WO2012042395A9

WO2012042395A9 - Method and machine for shelling a coconut

Info

Publication number: WO2012042395A9
Application number: PCT/IB2011/050768
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca Ascari; Daniela Ascari
Original assignee: A.B.L. S.R.L.
Priority date: 2010-06-28
Filing date: 2011-02-24
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Also published as: WO2012042395A2; ITMO20100193A1; WO2012042395A3

Abstract

A method for shelling a coconut, comprising the following stages: making at least an incision (21) on the shell (2), which incision subdivides the shell into two portions; subjecting the shell to a sharp change of temperature; separating the shell (2) from the pulp (3). A machine for shelling a coconut, comprising: at least a gripping device (11), predisposed to retain a coconut (1); at least a cutting device (14), predisposed to realise an incision (21) on the shell of the coconut; rotation means, predisposed to determine a relative rotation between the coconut (1) and the cutting device (14) such that the incision realised by the cutting device (14) extends around the whole shell (2).

Description

Method and machine for shelling a coconut

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and a machine for shelling coconuts.

As is well known, the term "coconut" is commonly used to identify the whole consisting of the endocarp, tegument and seed of the fruit of the coconut palm.

The endocarp, which is commonly called "shell", forms the woody, very hard outer covering layer of the actual seed which constitutes the pulp of the coconut. The shell adheres to the tegument, which is formed by the thin dark-coloured covering that adheres to the whitish pulp and is normally eaten together with the pulp itself.

Due to the great hardness and resistance of the shell and the strong bond joining the shell to the tegument, opening a coconut and above all separating the pulp from the shell are extremely difficult, laborious operations which, at present, are performed exclusively by hand. This strongly limits the production of coconut-based foods and at the same time considerably increases the cost of the foods produced.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine for shelling a coconut that enables the manual intervention of an operator to be greatly limited.

An advantage offered by the present invention is that it enables coconuts to be shelled in an extremely simple and rapid manner.

Another advantage offered by the present invention is that it enables coconuts to be shelled without altering the sensory properties of the pulp.

Another advantage offered by the present invention is that it enables coconuts to be shelled without the necessity of breaking up the pulp.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following approximate, and hence non-restrictive, description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a schematic front view of the machine according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the machine according to the present invention;

- figure 3 shows a schematic view from above of the machine according to the present invention;

- figure 4 shows a schematic cross-section view of a heating device of the machine according to the present invention;

- figure 5 shows a cross-section view of a fruit of a coconut palm.

With reference to figure 5, a coconut 1 normally displays a slightly oval shape in which there may be defined a base P, which is the zone in which the shell is bonded to the mesocarp of the fruit and in which three circular depressions, commonly called "eyes", can be identified, and an apex A, which is the most tapered portion of the coconut 1, opposite the base P. A longitudinal axis x can be defined as an axis which, approximately, joins the apex A and base P of the coconut.

The method according to the present invention comprises the stages described here below.

One stage consists in making at least an incision 21 on the shell 2 of the coconut 1, which incision subdivides the shell into two portions. In particular, the incision 21 is closed like a ring so as to extend around the whole shell 2.

After the incision 21 has been realised, the method envisages subjecting the shell to a sharp change of temperature. Preferably, said sharp change of temperature is obtained by heating the shell 2, The applicant has found that a particularly efficacious way to obtain the heating of the shell 2 consists in exposing the shell 2 to a flow of hot air.

The sharp change of temperature of the shell 2 causes a considerable weakening of the bond between the shell 2 and the tegument covering the pulp 3 of the coconut. However, said temperature change, in particular the heating, remains localised to the shell 2 without affecting the pulp 3 of the coconut in any substantial way, so that the sensory properties of the pulp remain wholly unaltered.

Following the sharp change of temperature, the method according to the present invention envisages separating the shell 2 from the pulp 3. Thanks to the considerable weakening of the bond between the shell 2 and the pulp 3, detachment of the shell 2 is extremely easy and can be achieved with a mechanical action of very slight intensity.

