Abstract:
A sealed lubrication system for a high production nutcracking apparatus of the type comprising a plurality of cracking units mounted on a rotatable turret. The cracking units are operated by pressurized air during rotation of the turret, and the pressurized air includes an oil mist component to reduce friction and wear. The oil is recovered by a system which includes an essentially closed annular collection chamber which surrounds the turret and which leads to a drain and an oil tank, and the oil tank is divided by a porous baffle plate which serves to remove and collect the entrained oil before the air is released to the atmosphere.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved high production nutcracking apparatus, of the type disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,332,827; 5,623,867; 6,205,915; and 6,584,890. 
     The nutcracking apparatus as disclosed in the above patents includes a rotatable turret which mounts a plurality of cracking units arranged about its periphery, with each cracking unit having an opening adapted to receive an individual nut from a nut feed conveyor which comprises a plurality of nut transport elements mounted in succession on a feed chain. Each of the nut transport elements includes an upwardly open transverse receptacle for holding an individual nut, and each cracking unit on the turret has an anvil which is moved axially into the receptacle at a pickup point so that the nut is engaged between the anvil and a crack die on the other side of the opening. 
     In operation, the feed conveyor moves tangentally past the rotating turret so that the anvils of the cracking units enter the receptacles of respective nut transport elements at the pickup point and engage and pick up the nut. After the cracking unit and engaged nut have moved away from the pickup point, the crack die of the cracking unit in impacted by a shuttle so that the crack die applies an impact to the nut to crack the shell. 
     The control system for cyclically actuating the cracking units includes an air control system whereby air is selectively introduced into four ports of each cracking unit. Also, as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,827, it is conventional to place an air oiler and a filter in the air supply manifold line, to lubricate the moving components of the cracking units. While such lubrication minimizes wear, it can cause environmental concerns resulting from the escape of oil, either as a liquid which drips to the floor or as an oil mist which enters the surrounding atmosphere. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a lubrication system for a high speed nutcracking apparatus of the described type, and which is substantially sealed so as to minimize the escape of the oil, either as a liquid or in the form of an oil mist. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by the provision of an essentially closed lubrication system which incorporates an oil recovery system for recovering oil from the air/oil mixture after it has been delivered to and exhausted from the cracking units. The recovery system includes a cowling sleeve attached to the valve plate of the turret so as to surround the radial periphery of the end plate and the filtering pad of the turret. The cowling sleeve has an annular free end remote from the valve plate and defines an annular collection chamber surrounding the periphery of the filtering pad and the end plate. Also, a drain communicates with the lower portion of the collection chamber, and an annular barrier member is provided for restricting the flow of oil which is received in the collection chamber in a direction toward said free end of the cowling sleeve and so that the oil is guided into the drain. 
     An oil tank is provided for receiving any oil exiting from the drain of the collection chamber and from an exhaust line which is connected to an opening of the valve plate which vents the air from the cracking units. Also, an oil recirculation system is provided for delivering oil from the tank to the air delivery system to form the oil mist component of the pressurized air delivered to the cracking units. 
     The oil tank has a first upper chamber communicating with the drain and with the exhaust line, a second upper chamber communicating with an outlet line, a lower oil delivery line communicating with the oil recirculation system, and a perforated baffle plate positioned to extend downwardly into oil in the tank and separating the first and second upper chambers from each other. 
     The turret further includes an axial support shaft extending along its rotational axis, with the shaft extending through aligned openings in each of the end plate, the felt pad, and the valve plate. A resilient sealing gasket is disposed between the shaft and each of the end plate and the valve plate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned side elevation view of a nutcracking apparatus of the described type and which embodies the prior art lubrication system; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the oil lubrication and recovery systems of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is an enlargement of the portion shown within the circle  2 A of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 3 is an expanded perspective view of the end plate, filtering pad, and valve plate of the turret of the present invention; 
     FIGS. 4-6 are sectional views of three embodiments of the recovery system of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates in more detail a nut cracking apparatus of the prior art as generally described above. As illustrated, the prior apparatus is indicated by the numeral  10 , and it includes a rectangular box-like frame  12  which supports a pair of bearing blocks  14  (only one being shown) which rotatably mount a central shaft  20  which defines a horizontal central axis. 
