Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for dry hulling or dry peeling harvested crops, particularly pistachio nuts, are disclosed. The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide crop harvesting with great efficiency resulting in consistently high percentages of hulled or peeled crops and low percentages of nut breakage, without increasing processing times regardless of the sizes of the crops being hulled or peeled. The methods and apparatus of the present invention also provide for a relatively small overall machine footprint, plus easy and efficient removal and replacement of the impingement drum to accommodate for different drum speeds, different crop sizes, different bolt patterns, different bolt sizes, and other variations allowing embodiments of the invention to be used on a wide range of nuts and vegetables of different varieties, sizes and shapes.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for dry hulling or dry peeling harvested crops, particularly pistachio nuts, are disclosed. The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide crop harvesting with great efficiency resulting in consistently high percentages of hulled or peeled crops and low percentages of nut breakage, without increasing processing times regardless of the sizes of the crops being hulled or peeled. The methods and apparatus of the present invention also provide for a relatively small overall machine footprint, plus easy and efficient removal and replacement of the impingement drum to accommodate for different drum speeds, different crop sizes, different bolt patterns, different bolt sizes, and other variations allowing embodiments of the invention to be used on a wide range of nuts and vegetables of different varieties, sizes and shapes.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for dry hulling or dry peeling harvested crops, particularly pistachio nuts, are disclosed. The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide crop harvesting with great efficiency resulting in consistently high percentages of hulled or peeled crops and low percentages of nut breakage, without increasing processing times regardless of the sizes of the crops being hulled or peeled. The methods and apparatus of the present invention also provide for a relatively small overall machine footprint, plus easy and efficient removal and replacement of the impingement drum to accommodate for different drum speeds, different crop sizes, different bolt patterns, different bolt sizes, and other variations allowing embodiments of the invention to be used on a wide range of nuts and vegetables of different varieties, sizes and shapes.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for dry hulling or dry peeling harvested crops, particularly pistachio nuts, are disclosed. The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide crop harvesting with great efficiency resulting in consistently high percentages of hulled or peeled crops and low percentages of nut breakage, without increasing processing times regardless of the sizes of the crops being hulled or peeled. The methods and apparatus of the present invention also provide for a relatively small overall machine footprint, plus easy and efficient removal and replacement of the impingement drum to accommodate for different drum speeds, different crop sizes, different bolt patterns, different bolt sizes, and other variations allowing embodiments of the invention to be used on a wide range of nuts and vegetables of different varieties, sizes and shapes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for artificially splitting nuts in a manner that ensures that the nuts split in the same manner as naturally split nuts. The methods include placing a batch of closed-shell nuts into a water filled vessel, sealing it, and reducing the pressure inside the vessel by removing air. This also causes air to be removed from inside the nuts. The air pressure in the vessel is then normalized, causing the air removed from the nuts to be replaced with water from the vessel. The nuts are then promptly transferred from the vessel and exposed to forces that cause the water inside the nuts to rapidly expand, creating internal pressure that forces the shells to split open along the longitudinal suture of the nut.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for artificially splitting nuts in a manner that ensures that the nuts split in the same manner as naturally split nuts. The methods include placing a batch of closed-shell nuts into a water filled vessel, sealing it, and reducing the pressure inside the vessel by removing air. This also causes air to be removed from inside the nuts. The air pressure in the vessel is then normalized, causing the air removed from the nuts to be replaced with water from the vessel. The nuts are then promptly transferred from the vessel and exposed to forces that cause the water inside the nuts to rapidly expand, creating internal pressure that forces the shells to split open along the longitudinal suture of the nut.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for artificially splitting nuts in a manner that ensures that the nuts split in the same manner as naturally split nuts. The methods include placing a batch of closed-shell nuts into a water filled vessel, sealing it, and reducing the pressure inside the vessel by removing air. This also causes air to be removed from inside the nuts. The air pressure in the vessel is then normalized, causing the air removed from the nuts to be replaced with water from the vessel. The nuts are then promptly transferred from the vessel and exposed to forces that cause the water inside the nuts to rapidly expand, creating internal pressure that forces the shells to split open along the longitudinal suture of the nut.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for artificially splitting nuts in a manner that ensures that the nuts split in the same manner as naturally split nuts. The methods include placing a batch of closed-shell nuts into a water filled vessel, sealing it, and reducing the pressure inside the vessel by removing air. This also causes air to be removed from inside the nuts. The air pressure in the vessel is then normalized, causing the air removed from the nuts to be replaced with water from the vessel. The nuts are then promptly transferred from the vessel and exposed to forces that cause the water inside the nuts to rapidly expand, creating internal pressure that forces the shells to split open along the longitudinal suture of the nut.