What is it for and how to choose a grape crusher

Grape crusher - a device for obtaining pulp. The special design allows you to process large volumes of berries. When crushing, the seeds are not damaged, giving the juice a bitter taste. All types of crushers are divided into 2 main groups: mechanical and electrical. The choice of a specific type depends on the volume and type of berries being processed.

For a load of up to 700 kilograms per season, a manual model is sufficient. This is a simple form consisting of a frame, rollers and a container for the cake. Knowledge of the technical features of crushers and their main varieties will help you make the right choice. Advantages of the device, how to make a wooden model yourself.

Working principle of a grape crusher

Provides 3 technological operations at once:

• separation of juice from the cake through crushing the berries;
• thorough cleaning of twigs and seeds;
• if necessary, separating other parts of the plant.

Such a unit will be useful in a personal plot for making wine from grapes at home. Regardless of the type, the unit consists of the following components:

• receiving hopper (the product is loaded into it);
• movable rollers of various shapes or a rotor (carry out the process of squeezing juice and producing grounds);
• container for collecting pulp and seeds. Read this article on how to grow grapes from seed.

The berries are crushed by rollers, the juice and cake end up in a container for the finished raw materials.

The mechanical type requires the greatest effort. It is rational for two people to process the product: one loads the berries into the hopper, the other turns the handle of the crushing mechanism. The option with a motor allows you to simply pour the product into the container, and then pick up the pulp. Thorough cleaning improves the quality of the base.

A separate category includes destemming presses: roller or impact-centrifugal. They produce additional peeling from grape combs. These parts of the bunch are also needed because they add a hint of brightness and astringency to the finished wine. For the production of red wine varieties, such as Moldavian and Monarch, the use of pulp with ridges is allowed. Read about the Moldavian wine grape variety here. When making white wines, such impurities are not allowed; you will need a type with a separator for enhanced purification.

Read about Monarch wine grapes in this material.

Features of crushing grapes

This process takes place in crushing and pressing shops. The main type of equipment they use is grape crushers, designed for processing them into pulp and must. Whatever the degree of crushing of the berries, it should minimize the disruption of the integrity of the seeds.

Since light natural wines, champagne and cognac wine materials have low extract content, the degree of crushing of berries for their production should be the lowest. Therefore, grape crushers in this case operate in light mode.

As for full extractive wines, which include thick, fairly strong red wines, the berries for them are crushed more intensively.

As a rule, the process of crushing grapes is combined with separating the ridges. This is due to the fact that during processing they can saturate the wort with substances that will later give the wine a rather unpleasant herbal taste. The exception is the production of Kakhetian wines, when the ridges are not separated at all.

Modern enterprises use two types of grape crushers: centrifugal and roller. Their difference lies in the intensity of crushing of the berries and the different nature of the impact on the grape bunch. Each of them has its own special design and differs in operational and technical characteristics. But both of these types have in common that it is a grape crusher with a destemmer.

Types of grape presses

For large quantities of raw materials, the most popular models are made from the following materials:

• stainless steel;
• plastic;
• varnished wood.

The DV-3 mechanical crusher is designed to obtain juice and pulp from grapes.

All components of the device that come into contact with the product must not oxidize. The most popular are mechanical (manual) and electrical devices made of stainless steel. Their components are convenient to disassemble and wash. They are durable and do not allow the appearance of foreign odors.

To process more than 500 - 700 kilograms of berries, it is recommended to use only a crusher with a motor.

With and without destemmer for berry processing

For production using winemaking technology and processing of fruity white wines, the raw materials must be cleared of grape stems. They ripen earlier than the berries themselves. Because of this, they contain more tannins, which impart excessive bitterness. There are 2 types of such models:

• roller machines (high-quality spin due to a large number of horizontally located elements);
• impact-centrifugal (the process of separating the ridges is carried out due to rotor impacts).

The destemmer is a horizontal cylinder consisting of a shaft and helical blades . The raw materials first fall on this shaft, then they fall on the pressing elements. Devices without destemming are used when processing red varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and others. This component gives a special aroma to the finished product. Devices with an additional ridge separator come in two types:

• roller;
• impact centrifugal.

