Abstract: To thicken retentate residues using ultra- or microfiltration to clarify fruit juices, apparatuses which have membrane modules (1, 2) are used in the cross-flow process with a retentate circuit. It is proposed that first, the process be carried out with virtually constant retentate overflow velocity at the membranes until there is an increased concentration. Then the transmembrane pressure of membrane modules (1, 2) is kept constant or further increased, and the overflow velocity is reduced, until the desired thickening of the retentate residue is achieved. So that the last reduction step can be carried out, speed-governed retentate displacement pumps (8) are employed. To prevent stoppages of the membranes of membrane modules (1, 2), the apparatus is operated with special flow dividers (10) for the retentate, or an individual circulating pump is associated with each group of membrane modules.

Abstract: A process to separate insoluble solid portions from soluble liquid materials of fruits with increased performance and yield using a press (7) wherein water, is first supplied to a mill for crushing the fruit. The soluble materials are then separated from the solid portions as juice in the press (7). The relationship between water feed and fruit feed can be controlled by a of microprocessor (22). An apparatus for carrying out this process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cyclically operating filter press for squeezing juice from fruit is controlled so that the pressing pressure rises during an early part of a cycle and then, at a time determined in view of actual process variables, the pressure increase is stopped and the pressing pressure remains constant thereafter. The limiting time for the pressure rise is determined with a process.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to reduce filter abrasion in fruit juice presses of the type where juice is removed through a boundary wall (1) from a compression chamber by way of channels in each of a plurality of drainage cores (4) covered by filter envelopes (29). Each filter envelope (29) is attached to its drainage core (4) outside the region (35) in which the drainage core (25) is mounted on the boundary wall (1) of the press. Also, the drainage core includes a bending zone formed so that only slight bending stresses occur. Consequently the service life of the apparatus is distinctly increased with respect to the known systems.

Abstract: In supplying material for pressing (37) into the press chamber of a filter press for separating solids and liquids, the filling operation (F) is done interruptedly in a first step (P1) at a fill opening (44). A press element (36) executes a plurality of pressings up to a constant stroke position (HS). Not until a second method step (P2) is the filling operation (F) interrupted, as soon as the pressing pressure exceeds a limit value (PS), whereupon the pressings are continued with shortened strokes. The method offers automatic adaptation of the prefilling time to the pressability of the materials. It thus becomes possible to prefill highly differently pressable material automatically and without specifying a command value in such a way that an optimal performance is attained in terms of the yield and the juice extraction output of a filter press.

Abstract: To remove selectively particularly sugar from nonalcoholic or alcoholic beverages, first the sugar is either carried away in the permeate in a membrane separation unit (2) by suitable choice of membrane (4) or is retained in the retentate. Afterward, the sugar is removed from the permeate or from the retentate with the help of a device (5) for substance removal or substance conversion. Next the substances remaining in the permeate or in the retentate after the removal of the sugar are fed back into the process or the final product. With the process according to the invention, a high selectivity and an improvement in quality of the final product with high economic efficiency of the unit is achieved (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A process for the production of a low-sugar, alcohol-free beverage comprises a desugarization process, which is upstream to a preliminary separation. Through the preliminary separation, the raw juice is divided into two streams (A,B), of which the first stream, relative to the raw juice, has a lower acid/sugar ratio and a higher sugar content and the second stream has an elevated acid/sugar ratio and a lower sugar content. The first stream is directly fed to the desugarization process, while the second stream is fed to the low-sugar juice after the desugarization process. The second stream contains a high portion of acid and other, low-molecular components and thus when mixed with the first stream, increases the total content and the quality of the end product.

Abstract: At both ends of a filter cover (6), respectively in the fastening area of the filter cover on draining element (1), bondings or settings (12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21) of stitches (10) are applied, which are interrupted in one or more of first rows of stitches (11) and are offset in one or more rows of stitches at the end of the fastening area in the peripheral direction. In a modification, setting (22) of stitches (10) at the end of the fastening area is placed uninterrupted in the peripheral direction. These settings partially or completely allow runs in the fastening area of a filter cover (6), so that, on the one hand, an enlargement of filter cover (6) is made possible for the assembly, and, on the other hand, the formation of runs outside the fastening area is prevented.

Abstract: The rod-shaped flexible core (6) of a drainage element (2) mounted in a pressing space (1) of a fruit press has several longitudinal grooves (8, 13) on its periphery, through which the extracted juice is conveyed to juice collecting spaces (5). The free ends of each drainage element (2) are detachably fastened by drainage locks (3) to juice collecting plates (4) bordering the pressing space (1). In the area of rigid drainage lock (3), through which the juice is guided, the longitudinal grooves (8) are widened, so that in this area, in which the flexibility of core (6) to assist the flow process is absent, the risk of clogging by solid sediment particles in the juice is prevented.

Abstract: A diaphragm (1) in a press vessel of a press intended for separating liquid and solid materials consists of two semicircular diaphragm parts (2) facing the front walls of the press vessel and of a diaphragm part (8) connected with these parts (2) on both sides and approximately corresponding to half the outer vessel wall. The diaphragm parts (2, 8) are formed from fabric (3, 13) with plastic coating on both sides and, semicircular diaphragm parts (2) are divided into segments. At least one of the thread systems forming a fabric (3) is aligned to a radial center bisector of each segment.