As described above, the sharp change of temperature of the shell 2 is preferably obtained by introducing the coconut 1 into an oven 30 provided with heating elements 32. The temperature to which the coconut may be exposed is comprised between approximately 200 °C and 500 °C. The heating time, depending on the size and quality of the coconut 1, is comprised between about 1 and 5 minutes.

As a solution that is an alternative to the oven 30, the coconut 1 could be exposed to a flow of hot air at a temperature comprised between about 200 °C and 500 °C. At these temperatures it is sufficient to expose the shell 2 to the hot air for an interval of time comprised between 1 and 5 minutes. In both of the solutions described, as already pointed out above, the heating is limited solely to the shell 2 of the coconut.

To further favour the detachment of the shell it is preferable that the incision 21 penetrate at least halfway into a thickness of the shell 2. The applicant has in fact found that the greater the depth of the incision 21, the less resistance to detachment will be offered by the shell 2. The ideal depth of the incision 21 is obtained substantially in proximity to the tegument covering the pulp of the coconut, i.e. the whole thickness of the shell 2.

To further favour the detachment of the shell 2 it is preferable to make two incisions 21,22 in the shell, such as to subdivide the shell 2 itself into four segments. Preferably the two incisions 21,22 are realised on two perpendicular planes that contain the longitudinal axis x of the coconut. The above-described method can be earned out by a machine in accordance with what is described here below.

The machine according to the present invention comprises at least a gripping device 11, predisposed to retain a coconut 1. In a preferred embodiment, the gripping device 11 comprises two shaped plates 12,13 predisposed to clamp the coconut 1 from opposite sides, Preferably the two shaped plates 12,13 are reciprocally movable toward and away from each other along a vertical direction, between a position of loading/unloading a coconut and a position of gripping the coconut. In the loading/unloading position, the two shaped plates 12,13 are at a reciprocal distance such that it is possible to introduce a coconut between the two plates or remove it therefrom, whereas in the gripping position the two shaped plates 12,13 are at a smaller reciprocal distance and are both pressed in contact with the coconut, so as to firmly retain the coconut itself. For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment the two shaped plates 12,13 are associated to two linear motion actuators, e.g. two pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. The coconut 1 is positioned with the longitudinal axis thereof oriented approximately horizontally.

The machine further comprises at least a cutting device 14, predisposed to realise an incision 21 on the shell 2 of the coconut 1. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the cutting device 14 comprises a rotary tool 15, for example a disc mill, made to rotate about a substantially vertical axis, The cutting device 14, and in particular the rotary tool 15, is predisposed to enter into contact with the shell 2 of the coconut 1 in proximity of a middle plane of the coconut itself. For this purpose, the cutting device 14 is able to move toward and away from the coconut 1. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the cutting device 14 can oscillate about a horizontal axis between a position in which the rotary tool 15 is at a distance from the shell 2 of the coconut 1, and a position in which the rotary tool 15 is in contact with the shell 2 in order to realise the incision 21.

Rotation means are predisposed to determine a relative rotation between the coconut 1 and the cutting device 14, such that the incision realised by the cutting device 14 extends around the whole shell 2, In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the rotation means are associated to the gripping device 11 in such a way as to rotate the gripping device 11 about a vertical axis y. In this manner, while the cutting device 14 does not change its position relative to the coconut 1, the coconut 1 is rotated about the vertical axis y so that a complete circumference of the shell 2 thereof is exposed to the action of the cutting device 14 and of the rotary tool 15.

