Patent GB-610059-A (GB)
Title: New or improved nut-husking machine
IPC: A23N5/00
Filed: 1945-11-07
Abstract: 610,059. Endless-chain conveyers. PARSON & CROSLAND, Ltd. (Porem, A. M.). Nov. 7, 1945, No. 29663. (Class 78 (i)] [Also in Group II] In a machine for husking nuts of elongated shape of the kind comprising cutters 18, 19 for making incisions in the husks, opening means 40 to enter the incisions and split the husks and a pair of conveyer chains 7 provided with nut-holding devices 13 which co-operate in pairs for gripping the nuts between them and feeding them along a path past the cutters and opening means, the nut holding-devices are shaped for engaging the ends of the nuts and for gripping the nuts with their length in the direction of feed. Each nutholder 13 (Fig. 3) comprises a body part 47, a leading clip 48 and a trailing clip 49. The body part is of inverted channel section presenting a longitudinal concavity outwards of the chain to a link of which it is attached by. flanges 51 held by pivot pins 54 of the link. The leading clip 48 comprises two rearwardly extending arms 55 embracing the flanges 51 and pivotally connected by the pin 54, and a clip portion 56 formed with wings for engaging one end of the nut. Rollers 58 are mounted by screws 59 on the outsides of the arms 55 towards their leading ends. The trailing clip 49 has two forwardly extending arms 60 embracing flanges 51 and pivotally connected to the rearward pivot pin 64, and a clip portion 61 formed with wings for engaging the other end of the nut. The wings of either or both of the clips may be serrated. The clip 49 also has two tail portions, one 63 lying outside the chain and the other 64 projecting under the chain and beyond the inside thereof to assist in closing one clip on to the nut. As the holders enter the inner flight of the chains which move round cogs 4, the clips straighten out and grip the nuts firmly about their ends, the convex portion of the nut being seated in the concave body of the holder and the nuts thus firmly held are led past the cutters and openers. To maintain the grip of each pair of holders on the nut spring-loaded presser devices 69, 75, 80 (Figs. 3, 9, 10) are provided on the outside of the inner flights of the chains and each carried by a vertical arm 65 pivoted on a spindle 66 (Fig. 4). These arms are drawn towards the inner flights of the chain by helical springs 68 (Fig. 2, not shown). Each first presser device 69 (Figs. 9 and. 10) consists of a plate 70 and a ramp consisting of two parts 71 connected by crosspieces 72 and pivoted at 73 on the plate by means of an extension 73<1> of the upper ramp part. The ramp parts are urged inwardly by a helical spring 74 anchored on the plate, inward movement being limited by the arm 65. As the holders 13 approach the cutting discs 18, 19, the rollers 58 ride on to the ramp parts 71 and are further tilted about their pivots 54 to grip the nut more firmly endwise under the action of the springs 68 and 74. Each second presser device 75 is of similar construction except it has a single ramp part 76 only pivoted at 77 on the plate 78 and connected by spring 79. Each third presser device 80 comprises only a plate 81 attached to the underside of which is a forwardly extending finger 82 with a recess 83 engageable with arm 65 of the preceding device 75. The serrated cutter discs 18, 19 are mounted on shafts 22, 23 supported at the ends of inclined lever arms 24, 25, each being extended beyond its pivot 26 and loaded by a helical spring 28 anchored through an adjustable device 29. When inoperative, the discs 18, 19 overlap, the amount of overlap being determined by adjustable screws 30 engaging a platform 3 and cover 14 respectively. The outer face of each disc is fitted with a concentric guard disc 39 of smaller diameter to limit the depth of cut. Further cutters consisting of two non-rotary spring-pressed serrated blades 84 may be carried at the ends of arms 85 mounted in pivots 86 supported by brackets 87 from the platform 3 and cover 14. Alternatively, a second pair of cutter discs in series with the first pair may be provided. The opening means 40 consist of curved blades or knife edges supported by spring-loaded and/or spring-mounted arms 41 mounted between adjustable pivot pins 42.