Abstract: A process for clarifying raw juice in which the proportion of solids in the retentate circuit (2, 3, 4) of an ultrafiltration or microfiltration device (1) is sharply increased during the starting time (FIG. 1). With increasing proportion of solids, the filtration yield falls off sharply and then increases again to a value which is higher than the starting value. On reaching the maximum possible filtration yield value, the proportion of solids and thereby also the filtration yield is maintained constant by regulating the amount of retentate outflow or the amount of fresh juice to be fed in. In this way the filtration yield can be significantly improved.

Abstract: A process for controlling a press for the extraction of juice from agricultural products, in which the pressing stroke of a pressing cycle is ended at the earliest when the maximum average juice output occurs. This process can be performed using a juice discharge arrangement of a press in which is connected a flowmeter as a sensor, which in turn is connected to a device controlling the drive elements of the press.

Abstract: The presses used in extracting the juice from fruits, grains, berries and vegetables have a membrane actuable by a fluid pressure medium. The membrane is made of a woven fabric coated on both sides with plastic, and comprises a multi-axial fiber composite structure of several fiber systems. At least two fiber systems have fibers at right angles to each other and an additional plurality of fiber systems have fibers oblique with respect to the fibers at right angles to each other.

Abstract: To fasten filter covering (4) of a drainage element (2) for a fruit press, rod-shaped, flexible core (3) of drainage element (2) carries an elastic sleeve (11) on its end. Filter covering (4) is pulled over sleeve (11) and is held by an O-ring (13) in a annular slot (14) of sleeve (11). The end of drainage element (2) is detachably fastened in a holder (6) that is placed in container wall (5) of the fruit press to be axially immovable and that overlaps filter covering (4) and O-ring (13). During pulling action on filter covering (4) in the direction of arrow (17), annular slot (14) and O-ring (13) are deformed so that O-ring (13) acts as a wedge and solidly braces filter covering (4) against sleeve (11).

Abstract: In a process for clarification of liquids, especially raw juice by continuous crosscurrent filtration, which for improvement of the filtration output is run with a high solid portion in the retentate circulating circuit, during the starting phase an additional retentate discharge from the retentate circulating circuit takes place, which is relatively small in comparison with the retentate discharge taking place during the stationary operating phase. By this measure, a further improvement of the filtration output is achieved.

Abstract: For extraction of juice from fruits and vegetables a process is used in which first the raw material is crushed in a crushing device (1) and separated in a screening device (2) from the solid components, then liquefied by physical cell breakdown, and the raw juice is clarified in a filtration device (9). In this connection, device (8, 27, 32) for the physical cell breakdown can be integrated into filtration device (9) or into filtration module (13) of a membrane filtration device.

Abstract: To extract the juice from fruits and vegetables, a process is used in which first the raw material is crushed in a mill (1) and then fed to a pulping machine (2) and a membrane filtration device (4). Before membrane filtration device (4), a liquefaction stage (3) is provided in which the raw material is liquefied enzymatically or physically only to the extent that a considerable portion of the mash can be run through membrane filtration device (4). The main breakdown of the cells occurs in the retentate of membrane filtration device (4) by a downstream device (5) for chemical or physical cell breakdown.

Abstract: For the extraction of juice pulp from fruits, berries and/or vegetables the raw material, which may consist of whole fruits, is first comminuted in a comminuting device (1) and subsequently squeezed out with the help of a press (2). Press (2) is constructed in such a way, that together with the juice separated from the raw material, a high proportion of valuable cell material is pressed off. Through this process a viscous juice pulp results, which subsequently is further processed for refining purposes, for example for the manufacture of clear juice, in a crossflow filtration device (7) which follows press (2). Through the process according to the invention the quality of the refined products as well as the economy of the unit and the yield are significantly improved, especially in connection with a recycling press (4) assigned to press (2).

Abstract: To detachably fasten and secure a drainage element (3) on pressing plate (1) of a fruit press, the end of drainage element (3) provided with an insert (4) is inserted into sleeve (5) of pressing plate (1). On sleeve (5) there is placed a retaining ring (7) made as a flat spring ring that carries several cams (9, 10) on its inner periphery. In sleeve wall (12) there are slots (11) in which cams (9, 10) engage. While cams (9) are used to fix retaining ring (7) and to secure sleeve (5) axially, cam (10) is guided through sleeve wall (12) and engages in a recess (13) of insert (4) so that drainage element (3) is secured against axial movement and torsion.

Abstract: Blocks with a casing composed of upper and lower parts are produced by inserting the upper and lower parts in an inserting device above and below pushing elements between upper and lower pressing dies of a press, displacing by the pushing elements the lower part in a chamber of a mold towards the lower pressing die and the upper part towards the upper pressing die with self-releasable holding on the latter, withdrawing the inserting device from a pressing region between the upper and lower pressing dies, and cyclically repeating these steps in synchronism with a working stroke of the press.