Claims:1. An automatic sugarcane juice extractor, comprising:
a sugarcane storage box, hopper attached at the bottom of sugarcane storage box, extended restrictor plate means for allowing to fall pieces of sugarcane one by one, feeding mechanism rigidly connected to middle bottommost portion of hopper means for feeding bottommost sugarcane from hopper into juice extractor, pairs of restrictors means pivotally connected to adjacent side of feeding mechanism along the length of hopper, diameter measuring mechanism means for measuring sugarcane diameter connected to hopper at bottom opening of hopper facing and coinciding juice extractor entrance;
a sugarcane juice extractor comprising a plurality of spaced, four crushing rollers, adjacent crushing rollers counter-rotating to form three opposing pairs with reducing roller gaps, said crushing rollers being keyed on counter rotating shafts, three shafts and hence crushing rollers are mounted on side walls by means of bearings, and one shaft and hence crushing roller mounted on pivotally mounted floating houses respective to side walls by means of bearings, position of floating roller retained and adjusted by means of roller gap manipulator flexibly mounted by means of rubber pad, on manipulator mounting plates, said manipulator mounting plates are rigidly connected to respective side walls, bearings are retained in side walls by means of bearing caps, ends of crushing rollers and bearing caps providing isolation of juice and oil by means of oil seals in between them on each end of rollers, sugarcane guide for means of guiding and directing sugarcane in subsequent pairs of crushing rollers, shaft extended out of side walls means for mounting driven gears, idle gear mounted on idle shaft means for transmitting power or motion to floating shaft and hence roller, driven gears means for counter-rotating the shafts and hence said crushing rollers so as to crush sugar cane stalk which passes between opposing pairs of said rollers, thereby extracting juice from said sugar cane stalk, driving gear keyed on output shaft of reduction gearbox means for transmitting power to driven gears and hence to the crushing rollers, crushing rollers enclosed by means of juice compartment including removable covers and juice collector.
2. The automatic sugarcane juice extractor according to claim 1, wherein sugarcane storage box comprising closed box of convenient size of length×width×height of 1m×1m×0.5m means for storing pieces of sugarcane, door means for charging of storage box, hopper means for reducing bottom section of storage box to 55 to 60mm along the length of box, extended restrictor plate is part of hopper means for maintaining hopper opening to 60 mm along the length and supporting pieces of sugarcane above the opening of hopper.
3. The automatic sugarcane juice extractor according to claim 1, wherein pair of restrictors are of pivoted semicircular curved shaped facing curve shape each other, maintaining minimum spacing between them 20 to 25 mm when loaded by means of restrictor retracting spring connected to restrictors, pairs arranged along longitudinal bottommost portion of hopper, spaced inside 150mm from ends of hopper.
4. The automatic sugarcane juice extractor according to claim 1, wherein feeding mechanism comprising forwarded toothed feeding jaw pivoted such that facing toothed faces each other on sliding plate, normally closed each other by means of jaw retracting spring, provided with back and forth motion means for gripping bottommost sugarcane, pushing out of hopper in forward stroke and idle in return stroke, stroke is 200 to 250 mm.
5. The automatic sugarcane juice extractor according to claim 1, wherein diameter measuring mechanism comprising pivoted jaws of plate normally making angle of 90 degree between each other, normally closed by means of retracting spring, a flexible wire connected to them means for measuring diameter of sugarcane in between jaws as a displacement of wire.
6. The automatic sugarcane juice extractor according to claim 1, wherein roller gap manipulator comprising driving nuts and screw pairs such that screws fixed on pivoted roller houses by means of guide and retaining plates, driving nuts are powered simultaneously, driving nuts assembled with free to revolve in manipulators top and bottom plates and connecting plate connecting top and bottom plate, simultaneous revolving motion of nuts making pivoted floating roller houses to rock about their pivot and resulting variation in gap between adjacent roller in final stage of squeezing.
7. The automatic sugarcane juice extractor according to claim 1, wherein flexibly mounted roller gap manipulator means top plate of roller gap manipulator fixed on manipulator mounting plates with rubber pad of stiffness in order of 1500 kg/mm in between them for means of cushioning the roller gap manipulator.
8. The automatic sugarcane juice extractor according to claim 1, wherein roller gap manipulator control system means electrical close loop control system defining relation between diameter of sugarcane measured and gap between rollers in final stage of squeezing, the relation or ratio of “diameter of sugar cane in mm/ gap of rollers in final stage squeezing in mm” adjustable from 10 to 50.
9. The automatic sugarcane juice extractor according to claim 1, wherein sugarcane guides are concave plates of curvature 15 -20 mm more than radius of crushing rollers, arranged such that keeping clearance of 2mm from adjacent rollers and clearance of 15-20mm between peripheral surface of roller and concave face facing to roller surface.
