantageously, at the free end of the wall79.

As well known, machine100comprises a support frame300of sieve30, or “sieve cage” to which sieve30is integral. More in detail, the support frame300of sieve30comprises a plurality of ring portions305coaxial and connected by a predetermined number of connection portions, for example three connection rods320′,320″ and320′″. According to the invention each connecting portion320′,320″ and320′″ is arranged substantially level to the external edges306of ring portions30. This way, the production is avoided of “stairs”307between edge306of ring portions305and each connecting portion320′,320″ and320′″, as, instead, it occurs in the solutions of the prior art, as diagrammatically shown inFIG. 12A. Such technical solution permits easily and simply a sliding of sieve cage300in hollow body10up to cause a full extraction from machine100. Such step, necessary both for planned maintenance carried out for example for cleaning the sieve, or for its change with a clean sieve, or for extraordinary maintenance for replacing a damaged sieve with a new one, is made, in the prior art machines, carrying out a partial sliding of cage300in hollow body10. When, in fact, the first stair307arrives near the open end of machine100, the presence of grooves and sealings of the flange, blocks a further sliding of cage300and hinders, then, a complete extraction of sieve30by the machine. Therefore, in the prior art machines for completing the extraction of cage300from machine100it is necessary to lift cage300same, up to pass said obstacles and then complete the extraction of sieve30. Such succession of operations, as easily understandable, is highly complex and expensive, versus both time and energy, for carrying cage300and sieve30out from machine100.

The solution proposed by the present invention is, instead, capable of making remarkably easier the whole succession of operations that permits a full extraction of cage300and of sieve30from machine100.

In the exemplary embodiment, as diagrammatically shown inFIG. 14, sieve cage300provides a first connecting portion320′ arranged at an axial plane γ at a top portion of sieve cage300same, a second connecting portion320″ arranged at a predetermined angular distance β from the first connecting portion320′ and a third connecting portion320′″, arranged in a position symmetric to the first connecting portion320′ with respect to axial plane γ.

In a machine of prior art, diagrammatically shown inFIG. 13, sieve cage300has three connecting portions320arranged at 120° (FIG. 13).

According to the invention, instead, the angular distance β can be advantageously higher than 120° and its value depending on the thickness S of ring portions305of sieve cage300. This way, the position of the connecting portions320″ and320′″ is at the lines t1 and t2 tangent to sieve30. Such position of the connecting portions320″ and320′″ allows the extracted105to slide along the surface of sieve30and then fall out of connecting portions320″ and320′″ that can be then easily passed avoiding that extracted product105stops between sieve30and sieve cage300.

In particular, the angular distance β can be set between 125° and 135°, for example it is about 130°.

A carriage400is also provided for handling sieve cage300and sieve30. Carriage400has a plane support410that, in use, is arranged substantially at a same height of distributor70of machine100in order to allow arranging sieve cage300on it once slidingly extracted from hollow body10(FIG. 18). More in detail, the plane support410is hinged to the carriage400and it is therefore capable of rotating about a rotation axis416for moving from a rest position, where it is arranged substantially vertical (FIGS. 15 and 17) and an operating position, where it is arranged substantially horizontal (FIGS. 16 and 18). The extraction of cage300and of sieve is carried out therefore through the steps of: approaching the carriage400to machine100with cover170of distributor70closed and the plane support410in rest position (FIG. 17), opening cover170, arranging plane support410in an operation of position and sliding sieve cage300up to full extraction and arranging it on plane support410(FIG. 18).

According to still a further aspect of the invention, hollow body10has an inspection device250through which it is possible to monitor the inside of the machine and to test a correct operation of the different components. Preferably, inspection device250comprises at least one first couple of inspection windows251a,251band at least one second couple of inspection windows252a,252b. More in detail, at first inspection window251a,252aof each couple a light source is arranged and at the second inspection windows251b,252b, an operator can look the inside of hollow body10. Alternatively, or in addition, to aid an operator a video camera can be provided, or other monitoring devices, for monitoring the inside of the machine at second inspection windows251b,252b, step not shown in the figures.

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 15inspection device250comprises a first and a second inspection windows with elongated shape251and252arranged substantially parallel and that extend substantially along the whole length of hollow body10.

In particular, if sieve cage300is made as described above, with reference toFIGS. 12 and 14, i.e. with the connecting portions320′,320″ and320′″ substantially “level” with the outer edge306of ring portions305, the surface of sieve30is arranged at a distance d2 higher than the distance d1 at which the connecting portions305in the prior art machines are arranged (FIGS. 13, 14, 20 and 21).

More in detail, in the prior art machines (FIG. 20), the section passage325′ between sieve30and connecting portions320is extremely narrow, usually about 6-8 mm and, therefore, the amount of product extracted105′ that can accumulate in space325′ between them is relatively low. Then, the energy of the extracted product105′, i.e. the puree, or the juice, which flows along the surface of sieve30going from the highest portion30′ to the lowest portion30″ (FIG. 19) is enough to exceed the obstacle shown by the connecting portions320before being discharged from the machine through the first outlet.

Instead, if sieve cage300is made with the connecting portions320″,320′″ “level” with the edge306of ring portions305, the connecting portions320″,320′″ are at a distance from the sieve of about 2-3 cm (FIG. 21). Therefore, the amount of product extracted105that accumulates in space325comprised between them is higher than the previous case. Then, the risk is high of having an obstruction of product105especially in the end portion of sieve30b, where the product extracted has a density higher than the initial portion30a(FIG. 19).

As well known, in fact, during the movement of the treated product105along hollow body10, the product105gradually extracted has increasing density, since always richer of fibres. More in detail, the fraction of product105athat is extracted initial portion30aof sieve30is much more liquid, whereas as the product105moves along the extraction section also the more fibrous parts are extracted and therefore the extracted product105bin the end portion30bof sieve30is similar to a “paste”. Therefore, at end portion30bof sieve30, where the average density of the extracted product105is higher than in the initial portion30a, the extracted product105can accumulate in the gap325between sieve30and connecting portions320″,320′″ causing a stay of extracted main product. This requires a maintenance stop for removing the product from the space set between sieve and connecting portions320″,320′″ and restoring normal operating conditions.

If sieve cage300is made with connecting portions320′,320″ and320′″ very far from sieve30, then the technical problem arises of monitoring the correct operation of the machine along all the length of hollow body10and, in particular at the above described sections to pass325between connecting portions320″ and320′″ and sieve30.

In the further exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 22 to 25, a machine for extraction of juice, or puree, by a product of animal or vegetable origin, has a sieve cage300comprising a first plurality of ring portions305aarranged in a first sieve section30aat a first pitch p1, a second plurality of ring portions305barranged at a second sieve section30bat a second pitch p2, with p2>p1. More in detail, the second sieve section30bis the sieve section30farthest from the inlet of the product to treat in machine1, whereas the first sieve section30ais the sieve section30closest to the entrance of the product to treat. As diagrammatically shown inFIGS. 22 and 23a third plurality of ring portions305ccan be provided, which is arranged at a third sieve section30clocated between the first sieve section30aand the second sieve section30c. Ring portions305cof the third plurality are, in particular arranged with a third pitch p3, with p1<p3<p2.

This structure of sieve cage300assists a sliding of the extracted product105bon the surface of sieve30at the portion of sieve30bclosest to the outlet of the extraction section (FIG. 25). Notwithstanding already described with reference toFIGS. 19 to 21, in fact, the extracted product105bin the sieve section30bis much thicker of the extracted product105aof sieve section30a. As said above, this occurs for gradual enrichment in the fibrous fraction of the product travelling from the sieve section30a, closest to the entrance of the product to treat, towards the sieve section30bfarthest from the inlet of the product to treat.

To avoid that, owing to the larger distance between ring portions305b, they can deform for high actions to which they are subjected in operating conditions, and, in particular the high lateral friction, ring portions305bof the sieve section30bhave a thickness s2 higher than the thickness s1 of ring portions305aof the portion of sieve30aclosest to the entrance of the product in the machine. If a third cross section30cis provided located between the first and the second sieve section30a,30b, has a thickness s3 of ring portions305cwhich has a value intermediate between the thickness s1 of sieve section30aand the thickness s2 of sieve section30b. This way, ring portions305bof sieve section30band ring portions305cof sieve section30care stiffened enough to avoid deformation owing to the above described actions gradually increasing from sieve section30aclosest to the entrance of the product towards sieve section30bfarthest from it.

As shown in detail inFIGS. 24 and 25, furthermore, the connecting portions320can be provided in angular positions and in different number according to the sieve section30in which they are arranged.

For example, connecting portions320aof sieve section30a, where the extracted product105ais much more liquid, can be in higher number, for example six connecting portions320a, which are arranged each at 60° (FIG. 24), whereas the connecting portions320bof the sieve section30b, where the extracted product105bis much thicker, can be arranged only in the low part of sieve cage300(FIG. 25). This way, it is possible to assist the sliding of the extracted product105balong the surface of sieve30reducing remarkably the risk of having a jamming of the product105bbetween sieve30and sieve cage300as described above with reference toFIGS. 19 and 21.

The foregoing description of specific exemplary embodiments will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt in various applications the specific exemplary embodiments without further research and without parting from the invention, and, accordingly, it is meant that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiments. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology that is employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.