Fmc Technologies, Inc.

John Bean Technologies Corporation

Kevin G Socha

Michael L Suter

Gregory W Schrader

Mark R Jackson

Jose Daniel Milla

Jose Marcelo Carvalho

Garland Mathews

Luiz Fernando Da Cruz Baptista

Gilmar Da Silva Sena

Jose Luiz Comanini

Antonio Carlos Cunha

Francisco Celso Brocchetto

A citrus juice apparatus may include at least one citrus juice processing device. The at least one juice processing device may include at least one juice output having a flow of juice therethrough. The at least one juice processing device upon a malfunction may cause an undesired material release along with the flow of juice into the at least one juice output. An undesired material release detector may be coupled to the at least one juice output for detecting the undesired material release. The detector may operate based upon magnetic proximity sensing of a moving filter plate within a housing of the detector. Alternatively, the detector may operate using a filter plate, and based upon pressure.

Citrus juice apparatus with undesired material release detector and related methods

A fruit guide assembly may include a frame to be positioned between a fruit conveyor and a multi-position fruit feeder, a vibrator removably fastened to the frame to be removable therefrom in the upward direction, and a fruit guide body removably fastened to the frame to be removable therefrom in an upward direction. The fruit guide body may have an upper surface with alternating ridges and valleys therein defining a plurality of fruit lanes. The fruit guide body may include spaced apart upper and bottom walls so that the fruit guide is a hollow fruit guide body in some embodiments. The hollow fruit guide body may comprise rotationally molded polyethylene, for example.

Multi-lane fruit guide assembly for a juice extractor and related methods

A juice extractor may include a juice extraction assembly, and at least one pressure-actuated spray nozzle having an inlet to be connected to a controllable fluid pressure source and a spray outlet directed toward the juice extraction assembly and moving between a retracted off position and an extended spray position based upon fluid pressure. The extractor may also include at least one fluid delivery conduit having an inlet to be connected to a controllable source of pressurized fluid, and an outlet. The at least one pressure-actuated spray nozzle may be positioned adjacent extractor cups, such as on their mounting bridge, and have an inlet connected in fluid communication with the outlet of the at least one fluid delivery conduit. The pressure-actuated nozzles may be used for cleaning and/or recycle water. In the retracted position, the pressure-actuated spray nozzles are better able to shed peel and other debris.

Juice extractor including pressure-actuated nozzle and associated methods

A fruit guide assembly may include a frame to be positioned between the fruit conveyor and the multi-position fruit feeder, a vibrator connected to the frame, and a fruit guide body having a series of alternating ridges and valleys therein defining a plurality of fruit lanes. Each pair of adjacent ridges may extend outwardly beyond an end of an intervening valley to define an opening to permit passage therethrough of a corresponding portion of the multi-position feeder. This defines integrally formed cantilevered ridge ends for supporting the fruit. In other embodiments, the fruit guide body may be used without a vibrator, for example. The fruit guide body may include an upper wall and a bottom wall spaced therefrom defining a hollow fruit guide body. For example, the fruit guide body may include rotationally molded polyethylene.

Multi-lane fruit guide assembly having integral ridge ends for a juice extractor and related methods

A juice extractor includes a juice extraction assembly having a wall surface and fluid outlet thereon. At least one tapered spray nozzle is mounted flush on the wall surface at the fluid outlet for receiving and discharging fluid and configured for preventing build-up on the spray nozzle of product material during extractor operation.

Juice extractor with tapered clean up nozzle

Juice extractor design

Growing community of inventors

Tampa, FL, United States of America

Kevin G Socha