Press for pressing grapes, fruit residues and other pulpy products

Abstract

 The press described for pressing grapes, fruit residues and other pulpy products comprises a drum (1) rotatable about a horizontal axis, rotated by a geared motor unit (5) and also having a loading and discharge door (3) and an axial supply valve (7), as well as a body or frame (8) which houses at least the lower half of the drum (1). The body (8) is self-supporting since its support legs (12) are formed integrally therewith. The hubs (24) of the drum (1) are mounted in the ends (11) of the body (8) and the geared motor unit (5), the control panel (13), and the valve (7) are mounted directly on the ends (11). The body (8) may be also in the form of an open-bottomed tank.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to pneumatic presses with diaphragms for pressing grapes, fruit residues and other pulpy products to produce juices.

[0002] The following description will refer specifically to the pressing of grapes, but the press according to the invention is also intended to be usable for pressing other vegetable products and this reference should not therefore be interpreted in a limiting sense.

[0003] A pneumatic press with a diaphragm is generally constituted by a horizontal, cylindrical drum rotating about its own axis and having an internal, non-resilient diaphragm made of synthetic material (for example, polyester fabric with a non-toxic PVC coating suitable for foodstuffs), the diaphragm having a surface area equal to half that of the cylindrical drum and being fixed thereto along its side edges in a plane parallel to and slightly below the diametral median plane of the drum.

[0004] The diaphragm is made to adhere to the internal surface of the half-cylinder by means of an internal vacuum produced by means of suitable vacuum pumps, thus offering the maximum load capacity.

[0005] The grapes to be pressed are loaded with the press stationary, when the loading takes place by means of a sliding door provided in the cylindrical surface of the drum, or with the drum rotating, if supply takes place axially.

[0006] The subsequent admission of a pressurized fluid, air or even water, between the inner wall of the drum and the diaphragm adhering thereto creates an expanding chamber which compresses the mass of grapes loaded and carries out the pressing so that the must flows out through slots in the lateral surface of the drum on the side intended for holding the grapes.

[0007] An alternative solution provides for the use of small channels inside the drum, which also have slots communicating with the exterior of the drum through a series of openings from which the must is discharged. In this case, the casing of the drum is not slotted.

[0008] In both of the above-mentioned cases, the must then falls into a small storage tank from which it is withdrawn for subsequent processing.

[0009] A typical example of these presses is the so-called Willmes press which, in the first models, had a central or axial diaphragm.

[0010] All of these presses have in common the use of a strong, substantially parallelepipedal frame which supports a holding tub having two larger sides shaped so as to surround one half of the cylindrical drum and two smaller ends or sides having holes for housing rotary hubs of the cylindrical pressing tank or drum. An external geared motor unit is also provided for rotating the drum slowly. The drive is transmitted from the geared motor unit to the hub of the drum by means of a chain connected to a pinion keyed to the shaft of the geared motor unit and a gear keyed to the hub of the drum

[0011] For this reason, the two ends are formed with special reinforcing plates particularly in the region in which the hubs are mounted as well as in the region in which the gears and the motor unit are mounted.

[0012] From the point of view of construction, and hence of production times and costs, this is a demanding structure, for example, at the level of the load-bearing frame, the heavy plate to support the geared motor unit for rotating the drum, is to be fixed to the respective end wall of the frame, for example, by welding or bolting to load-bearing elements of the frame. A need has therefore existed and been experienced for some time to reduce both the time required for the manufacture of the presses in question and the costs thereof by intervention at the structural level and this constitutes the main object of the present invention.

[0013] It should also be pointed out that, when the rotary cylindrical drum is in the fully loaded condition, the stresses acting on the two ends of the frame are large.

[0014] For presses of smaller capacity and hence smaller dimensions, the conventional structure as mentioned above is very expensive and too heavy in relation to the users requirements.

[0015] A further disadvantage of conventional presses lies in the fact that the door for closing the drum can be opened in error by the operator during pressing when the drum is not rotating, causing problems resulting from the pressure inside the drum.

