ES1077665U - Almond splitter-splitter machine (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Almond splitter-splitter machine, in particular a splitter-almond separator and other nuts machine designed with a specific function of automatic self-cleaning in case of jamming of split kernels of almonds or other nuts or jam of other foreign matters without the need to stop the operation of the machine, comprising a receptacle formed in the structure of the rigid metal frame (5) of the machine, which extends horizontally according to the longitudinal direction of the machine, intended to receive the almonds or other nuts from a feed hopper (13) associated with a first end of the receptacle and provided with an exit at the opposite end closed by means of a gate or trapdoor (14) controlled opening, housing said receptacle inside a rotary operating shaft (15) cylindrical also extended horizontally according to the longitudinal direction of the machine and concentric with said receptacle, said rotary operative axis (15) being provided with "finger" elements projecting radially outwards from various longitudinal positions of said axis and aligned according to different generatrices whose friction with the almonds or other nuts that feeding into the interior of the receptacle causes the partition of the respective shells and the extraction of the grain, the machine being characterized in that said receptacle is constituted by a multiplicity of concentric rings (1, 1'), aligned according to the longitudinal direction of the machine, divided into two groups or halves, of which a first group of rings (1) are fixed in their positioning, and a second group of rings (1') are movable according to an ascending/descending movement with respect to the rings (1) fixed. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Object of 1. Invention

The present invention relates to an almond splitter-separating machine, which provides essential novelty characteristics and notable advantages over the means known and used for the same purposes in the current state of the art.

More particularly, the invention proposes development

of a usable splitter-separator machine

1 S

specifically, but not exclusively, with almonds or

nuts of a similar nature, substantially

improved compared to similar machines in the

current technique by incorporating a self-device

operable cleaning while the machine is operating,

twenty

whereby any matter can be evacuated

strange that eventually get caught between the rings

adjacent to a set of constituent rings of the

Almond receiving cavity for shelling,

these rings being successively separated by a

25

adjustable distance at will and also allows filtering

grain based on size parameters previously

established, for which purpose a part of the rings of the

set of rings (specifically, half of the

rings) are attached to a fixed support, and another part of

30

the rings of the set (specifically, the other half of

the rings), which occupy positions alternated with the

fixed rings, are subject to a mobile support under

of an actuator of hydraulic, electric, pneumatic or

mechanical, which by acting on the latter allows a

3S

positional regulation of said mobile rings with

with respect to the fixed ones, and with it a regulation of the separation between adjacent rings.

The scope of the invention is

S included within the industrial sector dedicated to the manufacture and installation of machinery for the treatment and handling of almonds or other nuts of comparable nature.

10 Background and Summary of the Invention In the area of the treatment of almonds and other nuts provided with shell, it is necessary to subject these products to a shell-splitting operation in order to extract the grain and separate it from the portions

15 shell caused by the partition operation. These operations are carried out inside machines designed for this purpose, in which almonds or other nuts are generally provided from a receiving hopper to a cavity.

20 of the interior of the machine where some type of mechanism is in charge of implementing such operations so that, once the grains of the fruits have been extracted, they can be picked up outside with a view to any possible subsequent processing.

25 However, it is an obvious fact that at the time of extracting the grain, it is necessary to simultaneously expel the husks, together with other impurities or foreign matter, in order to avoid the accumulation of the latter in the

30 inside the machine and thus achieve effective operation. The expulsion of shells and foreign matter from inside the machine often causes certain difficulties associated with the problem of traffic jams that originate in places.

35 where the partition of the shell of the

almond or other dried fruit and the separation between the portions of the split peel and the kernel of the almond or other dried fruit extracted.

s Some types of shelling machines applicable to nuts of the type mentioned (mainly almonds) are already known in the state of the art, by means of which it is possible to carry out the extraction of the fruit from the inside of the shell with a simultaneous separation between

10 the grain and the shell portions. Eg shelling machine separating machines of the type mentioned have been disclosed in some prior art documents, among which Spanish Utility Models Nos. U-200601131 and U-200801242, of the same

5 applicant, both mainly applicable with soft shell almonds, of which the first discloses a machine comprising an almond receiving receptacle in which the shelling operation is carried out, extended according to the horizontal direction in

In general, inside which a cylindrical shaft is also extended horizontally and concentrically extended with the receptacle, provided with a multiplicity of rods or filiform elements, like fingers, which project radially from said axis along several

