a centrifuge that draws the honey out of honeycombs. The honey extractor was invented in 1865 by the Czech beekeeper and designer Gruska. (Previously, honey was obtained by pressing the honeycombs.)

The extractors come in several designs, but all of them consist of an outer tank, an inner drum (or rotor) in which the honeycombs (frames) are placed, and a drive element. When the rotor turns, the honey is sprayed by centrifugal force against the walls of the tank, runs down to the bottom, and escapes to the outside through a tap. There are several kinds of extractors: chordal extractors, in which the frames are set along the chord—that is, with the sides facing the wall of the tank; radial extractors, in which the frames are set along the radii; and combination extractors.