Patent ID: 6397737
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: A23N

Abstract:
A nutcracking apparatus comprising:a housing having an interior formed by a front wall, rear wall, and opposing sidewalls; a hammer plate having an upper and lower portion, and means for pivotally attaching the upper portion thereof to said opposing sidewalls of said housing; a camshaft having first and second ends, at least a portion of said camshaft between said first and second ends being in abutment with a lower portion of said hammer plate; drive means attached to said first end of said cam shaft for rotating said cam shaft; an anvil plate having an upper and lower portion, said anvil plate being spaced from said hammer plate, and means for pivotally attaching the upper portion thereof to said opposing sidewalls of said housing; means for moving the lower portion of said anvil plate towards and away from the lower portion of said hammer plate to thereby adjust the spacing therebetween; a hopper for holding nuts, said hopper having a lower portion in communication with the interior of said housing and adapted to introduce said nuts by gravity between said hammer plate and said anvil plate to produce cracked nuts; and a discharge chute for receiving said cracked nuts and transferring them away from said nutcracking apparatus.