25 generatrices, and they are responsible for hitting and rubbing with the almonds to cause the breakage of the shell and the release of the grain. The constructive characteristics of the receptacle correspond to a spiral configuration in which the fillets

30 consecutively adjacent are separated by a predefined distance in accordance with the usual size of the grain, to allow it to pass into a hopper or collection vessel located under the machine, the shells being, together with the impurities and almonds of

3S hard shell that usually accompany those of

soft shell in a certain percentage, directed towards an outlet opening located in an extreme position of the receptacle, opposite the end where the entrance mouth of the fruit is located. For its part, the second document mentioned discloses that it substantially improves that of the first document mentioned, in which the receptacle where the partition of the almond shell is carried out to extract the grain, in addition to incorporating a feed hopper of the product at one of its ends, includes an outlet at the opposite end closed by means of a gate whose opening is controlled by means of one or more functional parameters of the machine, thereby maintaining an identical level of product inside the receptacle and greater operational efficiency of the machine.

The second machine model just discussed, based on the first of these models but with substantial improvements over the latter, was an important advance with respect to the operability and functionality of the machines in the market up to that time, at the same time: to allow the possibility of incorporating means for a continuous feeding of the product by measuring a predefined functional parameter, thereby contributing to a more efficient selection of soft-shell almond versus hard and improved machine performance.

Despite the improvements that led to the development of the machine disclosed by the second model mentioned against the types of machines existing in the state of the art, it has been shown that this improved machine still admits certain improvements aimed at eliminating some inconveniences they sometimes observe during non-machine operation, and that they are associated

to traffic jams that originate with a certain frequency,

when some portions of shells or other materials

strangers are embedded between two consecutive fillets

of the spiral configuration with which it is built

S

the receptacle where the operation of

partition. When such a jam occurs, it is

it is necessary for an operator to stop the machine and carry out

a descaling operation, all of which entails

wasted time and therefore increased costs

10

productive.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a

splitter-separating machine in which, when presented

situations in which materials and bodies

fifteen

disposable strangers get unwantedly trapped, the

machine be able to perform a self-operation

cleaning while it is running, no need to

stop it and therefore without loss of productivity.

twenty

This has been the main objective that has been proposed

the present invention by designing the machine that

it will be described in what follows, and whose

essential features are collected in the portion

characterizing claim 1 attached.

25

In essence, the machine of the invention is based on

the operational and functional design materialized by both

Utility Models U-200601131 and U-200801242 mentioned

in the foregoing, but presents against

30

realizations of both previous documents some

substantially operational and design features

improved, being specifically designed to avoid

unwanted traffic jams occur, and sometimes

that occur, such jams can be eliminated without

35

need to stop the machine or stop production, it is

that is, provide the machine with a self-cleaning function.

To do this, the conception of receptacle to which they are

S the almonds are fed to be subjected to the spiral-shaped partitioning or shelling operation, in which the adjacent or adjacent spiral fillets are successively separated by a fixed predetermined distance, the almond receiving receptacle of the

The machine disclosed by the present invention is constructed by a multiplicity of rings, concentric, parallel and equidistant from each other, divided into two groups

or halves, of which a first ring group is of fixed positioning when connected to a 1S solidarity support with the machine frame, and a second other group of rings, interspersed with those of the first group and therefore respectively alternated with the of the latter, they are attached to a variable positioning support, adjustable at will, so that the ratio of concentricity / eccentricity between the rings of both groups can be modified and thereby modify the separation between successive rings, so that sun or the unblocking of portions of shell or other foreign matter that may have been eventually retained between two mutually adjacent 2S rings is achieved, but this separation can also be altered according to the specific needs depending on the varieties of almonds or other nuts in which the shelling is done. The variation in the positioning of the second group of rings with respect to the first one is carried out with the help of an actuator that is preferably hydraulically actuated, but which, depending on each specific case or need, can be electrically, pneumatically or mechanically driven, or even manually. It is preferred that the actuator device be

3S associated with some precise indicator means of any kind

adequate existing in the state of the art, so that

the

operation from change positional from some rings in

relationship

with the others can be led to cape with the

precision or

accuracy that each case require.

