Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a system configured for separating a nut or other hard component from soft matter connected to the hard component. The system includes first and second rotary modules. The first rotary module includes a cylindrical first chamber defined by an inner surface and a first rotary assembly within the first chamber. The second rotary module is in communication with the first rotary module such that the first rotary module feeds the hard component and the pulp into the second rotary module. The second rotary module includes a cylindrical screen defining a cylindrical second chamber and a second rotary assembly disposed within the second chamber. The system may further include an infeed assembly for feeding the material into the first rotary module, and/or a discharge portion for discharging the hard component through an exit port after separation by the second rotary module.

Abstract: A hand-held, manually operated seed shucking appliance enables a food preparer to remove the seed coverings of black-eyed peas from their kernels. A spring and piston inside a chamber are arranged to compress a load of pre-soaked black-eyed peas against a shuttle rasp threaded between side slots. As a user manipulates the shuttle rasp, the shucks are scraped off the seeds by a scraping surface and both pass through the side slots. The piston is configured to be cocked back such that the chamber can be loaded through one end with a fresh charge of black-eyed peas.

Abstract: A nut meat extractor includes a hollow segment, journalled about a drive shaft, having minor upper and major lower bases, each base defining a unitary surface. The segment includes a conical lateral surface between bases, the surface including splines having interdigitating spaces. A hollow cylinder is proportioned for symmetrical containment of the conical segment, an interior of the cylinder opposing the lateral surface of the conical segment and defining a pattern of elevated protrusions for interaction with shells of nuts introduced into the extractor between the conical segment and the interior of the cylinder. The interaction and pressure on shells of the nuts increases downwardly with the advance of nuts fed into an upper region between the upper base and the interior of the hollow cylinder. Pressure upon shells of the nuts increases with advance to the lower base until the nuts are cracked.

Abstract: A shelling-separating machine for almonds and other soft-shelled nuts is provided incorporating operational and functional features which ensure the obtaining of the kernel in optimal conditions, while at the same time allowing for an effective separation of the almonds and other hard-shelled nuts that may accompany the soft-shelled nuts. At the inlet end, the machine provides means for continuously feeding the product for the purpose of eliminating obstructions inside such machine. At the outlet end, the machine provides retaining means which can be manually or automatically actuated and which keep the outlet closed in order to retain the non-shelled product until the operational conditions recommend the actuation and opening of such retaining means to allow the non-shelled product to exit the machine, preferably by the overflow with respect to a previously established level.

Abstract: A system and method for processing harvested walnuts that includes a walnut separator for separating walnuts without hulls from walnuts with hulls prior to a hulling process in order to increase productivity of the huller. A huller by-pass system conveys walnuts without hulls to a post-hulling processing. A walnut separator may include a screen having a selected screen size that permit walnuts without hulls to pass through the screen and prohibit walnuts with hulls and therefore a larger diameter, to pass through the screen. Alternately the walnut separator may include an optical sensor positioned to scan harvested walnuts. A controller connected to the optical sensor processes input from the optical sensor and selectively actuates a walnut selection or ejection device causing a walnut to by-pass a process.

Abstract: The current invention provides an improved sheller for removing the husk or shell from nuts, legumes and other similar plant products. The sheller of the current invention includes an improved ring assembly. The improved ring assembly comprises ring units having an inner ring and an outer ring. Each inner ring carries integrally formed spacers and each outer ring carries integrally formed spacers. Each inner ring directly contacts an adjunct inner ring and each outer ring directly contacts an adjacent outer ring. Through use of integrally formed spacers, the current invention significantly reduces the number of component requiring assembly during the manufacture of the sheller.

Abstract: The method includes eliminating the two side caps of the fruit, cutting the remaining portion into slices, optionally classifying by diameter the obtained slices, and finally peeling the slices. The device includes slice cutter (1) provided with two conveyor belts (2) to position the fruit, and blades (4 and 5), —transport equipment for the slices (102) with a diameter gauging device to classify the slices (102) by size, —a slice (102) turning machine and—a slice (102) peeling module to separate the flesh (103) from the pith (104).

Abstract: An apparatus for separating hulled and unhulled pistachios includes a rotating drum and a conveyor for depositing pistachios onto the drum. Rotation of the drum frictionally separates hulled and unhulled pistachios.

Abstract: In a plant for mass mechanical shelling of nuts having a cracker, sheller, and air separators, this process bypasses the sheller with some cracked nuts. Nuts and nut parts created in the cracker are sent to bypass structure where in successive operations, the nuts are separated by width then by thickness. Those nuts having the largest width are shelled by parallel rubber coated cylinders. The remaining nut parts having smaller thickness/width ratios bypass the sheller of the prior art. Parts having larger thickness/width ratios are sent to the sheller of the prior art. The process is performed by screens which separate the cracked nut parts by width. For each width of nut parts, slots between revolving cylinders, separate the larger thickness parts from the smaller thickness parts.

Abstract: In a plant for mass mechanical shelling of nuts having a cracker, sheller, and air separators, this process bypasses the sheller with some cracked nuts. Nuts and nut parts created in the cracker are sent to bypass structure where in successive operations, the nuts are separated by width then by thickness. Those nuts having the largest width are shelled by parallel rubber coated cylinders. The remaining nut parts having smaller thickness/width ratios bypass the sheller of the prior art. Parts having larger thickness/width ratios are sent to the sheller of the prior art. The process is performed by screens which separate the cracked nut parts by width. For each width of nut parts, slots between revolving cylinders, separate the larger thickness parts from the smaller thickness parts.

Abstract: A device for cleaning, shelling, and sizing nuts in a single step which includes a cleaning section, mounted in front of and in communication with a shelling section, which removes debris, small pods and loose shelled kernels using screens, separating air columns, and stepped rollers; a shelling section that shells nuts and separates the kernels from mixtures of pods, hulls, and kernels using separating air columns mounted behind and in communication with the sheller; a sizing section, mounted below and in communication with the separating air columns, which separates large and small kernels using roller sizers. A single step process performed by the device significantly reduces hand labor and time.

Abstract: A process for shelling nuts, particularly pistachio nuts, includes the step of slowly and continuously compressing the nuts in the longitudinal direction and not increasing the compression at the moment when the shells break.This compression can preferably be effected in the longitudinal direction with the aid of two rotating disks arranged to be slightly inclined relative to each other.

Abstract: A process for splitting the shells of pistachio nuts comprising soaking closed-shell pistachio nuts in an aqueous liquid, subjecting the wet-shelled nuts to mechanical pressure to compress them, releasing the said pressure, and substantially immediately subjecting the nuts having the mechanically compressed shells to an elevated temperature to effect splitting of at least the majority of the shells.

Abstract: A horizontally oriented tubular screen has a shaft extending through it. Outwardly adjacent one end of the screen the shaft is configurated as a feed screw which receives cereal grain and feeds it into and through the screen. Within the confines of the screen the shaft is provided with one or more rows of pins projecting radially from the shaft. The pins of each row are located in a common plane, and the two planes include with one another an angle no greater than 90.degree. in circumferential direction of the shaft. The outlet end of the screen communicates with an outlet section through which the cereal grains are discharged.

Abstract: A portable machine incorporating a first chamber in which pecans are subjected to drum mounted resilient flails which cooperate with a roughened chamber portion in effecting a separation of the husks or hulls of the pecans. A second chamber located outward of the first chamber receives the pecans, hulls and other vegetation which might have been gathered with the pecans with all of the materials in the second chamber being subjected to a separating flow of air whereby the normally heavier pecans are allowed to pass therethrough with the lighter hulls and other materials being air separated from the pecans.