Home winemaking is a complex, time-consuming, but at the same time interesting and exciting activity. Those who deal with large volumes of crops to facilitate their work and speed up the process, resort to the use of various devices. The material contains information about crushers (crush) of grapes.

Purpose and principle of operation of the crusher

Crushers are designed to process grapes and obtain a mixture from which wine is later made. These devices are widely used in industrial production and at home in the manufacture of wine products. They are purchased ready-made or made independently using drawings and diagrams.

Among the components of the crusher:

• loading compartment (hopper);
• parallel rollers that crush the grapes;
• compartment for collecting cake.

Did you know? The oldest winery known today is found in Armenia. It belongs to 4100-4000 years. BC e.

The principle of operation of the unit is simple:

1. Grapes are loaded into the loading compartment.
2. Crushing rollers begin to move using a mechanical or electrical drive.
3. As a result, pulp with juice is released from under the skin, and a pulp is obtained, which is collected in a special compartment.

There is a gap between the crushing rollers, thanks to which the berries are crushed, and the bones remain intact. This is important because in crushed form they will add bitterness to the drink.

Learn how to make wine from white and black grapes.

As a result of the operation of the unit, it is possible to achieve the following results:

• separate the juice from the cake;
• clear the pulp from the vine and seeds;
• Separate other parts of the plant (if necessary).

Varieties of crushers for grapes

Today there are several types of devices for crushing grapes. They can be manual and electric, with a comb separator and without. They are made of wood, plastic, stainless steel. The principle of their work is almost the same. Let us consider in more detail each of the varieties.

With and without separator

Thanks to the grape ridges, the wine acquires a rich and tart taste. However, if there are too many of them, this will ruin the quality of the drink - it can become bitter, unappealing in color, cloudy. If you work with varieties from which red wine is made, then you can leave the combs. However, in the production of a white drink, this is unacceptable: combs must be removed. Accordingly, when choosing a device for producing pulp, it is necessary to take this moment into account and choose constructions depending on the grape variety to be worked with and the type of wine.

Devices having a comb separator come in 2 types:

1. Roller.
2. Shock-centrifugal.

Did you know? Jugs with sediment left over from grapevine have been discovered in Iran. They date back to 5400-5000 years. BC e. It is known that in those days the drink was prepared to preserve perishable varieties. Whether it was used in ancient times for intoxication is unknown.

Roller crushers

In this type of device, there are two or more parallel corrugated, smooth or paddle rolls with four, six or eight blades. The distance between them can be adjusted. They rotate in different directions. This variety is the most popular among winemakers.

Impact Centrifugal Crushers

Crushers belonging to this variety are made vertical and horizontal. The principle of operation is that the crushing of grapes and the separation of the ridges is carried out due to impacts during the rotation of the rotor. With the help of such devices it is possible to achieve pulp maximally purified from foreign impurities.

Mechanical crush

A mechanical or manual device for crushing grapes has a handle. With it, the crushing rollers begin to move. Such an aggregate must be selected if the volumes of processed products do not exceed 500–700 kg. The most popular designs are stainless steel, as they can be easily disassembled and washed.

Read also about how to make a pergola for grapes with your own hands.

They can serve for a long time and do not give any extraneous smells of wine products. At home, wooden mechanical structures are often used. It’s easiest to make them yourself.

Electric

When using electrical units, the process of obtaining wort occurs with the help of a metal blade in the form of a screw or rotor. When it moves, clusters are pushed out, and the pulp enters a special compartment. The productivity of such devices can vary from 1200 to 2300 kg / h.

Advantages and disadvantages of using

• There are several advantages to working with a crusher:
• it is possible in a short time to get high-quality pulp without impurities;
• significant saving of time and effort;
• the unit is simple and reliable when used;
• the possibility of prolonged use;
• less loss of pulp.

The disadvantages can be noted in the crumbs with comb separator - they are not suitable for processing bunches of clary varieties.

How to make a manual crush yourself

A mechanical wood crusher can actually be made with one's own hand. It is advisable to resort to this process if the volumes of processed grapes are small, or when a person makes wine only for the purpose of his own consumption.

Important! If there are no oak boards in the farm, the bunker can be made of stainless steel or plastic.

The following materials will be required:

• oak wood planks;
• wooden beam (cross section 0.5 × 0.5 cm);
• rollers for crushing (suitable for a failed activator type washing machine, used to spin things, from rolling pins for rolling dough, purchased in the store) - 2 pcs.;
• metal studs - 2 pcs.;
• gears made of metal - 2 pcs.;
• stainless steel mesh with cells 10-12 mm in size;
• shaft with blades;
• colorless varnish on wood;
• handle for rotation;
• pulp receiver.

A step-by-step manufacturing instruction is as follows:

1. To make a bunker from wooden boards, where the bunches will be filled, in the form of an inverted pyramid in a truncated form.
2. On 2 rollers mark 6 longitudinal segments. Along the length of each of them, it is necessary to drill holes with a diameter of 1 cm and a depth of 5 cm. Between them you need to make 5 cm gaps.
   

3. The bars are needed for the manufacture of the frame. Crushing rollers are mounted on it with metal studs. A gap of 0.2-0.3 cm is left between them so that the bones do not give in to crushing.
4. Open all wooden parts with non-toxic varnish.
5. Install gears on the outside of the wooden frame.
6. Assemble the structure as shown in the diagram:
   

7. Fix the frame on the pulp collector, fix the loading hopper on top.
8. Attach a handle for rotation on the axis of one roller.
   

9. Equip more advanced designs with a comb separator, which is made of metal mesh, and a belt-driven electric motor that will drive the crushing rollers into motion.

Video: Process for making a crest separator for a grape chopper

So, a grape crusher can significantly speed up and simplify the process of manufacturing raw materials for grape wine.

Important! The materials from which a homemade grape crush is made must be resistant to oxidation, since the juice has an increased acidity.

It is easy to use, and it can be purchased ready-made or made by hand using drawings and recommendations.