Abstract:
A food preparation appliance including a housing containing a sieve having an inner perforated surface for extracting fruits and vegetables into liquids and solid particles, a source of rotatable power for rotating the sieve, and a manually operated cleaning device for removing pulp of food particles from the perforated surface of the sieve. The cleaning device includes a cleaning implement having a first position normally biased into a non-engaged position from the perforated surface and a second position when the cleaning device is operated to an engaged position against the perforated surface. The cleaning implement is biased against the perforated surface in the second position using a biasing member configured to maintain constant engagement of the cleaning implement against the perforated surface while the sieve is rotated. In an embodiment, the biasing member is a coil wave spring.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/952,421 filed Mar. 13, 2014, entitled “Juice Extractor Cleaning Feature”. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to food preparation appliances. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved food preparation appliance with a cleaning feature for removing excessive buildup of pulp from a rotating sieve that shreds fruits and vegetables and extracts juice for consumption. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Appliances for preparing food are well known, and in particular, juicing appliances for preparing juice from fruits and vegetables. Typically, these appliance use a shredding implement such as a perforated disc to shred the fruits and vegetables and a filter screen to extract liquid from the solid food particles. An unfortunate consequence of shredding fruits and vegetables with such a shredding implement is that unwanted pulp builds up on the working surface of the shredding implement. This unwanted buildup of pulp needs to be periodically removed or the juicing efficiency is seriously reduced. Many of these juicing appliances use a cleaning implement to periodically scrape the pulp from the shredding implement. One drawback of these cleaning implements is that irregularities on the working surface of the shredding implement cause the cleaning implement to be unevenly applied against the surface of the shredding implement as it is rotated reducing cleaning efficiency. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In an embodiment, there is provided a food preparation appliance including a housing containing a sieve having an inner perforated surface for extracting a food item into liquid and solid particles, a source of rotatable power for rotating the sieve, and a manually operated cleaning device for removing unwanted buildup of pulp from the perforated surface of the sieve. The cleaning device includes a cleaning implement having a first position normally biased into a non-engaged position from the perforated surface and a second position when the cleaning device is operated to an engaged position against the perforated surface. The cleaning implement is biased against the perforated surface in the second position using a biasing member configured to maintain constant engagement of the cleaning implement against the perforated surface while the sieve is rotated. 
         [0005]    In an embodiment, there is provided a juicing appliance including a housing, a sieve disposed within the housing having an inner perforated surface for extracting liquid and solid particles from a food item, a source of rotatable power for rotating the sieve, a manually operated cleaning device for removing unwanted buildup of pulp from the perforated surface of the sieve. The cleaning device is a wiper blade having a first position normally biased into a non-engaged position from the perforated surface and a second position when the cleaning device is operated to an engaged position against the perforated surface. The wiper blade is biased against the perforated surface in the second position using a biasing member configured to maintain constant engagement of the cleaning implement against the perforated surface while the sieve is rotated. 
         [0006]    In an embodiment, there is provided a juicing appliance including a housing, a sieve disposed within the housing having an inner perforated surface for extracting liquid and solid particles from a food item, a source of rotatable power for rotating the sieve, and a manually operated cleaning device for removing unwanted buildup of pulp from the perforated surface of the sieve. The cleaning device is a wiper blade having a first position normally biased into a non-engaged position from the perforated surface and a second position when the cleaning device is operated to an engaged position against the perforated surface. The cleaning implement is biased against the perforated surface in the second position using a coil wave spring configured to maintain constant engagement of the wiper blade against the perforated surface while the sieve is rotated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a juicing appliance with a cleaning feature; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the juicing appliance of  FIG. 1  with a detachable juice jug removed; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of the juicing appliance of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the juicing appliance of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the sieve and cleaning feature assembly of the juicing appliance of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the cleaning feature assembly shown in  FIG. 5 , shown in an engaged position adjacent an inner perforated surface of the sieve of the juicing appliance of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the cleaning feature assembly shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, in an embodiment there is illustrated a juicing appliance  100  for preparing juice from fruits and vegetables. The juicing appliance  100  includes a base  102 , housing  109 , lid  104  with a cylindrical feed tube  107  extending upwardly therefrom, pulp container  111  removably attached to the front of the housing  109 , a juice jug  117  fitted with a lid  118  removably attached to the rear of the housing  109 , and a cylindrical food pusher  106  that is inserted into the feed tube  107 . A pair of arms  101  on opposite sides of the housing  109  secure the lid  104  to the housing  109 . A control knob  105  disposed on one side of the housing  109  controls the operative electronic components including an electric motor  115  ( FIG. 3 ) disposed within the housing  109 . The control knob  105  may include variable settings such as off, low, medium, high, variable speed range, or any other combination speed setting. Alternately, the electric motor  115  may be controlled by a microprocessor (not shown) pre-programmed with juicing routines connected to the control knob  105 . 
         [0016]    A juice spout  113  extends from the rear of the housing  109  and delivers juice to the juice jug  117  through a cutout  118   a  and the juice jug lid  118 . A pivoting bail  108  is connected to the housing  109  for transporting the juicing appliance  100 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there are illustrated an exploded view and cross-sectional view of the juicing appliance  100 . A frusto-conical shaped sieve  116  is disposed in the housing  109  above an electric motor assembly  115  that is rotatably coupled to the sieve  116 . The sieve  116  may be made of any suitable material including but not limited to stainless steel and includes a perforated surface  116   a  (best seen in  FIG. 5 ) for extracting fruit and vegetables urged against it. The perforated surface  116   a  is comprised of multiple perforations having sharp edges. When energized with electrical power via the rotating knob  105 , the electric motor assembly  115  rotates the sieve  116  about its axis of rotation to urge by centrifugal action the fruits or vegetables fed into the sieve  116  via the feed tube  107  against the perforated surface  116   a  and perforations. The food pusher  106  is removed and replaced into the feed tube  107  after the fruits and vegetables are fed into the sieve  116 . The fruits and vegetables are urged against the perforated surface  116   a  by centrifugal action as the sieve  116  rotates. The food pusher  106  may be used to improve the extraction process by further urging the fruits and vegetables into the perforated surface  116   a  of the sieve  116  as it is being rotated. 