     A turret  22  is fixedly mounted to the shaft  20  so as to be rotatable with the shaft about the central axis. The turret  22  comprises a plurality of elongate cracking units  24  which are circularly arranged about the shaft and supported by the end plates  25  and  26 , and the intermediate plates  27 ,  28  and  29 . There are sixteen cracking units in the illustrated embodiment and the units extend generally parallel to each other and to the central axis. 
     Each of the cracking units  24  comprises an anvil  32 , and a cracking die assembly  34  which includes a cracking die  35 . The anvil and cracking die assembly are mounted in an axially aligned, opposed relationship to define an opening for receiving a nut N therebetween. More particularly, the means for mounting the anvil  32  includes a first air cylinder  37 , a piston  38  slidably disposed within the cylinder  37 , a piston rod  39  interconnecting the piston and anvil, a first air port  40  disposed adjacent the rearward end of the cylinder, and a second air port  42  disposed adjacent the forward end of the cylinder. As will be apparent, movement of the piston  38  results in a corresponding movement of the anvil  32 , either forwardly toward the cracking die assembly  34  or rearwardly therefrom. Such movement is controlled by air which is selectively provided to the first and second ports  40 ,  42  in a manner more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,418,617; 4,441,414; and 6,182,562. 
     The cracking die assembly  34  is more fully described in the above referenced patents, the disclosures of which are all expressly incorporated herein by reference, and it includes the cracking die  35 , and a second air cylinder  44 . A free floating shuttle  46  is mounted so as to be closely received within the bore of the cylinder  44 . In addition, there is provided an air port  47  adjacent the forward end of the cylinder and a further port  48  which extends axially through the rearward end of the cylinder. 
     The turret  22  further includes a cylindrical cover plate  50  which encloses the anvils  32  and first air cylinders  37 , and a second cylindrical cover plate  52  which encloses cracking die assemblies  34  and second air cylinders  44 . 
     The control system for cyclically actuating the cracking unit includes an air control system whereby air, which includes a lubricating oil mist, is selectively introduced into the four ports  40   42 ,  47 , and  48 . More particularly, upon receiving a nut N in the opening between the anvil  32  and cracking die assembly  34 , air is first introduced into the port  40  so that the piston  38  and anvil  32  are moved forwardly and such that the anvil  32  operatively engages one end of the nut N in the opening. The nut thereby becomes supported between the anvil  32  and cracking die  35 . The anvil  32  and cracking die  35  thereby also serve to compressively stress the retained nut. High pressure air is next injected through the port  48  and into the air cylinder  44 , such that the shuttle  46  is thrust forwardly along the cylinder and impacts against the rear end surface of the cracking die  35 , causing the cracking die to sharply advance a short distance forwardly against the nut and thereby crack its shell. The air in front of the advancing shuttle is permitted to exhaust through the port  47 . Air next enters the port  42 , causing the piston  38  and anvil  32  to move rearwardly and release the nut, and as a final step, air is caused to enter the port  47  and thereby return the shuttle  46  to its rearward position. The apparatus is then in position to receive another nut to be cracked, with the above cycle being cyclically repeated. Further details regarding the air control system for cyclically actuating the apparatus  10  may be obtained from the above noted prior patents. 
     The prior apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 further includes an apparatus for advancing and delivering a plurality of nuts individually in succession along a path of travel to the rotating turret  22 . The nut delivering apparatus is not illustrated herein, but a complete disclosure thereof may be obtained from the above referenced patents, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     The ports  40 ,  42 ,  47  and  48  of the cracking units are each connected via an air line to one side of the end plate  26  and so as to communicate with respective openings which extend through the end plate, note FIG.  3 . 