A grinder or mill device without a built-in separator is used for processing red and wine grape varieties . For the Muscat and Isabella grape varieties, only options without this function are used, since this reduces the quality of the raw materials.

Read about wine grape varieties here.

The operating principle of crushers with a destemmer is to use a shaft, through which the ridges are separated from the berries.

Roll crushers

The most widespread, used to obtain high-quality raw materials for wine wort. The basis of the unit is a system of horizontal cylinders or blades with adjustable clearance. Operating principle of the unit:

• consists of rollers, built-in destemmer;
• have only vertical loading type;
• horizontally located rollers rotate in different directions;
• there is an adjustable gap between the cylindrical choppers;
• it is activated by turning the handle (mechanical version) or using a motor.

The rollers in different models have different shapes : corrugated, bladed, smooth. Lobed species may have 4, 6 or 8 lobes. The ridges are separated by a special device and then pushed out. Cylinders with a smooth or grooved surface are more often used.

When in motion, the rollers rotate in different directions. Berries that fall between them are crushed. Their skin bursts and the juice and pulp are released.

Impact centrifugal devices

The centrifugal impact model uses a special rotor as its basis. Grinding and squeezing are carried out using the blows of a rotary mechanism. This technology helps to obtain the maximum amount of coloring substances. Design Features:

• vertical or horizontal loading type;
• electric type only;
• maximum yield of phenolic and coloring components;
• rotor rotation at a speed of 500 rpm.

Sectional diagram of an impact crusher.

At the same time, the ridges are separated and thrown out. The result is maximum wort yield.

Mechanical cars

The manual type of devices refers to the roller type of action . Wooden presses are often used to produce homemade wine. Large farms use stainless steel equipment to produce wort. The dimensions and weight of different models depend on the materials and components used. For example, crushers with de-stemming weigh more. The simplest unit consists of the following components:

• square bin;
• two smooth rollers;
• lower frame made of wood;
• gear system;
• side handle.

The vertical loading method is used. Such a device weighs up to 18 kilograms and is placed on a table.

Electric fruit and wine crusher

Allows you to fully automate the production of wort. Electric crushers include an additional ridge separator. The basis is made up of rotating helical-shaped metal blades or a rotor. They ensure the separation of grapes from the ridges. They are pushed out with a forward movement, leaving only juice and extraction in the hopper for further wine production.

Most Grifo crushers are equipped with ridge separators. Considering the complete automation of the process, it is possible to significantly reduce the time and effort spent on processing.

Performance of different models:

• 1200 – 1500 kilograms per hour;
• up to 2000 kilograms per hour;
• 2000 – 2300 kilograms per hour.

Operating rules

Most often, wooden crushers and stainless steel units are used in everyday life. They are durable and do not corrode. These qualities ensure the quality of the wine material and the durability of the structure. Grape juice has high acidity, which can damage materials sensitive to it, as well as react with metal and spoil the taste of the wine. Some models of modern household presses do not have destemmers, which is their only drawback.

To determine how well the grape crusher does its job, you need to check it. To do this, after processing portions of wine material, the mass of processed pulp and the mass of ridges are weighed. The total amount is compared with the weight of the feedstock. In high-quality presses the difference should be no more than 1-2%. These are minimal losses.

The quality of the pulp is also checked. Whole berries should make up no more than 3% of the total pulp mass. If the percentage is higher, you need to reduce the gap between the rollers. Some specialists install a two-level roller system, which facilitates the double passage of raw materials through the extraction system.

The number of unseparated ridges included in the processed mass is also analyzed. There should be no more than 1% of the total mass of particles passing through the comb separator.

The unsatisfactory result of studies of the quality of crusher operation forces us to analyze all stages of the work process and correct its shortcomings to increase efficiency.