Brava Description of the Drawings

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given only by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which:

Figures la -lc show three schematic views of a concentric ring configuration, divided into two groups of successively interleaved rings, with the possibility of regulating the concentricity / eccentricity ratio of the rings of one of the groups in relation to those of the other , in accordance with the operating principles of the machine of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation, in perspective, of an exploded view made in a receptacle of the type incorporated in the machine of the present invention;

Figure 3 schematically represents a perspective view of an almond supply receptacle in a splitter-separating machine according to the invention, longitudinally sectioned to show the operating organs therein;

Figure 4 illustrates two representations identified as (a) and (b), representative of the automatic cleaning operation of the machine in case of jamming of any foreign matter, and

Figure 5. also composed of two representations identified as (a l and (bl. Illustrates the

5 Possibility of positional adjustment between the adjacent alternating rings of both groups of rings that together form the receptacle to which the almonds or other nuts are fed for the operation of shell splitting and grain extraction.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

As mentioned above, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the object of the invention will be carried out in

1 5 which follows with the help of the attached drawings, through which the same numerical references are used to designate the same or equivalent parts. Thus, attending first to Figure 1 of the drawings, three flat schematic representations are shown, identified

20 such as, lb and le, illustrative of an end elevation view, a side elevation view with the constituent rings of the reception and partition receptacle of almonds or other nuts in position properly aligned and therefore mutually concentric with each other, Y

25 is a side elevation view similar to Figure lb, in which a group consisting of rings positionally is offset with respect to the group formed by the other rings, respectively. These Figures the a lc summarize the functionality offered by the machine of the present

30 invention for self-cleaning in case some foreign matter gets stuck between adjacent rings, as can be seen more clearly in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings that will be described later.

35 The rings belonging to a first group,

identified in general with reference number 1, it

considers that they constitute the group of fixed rings,

while the rings that alternate with the first ones,

that is, successively interspersed rings between

5

fixed rings, identified with reference 1 ',

they belong to a second group of mobile rings, being

endowed with an upward movement thanks to the action of

an actuator device that in the representations has been

shown as an actuator cylinder identified with the

1O

numerical reference 2, can be moved a distance

predetermined with respect to fixed rings,

thereby increasing the separation between fixed rings

and mobile and thereby allowing any matter

strange that it has been stuck can be released.

fifteen

In the Figure the mobile rings l 'have been shown

by dashed lines, and they appear in a condition

eccentricity with respect to fixed rings 1¡ in the

side view of Figure lb, all rings occupy

twenty

respectively concentric positions, being therefore

cylinder 2 deactivated, while in Figure lc

the rings of the group of moving rings appear

moved up, in the direction indicated by

the arrows F1, by the retraction action of cylinder 2

25

transmitted through its stem 3 to a support 4 to which

l 'rings are attached. The movement

ascending / descending of the moving rings with respect to

the fixed, is perfectly guided as will be explained

later with respect to Figure 2. It should be clarified

30

furthermore that the type of cylinder 2 does not represent any

critical condition for the proper functioning of the

machine of the invention, and could.1 consist of any

type of actuator existing in the state of the

current or future technique (hydraulic, electric, pneumatic or

35

mechanical), provided that its characteristics are

compatible with the needs of the invention.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view made in an example of an almond splitter-separator machine 5 according to the invention, in particular an exploded view made in relation to the reception receptacle of the almonds and the means associated with the rings that constitute it. In the schematic representation of this Figure 2, the receptacle has been designed based on a rigid, metal frame structure 5, within which the rings 1 belonging to the group of fixed rings appear, joined in solidarity with portions of side walls thanks to the provision of flat arms 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d extending radially from positions

1 S separated approximately by angular distances of the order of 90 0 and more or less coincident with the diagonals of the receptacle, and that end in end portions folded into a square by means of which they are fixedly linked to the walls of structure 5 of the

20 receptacle, by means of screws, rivets, welding, etc., keeping between each pair of successively adjacent rings a distance previously established according to the operating and design parameters of the machine receptacle. Under such conditions, the ring set

25 fixed determine a circular, cylindrical passage, extended horizontally according to the longitudinal direction of the receptacle.

The rings l 'belonging to the group of rings

30 movable, vertically displaceable with respect to the fixed rings 1, have been represented in a higher position, above the previous ones, are of the same diameter as the first and, like the latter, each of the rings l 'of this second group includes

35 four flat arms 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d that project radially from approximately equidistant angular positions separated by 90 °, angularly offset with respect to the positions of the arms 6a-6d of the fixed rings, so as not to interfere with sl when

S each of the rings l 'is inserted between two adjacent fixed rings 1.

