GB2440502A

GB2440502A - Shelling apparatus for leguminous vegetables

Info

Publication number: GB2440502A
Application number: GB0615229A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Neville Filmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-31
Filing date: 2006-07-31
Publication date: 2008-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-31
Also published as: GB2440502B; GB0615229D0

Abstract

An apparatus 1 for shelling leguminous vegetables such as beans or peas, particularly broad beans comprises a rotatable drum 11, a plurality of elongate, compliant fingers 13 arranged around a portion of the drum in the direction of rotation from an entry region to an exit region and being mounted so as not to rotate with the drum and a tensioning means to urge the fingers towards the drum with a cylindrically variable force; wherein as the vegetables travel from the entry region to the exit region, they are gently squeezed and rolled by the fingers to burst the pods. The tensioning means may comprise an eccentrically mounted roller 29. A spray bar 31 may spray water onto the beans.

Description

A SHELLING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a shelling apparatus.

In particular the present invention relates to an apparatus for automating the shelling of leguminous vegetables, for example beans or peas.

The invention has been specifically designed for broad beans, but could be more broadly applicable with suitable alterations which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. At present broad beans are shelled by hand. This is time consuming and hence expensive. There is a need for a machine to shell broad beans so that costs can be reduced.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for shelling leguminous vegetables, the apparatus comprising: a rotatable drum; a plurality of elongate, compliant fingers arranged around a portion of the drum in the direction of rotation from an entry region to an exit region, and being mounted so as not to rotate with the drum; and a tensioning means to urge the fingers towards the drum with a cyclically variable force; wherein, as the leguminous vegetables travel from the entry region to the exit region, they are gently squeezed and rolled by the fingers to burst the pods.

In use, the leguminous vegetables are gripped between the elongate fingers and the rotor. The cyclically variable pressure causes the vegetables to roll and the pressure exerted on the pods between the fingers and drum causes the pods to split. As the shells split the peas or beans are forced out. The spacing between the elongate fingers enables the leguminous vegetables to fall away from the drum.

The fingers may be substantially parallel. However the fingers preferably diverge between the entry region and the exit region. The diverging arrangement of the elongate fingers causes the shells of the leguminous vegetables to stretch as they pass around the rotor. This provides an additional fence to split the pods which may be useful particularly on more robust vegetables such as broad beans.

The tensioning means may be any mechanism which is able to cyclically alter the tension in the elongate fingers. In a preferred embodiment the tensioning means comprises an eccentrically mounted roller located near the upstream end of the elongate fingers which, in use, cyclically applies a varying pressure to the elongate fingers. The electrically mounted roller may either have a circular section and be mounted to rotate about an eccentric axis, or may have a non-circular profile.

Preferably, the tensioning means also comprises a spring tensioner attached to the restraining means. The tensioning means may utilise any method that enables the tension in the elongate members to be adjusted.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises an input conveyor for conveying unshelled leguminous vegetables to the drum.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a first output conveyor for conveying shelled leguminous vegetables away from the drum. Alternatively, the apparatus may comprise a container into which the shelled leguminous vegetables fall directly.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a second output conveyor for conveying shells from the leguminous vegetables away from the rotor. Alternatively, the apparatus may comprise a container into which the shells of the leguminous vegetables fall directly.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a spray bar located so that in use, lubricating fluid can be applied to the apparatus.

Preferably, the diameter of the drum is at least 500mm.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for shelling leguminous vegetables utilising the apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising the steps of: conveying unshelled legurninous vegetables to the drum; passing the unshelled leguminous vegetables between the elongate fingers and the drum, wherein the leguminous vegetables and their shells are separated; conveying away from the drum or collecting directly the leguminous vegetables; and conveying away from the drum or collecting directly the shells.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a shelling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic front elevation of the shelling apparatus of Figure 1; Referring to Figure 1 the device 1 according to the present invention comprises an input conveyor belt 3, for transporting broad beans in their shells to a shelling apparatus 5, a first output conveyor belt 7 for transporting the beans away from the shelling apparatus 5 and a second output conveyor belt 9 for transporting the shells away from the shelling apparatus 5. Figures 1 and 2 show the direction of movement of the conveyor belts.

The input conveyor belt 3 is endless. At the downstream end the input conveyor belt 3 passes around a relatively small diameter roller (not shown). At the upstream end the input conveyor belt 3 passes around a relatively large drum 11 having a diameter of about 600mm. The drum 11 is driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown) about a central horizontal axis, shown as X-X in Figure 1. It is the rotation of the drum 11 which moves the input conveyor belt 3 in the direction shown in Figure 1.

The shelling apparatus 5 comprises two sets of twelve axially spaced flexible rods 13, each having a circular cross-section with a diameter of about 8mm. The flexible rods 13 are located partially around the external circumference of the drum 11.