Advantages of using the device

Advantages of producing pulp with an automatic crusher:

• fast processing of large volumes of grapes;
• rational use of resources;
• the opportunity to obtain high-quality pulp;
• automatic cleaning of cake, juice from twigs, excess ridges;
• simplicity and convenience of the unit, which can be improved if necessary;

The simplest wooden model can be assembled with your own hands. It will become a handy tool for owners of small vineyards.

Devices made of wood and stainless steel are popular. They are not subject to oxidation and corrosion. This ensures long-lasting use as the juice is highly acidic.

The only drawback is the inability to use certain types of units for processing nutmeg varieties.

Purpose and principle of operation of the crusher

Almost all crushers for crushing berries have a very simple, but at the same time effective design. The units consist of a receiving hopper for loading, a pair of parallel crushing rollers and a container for collecting pulp.

The volume of grapes required for processing is loaded into a special receiving container. Then, mechanically or electrically, the crushing rollers are brought into operation, crushing the grapes and transporting them to the pulp collection.

The main features of such a unit are the presence of a gap between the teeth of the crushing rollers, as well as their rotation in different directions. The gap allows you to leave the grape seeds intact, which is very important for obtaining quality wine. Damaged seeds give the finished drink excessive bitterness, which is due to too much tannin in them.

Instructions and drawings on how to do it yourself at home

To crush a small crop (up to 500 kilograms), it is enough to build a wooden crusher with your own hands according to the proposed drawing. Its production consists of the following stages:

1. Knock down the bottom frame from the boards. Its parameters depend on the number of rollers and the size of the lower bunker.
2. Prepare the rolls. They can be purchased at a ready-made parts store.
3. Make a bunker for berries from the boards. It should expand from above for ease of loading raw materials.
4. To rotate the rollers, 2 metal gears are needed.
5. Install the rollers using metal pins. Secure on the outside with gears.
6. Select a container for ready-made pulp and juice. The size of the upper part depends on the frame parameters.

After this, the final assembly begins. A support frame with rollers and an upper hopper are attached to the container with the mixture. A handle is attached to one of the roller axes. With its help, the crusher is set in motion. All parts are coated with colorless wood varnish. It must be non-toxic and safe.

In the future, the finished press can be upgraded by adding an electric drive. Additionally, you will need a belt and transmission shaft, and a suitable engine. From a manual form, this form turns into an electric one, which increases efficiency.

Centrifugal crusher

This type of crusher is different in that the crushing of berries occurs due to centrifugal force, which ensures that the bunches hit the inner walls of the housing. In this case, the berries are subjected to rather harsh mechanical stress and are significantly saturated with air oxygen. During operation, the unit crushes the berries, simultaneously separating them from the ridges.

This mechanical crusher for grapes consists of a body equipped with a lid with a drive, a blade shaft, a hopper and a tray along which the ridges are removed.

It operates according to the following principle:

• grapes, entering the bunker, are subjected to blows from the shaft whips;
• the berries are separated from the ridges and are delivered along with them to the surface of the cylinder, equipped with perforations;
• after that, with the help of rowing blades, they are wiped and fall through the holes into the pulp collector;
• the ridges are separated into a tray located in the upper part of the crusher, and from it they fall onto the conveyor belt.

conclusions

A grape crusher is a unit designed for the production of juice and pomace. These are the ingredients for making homemade wine and other products.

Before purchasing a crusher, it is important to consider the following nuances:

1. All options are divided into 2 main groups: mechanical and electrical. They have almost the same principle of operation.
2. The basis is a container for cake, a frame with grinding elements, and an upper part in the form of a bell. A gap is made between the rollers, often adjustable. With its help, the seeds are not crushed, which increases the quality of the cake.
3. The choice of model depends on the type and volume of raw materials. To process a small amount of berries (up to 500 kilograms), the simplest form is sufficient. For production on an industrial scale, an electric version will be needed. You will also have to purchase a grape press or make one yourself.
4. There are options with and without the comb separation function.
5. Allows you to obtain clean pulp without impurities, saving raw materials, time and effort.
6. The simplest variety can be improved if necessary.

The simplest variety can be made with your own hands. A wooden form is the simplest manual option. If desired, it can be improved by adding additional elements.