     A valve plate  54  is fixedly mounted to the machine frame so as to be positioned parallel to and spaced from the other side of the end plate  26 , and the valve plate  54  includes a plurality of inlet openings  55  which are positioned for sequential alignment with selected ones of the openings in the end plate as the turret is rotated. The inlet openings each communicate with an air delivery line  56  on the side thereof opposite the end plate  26 . The valve plate  54  further includes single outlet opening  57  positioned for sequential alignment with each of the openings in the end plate  26  which are connected to the exhaust ports  47  of the air cylinders  44  as the turret is rotated. The outlet opening  57  in the valve plate is connected to an exhaust line  58  on the side thereof opposite the end plate. 
     The valve plate  54  includes two service or inspection openings  59 ,  59 ′, respectively, which form no part of the present invention. 
     An air delivery system is provided for delivering pressurized air which includes an oil mist component to each of the air delivery lines  56  such that the pressurized air/oil mist is selectively delivered to and exhausted from said cracking units during rotation of the turret. The air delivery system includes a pressurized air source  60  which delivers the air to a manifold and then to the individual air delivery lines  56  via a pressure regulator  61  and a metering valve  62  which slowly drips oil from an oil delivery line  63  into the air delivery line  56 . The oil is thereby vaporized to form the air/oil mist which is delivered to the cracking units. 
     A filtering pad  64  is fixedly mounted in the space between the end plate  26  and the valve plate  54 , with the filtering pad  64  having a plurality of inlet openings  55 ′ aligned with respective ones of the inlet openings  55  in the valve plate  54 , and an outlet opening  57 ′ which is aligned with the outlet opening  57  in the valve plate  54 . Thus when the high pressure air is injected into the air cylinder  44  to thrust the shuttle  46  forwardly, the air in front of the shuttle is free to move freely through the port  47  and the outlet opening  57  to the exhaust line  58 . The pad  64  includes two service and inspection openings  59 ′ which are aligned with the openings  59  in the valve plate  54 . This condition is illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     As illustrated in connection with the lowermost cracking unit  24  shown in FIG. 1, the filtering pad  64  forms a filtering barrier which is aligned with the remainder of the openings in the end plate  26  when such openings receive exhausted air from the associated cracking unit. Thus the pad  64  tends to entrap and collect the oil which is entrained with the air as it exhausts through these openings. 
     The prior apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an oil recovery system which includes a cowling sleeve  66  attached to the valve plate  54  so as to surround the radial periphery of the end plate  26  and the filtering pad  64 . A drain extends through the lower portion of the valve plate  54  and communicates with a drain line  68  which is connected on the outer side of the valve plate  54 . Thus the oil which is entrapped in the filtering pad  64  during operation of the machine tends to flow downwardly onto the cowling sleeve  66  and into the drain and the drain line  68 . 
     The oil recovery system further includes an oil tank  70  into which the exhaust lines  58  and the drain line  68  empty. A vent  71  is provided in the upper chamber of the tank, and a lower output line  72  supplies oil to the line  63  and metering valve  62  via a pump  73  and filter. 
     As indicated above in the background section of the specification, the oil lubrication system of the prior apparatus is the subject of environmental concerns resulting from the escape of oil. In particular,.oil tends to collect and drip from the cowling sleeve  66 , and oil which collects in the pad  64  tends to leak through the bearings of the shaft  20 . Further, the air which passes outwardly from the tank via the vent  71  tends to entrain oil and form a mist which is vented to the atmosphere. 
     The above environmental concerns are effectively avoided with the apparatus of the present invention, which is illustrated in FIGS. 2-6. More particularly, and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved oil recovery system which is essentially sealed against the loss of oil into the surrounding environment. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the cowling sleeve  66  is mounted so as to be radially spaced a rather significant distance (typically about 1 inch) from the outer periphery of the end plate  26 . Also, an annular barrier member, which is in the form of a resilient gasket  75 , is mounted so as to be fixed on the inside of the cowling sleeve  66  and it is sized to bear against the outer periphery of the cover plate  52  or the end plate  26 . Thus a closed collection chamber  76  is formed which surrounds the periphery of the filtering pad  64  and communicates with the drain. The oil which collects in the pad and drains downwardly onto the cowling sleeve  66  is thereby retained in the closed collection chamber  76  and passes out through the drain line  68 . 
