Improvements in Devices for Cutting and Squeezing Lemons.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan.. 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 26th Oct., 1888
Improvements in Devices for Cutting and Squeezing Lemons.
I HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents of
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad
by John A. Hurley of Erie, Pennsylvania, United States of America, to be as
follows:-
―
This invention relates to devices for cutting and squeezing lemons, and consists in
certain improvements in the construction thereof.
The primary object of my invention is to combine a lemon squeezer and cutter in
the same apparatus. There are other and minor features of construction which will
be pointed out in the following general description of the construction and operation
of the device.
The device comprises a frame work or stand having mounted thereon a head in
which is guided a vertically movable plunger which carries a presser on its lower end.
This plunger has a rack on its rear side which meshes with a pinion which is journalled
in said head. A lever is attached to the shaft or journal of said pinion, and a move-
ment of this lever will raise or lower the plunger. Connected with the said plunger
is a knife and on the stand below the knife is a cutting board which is preferably
made inclining towards the middle of the stand, and from each side to the point where
the knife impinges upon it. On the centre of the stand directly below the plunger is
a perforated cup which sets in a flanged opening. This makes the cup removable, so
it can be cleaned easily, but if desired the cup may be integral with the top of the
stand.
The operation of this device will be as follows:-The operator will lay a lemon on
the cutting board in such a position that the knife when it is brought down will cut
the lemon in two crosswise. The operator will then raise the lever again and place
one of the parts of the lemon in the cup with its cut face down, and will then depress
the lever, and bring the presser down upon the lemon and compress it tightly in the
cup. The jnice of the lemon will flow through the holes in the cup into a tumbler or
other receptacle which will be placed underneath the cup.

page_text: The object in having the cutting board inclined as stated is to catch any juice that
may be expressed from the lemon while cutting it and carry it into the cup.
On the upper part of the head there may be a spring to press against the plunger
for the purpose of binding or holding it so that it will not drop down of its own
accord.
The construction may also be varied as follows:
The plunger and the head in which it is guided are dispensed with and in place of
this a fulcrum block or head extends up from the stand and a lever is fulcrumed on
this block or head, and the presser is hung to this lever by a stem and the knife is
fastened directly to the lever.
The machine is preferably mounted by feet or legs on a base board in which there
is cut a semicircular opening which is directly below the cup in which the lemon is
squeezed.
-
This opening may be cut entirely through the board or be countersunk into it.
The object of the opening is to act as a gauge to enable the operator to always set a
tumbler directly below the cup without looking to see that it is properly adjusted in
place.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an alternative construction.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 5 on the
line y y in Fig. 7.
Fig. 7 is a top or plan view of the same construction.
Fig. 8 is a top view of the base board F seen in Figs. 5 and 6.
The primary object of the invention is to combine a lemon squeezer and cutter in
the same apparatus.
In both the constructions here shown this is accomplished. There are other and
minor features of construction which will be pointed out in the following general
description of the construction and operation of the device..
A A A is a framework or stand.
In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4 there is a head A' mounted on said
frame or stand in which is guided a vertically movable plunger C which carries a
presser C on its lower end. This plunger has a rack e¹ on its rear side which meshes
with a pinion B' which is journalled in said head. A lever B is attached to the shaft
or journal of said pinion and a movement of this lever will raise or lower the
plunger.
Connected with the said plunger C₁ is a knife D and on the stand below the knife
is a cutting board D' which is made inclining towards the middle of the stand, and
from each side to the point where the knife impinges upon it.
In the centre of the stand, directly below the plunger (is a perforated cup E
which sits in a flanged opening E'. This makes the cup removable so that it can be
cleaned easily, but if desired, the cup may be integral with the top of the stand.
The operation of this device will be as follows: The operator will lay a lemon on
the cutting board D' in such a position that the knife D when it is brought down will

page_text: cut the lemon in two, crosswise. The operator will then raise the lever again and
place one of the parts of the lemon in the cup E with its cut face down, and will then
depress the lever and bring the presser C down upon the lemon and compress it
tightly in the cup. The juice of the lemon will flow through the holes in the cup,
into a tumbler, or other receptacle which will be placed underneath the cup.
The object in having the cutting board inclined, as stated is to catch any juice that
may be pressed from the lemon while cutting it, and carry it into the cup. On the
upper part of the head A¹ there may be a spring c as shown in Figs. 1, and 3. to press
against the plunger C₁ for the purpose of binding or holding it so that it will not drop
down of its own accord.
In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there is no plunger C¹ guided in the
head A¹. In place of this a fulcrum block or head A2 extends up from the stand and
a lever B2 is fulcrumed on this block or head and the presser C is hung to this lever
by a stem C and the knife D is fastened directly to the lever B².
In each of these forms it will be seen that the knife and presser are operated by
the same lever. In one case, the lever moves the plunger by interposed gearing to
which the said presser and cutter are attached ; and in the other case the presser
and cutter are both attached directly to the lever.
I mount the machine on a baso board F in which there is cut a semicircular
opening which is directly below the cup E in which the lemon is squeezed.
This opening F may be cut entirely through the board F or be counter sunk into
it as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8.
The object of the opening is to act as a guage to enable the operator to always set a
tumbler directly below the cup E without looking to see that it is properly adjusted
in placo.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is,
:
1. In a lemon squeezer the combination of a fulcrum block or head a cutting board
and a perforated cup in which the lemon is to be compressed, a cutter operating upon
said cutting board, a presser operating within said cup and an operating lever
fulcrumed in said block or head which operates both the cutter and the presser
substantially as set forth.
2. In a lemon squeezer the combination of a perforated cup in which the lemon
is to be compressed, a cutting board and a fulcrumed block or head, a plunger
guided in said head which carries a presser to operate in said cup and a cutter to
operate upon said cutting board and a lever which operates said plunger substantially
as set forth.
3. In a lemon squeezer the combination of a fulcrum block or head, a plunger
guided in said head and having a rack gear thereon, a pinion meshing with said rack
which is journalled in said head, a lever for operating said pinion, a presser and a
cutter attached to said plunger and a cup and a cutting board arranged below said
plunger substantially as set forth.
4. In a lemon squeezer the combination of a perforated cup to receive the lemon
to be compressed, a cutting board placed contiguous to and draining into said cup,
a cutter operating upon said board and a presser operating upon said cup sub-
stantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of Santamber 1888