As already mentioned above, to favour the detachment of the shell it is preferable to make at least two incisions on the shell 2 itself. For this purpose the machine according to the present invention comprises a second cutting device 14a predisposed to realise a second incision on the shell of the coconut. The second cutting device 14a also comprises a rotary tool 15a, e.g. a disc mill, which is made to rotate about a substantially vertical axis, The cutting device 14a, and in particular the rotary tool 15a, are likewise predisposed to enter into contact with the shell 2 of the coconut 1 in proximity to a middle plane of the coconut itself. To allow this possibility, the second cutting device 14a is able to move toward and away from the coconut 1. In a preferred embodiment of the machine, the cutting device 14a can also oscillate about a horizontal axis between a position in which the rotary tool 15a is at a distance from the shell 2 of the coconut 1, and a position in which the rotary tool 15a is in contact with the shell 2 in order to realise a second incision 22. The relative rotation between the second cutting device 14a and the coconut 1 is obtained using the rotation means associated to the gripping device 11.

The second cutting device 14a is located in its own station at a certain distance from the first cutting device 14, which is in turn located in a station of its own,

Between the first cutting device 14 and the second one 14a there is placed a rotation device 16, which is predisposed to rotate the coconut 1 about a longitudinal axis x thereof. Said rotation device 16 is preferably provided with gripping means comprising two shaped plates 16a and 16b predisposed to position themselves in contact with the apex A and base V of the shell 2 Analogously to the shaped plates 12,13 of the gripping device 11, the shaped plates 16a, 16b of the rotation device 16 are also reciprocally movable toward and away from each other along the longitudinal axis x of the coconut, between a position of loading/unloading a coconut and a position of gripping the coconut. In the loading/unloading position, the two shaped plates 16a, 16b are at a reciprocal distance such that it is possible to introduce a coconut between the two plates or remove it therefrom, whereas in the gripping position the two shaped plates 16a, 16b are at a smaller reciprocal distance and are both pressed in contact with the coconut, so as to firmly retain the coconut itself. For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment the two shaped plates 16a, 16b are also associated to two linear motion actuators, e.g. two pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders.

The two shaped plates 16a, 16b are connected to an actuator of rotational motion, not illustrated in detail in the figures appended to the present description, predisposed to determine the rotation of the shaped plates I6a,l6b about the longitudinal axis x of the coconut 1.

The rotation device 16 is moreover able to move between an operative position in which the two shaped plates 16a, 16b are aligned with the longitudinal axis x of the coconut and can grip the coconut 1, and a non-operative position, in which the two shaped plates 16a, 16b are not aligned with the longitudinal axis x of the coconut 1 and do not interfere with the displacements of the coconut produced by means of a conveyor device 17.

The conveyor device 17 is predisposed to displace the gripping device 11 between the operating zones of the first cutting device 14, the rotation device 16 and the second cutting device 14a. The conveyor device 17 preferably comprises a rotating support, able to rotate about a vertical axis, to which the gripping device 11 is associated, so that the path followed by the gripping device 11 is circular. The first cutting device 14, the rotation device 16 and the second cutting device 14a, as can be seen in figure 3, are arranged in a peripheral zone in relation to the conveyor device 17, in a position such as to be able to interact with a coconut 1 supported by the gripping device 11. Preferably, a coconut loading/unloading station 18 is likewise arranged in a peripheral position in relation to the conveyor device 17. The loading/unloading station 18, the first cutting device 14, the rotation device 16 and the second cutting device 14a are separated by constant angular steps of about 90°.

In the preferred embodiment, the machine comprises four gripping devices ll,lla,l lb₅llc, which are associated to the conveyor device 17 in positions separated by constant angular steps of about 90°. In this manner, the conveyor device 17 can simultaneously position the four gripping devices at the loading/unloading station 18, the first cutting device 14, the rotation device 16 and the second cutting device 14a.

The operation of the machine takes place according to the following procedure. Assuming an initial configuration in which the gripping devices l l,l la,llb,l lc do not retain any coconut 1 and a first gripping device 11 is positioned at the loading/unloading station 18 with the shaped plates 12,13 thereof in a loading/unloading position, a first coconut 1 can be rested upon the lower shaped plate 13.

