Centrifugal Juicer

1
Centrifugal Juicer

• Green Team Section A

2
The Apple Market

• The apple crop for 2005 is expected to be 234
  million bushels of apples, equaling 79 apples per
  person.
• 39 of apples are processed, 21 for juice and
  cider.
• Total apple production exceeds 1 billion
  annually.

3
Target Market Small Farmers

• In 2002, there were 17,774 apple farms, 2/3 of
  which were less than 5 acres.
• Small farms accounted for 21,737 acres, or over 2
  billion apples.
• 36 apples make 1 gallon of apple cider, so small
  farmers produce 12 million gallons of apple cider
  per year.

4
Available Presses/Juicers

• Typical apple press costs about 600 and can
  process a bushel at a time with two people.
• Typical tabletop juicer costs 250 and uses
  centrifugal force. Is effective for small
  quantities.

5
Customer Needs
Grind
Press
Pulp
Apple
Juice

• We interviewed local apple farmers to determine
  the main needs.
• Most of the labor involves moving apples between
  different process machines.

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Centrifugal Juicer

• Grinder and juicer in one.
• Centrifugal force separates juice from the pulp.
• Utilizes concept of tabletop juicer, but allows
  higher capacity to satisfy small farmer customer
  need.
• Less expensive than current juice press.

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Technical Feasibility

• Juice extraction 50 or the weight is juice,
  remainder skin, pulp and seeds.
• Capacity 1.5 cubic feet.
• Apples can be effectively ground up by a 1.5HP
  motor that spins at 1400rpm.
• If continuously running, 15 gallons per hour of
  juice produced (one bushel 4 gallons).

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Front View of Juicer

• Outer barrel (cardboard) is stationary and
  collects the juice, while inner wire barrel
  rotates at a high rpm and ejects the juice.
• Juice exits from white nozzle at the bottom.
• Motor is blue cylinder at the top.

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Inner Barrel View

• Inner barrel rotates on a lazy susan, which is
  powered by a motor on the top.
• White fruit chute ends 1/2 above the nail
  points, ensures apples are ground by rotating
  nail force as soon as they get to bottom of
  chute.

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Top View

• Top picture shows motor, fruit chute opening, and
  top lid.
• Bottom picture shows the view from the open lid.
  Juicer will have a disposable filter bag for easy
  pulp removal. The juicer will have to be cleaned
  out about every two bushels.

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Questions?