[0016] The main object of the present invention is to provide a press structure of the type with a diametral diaphragm mounted in a cylindrical drum which does not have the problems mentioned briefly above.

[0017] A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a press in which the body or frame is fully load-bearing and the plates for supporting the hubs of the cylindrical drum as well as the geared motor unit for rotating the aforesaid cylindrical drum are eliminated.

[0018] A further object of the invention is that of providing a press which has suitable safety means for locking the closure door to prevent undesired opening as mentioned above.

[0019] This and other objects are achieved by a press for pressing grapes, fruit residues and other pulpy products, of the type comprising a substantially cylindrical drum mounted for rotating with its axis horizontal and rotated by a geared motor unit provided at one of its ends, and also having a door for the loading of the product to be pressed and for the discharge of the solid pressing residue, the other end of the drum having an axial supply valve, a substantially parallelepipedal body having its two larger sides or walls shaped so as to form a cavity for housing at least the lower half of the cylindrical drum forming a space connected at the bottom to a collection tank for the juice extracted, the drum being supported by end hubs which are mounted in the short sides or ends of the body, and having a substantially diametral internal pressing diaphragm, characterized in that the body is produced in load-bearing form since the support legs are formed integrally with the walls of the tub and, moreover, the tub is formed with a polygonal cross-section and with an upper edge which is bent to stiffen both the sides and the ends of the tub, in particular, enabling the hubs of the horizontal drum to be mounted directly in the two ends of the tub, the geared motor unit as well as the control panel and the axial supply valve also being mounted directly on the two ends, without the need for reinforcing plates.

[0020] It can be appreciated from this definition and will be confirmed by the following description given with reference to the appended drawings, that the manufacture of the press is considerably simplified so that the industrial production costs of the press, as well as its weight, are reduced.

[0021] According to an advantageous modified embodimet the frame of the press is carried out so that the rotary drum is supported directly by the body or monocoque frame which also performs the function of the conveyor chute.

[0022] The above-mentioned and further advantages and the characteristics of the press according to the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description of a nonlimiting embodiments thereof given with reference to the appended drawings, in which

• Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the press according to the invention,
• Figure 2 is a schematic, partially cut-away side view of the press of Figure 1,
• Figure 3 is an overall schematic plan view of the press according to the present invention,
• Figure 4 is a front view solely of the body or frame of the press according to the invention, on an enlarged scale,
• Figure 5 is a side view of the framework of Figure 4, on an enlarged scale,
• Figure 6 is a view of the framework of the press sectioned on the line A-A of Figure 5,
• Figure 7 is a schematic side view solely of the drum of the press according to the invention,
• Figure 8 is a plan view of the drum of Figure 7,
• Figure 9 is a view of the drum of Figures 7 and 8 sectioned on the line B-B of Figure 7,
• Figures 10 and 11 are cross-sections of the details indicated by the letters A of Figure 7 and D of Figure 9, on an enlarged scale, showing part of the grape-loading door in the closed condition before pressing,
• Figures 12 and 13 are views similar to Figures 10 and 11 showing, again on an enlarged scale, the same details now indicated by the letters A' and D', corresponding to the same portions of the door in the closed condition during pressing,
• Figures 14 and 15 are views in cross-section and on an enlarged scale similar to figures 10 and 12 showing a modified embodiment of the details indicated by the letters A and A' in the above mentioned figures and now indicated by the references A'' and A''';
• Figures 16 and 17 are cross-sections of the details indicated by the letters E and F in Figure 2, on an enlarged scale;
• Figure 18 is a side schematic view of a modified embodiment of the press according to the invention;
• Figure 19 is a perspective schematic view solely of the body of the modified embodiment of the press according to the present invention;
• Figure 20 is a schematic view solely of the framework and partially in cross-section of the press according to figure 18.

[0023] The structure of the press according to the invention as a whole is described below with particular reference first of all to Figures 1 to 3 in a first embodiment thereof.

[0024] It can be seen from the above-mentioned drawings that the press comprises, in conventional manner, a horizontal, cylindrical drum 1 which rotates about its own longitudinal axis and is intended to be filled with grapes or similar products as indicated above, in order to press them. For this purpose, with particular reference to Figure 9, the drum 1 has a non-resilient internal diaphragm 2 made of synthetic material such as, for example polyester fabric with a non-toxic PVC coating suitable for foodstuffs. Solely for completeness of reference, it should be noted that the position of the diaphragm 2 shown in Figure 9 is that which the diaphragm adopts upon completion of the pressing since, naturally, before this operation, the diaphragm is arranged substantially in the lower portion of the drum 1 which is filled almost completely with products to be pressed.

[0025] The pressing operation is then substantially that explained at the beginning of the present description.

[0026] In accordance with a known characteristic, the surface area of the diaphragm 2 is substantially equal to half of the lateral surface area of the drum 1 and it is fixed along its side edges in a plane parallel to and slightly below the diametral median plane of the drum 1.

[0027] The means for fixing the diaphragm 2 to the drum 1 are shown schematically in Figures 7 and 9, from which the position of the plane along which the diaphragm is fixed to the drum 1 can clearly be seen.

[0028] The grapes to be pressed may be loaded with the press stationary, in which case this loading takes place by means of a sliding door 3 provided in the cylindrical surface of the drum 1, as can be seen, in particular, in Figures 1 to 3 and 7 to 9. The door 3, as shown in the appended drawings, can slide longitudinally, that is, the drum 1 is opened or closed by translation of the door 3 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 1 but, clearly, the door 3 may also be formed so as to be slidable transversely, although this alternative is not shown in detail since it belongs to the prior art. It is stressed, and this detail will be mentioned further below, that the door 3 of the press has an innovative safety locking device which will be described further below and which can be applied to both longitudinally and transversely sliding doors.

[0029] Alternatively, the grapes to be pressed may be supplied into the drum 1 with the drum 1 rotating when supply takes place axially through a valve 7 which is shown in particular in Figures 2 and 3 and which is not described in detail since it is known.

[0030] With particular reference to Figures 2, 3, 7 and 8, a series of slots 4, of which only some are shown since they may have any distribution on the drum, is formed in the lateral surface of the drum 1. The slots 4 serve to allow the must to come out of the drum 1 and to fall into the loading hopper with which the press is provided and which will be described with reference to the frame or body of the press as a whole. Once all of the must has come out of the drum 1, the solid pressing residue is discharged from the drum 1 through the door 3.

[0031] With particular reference now to Figures 4 to 6, as well as to Figures 1 to 3, the press according to the present invention comprises a substantially parallelepipedal body or frame, generally indicated 8, and having its larger sides or walls 9 shaped so as to form a cavity 8A for housing at least the lower half of the cylindrical drum 1. More particularly, the cavity 8A which is also delimited by the short sides or ends 11 of the body 8, which will be referred to further below, forms a space for receiving the must and therefore constitutes the hopper or tub for collecting it, and is connected at the bottom to a tank 10 for collecting the juice extracted.

[0032] The framework or body 8 of the press according to the present invention, the structure or conformation of which constitutes the essential and major innovative part of the present invention, will be described in detail with specific reference to Figures 1 to 6.

[0033] According to one of the fundamental characteristics of the press according to the present invention, its body or frame 8 is produced in self-supporting form since the legs 12 supporting the hopper 8A and the drum 1 are formed integrally with the walls of the tub, particularly integrally with the short sides or ends 11 of the body 8. Naturally, the support legs 12 could also be formed integrally with the two larger sides or walls 9 of the body 8.

[0034] In the embodiment shown by way of example and described in detail, the press according to the invention has three support legs which are fixed firmly to the ends 11 of the press. The particulars of the formation of the support legs 12 integrally with the walls of the body 8 are shown in greater detail in Figures 4 and 5 since they are on an enlarged scale but, clearly, this description also applies to Figures 1 to 3 which, since they are on a smaller scale, would not allow this innovative characteristic to be shown.