     The resilient gasket  75  comprises a closed annular ring of a suitable elastomeric material and in cross section it will be seen to have a base portion which may be reinforced with cords and a flexible upper leg which optionally can be biased toward the cover plate or end plate by an annular spring  78 . 
     The annular gasket  75  acts to generally seal the collection chamber  76  to the passage of air and so that the chamber becomes somewhat pressurized by the air which enters and exhausts from the cracking units and then passes through the filtering pad  64  to the collection chamber. The pressurization of the chamber serves to force the oil which collects therein into and through the drain line  68 . 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the drain line  68  communicates with a first upper chamber  81  of an oil tank  80 , and the several exhaust lines  58  also communicate with the first upper chamber  81 . The tank  80  includes an air porous baffle plate  82  which extends from the cover of the tank downwardly into the oil which is held in the tank. Also, the baffle plate  82  forms a second upper chamber  83  which communicates with an outlet  84  which leads to a vacuum air exhaust system  85  which is provided on the machine for removing air and entrained debris from the vicinity of the turret. A lower outlet  72  is also provided, which leads to the air supply manifold via a pump and filter  73 . Thus the oil collected in the tank may be recirculated from the tank to the air delivery system to form the oil mist component of the pressurized air delivered to the cracking units. 
     The baffle plate  82  preferably comprises a metal plate which is perforated by a plurality of very small openings which are designed to condense and hold the oil in the first chamber  81  while allowing the passage of the cleaned air to the outlet  84 . A metal plate having myriad openings of a diameter of about 0.010 (ten thousandths) of an inch is suitable for the purpose. The plate  82  could also take the form of a porous fabric or a sheet of filtering medium. 
     Also in accordance with the present invention, the axial support shaft  20  is sealed to each of the end plate  26  and the valve plate  54 . As best seen in FIG. 3, the seals  87 ,  88  may take the form of resilient O-rings which are held in cutouts in the end plate and the valve plate respectively. The seals thus prevent any oil from leaking from the filtering pad  64  outwardly along the shaft  20  in either direction. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the oil recovery system which further includes an annular brush  90  positioned to extend between the outer free end of the cowling sleeve  66  and the cover plate  52  of the turret. The brush  90  serves to prevent the entry of debris, such as shell fragments, from entering between the gasket  75  and the end plate, and it is supported by a metal retainer  91  which is crimped to retain the brush and secured to the cowling sleeve  66 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment wherein the annular barrier member comprises an annular elastomeric band  92  which is sized to overlie and be supported on the outer periphery of the cover plate  52  so as to be aligned with the end plate  26 . The band  92  acts as a slinger during rotation of the turret to throw any oil running along the inside of the end plate onto the cowling sleeve  66 , as indicated by the arrow. Also, the free end of the cowling sleeve incorporates an annular end dam  93  which prevents the oil in the collection chamber  76  from flowing out and thereby assures that the oil enters the drain. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment wherein the outer periphery of the end plate  26 ′ incorporates integral grooves  95  which act as slingers in the manner described above, and a sealing member in the form of a vinyl coated sponge rubber ring  96  is mounted so as to encircle the cover plate  52  adjacent the end plate  26 ′. The ring has a generally circular cross section, and a vinyl clip  97  is mounted at the free end of the cowling sleeve  66  to engage the ring, which rotates with the turret  22 , and thereby minimize friction. The ring  96  thereby essentially closes the collection chamber  76 , so that the oil which is thrown onto the cowling sleeve is retained thereon until it passes into the drain. In this embodiment, the drain passes radially through the cowling sleeve  66 . 
     In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation.