Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the skins or hulls from seeds, including those of legumes, grains, drupes, silques, and achenes involves wetting the seeds with an alkaline solution and then with a peroxygen solution. The two substances react underneath the skin to liberate gas between the seed meat and the skin. The gas bubbles blister the skin, causing it to become loosened. Slight mechanical action is used to dislodge the blistered skins from the seed meats.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bleaching the shells of in-shell nuts and for bleaching the meats of shelled nuts involves wetting the nuts with an alkaline solution and then with a peroxygen solution. The two substances react to form a bleaching agent which whitens the shell or nut meat. Slight mechanical brushing may be used to dislodge debris loosened by the process. The apparatus includes means for recycling the reagents through the system without causing the desired temperature and concentration of the reagents to deviate significantly from predetermined values.

Abstract: A nut harvester includes a frame drawn by a tractor over nut and debris windrows on the ground of a nut orchard. The nut harvester collects the nuts from the windrows and separates the debris collected therewith while minimizing the dust emissions and airborne pollutants generated by the nut harvester. The nut harvester includes three primary sections: a pick-up section, a stationary grid section, and a conveyor/fan section. The pick-up section includes finger assemblies which engage the ground to propel the nuts and debris forwardly and upwardly into a rotating feed reel which in turn deposits the nuts onto a stationary grid. The stationary grid includes a number of parallel bars which are spaced to prevent the nuts from falling therebetween. Wipers extend transversely across the grid and advance the nuts therealong.

Abstract: A product and process of removing the skins from nuts involves wetting the nut kernels with an alkaline solution and then with a peroxygen solution. The two substances react underneath the skin to liberate gas between the nut meat and the skin. The gas bubbles blister the skin, causing it to become loosened. Slight mechanical brushing is used to dislodge the blistered skins from the nut meats.