[0035] According to a further characteristic of the press according to the invention, the tub or hopper 8A for the loading of the must is formed with a polygonal cross-section and, more particularly, has an upper peripheral edge 15 which extends around the entire periphery of the body 8 and is bent to stiffen both the sides 9 and the ends 11 of the tub 8A. As can be seen in particular in Figures 4 to 6, this bent upper edge 15 is inclined towards the interior of the body 8 advantageously forming a rib for stiffening the body. The inward bending of the upper edge 15 should not, however, be considered limiting of the invention since different bending also having the same object of forming an element for stiffening the body 8 to make it a self-supporting structure could be provided.

[0036] It can be appreciated from Figures 4 and 5 in particular that the support legs 12 are firmly fixed to the short sides or ends 11 of the body 8 and, in the embodiment shown by way of example, this fixing is achieved by means of weld lines or seams 16 which extend along the peripheries of the legs 12.

[0037] Similar weld seams 16A are provided for fixing the legs 12 firmly to the lower side of the collection tank 10.

[0038] The body 8 of the press also has similar weld seams 16B and 16C which are applied, respectively, in the region of the connection of a portion 17 of the body 8 to the tank 10 and to the angles which connect the portions 17 to the upper portion of the body 8.

[0039] Clearly, the welds provided and arranged as in the embodiment considered by way of example should not be considered limiting of the invention since, for example, it would be possible to provide for another arrangement of the welds or for a larger number of welds.

[0040] Moreover, the embodiment considered, which provides for welding as the means for the rigid connection of the body 8 should also clearly not be considered limiting of the invention but other alternative equivalent solutions could be used.

[0041] In accordance with a further particularly advantageous innovative characteristic of the present invention, with reference now particularly to Figures 7 to 9, and to Figures 10 to 13 which show this particular aspect in greater detail, the closure door 3 of the drum 1 has safety locking means which prevent undesired opening of the door as explained in detail above.

[0042] In fact it is known for the sliding guides of the door 3, shown schematically by broken lines in Figures 7 and 8 and indicated 18, to be such as to leave a certain clearance which is necessary since the plate constituting the sliding door 3 may on the casing of the drum so that the latter remains closed, owing to the pressure of the mass of grapes inside the drum 1.

[0043] This solution is known in conventional presses but is inadequate for preventing undesired opening of the door 3.

[0044] The door of the press according to the invention slides longitudinally but, clearly, the improvement which will be described below may also be provided for a door which slides transversely, or with the additional locking means with which it is provided and which are fixed firmly to the plate of the door, fixed firmly to the casing of the drum.

[0045] As will be noted particularly from Figures 7 and 8, in which the door 3 is shown in the closed position, it has, in known manner, a handle or grip 19 for moving the door 3 manually to open the drum 1 in order to load the grapes and to discharge the solid pressing refuse.

[0046] Before the additional safety locking means with which the door is provided are described in detail, according to a first embodiment thereof it should be noted that the door is slidable towards the right in Figures 7 and 8 in the guides 18 in order to be opened and towards the left in the same guides in order to be closed.

[0047] With reference now to the aforementioned drawings and, in particular, to Figures 10 and 11 which show part of the door 3 in the closed position before pressing starts, and to Figures 12 and 13 which show the same door, again in the closed position, at the very beginning of the pressing stage, it will be noted that a metal strip 20 which has a periphery of a shape corresponding substantially to a segment of a ring and which is fitted to the peripheral edge of the door in a front region is fitted and fixed, for example, by welding, to the top of the plate constituting the door 3. In particular, its external profile corresponds substantially to that of the collar 22 which surrounds the grape-supply opening and is fixed to the outer surface of the casing of the drum 1, for example, by welding.

[0048] As can be seen particularly in Figures 10 and 12, the metal strip 20 thus forms a projection or "tooth" which can engage the collar 22 during the pressing stage 14 to prevent the door 3 from being opened in any circumstances. In fact, as can be appreciated from the aforementioned drawings, once the door 3 has been brought, by means of the handle 19, from the open position (not shown) to the closed position, this position being shown in Figures 7, 8 and 10, the front corner of the projection is opposite the side wall of the drum 1.

[0049] When the pressing stage starts, the pressure prevailing inside the drum 1 brings the door 3 from the position of Figure 10 to that of Figure 12 so that the entire periphery of the projection 20 engages the collar 22 whilst the periphery of the plate constituting the door 3 simultaneously engages the lateral casing or wall of the drum 1.

[0050] It is clear from the foregoing that the aforesaid engagement constitutes a guarantee preventing the door 3 from being retracted towards the open position, that is, towards the right in Figure 8.

[0051] It is also clear that, upon completion of the pressing, that is, when the pressure from inside the drum 1 ceases, the projection 20 is arranged in the position of Figure 10 and the door 3 can be returned manually to the open position for the discharge of the residue of the pressing product.

[0052] It will be noted from Figures 7 and 8 in particular that the ends of the drum or tank 1 have hubs 24 by means of which the drum is supported for rotating by the body or frame 8.

[0053] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, another advantageous characteristic of the press according to the present invention can be seen, in addition to that of the weld seams already described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 which, although they are not shown in Figures 1 to 3, should be considered present and part of these drawings.

[0054] With reference particularly to Figures 1 to 3, it can be appreciated that the hubs 24 of the drum 1 are mounted directly in the two ends or short sides 11 of the body 8, thus eliminating the need for the usual reinforcing plates of conventional presses.

[0055] A further advantageous characteristic is that both the geared motor unit 5 for rotating the drum 1 and the control board of panel 13, are mounted directly on one of the two ends 11 also, in this case, without the need for reinforcing plates

[0056] It should also be noted that the geared motor unit 5 is advantageously connected directly to the hub 24 of the drum 1, thus in this case constituting the support for the drum as well as the shaft for rotating it, considerably simplifying the construction of the press (Figure 16).

[0057] The valve 7 is also connected directly to one of the hubs 24 of the drum 1 simultaneously constituting the support of the drum 1 (Figure 17).

[0058] With particular reference now to figures 18 to 20, in which the same elements of the first embodiment are indicated with the same reference numbers, the most important characteristics of the modified embodiment will be described.

[0059] The drum 1 is supported also in this case on a monocoque or frame 8 shown in greater detail in Figure 19 which has the shape of a tank with side walls 30 which are tapered towards the bottom, where the tank is open.

[0060] As can be seen in Figure 20 in particular, the side walls 30 of the tank form an outer rib or rim 32 on which is mounted for sliding (for example by means of small wheels, not shown), a horizontal wall 34, actually being inclined slightly from the end corresponding to the a hub 14 towards that corresponding to other hub 12 so that, when the wall 34 is moved fully thus uncovering the collection tank 36, the liquid which falls from the drum 1 is conveyed towards the tank 36.

[0061] Finally, it should be pointed out that the height of the monocoque frame or tank 8 is reduced to the level necessary simply to catch the juice coming out of the slots of the drum 1 since suitable safety mechanisms avoid recourse to the high portions of the plates of known presses, thus preventing the possibility of inadvertent access to the space between the drum 1 and the tank 36.

[0062] The advantages which can be achieved by the press according to the present invention, as well as its innovative characteristics, are clear from the foregoing description and, finally, structurally and conceptually equivalent variants and/or modifications may clearly be applied to the present invention without thereby departing from the scope of its protection.

[0063] For example, as shown in particular in figures 14 and 15, the projection could be constituted by a small peg 26 provided in the door 3 for engaging a seat 28 of the collar 22 of the frame of the drum 1. It is evident that the reciprocal embodiment (not shown) could be provided the small peg 26 on the collar 22 and the seat 28 on the frame of the drum 1.