Subsequently, the shaped plates 12,13 of the first gripping device 11 move toward the gripping position in order to clamp the coconut 1. Once the coconut 1 has been gripped, the conveyor device 17 is made to rotate by one step so as to bring the first gripping device 11 and the first coconut 1 to the first cutting device 14. The rotary tool 15 is then set into rotation and brought into contact with the shell of the first coconut 1. Simultaneously, the rotation means of the first gripping device 11 are activated to rotate the coconut 1 by 360° so that the first incision 21 is made around the shell 2. The rotation of the conveyor device 17 which brought the first gripping device 11 to the first cutting device 14 simultaneously brought a second gripping device 11a, with the shaped plates 12,13 in a loading/unloading position, into the loading/unloading station 18, so that while the first incision 21 is being realised on the first coconut 1, a second coconut can be placed on the second gripping device 11 a.

On completion of the first incision 21 on the first coconut 1, the rotation device 17 is made to rotate by another angular step of 90°, so as to bring the second gripping device 1 la to the first cutting device 14 and the first gripping device 11 to the rotation device 16. While the first incision 21 is being made on the second coconut la, the rotation device 16, which was initially in the non-operative position, moves into the operative position. The shaped plates 16a, 16b of the rotation device 16 move from the loading/unloading position to the gripping position, Subsequently, the shaped plates 12,13 of the first gripping device 11 move into the loading/unloading position, while the shaped plates 16a, 16b of the gripping device 16 are made to rotate about the longitudinal axis x by an angle of about 90°. On completion of the rotation about the longitudinal axis x, the shaped plates 12,13 of the first gripping device 11 are brought back into the gripping position. Subsequently, the shaped plates 16a, 16b of the gripping device 16 are brought back into the loading/unloading position and the rotation device 16 is brought back into the non-operative position. Simultaneously with the above- described operations, a third coconut lb can be loaded onto a third gripping device l ib which is at the loading/unloading station 18.

On completion of the first incision 21 on the second coconut la, the rotation device 17 is made to rotate by further angular step of 90°. At the end of said further rotation, the first gripping device 11 will be at the second cutting device 14a, the second gripping device 11a will be at the rotation device 16 and the third gripping device lib will be at the first cutting device 14, whereas the fourth cutting device 11c will be at the loading/unloading station 18 ready to receive a fourth coconut lc. The first coconut 1 will receive the second incision 22, made by the second cutting device 14a, in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the plane in which the first incision 21 lies, and in the same manner in which the first incision 21 was made. Simultaneously, the third coconut l ib will receive the first incision 21 made by the first cutting device 14 and the second coconut will be rotated by 90° about the longitudinal axis thereof by the rotation device 16. At the end of the above-described operations, which occur simultaneously, a fourth rotation of the conveyor device 17 will bring the first gripping device 11 into the loading/unloading station 18, where the first coconut can be removed and a subsequent coconut can be loaded, and the other devices to the subsequent operating devices. Under normal operating conditions, therefore, at each rotation of the conveyor device 17 the machine provides a coconut that has received the two orthogonal incisions and receives a still intact coconut.

The incised coconuts can be sent to a heating device 30 predisposed to cause a sharp change of temperature on the shell 2 of the coconuts.

In a preferred embodiment, the heating device 30 comprises an oven, preferably an electric oven. The coconuts 1, whereupon the incisions 21,22 have been made on the shell, can be conducted to the oven 30 by means of a conveyor plane 31. The oven may be of the continuous type or of the static type. In the former case, the coconuts 1 will travel on the conveyor plane 31 inside the oven 30 and become progressively heated while in transit. In the latter case the coconuts 1 will be fed into the oven in batches and remain there for the necessary heating time.