As shown in the exploded view of Figure 2, each of the arms 7b-7d of each of the mobile rings 10 ends in an end portion bent at right angles, intended for connection to the respective element with which it is associate. Thus, the upper positioning arms 7d are in solidarity with a support 4 through which a simultaneous action is carried out thereon during the upward movement! descending, for which purpose said support 4 preferably includes an integral lug 4a therewith, to which the rod end 3 of the actuator means 2 is fixed, in accordance with the representation of Figures 20 la-lc. On the other hand, the arms 7b and 7c, which occupy diametrically opposite positions and extend transversely, are provided to be fixed to each side guide plates, indicated in the Figure with the numerical references 9a, 9b, configured with cross section 2S in "C", whose guide plates are vertically movable thanks to two sliding axes 10 that are housed in openings made in mutually opposite positions of both short branches of the "C" in the vicinity of the ends of each plate 9a, 9b. Axes

30 10 are fixedly attached to the side walls of the structure 5 constituting the receptacle.

Finally, the arms 7a of the movable rings, extended in a vertically descending direction, do not 3S have any square end, but include a

through hole 8 through which an axis 11 can be inserted that keeps them perfectly aligned with each other, prior to insertion of separator 12, also provided with an axial hole for the passage of said axis 11, with a

5 multiplicity of slits in which the ends of said lower arms 7a are housed, in order to preserve the distance between each pair of successively adjacent arms.

The assembly of the receptacle assembly described in relation to Figure 2, is as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. In said Figure 3 the receptacle of the almond splitter-separator machine is represented according to a longitudinal section made in the

1S itself, showing its interior and the operating organs associated with it. In this case, the receptacle is much longer than the one shown in Figure 2, and therefore corresponds to a more real case than the one discussed in relation to Figure 2, represented only by

20 effects and understanding of the improved capabilities of the machine of the present invention.

Accordingly to the representation of Figure 3, the elements, devices and mechanisms equivalent to 2 S those of Figure 2 have been indicated with the same numerical references. Thus, the rigid frame structure 5 of the machine of the invention communicates at one of its ends with a hopper 13 for feeding the nuts, while the outlet, located at the opposite end 30 of the receptacle, is closed by means of a gate or trapdoor 14, with controlled opening, for the purpose of maintaining the operational levels according to the description disclosed by document u200801242 mentioned above. In concentric position 3S with the receptacle are distributed all the

rings 1, l 'constituting both the group of fixed rings and the group of mobile rings, positioned mutually concentric in general according to the longitudinal direction, elements such as the separating means 12 associated with the lower arms 7a of the movable rings and the upper support 4 to which the upper arms 7d of the movable rings are attached. The actuator means 2 also appears in solidarity with the rigid structure of the frame 5, with its rod 3 also attached to the lug 4a for the upward / downward displacement of said support, and with it the group of mobile rings l ', on the occasion of the retraction / extension of said rod 3, respectively.

Inside the receptacle, the rotary operating axis 15 extended horizontally, concentrically with the rings, and provided with the "fingers" 16 projected radially from said operating axis in various longitudinal positions of the axis and from several axis generatrices can also be seen. The positioning of the operating shaft 15 is maintained with the help of a spring 17, the end of the shaft being associated with a pulley 18 to receive the driving action from a suitable external motor (not shown).

With this arrangement, it is clearly understood that the movable rings l 'can be maintained in conditions of concentricity with the fixed rings 1, but that, by virtue of the actuation of the actuator element 2, with the consequent contraction of its corresponding rod 3, it is caused the upward displacement of said mobile rings l 'from the concentric position shown in Figure 3 to an eccentricity condition in which the distance between each mobile ring l' and the fixed rings 1 between which it is interleaved is increased.

This function is clearly represented in the

graphic illustrations of Figures 4 and 5, in which

19 portions of foreign matter are stuck

between rings 1, l '(Figure 4a). The drive of

5

actuator means 2 (causes upward displacement of

the rings l '(Figure 4bl, causing the portions of

foreign matter 19 fall along with the grain, and allowing

in that way the self-cleaning action of the machine. A

Once the foreign matter is unblocked, the positions

10

relative of the mobile rings l 'with respect to the

Fixed rings 1 can be recovered.