10. The automatic sugarcane juice extractor according to claim 1, wherein closed juice compartment comprising removable covers, juice collector removably mounted on fixed side plates on either side of rollers, entrance closure means flexible bristles of nylon or similar material closely spaced and attached on entrance opening of juice compartment, exit closure means flexible bristles of nylon or similar material closely spaced and attached on exit opening of juice compartment.
, Description:FIELD OF INVENTION:
The present invention relates to juice extraction apparatus, and more particularly to sugar cane juice extraction machine extracting the juice for the purpose of drinking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Sugar cane juice extractors are often used commercially in a setting where juice is squeezed to order for individual consumers, such as road side venders or in a retail store. Sugar cane juice extractors generally have a plurality of powered crushing rollers. Sugar cane stalks are passed through adjacent pairs of the rollers, crushing the stalks and separating a fresh, drinkable juice from the remaining pulp.
In the conventional machine the juice is extracted with the human help, which would not ensure the good quality of the required output of juice. For the case of conventional machines which normally has two roller crushing machine which would not crush the cane with the single crush. And juice extraction efficiency of these machine mostly depends on how carefully operator feed the sugarcane. While working on these crushers operator have to continuously handle the sugarcane, if not done carefully there are always chances of hand injury and further reduced hygienic level of extracted juice.
In some conventional sugarcane juice extractor multiple powered crushing rollers are provided. These sugarcane juice extractor allow to extract juice in single pass. But feeding of sugarcane into the machine is again with manual help. Horizontal and mostly inclined cylindrical or channel type chute is provided to feed sugarcane into the sugarcane juice extractor. Single or two sugarcane are inserted in chute at a time. Juice extraction efficiency of these sugarcane juice extractor influenced by diameter of sugarcane, gap between adjacent crushing rollers and sometimes variety of sugarcane.
Crushing rollers are mostly fixed type and in some cases provided with arrangement for adjustment of roller gap. For the case of fixed crushing rollers, sugarcane of larger diameter gives higher juice extraction efficiency while for sugarcane of smaller diameter, juice extraction efficiency is lower. Minimized roller gap or excess feeding of sugarcane results in to stalling of sugarcane juice extractor, slippage between sugarcane stalk and rollers, also lead to heat generation and faster spoilage of juice.
In conventional sugarcane juice extractor compartments are provided to enclose crushing roller assembly and to collect juice. Openings are provided on compartment for entry and exit of sugarcane. These openings are closed by means of some closure when in idle but remains open while machine is working. So while juice extraction there are chances of entering foreign matter and insects through said openings into said juice compartments.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION:

In the view of above it is the aim of invention to achieve the following objects singly or in combination:
to provide a storage for prepared sugarcane for juice extraction;
to provide hopper connected with storage for easier feeding of single sugarcane at a time;
to provide automatic sugarcane feeding mechanism for one by one feeding of sugarcane from storage into sugarcane juice extractor;
to provide means for measuring the diameter of sugarcane which is going to feed in juice extractor;
to provide adjustable mounting of one of the roller in final stage of squeezing which will automatically responding and adjusting the roller gap in final stage according to diameter of sugarcane measured and maintaining maximum juice extracting efficiency irrespective to size and variety of sugarcane;
to provide sugarcane guides for guiding and directing sugarcane in subsequent stages of squeezing;
to provide flexible closure on juice compartment at entrance and exit for sugarcane which will automatically adjusting and opening or closing in presence or absence sugarcane respectively;
to provides means for automatic respond of roller gap manipulation to change in fibre content of sugarcane along the length so as to give slight (maximum 0.5 mm) variation in roller gap.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention provides automatic sugarcane juice extractor comprising a sugarcane storage box, specifically shaped hopper, supporting rollers at bottom of hopper, opening on hopper facing entrance of juice extractor, restrictors for controlling falling of single sugarcane at bottom of hopper, sugarcane feeding mechanism comprising feeding jaw pivotally mounted on sliding plate sliding along frame and frame rigidly connected at middle bottom of hopper. Back and forth motion is given to sliding frame through dc motor-reduction gearbox, driving and driven sprockets and chain. Measuring mechanism comprising measuring jaw pivotally mounted on mounting plate connected to hopper. Sugarcane juice extractor comprising of four rollers keyed on four shafts, first three rollers mounted on side walls by means of bearings and forth shaft on floating roller house pivotally mounted on side walls, and power is given to fourth adjustable roller through idle gear assembly, side walls rigidly mounted on foundation. In internal side bearings are retained by bearing caps, oil seal in between bearing caps and roller ends, side plates connected on bearing for juice collection, shafts extended out of side walls for mounting driven gears providing opposing rotary motion to shafts and hence rollers, gear boxes for enclosing gears on both outer sides of side wall. Reduction gearbox mounted on juice extractor foundation and gearbox output shaft transmitting motion and power to crushing rollers by means of driving gear keyed on gearbox output shaft. Roller gap manipulator comprising top plate flexibly connected to manipulator mounting plates, bottom plate, connecting plates connecting top and bottom plate, chain driven sprocket connected to driving nut, nuts are mounted between top and bottom plate by means of bearings, screws screwed into driving nut and connected to respective floating roller houses.