At their upstream ends the flexible rods 13 are attached at to a restraining bar 15 which is located axially parallel to the rotational axis of the drum 11 and spans its width. The restraining bar 15 is rigidly fixed to the framework which supports the drum 11. The restraining bar 15 is spaced apart from the input conveyor belt 3 by a distance of about 55mm. This permits the unshelled beans to pass under the restraining bar 15 and to come into contact with the flexible rods 13.

At their downstream ends the spaced flexible rods 13 are attached to a tensioning bar 19. The tensioning bar 19 is also located axially parallel to the rotational axis of the drum 11 and spans its width. Each end of the tensioning bar 19 is located on an arm 21 which rotates about a pivot on the framework (not shown). The arms 21 are each provided with a spring tensioner 23. Adjustment of the spring tensioner 23 enables the flexible rods 13 to be held against the drum 11 with a desired force.

The flexible rods 13 pass through circular holes in the restraining bar 15 and the tensioning bar 19. The flexible rods 13 are held in position within these holes by grub screws. The centres of the holes on the restraining bar 15 are 22mm apart. The centres of the holes on the tensioning bar 19 are 40mm apart. The different hole spacings causes the flexible rods 13 to fan out across the surface of the drum 11.

Adjacent to the upstream ends of the flexible rods 13 is mounted an eccentrically rotating driven roller 29. This roller 29 is fixed to the framework and is located axially parallel to the rotational axis of the drum 11. The roller 29 is located so that the flexible rods 13 pass between it and the drum 11. The roller 29 rotates in the direction shown in the Figures.

Above the input conveyor belt 3 is located a spray bar 31, for spraying water on to the drum 11, in order to lubricate the surfaces of the shelling apparatus and the beans themselves. The spray bar can be seen in Figure 3.

In use, unshelled broad beans B are placed on the input conveyor belt 3 in two rows, each row aligned with one of the two sets of flexible rods 13, and are conveyed towards the drum 11. In this embodiment the broad beans are placed on to the input conveyor belt 3 by hand. However, it is envisaged that a mechanism may be provided for automating the process of placing the broad beans on the conveyor belt 3 in the correct alignment.

When the broad beans reach the drum 11 they pass under the restraining bar 15 and come into contact with the flexible rods 13. shortly after passing under the restraining bar they approach the eccentrically rotating driven roller 29. The roller 29 is positioned so that at one extreme of its eccentric rotation the roller 29 loses contact with the flexible rods 13 and at the other extreme it contacts the flexible rods 13 so that they are deflected.

The forced deflection of the flexible rods 13 varies between these two positions. This action of the roller 29 cyclically alters the tension of the flexible rods 13. This in turn imparts a moment to the unshelled beans causing them to rotate around their own longitudinal axis and relative to the surface of the drum 11. This aids removal of the beans from the shells as will be explained below.

Once the broad beans have passed the roller 29 they are held against the surface of the drum 11 by the flexible rods 13. The rotation of the unshelled beans relative to the drum 11 and also the movement of the beans around the drum 11 causes the shells to split and allows the beans to leave the shells. The gaps between the flexible rods 13 allow the beans to drop out on to the first output conveyor 7. In contrast the shells are held between the flexible rods 13 and the drum 11 and continue to rotate with the drum 1].

until they reach a position in which they are no longer forced against the surface of the drum 11 by the flexible rods 13 and they can fall out. This position is reached towards the bottom of the drum and can be seen from Figure 2. When the shells lose contact with the drum 11 they fall onto the second output conveyor belt 9 and are conveyed away for disposal.

Claims

CLAI MS

1. An apparatus for shelling leguminous vegetables, the apparatus comprising: a rotatable drum; a plurality of elongate, compliant fingers arranged around a portion of the drum in the direction of rotation from an entry region to an exit region, and being mounted so as not to rotate with the drum; and a tensioning means to urge the fingers towards the drum with a cyclically variable force; wherein, as the leguminous vegetables travel from the entry region to the exit region, they are gently squeezed and rolled by the fingers to burst the pods.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fingers diverge between the entry region and the exit region.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the tensioning means comprises an eccentrically mounted roller.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tensioning means comprises a spring tensioner attached to the restraining means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising an input conveyor for conveying unshelled legurninous vegetables to the drum.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the input conveyor comprises a conveyor belt which passes around the drum.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a first output conveyor for conveying shelled leguminous vegetables away from the drum.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a second output conveyor for conveying leguminous vegetable shells away from the drum.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a spray bar located so that in use, lubricating fluid can be applied to the apparatus.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the diameter of the drum is at least 500mm.

11. A method for shelling leguminous vegetables utilising the apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising the steps of: conveying unshelled leguminous vegetables to the drum; passing the unshelled leguminous vegetables between the elongate fingers and the drum, wherein the leguminous vegetables and shells are separated; conveying away from the drum or collecting directly the legurninous vegetables; and conveying away from the drum or collecting directly the shells.

12. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.