At the same time, the possibility of regulation

positional of the mobile rings l 'with respect to the

1 S

Fixed rings 1 no s610 allows automatic operation of

unblocking (self-cleaning) of the machine, but also

can be used to regulate the passage of grain in

function of the different sizes and / or varieties of almond

or other dried fruit. Figure S illustrates this possibility, of

twenty

so that in Figure Sa, where rings 1, l 'are

concentric, the separation distance between rings

adjacent is indicated as "d" while in the

condition of mobile rings l 'displaced with respect to

fixed rings 1, the separation between adjacent rings

25

(Figure Sb) has been designated as \ Id '' ', the latter being

substantially greater than the previous one. Regulating therefore

the displaced position of the movable rings l 'with respect to

the fixed rings 1, a step distance is obtained

perfectly adjusted to the desired value depending on

30

Each application or specific need.

It is not considered necessary to make the

content of this description for an expert in

the subject can understand its scope and the advantages that

35

from its object are derived.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and since the description made refers only to an example of embodiment of the object of the invention, it will be understood that within its essentiality multiple variations of detail, equally protected, which in particular may affect such characteristics may be introduced such as the shape, size or manufacturing materials of the assembly or its parts,

or any others that do not alter the essentiality of the invention delimited solely by the scope of the claims set forth below.

Claims (6)

5

1. Almond splitter-separating machine, in

particular an almond splitter-separator machine and

other nuts designed with a specific function of

automatic self-cleaning in case of jamming of the shells

Almond or other nuts or jam items

10

of other foreign matters without stopping the

machine operation, comprising a receptacle

fOI: 1 Drawing on the frame structure (5) rigid metal

of the machine, which extends horizontally according to the

longitudinal direction of the machine, intended to receive

1 S

almonds or other nuts from a talva of

feed (13) associated with a first end of the

receptacle and equipped with an outlet at the opposite end

closed by means of a hatch or hatch (14) of

controlled opening, housing said receptacle in its

twenty

inside a rotary operating axis (15) cylindrical

also extended horizontally according to the direction

longitudinal of the machine and concentric with said

receptacle, the aforementioned rotary operating axis being

(15) equipped with elements as projected "fingers"

2S

radially outward from various positions

longitudinal of said axis and aligned according to different

generatrices whose friction with almonds or other fruits

dried that feed inside the receptacle causes

the partition of the respective shells and the extraction

30

of the grain, the machine being characterized because said

receptacle is constituted by a multiplicity of

concentric rings (1, 1 '), aligned according to direction

longitudinal of the machine, divided into two groups or

halves, of which a first group of rings (1) are

3S

fixed in their positioning, and a second group of rings

(1 ') are mobile according to an upward / downward movement with respect to the fixed rings (1).

2.

-Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile rings (1 ') occupy successively interspersed positions with the fixed rings (1).

3.

Machine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each of the fixed rings (1) has four arms (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) radially extended from diametrically opposed positions angularly spaced by distances of 90 °, each of whose arms it ends in an extreme portion bent in square and intended to be fixed to the side walls of the frame structure (5) rigid of the machine.

Four . Machine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each of the movable rings (1 ') has four arms (7a, 7b, 7C, 7d), radially extended from diametrically opposed positions angularly spaced, of which: the arms (7d) that occupy upper positions end in flat end portions intended to be fixed to a support (4) through which the upward / downward movement is communicated to said arms; the arms (7b, 7c) extended transversely end in end portions intended for fixing to a respective guide plate (9a, 9b) during said upward / downward movement, and the lower positioning arms (7a), directed vertically downwards, are straight and have a respective hole (8), provided for the passage of an axis (11) previous coupling of its ends to a separating element (12) provided to maintain the distance of separation between successive rings (1 ') in the condition of interspersed with the fixed rings (1). 5. -Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that each guide plate (9a, 9b) is configured in It is an "eN" shape and has two openings in positions in opposite positions of its short branches, close to the ends of the plate, which house respective shafts (10) integral with the frame structure (S) of the machine, with respect to which the upward / downward movement (1 ') can move. 6. -Machine according to the claim because said support (4) has slide during rings 4, characterized by an lug (4a)

1S

Planned for the fixing of extreme from a stem (3) from

a

means, medium actuator (2), whose contraction / extension provokes

he

displacement ascending / descending of the group from

rings

(one' ) mobile phones

twenty

7. Machine according the claim 6, characterized

why

said medium actuator (2) be choose between the from kind

hydraulic,

electric, tire or mechanic

25

30

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