Patent GB-633070-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for removal of shells from nuts and particularly cashew nuts
IPC: A23N5/00
Filed: 1946-09-09
Abstract: 633,070. Shelling nuts. VISENJON, L. B., and DOS SANTOS, M. P. Sept. 9, 1946, No. 27009. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, March 19. 1947.] [Class 59] [Also in Groups XXIII and XXX] Apparatus for shelling nuts comprises means to grip a nut, and cutting means comprising an assembly of rotary cutters relatively movable progressively around at least one circumference of the gripped nut, part of the assembly being located at one side and part at the other side of the nut and each part comprising at least one pair of cutters spaced apart in the direction of relative movement of the gripping and cutting means and mounted for rocking movement in the cutting plane about a perpendicular axis; and means for removing at least part of the shell from the kernel. In the machine shown, cashew nuts are fed into a hopper 5, Fig. 3, and are received in pockets 7 of a feed wheel 6 from which they are removed by a reciprocating plunger 10 and fed down a tube 9 of eggshaped cross-section in which reciprocates a further tube 19 carrying spring-loaded jaws 22 which hold each nut prior to its reception by concave gripping pads 29, Fig. 2, provided with pins on which the nut shell is impaled. Each pad is mounted by a universal joint on a rod 32 and maintained vertical and parallel to its co-operating pad by a coil-spring 34 engaging a stepped collar 33 on the rod. The latter extends through a cylinder 35 slidably mounted in one of a pair of parallel rotatable plates 53, and is formed with a collar 36 engaging the end of the cylinder and with a longitudinal slot 38 and axial bore 32a to receive the end of a rod 43 fitted with a cross-pin 44 which works in the slot 38 and engages a transverse hole in a sleeve 39 separated from the collar 36 by a coilspring 41. The rod 43 is slidable to a limited extent in a guide block 45 supported by plates 77 from the plate 53 and carries a roller 50 engaging a cam path formed on each of a pair of parallel fixed plates 2. Each cylinder 35 is formed with an inclined shoulder 67a engaged by a wedge 66 secured by bolts and nuts with interposed springs 69 to a channel member 70 embracing the rounded end of a lever 72 pivoted to the plates 77 and carrying a roller 74 movable in a cam groove 75 formed in each plate 2. Twenty sets of pads 29 and associated mechanism are disposed around the plates 53 which are rotated by pinions 81. The cam paths and grooves on the plates 2 are so shaped that as the pads 29 approach a nut held by the jaws 22, the wedges are moved upwardly to force the cylinders 35 apart sufficiently to enable the pads to straddle the nut. Thereafter, the wedges are withdrawn and the cylinders and pads moved inwardly to impale the nut shell by the rollers 50 engaging raised parts of the cam paths. As the nut held by the pads is carried round by rotation of the plates 53, the wedges again move upwardly to relieve the pressure on the nut and to prevent damage to the kernel after the shell has been cut by three sets of saw assemblies 110a-c, Fig. 9 (not shown). Each saw assembly (see also Group XXIII) comprises an inner pair of double rotary saws 89 carried by a member slidably mounted in a fixed annulus 54 and urged outwardly by springs 100, and an outer pair of double rotary saws 89a similarly mounted in a bracket 112 secured to the plates 2. Each pair of saws is carried by rocking arms pivoted to the slidable member and driven from a motor 94 through worm and wheel and spur gearing -the two blades of each saw are separated by a web which serves as a depth-of-cut gauge limiting the penetration of the blades into the shells. After the shell has been progressively incised by the three sets of saws, the pads are moved apart by the rollers 50 engaging inclined portions of the cam paths, and the nut kernel K with the shell portion A attached, see Fig. 10, falls away and is received by shoots, the portions B and C of the shell remaining impaled on the pads. These portions are subsequently stripped off by spring arms attached to the annulus 54 and are discharged through another shoot. The plunger 10 and tube 19 are reciprocated by crank mechanism driven by gearing from a sprocket 88 on the spindle of the pinions 81. To prevent jamming of the feed mechanism, a spring contact 142 is provided which is engaged with a fixed contact 143 if a nut is received by the feed wheel in an incorrect attitude, the engagement of the contacts closing the circuit of a solenoid 146 which operates a trap door 149 to discharge the nut.