Claims

1. A press for pressing grapes, fruit residues and other pulpy products, of the type comprising a substantially cylindrical drum (1) mounted for rotating with its axis horizontal and rotated by a geared motor unit (5) provided at one of its ends and also having a door for the loading of the product to be pressed and for the discharge of the solid pressing residue, the other end of the drum (1) having an axial supply valve (7), a substantially parallelepipedal body (8) having its two larger sides or walls (9) shaped so as to form a cavity (8A) for housing at least the lower half of the cylindrical drum (1) forming a space connected at the bottom to a collection tank (10) for the juice extracted, the drum (1) being supported by end hubs (24) which are mounted in the short sides or ends (11) of the body (8) and having a substantially diametral internal pressing diaphragm (2), characterized in that the body (8) is produced in load-bearing form since the support legs (12) are formed integrally with the walls of the tub and, moreover, the tub is formed with a polygonal cross-section and with an upper edge (15) which is bent to stiffen both the sides (9) and the ends (11) of the tub, in particular, enabling the hubs (24) of the horizontal drum (1) to be mounted directly in the two ends (11) of the tub, the geared motor unit (5), as well as the control panel (13) and the axial supply valve (7), also being mounted directly on the two ends (11) without the need for reinforcing plates.

2. A press according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support legs (12) are fixed firmly to the body (8) of the press by non-detachable fixing means.

3. A press according to Claim 1, characterized in that fixing means are constituted by weld seams or lines (16, 16A, 16B, 16C).

4. A press according to Claim 2, characterized in that the non-detachable fixing means (16A) connect the support legs (12) integrally to the tank (10) for collecting the juice extracted.

5. A press according to Claim 2, characterized in that the fixing means (16B) firmly connect the tank (10) for collecting the juice extracted to the body (8) of the press.

6. A press according to Claim 2, characterized in that the fixing means (16C) firmly connect adjacent walls (17) of the body (8) to the ends (11) in the region of the angles of connection of the said walls.

7. A press according to Claim 1, characterized in that the drive shaft of the geared motor unit (5) is connected directly to one of the hubs (24) of the drum (1) and thus also has the function of supporting the latter.

8. A press according to Claim 1, characterized in that the closure door (3) has, on one of its edges, a projection (20) which can engage the collar (22) of the opening for the input of the product to be pressed, to prevent movements of the door (3) towards the open position during the pressing stage.

9. A press according to Claim 8, characterized in that the projection (20) is fixed firmly to the internal surface of the casing of the drum (1) thus engaging the lateral edge of the closure door (3) during the pressing stage.

10. A press according to Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the door (3) is slidable along the longitudinal axis of the drum (1).

11. A press according to Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the door (3) is slidable transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the drum (1).

12. A press according to Claim 1, characterized in that the upper edge (15) of the body (8) is bent, forming a rib for stiffening the body (8).

13. A press according to Claim 12, characterized in that the bent edge (15) extends along the entire periphery of the body (8).

14. A press according to Claim 12, characterized in that the bent edge (15) is inclined towards the interior of the body (8).

15. A press according to Claim 1, characterized in that the drive shaft of the geared motor unit (5) is connected directly to one of the hubs (24) of the drum (1), simultaneously constituting the support of the drum (1).

16. A press according to Claim 1, characterized in that the axial supply valve (7) is connected directly to one of the hubs (24) of the drum (1), simultaneously constituting the support of the drum (1).

17. A press according to Claim 8, characterized in that the projection is a small peg (26) provided on the door (3) or on the drum (1) for engaging in a seat (28) of the drum (1) or of the door (3), respectively.

18. A press according to claim 1, characterized in that said monocoque frame or body (8) is in the form of an open-bottomed tank.

19. A press according to Claim 18, characterized in that the monocoque frame (8) has inwardly-inclined side walls (30) and an open bottom defined by an outwardly-projecting rim or rib (32) for slidably housing a slightly inclined tray (34) for conveying the juice towards the collection tank (36).

Drawing