Abstract: A conveyor construction is disclosed as having particular utility in effecting simultaneous mixing and transporting a relatively viscous charge of finely divided fruit and pressing aid for supply to a fruit juice extraction press. The construction features a novel mixing and transport paddle formed by bending a relatively thin metal plate to define separate mixing and transport surfaces.

Abstract: A press particularly adapted for use in extracting juice from fruit, such as apples, features a vertically extending sleeve of filter cloth disposed intermediate a pair of cooperating press platens supported for movement horizontally relative to one another for squeezing fruit contained within the sleeve. An open upper end of the sleeve is arranged in communication with a hopper or the like providing for batch-wise charging of the sleeve with fruit to be pressed and a valve mechanism is employed to selectively clamp off or close a normally open lower end of the sleeve in order to alternatively retain a charge of fruit within the sleeve during a pressing operation and permit discharge of pressed fruit pulp in the form of a "cake" from which juice has been extracted.

Abstract: A platen press having a vertically extending sleeve of filter cloth arranged intermediate a pair of vertically disposed cooperating press platens supported for relative horizontal movement for squeezing a charge of fruit contained within the sleeve, is provided with an improved hopper supply assembly for effecting batchwise charging of the sleeve with fruit to be pressed and an improved upper valve assembly cooperating with a lower valve assembly for clamping off upper and lower ends of the sleeve to retain the charge of fruit therewithin during a pressing operation.