         [0018]    The sieve  116  in the assembled configuration is inserted into a recess  110  within the housing  109 . The recess  110  is fluidly connected to the juice spout  113  that has an open end that drains into the juice jug  117  disposed at the rear of the housing  109 . The spout  113  may have an elbow  114  at the free end for directing the juice into the juice jug  117 . The elbow is rotatably coupled to the juice spout  113  and when rotated upward acts as a valve preventing juice from flowing out of the juice spout  113 . The recess  110  collects juice that drains from within the sieve  116  through the perforated surface  116   a  as the fruits and vegetables are extracted into liquid and small solid particles. The small solid particles are prevented from entering the recess  110  because they are too large to pass through the perforations in the perforated surface  116   a.  As the volume of solid particles that are retained in the sieve  116  as the fruits and vegetables are extracted increases to the point they overflow the lip of the sieve  116 , the overflow of solid particles are directed by centrifugal action into a pulp container  111  attached to the front of the housing  109 . The pulp container  111  may be removed for emptying and cleaning as needed. A cleaning feature  215  is disposed within the housing  109  against the feed tube  106  for removing excess buildup of solid food particles on the perforated surface  116   a . The operation of the cleaning feature  215  is described further hereinbelow. 
         [0019]    Referring now also to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , as the sieve  116  is rotated during operation there is a buildup of solid particles within sieve  116  as described above. Fruits and vegetables are extracted as they are urged by centrifugal action against the perforated surface  116   a  and the unwanted pulp residue begins to build up on the perforated surface  116   a  reducing juicing efficiency and drainage of juice from the sieve  116  into the recess  110 . As a result, this unwanted pulp buildup must be periodically removed from the perforated surface  116   a  during the juicing operation. In an embodiment, the cleaning feature assembly  215  is provided including a resilient wiper blade  225  that engages the perforated surface  116   a  as the sieve  116  is rotated to remove the buildup of unwanted pulp from the perforated surface  116   a.  When it is desired to perform a cleaning operation of the sieve  116 , a user depresses a button  220  at the top of the cleaning feature assembly  215 . The button  220  is also disposed on the outer side of the lid  104 . 
         [0020]    When the button  220  is depressed in the direction of arrow  400 , a pair of posts  221  extending downwardly from the button  220  urge a wiper blade assembly  225  downward into the sieve  116  and against the perforated surface  116   a.  Normally, the wiper blade assembly  225  is biased into a retracted position by a pair of springs  222  disposed around the posts  221  and does not contact the perforated surface  116   a.  A wiper blade  230  is mounted on and extends outwardly from the wiper blade assembly  225  such that when the button  220  is depressed, the outer edge of the wiper blade  230  engages the perforated surface  116   a  of the sieve  116 . The wiper blade  230  disengages the buildup of pulp as the sieve  116  rotates. The wiper blade  230  is set at an optimal angle against the perforated surface  116   a  for cleaning and removing pulp from the sieve  116 . The wiper blade  230  is comprised of a resilient material such as polytetrafluoroethylene, plastic, metal or any other suitable material. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, the wiper blade  230  may automatically be moved into position against the perforated surface  116   a.  at periodic intervals by a solenoid (not shown) controlled by an electronic pushbutton (not shown) or the microprocessor (not shown). 
         [0022]    Referring now also to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated an embodiment of the cleaning feature assembly  215 . The wiper blade  230  is mounted on a mounting assembly  224 . The pair of posts  221  fit into apertures (not shown) formed in the top of the mounting assembly  224 . The pair of posts  221  are locked and released into the apertures (not shown) by a sliding lock  231  that fits into the mounting assembly  224 . An annular coil wave spring  226  is mounted in a recess  224   a  formed in the mounting assembly  224 . A mounting bracket  228  secures the wiper blade  230  against the coil wave spring  226  in the recess  224   a.  A pair of screws  229  affix the bracket  228  against the mounting assembly  224 . The coil wave spring  226  is resilient and biases the wiper blade  230  against the perforated surface  116   a  but allows the wiper blade  230  to elastically return slightly back into the recess  224   a  when the wiper blade  230  encounters imperfections in the perforated surface  116   a  as the sieve  116  rotates. As such, the wave spring  226  causes the wiper blade  230  to apply constant pressure against the perforated surface  116   a  when the button  220  is depressed despite irregularities in the perforated surface  116   a  and the imperfections in the roundness of the sieve  116  as the sieve  116  is rotated. 
         [0023]    A coil wave spring  226  was selected because of their smaller size in the axial direction as compared to conventional coil springs. In addition, the use of the coil wave spring  226  allows the wiper blade  230  to remain more fully engaged with the perforated surface  116   a  when irregularities are encountered on the perforated surface  116   a  as the sieve  116  is rotated. This is because the biasing forces from the coil wave spring  226  are distributed at multiple points on the wiper blade  230  as compared to a being applied at a single point with more conventional coils springs. Still, a conventional coil spring (not shown) may be used although with less effectiveness. 
         [0024]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.