As an alternative to using an oven, the heating of the coconuts 1 could be achieved by one or more sources of hot air, not illustrated, located above the conveyor plane 31. Preferably, the sources of hot air are arranged in orderly succession and are able to move in a direction parallel to the advancement direction of the conveyor plane 31 according to an alternating forward and reverse motion, During forward travel, each source of hot air is capable of proceeding in synchronous motion with a coconut in transit on the conveyor plane 31, above the coconut itself. During reverse travel, each source of hot air approaches until reaching a subsequent coconut in such way that, during the subsequent forward travel each source of hot air can proceed synchronously with a subsequent coconut. For this purpose, the coconuts are fed to the conveyor plane 31 separated by the same distance which separates the sources of hot air. The time synchronisation of the forward and reverse travel of the sources of hot air allows the coconuts to be hit by a jet of hot air substantially throughout the entire transit thereof on the conveyor plane 31, excepting solely the intervals of time during which the sources of hot air complete their reverse travel,

As an alternative to the above-described solution, the sources of hot air could be arranged in fixed stations, separated by regular distances, and the conveyor plane could be advanced step by step, having the coconuts remain beneath the various sources of hot air 32 for a given interval of time.

Upon leaving the heating device, the coconuts 1 can be shelled in an extremely rapid and easy manner. The various portions of the shell 2 can also be detached freely by hand without the need for any special tools. The removal of the shell portions will not prejudice the integrity of the pulp, which substantially maintains the compact form that was enclosed within the shell. The temperature change, localised and limited essentially within the shell, does not alter the sensory properties of the pulp in any appreciable manner.

Claims

1) . A method for shelling a coconut, comprising following stages:

making at least an incision (21) on the shell (2), which incision subdivides the shell (2) into two portions;

subjecting the shell to a sharp change of temperature; separating the shell (2) from the pulp (3).

2) . The method of claim 1, wherein the stage of subjecting the shell to a sharp change of temperature comprises a stage of heating the shell (2),

3) . The method of claim 2, wherein the stage of heating is performed by introducing the coconut into an oven,

4) . The method of claim 2, wherein the stage of heating the shell is performed using hot air.

5) . The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the stage of heating is performed at a temperature comprised between about 200°C and 500°C,

6) . The method of one of claims from 2 to 5, wherein the stage of heating has a duration which is comprised between 1 and 5 minutes,

7) . The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein the incision (21) penetrates at least halfway into a thickness of the shell (2), preferably into a whole thickness of the shell (2).

8) , The method of one of the preceding claims, wherein two incisions (21, 22) are made in the shell (2) such as to subdivide the shell (2) into four segments.

9) . A machine for shelling a coconut, comprising: at least a gripping device (11), predisposed to retain a coconut (1); at least a cutting device (14), predisposed to realise an incision (21) on the shell of the coconut;

rotation means, predisposed to determine a relative rotation between the coconut (1) and the cutting device (14) such that the incision realised by the cutting device (14) extends around the whole shell (2).

10) , The machine of claim 9, wherein the rotation means are associated to the gripping device (11) such as to rotate the gripping device (11) about a vertical axis.

11) , The machine of claims 9 or 10, comprising a rotation device (16) which is predisposed to rotate the coconut (1) about a longitudinal axis (x) thereof.

12) . The machine of one of claims from 9 to 11, comprising a second cutting device (14a) predisposed to realise a second incision in the shell of the coconut.

13) . The machine of claims from 9 to 12, comprising a conveyor device (17) predisposed to displace the gripping device (11) into operating zones of the first cutting device (14), the rotation device (16) and the second cutting device (14a).

14) . The machine of claim 13, wherein the conveyor device (17) preferably comprises a rotating support, able to rotate about a vertical axis, to which four gripping devices (11, 11a, l ib, 11c) are associated, separated by angular steps of about 90°, the first cutting device (14), the rotation device (16), the second cutting device (14a) and a loading/unloading station (18) being arranged in a peripheral zone with respect to the conveyor device and being separated by angular steps of about 15) . The machine of one of claims from 9 to 14, comprising a heating device (30) predisposed to cause a sharp change of temperature on the shell (2) of coconuts.

16) . The machine of claim 15, wherein the heating device (30) comprises: a conveyor plane (31) predisposed to receive and translate the coconuts along a determined advancement direction; heating means, preferably constituted by sources of hot air (32), located in proximity of the conveyor plane (31) with the aim of subjecting the shell of the coconuts in transit to a sharp change of temperature.