US3707176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for extracting citrus peel oil from whole fruit
Assignee: Brown International Corp
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Filing: 1970-12-28
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Granted: 1972-12-26
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Expires: 1990-12-28
Abstract
Abstract A series of pairs of toothed roll assemblies form bights or troughs for reception of whole lemons, and all of the toothed roll assemblies turn in the same direction, every other one turning at higher speed. The higher speed rolls comprise a plurality of discs each having a toothed periphery, the discs being frictionally driven from a supporting shaft. The slower speed rolls comprise toothed discs of the same type but are clamped solidly to rotate with the slower speed shaft. Each of the slower speed rolls includes a plurality of bumper elements spaced along the length of the roll and each having a protuberance extending beyond the periphery of the toothed discs, the protuberances serving to shift the lemons about in the troughs between adjacent rolls and to insure that substantially the entire outer surface of the lemon is exposed to the oil cell puncturing action of the teeth of the discs. The toothed discs are submerged in a pool of water and the puncturing action takes place below the water level to minimize losses in recovery of the oil. A conveyor driven by a Geneva movement advances intermittently to move the lemons from one trough to the next.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald C Bushman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:14
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23N; A23N1/00; A23N1/003; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/02; Y10T83/0237; Y10T83/0244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit, comprising in combination: a pair of parallel horizontal rolls forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, each roll comprising a plurality of metal discs in axially spaced relationship, each disc having a continuous series of pointed teeth on its periphery, and means for rotating said rolls in the same direction to spin the fruit, said means acting to drive one of the rolls faster than the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit, comprising in combination: a pair of parallel horizontal rolls forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, each roll comprising a plurality of metal discs in axially spaced relationship, each disc having a continuous series of pointed teeth on its periphery, and means for rotating said rolls in the same direction to spin the fruit, said means acting to drive one of the rolls faster than the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which a conveyor moves intermittently to bring citrus fruit into the trough and out of it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the rolls operate beneath the upper level of a pool of water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the discs of one of the rolls are frictionally driven to permit slippage of individual discs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the discs of one of the rolls are clamped together for rotation as a unit without slippage of individual discs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination set forth in claim 1 in which bumper rings are interposed between discs on one of the rolls to vary the position of the axis of spin of citrus fruit turned by the rolls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit, comprising in combination: a pair of parallel horizontal toothed roll assemblies forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, means for rotating said rolls in the same direction to spin the fruit, a receptacle for a pool of water to cover the tooth roll assemblies, conveyor means moving intermittently to bring citrus fruit into the trough and removing it from the trough, and means for driving the conveyor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit, comprising in combination: a pair of parallel horizontal toothed roll assemblies forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, means for rotating said rolls in the same direction to spin the fruit, a receptacle for a pool of water to cover the tooth roll assemblies, conveyor means moving intermittently to bring citrus fruit into the trough and removing it from the trough, and means for driving the conveyor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination set forth in claim 7 in which one of the roll assemblies is driven faster than the other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination set forth in claim 7 in which one of the roll assemblies is provided with axially spaced bumper rings to vary the position of the axis of spin of citrus fruit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit, comprising in combination: a pair of parallel horizontal rolls forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, each roll comprising a plurality of metal discs in axially spaced relationship, each disc having a continuous series of pointed teeth on its periphery for engagement with the citrus fruit, means whereby the discs of a first roll are frictionally driven to permit slippage of individual discs, means for clamping the discs in the other roll for rotation as a unit without relative slippage, means for rotating said rolls in the same direction, the first roll faster than the other, to spin the fruit, and a plurality of axially spaced bumper rings on said other roll to vary the position of the spinning fruit in the trough, each bumper ring having at least one peripheral protuberance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit, comprising in combination: a pair of parallel horizontal rolls forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, each roll comprising a plurality of metal discs in axially spaced relationship, each disc having a continuous series of pointed teeth on its periphery for engagement with the citrus fruit, means whereby the discs of a first roll are frictionally driven to permit slippage of individual discs, means for clamping the discs in the other roll for rotation as a unit without relative slippage, means for rotating said rolls in the same direction, the first roll faster than the other, to spin the fruit, and a plurality of axially spaced bumper rings on said other roll to vary the position of the spinning fruit in the trough, each bumper ring having at least one peripheral protuberance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination set forth in claim 10 in which a conveyor moves intermittently to bring citrus fruit into the trough and out of it.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination set forth in claim 10 in which the rolls operate beneath the upper level of a pool of water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit comprising in combination: a series of pairs of parallel horizontal rolls, each pair forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, each roll comprising a plurality of metal discs in axially spaced relationship, each disc having a continuous series of pointed teeth on its periphery for engagement with the citrus fruit, means for rotating all of said rolls in the same direction to spin the fruit in each trough, conveyor means moving intermittently for moving fruit into and out of each trough, and means for driving the conveyor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit comprising in combination: a series of pairs of parallel horizontal rolls, each pair forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, each roll comprising a plurality of metal discs in axially spaced relationship, each disc having a continuous series of pointed teeth on its periphery for engagement with the citrus fruit, means for rotating all of said rolls in the same direction to spin the fruit in each trough, conveyor means moving intermittently for moving fruit into and out of each trough, and means for driving the conveyor means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination set forth in claim 13 in which the rolls operate beneath the upper level of a pool of water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit, comprising in combination: a pair of parallel horizontal rolls forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, one roll comprising a rotary shaft loosely supporting a plurality of metal discs, each disc having a continuous series of pointed teeth on its periphery, the discs being separated by split non-metallic spacers frictionally gripping said shaft, means for clamping the discs and spacers axially for driving the discs frictionally from the shaft to permit slippage of individual discs, and means for rotating said rolls in the same direction to spin the fruit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for extracting oil from the rind of whole citrus fruit, comprising in combination: a pair of parallel horizontal rolls forming a trough between them for reception of citrus fruit, one roll comprising a rotary shaft loosely supporting a plurality of metal discs, each disc having a continuous series of pointed teeth on its periphery, the discs being separated by split non-metallic spacers frictionally gripping said shaft, means for clamping the discs and spacers axially for driving the discs frictionally from the shaft to permit slippage of individual discs, and means for rotating said rolls in the same direction to spin the fruit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-26 | 1976-06-26 | 1976-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-26 | 1980-06-26 | 1980-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-26 | 1984-06-26 | 1984-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |