Patent ID: 8943955
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: A23N

Abstract:
1. A shelling-separating machine for almonds and other soft-shelled nuts, with the controlled separation and extraction of the percentage of hard-shelled almonds which are usually mixed with soft-shelled almonds, the machine comprising: a receptacle supported by a frame for receiving the almonds to be treated, said receptacle comprising an access mouth positioned at a first end of said receptacle, a first outlet opening positioned at an opposite end of said receptacle, and a second outlet opening coupled to a lower hopper for collecting the kernel already separated from the shell; a rotary shaft longitudinally extended inside the receptacle and provided with a plurality of filiform elements distributed along a length of the rotary shaft and frictionally interacting with the almonds to break the shell and extract the kernel, said rotary shaft being supported by bearings coupled to each of respective ends of said rotary shaft and being rotationally driven by a pulley and a belt driven from a motor; an assembly of product feed means formed by a hopper and a vibrating/metering device coupled to an inlet mouth, and with an action controlled through command means based on values reached by a measurement of a level of a parameter related to operational and functional features of the machine, such that the assembly of product feed means carry out a continuous, controlled feed maintaining a constant filling level inside the receptacle; a measuring device that measures a driving torque associated with the motor; and a retaining element provided with releasable locking means, coupled to the first outlet opening of the receptacle, wherein said retaining element operates based at least in part on the driving torque associated with the motor and maintains said first outlet opening in a closed condition with a subsequent product retention which allows reaching a desired constant level, until the measured driving torque reaches a value exceeding a predetermined threshold, at which time said retaining element is released and pivoted, by a manual or automated action, with respect to a joint which is hinged with a structure of said receptacle.