Juice compartment comprising side plates mounted on bearing caps on either side of rollers, removable covers, flexible closure on entrance and exit of juice extractor, juice collector and juice outlet. A roller gap manipulation control system for means of automating adjusting roller gap in final stage of squeezing according to diameter of sugarcane with variable ratio deciding relation between sugarcane diameter and roller gap in final stage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of embodiment of invention, wherein:
Fig 1 is an isometric view of sugarcane storage box and hopper.
Fig 2 is a cross-section view of sugarcane storage box and hopper
Fig 3 is detailed cross-section of bottommost portion of hopper.
Fig 4 is isometric view of sugarcane feeding mechanism, restrictor and diameter measuring mechanism.
Fig 5 is isometric view of sugarcane feeding mechanism, restrictor and diameter measuring mechanism with sugarcane.
Fig 6 is isometric view of sugarcane juice extractor, and sugarcane feeding into juice extractor
Fig 7 is isometric view of partial assembly of sugarcane juice extractor showing rollers, gearing arrangement and sugarcane feeding into juice extractor in first stage of squeezing.
Fig 8 is isometric view of partial assembly of sugarcane juice extractor showing mounting of various shafts in side walls and rollers on shafts.
Fig 9 is isometric view of partial assembly of sugarcane juice extractor showing position and orientation of sugarcane guides.
Fig 10 is isometric view of partial assembly of sugarcane juice extractor showing floating roller arrangement and roller gap manipulating mechanism mounting.
Fig 11 is isometric view of partial assembly of sugarcane juice extractor showing internal parts of roller gap manipulating mechanism and their mounting.
Fig 12 is isometric view of partial assembly of sugarcane juice extractor showing components of juice compartment.
Fig 13 is schematic of roller gap manipulator’s control system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
FIGS. 1 to 4 show sugarcane storage and hopper preferably comprising storage box with side walls 1, 4 back wall 2, top 3, door 5, and hopper 6 connected at the bottom of storage box, the most convenient size of storage box can be one meter by one meter and half meter in height. Hopper is specifically shaped (fig 2) with reducing opening, extended restrictor plate 7, and finally maintained opening of 55 to 60 mm up to bottom throughout the length of hopper. In bottommost portion of hopper four rollers 9 are conveniently pinned by roller pins 8 for means of rolling support to bottom most sugarcane on either sides of feeding mechanism (Fig. 3). Two pairs of restrictor 11, pivoted at 10 on hopper, restrictor retracting spring 12 connected to restrictors 11 in each pair.
Feeding mechanism comprising of frame 13 rigidly connected to hopper at middle bottom portion, sliding frame 14 sliding back and forth on frame (Fig. 4), pair of feeding jaw 16 pivoted on sliding plate at pivots 15, teeth 17 provided in forward (towards side opposite to that of door 5) direction, feeding jaw 16 maintained in position by feeding jaw retracting spring 18, dc motor with reduction gearbox 20 rigidly mounted on frame, driving sprocket 21 rigidly mounted on gearbox shaft (not shown), driven sprocket 22 pinned on frame by means of sprocket pin 24 (not shown), chain 23 connected on driving sprocket 21 and driven sprocket 22 and fixed to sliding plate 14 by connecting block 19.
Measuring mechanism comprising of measuring jaw mounting plate 25 rigidly connected to hopper at opening facing to juice extractor entrance, diameter measuring jaws 27, pinned to measuring jaw mounting plate 25 with pivot pins 26, retracting spring 28 connected to diameter measuring jaws 27, measuring wire 29 also connected to measuring jaws 27.
Pieces of sugarcane stored in storage box falls in hopper 6, bottommost sugarcane 101 pushed forward (toward diameter measuring jaw or juice extractor entrance) by feeding jaws 16, second last sugarcane 102 at bottom of hopper is supported by pairs of restrictors 11, until bottommost sugarcane leave its place (Fig. 5). Measuring jaws 27 expands and measure diameter of bottommost sugarcane in terms of displacement of measuring wire 29.
Sugarcane juice extractor assembly comprising of external components: crusher foundation 31 rigidly mounted on main foundation 30, left hand side wall 35 and right hand side wall 36 rigidly mounted on crusher foundation 31, left hand side gearbox comprising of left hand oil box 61 , left hand oil box cover 62, idle gear house 65 , idle gear shaft bearing cap 67; right hand side gearbox comprising of right hand side oil box 63, right hand side oil box cover 64; roller gap manipulator mounting plates 89 & 90, reduction gearbox 32, electric motor 33 connected to reduction gearbox 32, driving gear 41 keyed on reduction gear box output shaft 34 (Fig. 6).
Internal crusher assembly comprising of three shafts 45, 46, 47, mounted in between left hand side wall 35 by means of spherical roller bearing 56 and in right hand side wall 36 by means of cylindrical roller bearing 57. Shaft 48 similarly mounted between floating roller mounting houses 69 and 70 respectively (Fig. 8). Shafts are extended out of side walls 35, 36 and floating roller houses 69 and 70 for mounting driven gears 42, 43, 50, 51, 53 (Fig. 7) which are providing opposing rotary motion to consequent shafts. Idle gear 52 is mounted on splined idle shaft 49 mounted in idle gear bearing house 65 by means of bearings 66. Four crushing rollers 37, 38, 39 and 40 are mounted on four shafts 45, 46, 47 and 48 respectively by means of square keys 44, rollers can be V grooved with angle of 70 to 90 degrees axially and radially, four crushing rollers providing three stages of squeezing, fist stage between roller 37 and 38, second stage between rollers 38 and 39, third stage between rollers 39 and 40. In internal side of side walls 35, 36 bearings are retained by bearing caps 58 and 59. Bearing caps and rollers are providing integral sealing by means of two oil seal 60 between them on each shaft and each side of rollers (Fig. 8). Sugar cane guides 68 & 69 rigidly mounted on side walls 35 & 36 for means of guiding sugarcane in subsequent stages of squeezing (Fig. 9). Floating roller houses 71 and 72 pivotally mounted on respective side walls 35 and 36 by means of roller gap manipulator mounting plates 89, 90 and pivot plate 70 which are rigidly mounted on respective side walls (Fig. 8 and Fig. 10). Spacers 55 and 54 are for means of spacing between bearings and gears on each outer side of side walls 35, 36 (Fig. 8).
Flat ring sliding seal 74 inserted in groove of left hand floating roller mounting house 71 for means of sealing oil from left hand side oil box 61.
Roller gap manipulator comprising of manipulator top plate 85 flexibly mounted on manipulator mounting plates 89 and 90 by means of rubber pads 88 between manipulator mounting plates 89 and 90, bottom plate 86 and top plate 85 rigidly connected together by means of connecting plates 87 (Fig. 10), two driving nuts 78 mounted on top plate 85 and bottom plate 86 by means of locating bearings 80 and thrust bearings 81, driven sprockets 82 rigidly mounted on respective driving nuts, manipulating screws 77 connected to respective driving nuts 78 making as a screw pair, manipulating screws fastened on respective floating roller bearing houses 71 and 72 by means of screw guiding plates 75 and screw retaining plates 76, dc motor-reduction gearbox 84 rigidly mounted on manipulator top plate 87, driving sprocket 83 rigidly mounted on shaft of dc motor-reduction gearbox 84, chain 79 connected to driving sprocket 83 and driven sprocket 82 and transmitting motion from driving sprocket 83 to driven sprockets 82 (Fig. 11).
Juice compartment comprising of side plates 91 and 93 rigidly mounted on bearing caps 58 and 59 on respective sides, easily removable covers 93, 95, 96 and juice collector 94 connected on side plates 91 and 93, juice outlet 100, flexible entrance closure 98 (Fig. 12) can be made of flexible nylon bristles closely spaced each other and connected on slotted cover 93 for entrance of sugarcane in juice extractor. Similarly exit closure 99 can also made of flexible nylon bristles closely spaced each other and connected on slotted cover 95 for discharge of crushed sugarcane.
Roller gap manipulator system can be any type of convenient close loop control system defining relation between displacements of measuring wire 29 (Fig. 4 and 5) and rocking movement of floating roller 40 (Fig. 7) through gap manipulating mechanism. Ratio of sugarcane diameter to roller gap of third squeezing stage (between rollers 39 and 40) can be adjustable from 10 to 50 for example if measured diameter of sugarcane is 40 mm then for ratio of 40, gap between rollers 39 and 40 will be set at 1 mm (Fig. 13).
Of course, the above description is not a limitation of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above example. This invention can be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The number and specific design of the crushing rollers, motion transmission, roller gap manipulation, storage and hopper, automatic feeding mechanism, sugarcane diameter measurement are also belongs to scope of protection of present invention. Accordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing description, as indicating the scope of the invention.