Abstract: A nutcracker preferably includes a cracker unit, a support structure and a hand held base. The cracker unit preferably includes a support base, a crank unit, a nut base and a pair of jaws. The support base is slidably engaged with the nut base through a pair of guide rods. The pair of jaws are attached to the support base and nut bases. The crank unit preferably includes a lead screw, a ratchet mechanism and a crank arm. A lead screw retainer is retained on the support base and pivotally retains the lead screw. The lead screw nut is retained on the nut base and threadably receives the lead screw. A bottom of the support structure is attached to the hand held base and the nut base plate is attached to a top of the support structure.

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 cracking mechanism for shelling variable-sized nuts having a brittle shell and fragile nut meat, the nut cracker mechanism having a housing with a horizontally positioned rotatable drum contained in the housing, and an adjustable, substantially vertical compression plate mounted in the housing with a cracking surface displaced from a cylindrical slip resistant cracking surface of the drum to form a narrowing gap between the drum and the compression plate, the gap having an upper portion sized to accommodate nuts of varying sizes and a lower portion sized to compress nuts between the cylindrical surface of the drum and the compression plate until the nut cracks and releases its meat, the mechanism having associated components to feed nuts to the top of the mechanism and receive shells and meat from the bottom of the mechanism.

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: Provided is a manually operable nut cracking device having a frame, a fixed jaw and a movable jaw mounted to the frame in opposed relationship to define between them a nut holding station. The movable jaw is biased away from the fixed jaw member. The device also has a lever arm pivotally connected by its proximal end with a pivot shaft to the upper part of the frame such that its distal end forms an operating handle movable form a fully inoperative position whereat the jaws are at their fullest extent away from each other to a fully operative positive whereat the jaws are at their fullest extent closer to one another. The pivot shaft is positioned adjacent to the movable jaw and a wedge shaped cam is formed at the proximal end of the lever arm.

Abstract: Machine for opening pistachios, a reservoir containing pistachios, a device for opening pistachios, and a device for supplying pistachios from the container to the opening device. The opening device includes a rotary shaft which carries a coaxial disk equipped on its periphery, with a plurality of chambers, each of a size to accommodate a pistachio. During the rotation of the shaft, these chambers can be consecutively placed opposite the supply device and opposite a breaker piston.

Abstract: An apparatus for shelling nuts comprises adjustably opposed, manual or motor-driven, rotary wheel-type rollers that engage nuts and, as they rotate, forcibly crack the shell as the nut is transported between the rollers. The clearance between the opposed rollers is adjustable by the user to obtain an optimum cracking result. A receiving hopper is provided wherein a ready supply of nuts can be presented to the opposed rollers. The hopper design includes a chute projection that orients and directs the nuts toward the rollers where an adjustable gauge further positions the nut for optimal entry. The opposed, counter-rotating cracking rollers are grooved in a manner that provides multiple surfaces with which to contact the nut and thereby apply a plurality of forces to its perimeter. This plurality of forces is uniformly applied to produce multiple fractures in the shell.

Abstract: A nutcracking apparatus including a housing having opposing sidewalls. A hammer plate having an upper and lower portion is pivotally attached at its upper portion to the opposing sidewalls of the housing. A camshaft is positioned in abutment with a lower portion of the hammer plate, and a drive attached to an outer end of the cam shaft for effecting rotation thereof. An anvil plate having an upper and lower portion is spaced from the hammer plate is pivotally attached at its upper portion to the opposing sidewalls of the housing. A device is provided for moving the lower portion of the anvil plate towards and away from the lower portion of the hammer plate.

Abstract: A nutcracker is described herein which comprises: a frame; an anvil and hammer movably mounted to the frame; a wedge ramp in a fixed relationship to the frame and having a substantially planar surface; a sliding wedge having opposing, substantially planar surfaces of which one surface is in sliding and flush contact with the surface of the wedge ramp, and the other surface is in contact with the anvil; a striker movably mounted to the frame for striking the hammer; and an anvil and hammer control device for moving the sliding wedge along the wedge ramp while in contact with the anvil so as to move the anvil relative to the hammer from an open position, in which ends of the hammer are at a maximum distance from one another to allow a nut to be received therebetween, to a closed position in which such ends are closed securely upon the nut, whereupon the control device causes the striker to strike the hammer and move it toward the anvil a predetermined distance to thereby crack the nut.

Abstract: A novelty nutcracker device which comprises a tubular housing having a side wall thereby defining an elongated passageway, and a first end cap removably connected at a first end of the passageway, a reciprocally moveable impact member mounted within the elongated passageway, a handle connected to the impact member, the impact member being biased towards the first end cap, and an opening in the side wall to permit the insertion of a nut to be cracked therein. The device is preferably packaged in an exterior envelope having the form of a sports article or an animal character.

Abstract: A nut cracking machine comprises a cylinder mounted in bearings for rotation about a long axis of the cylinder. The cylinder has projections extending radially from its cylindrical surface. An anvil plate is held at a fixed predetermined distance from the cylinder when the machine is in operation. The cylinder is power driven. A feed hopper is provided for receiving nuts and directing the nuts onto the cylinder, the cylinder rotating in a direction to direct an upper part of the cylinder toward the anvil plate member, toward an increasingly restricted space between the cylinder and the anvil plate.

Abstract: A nutcracker comprising an anvil, an impact member, the anvil and the impact member being arranged to receive a nut therebetween for cracking, a striking member, and a guiding device for guiding the impact member in a movement towards and away from said anvil and for guiding the striking member in a movement towards and away from said impact member, wherein the striking member is arranged to be forced by its own weight against the impact member under the attraction of gravity so as to impart a cracking force to the shell of a nut received between said impact member and said anvil.

Abstract: A mechanical nut cracker for a machine having an adjustably positioned crushing plate and crusher bar for cracking various types of nuts. The mechanical nut cracker includes a crusher assembly having a crusher bar rotationally attached to an end of a base member. The crusher assembly further includes a pair of side walls and a slanted back wall extending upwardly from the crusher bar and between the side walls. A crusher plate assembly is adjustably coupled to the base member for positioning in spaced relationship to the crusher bar. The crusher plate assembly includes a crusher plate, a pair of plate assembly side walls, and a slanted front wall extending up from the crusher plate and between the plate assembly side walls. The crusher plate assembly further includes a pair of arms extending outwardly for adjustably engaging the base member.

Abstract: An apparatus for the controlled fracture of the outer hull of a nut-like fruit wherein a reciprocable piston is moved within a frame and is supported and guided by arms that interfit with the piston to guide it or non-rotating movement into and out of engagement with the nut-like fruit. A key actuator is rotated by the user and which rotates an actuator, threadedly interengaged with the frame and which serves to provide the reciprocable movement of the piston. The nut hull is itself positioned between the piston and an anvil that among the surfaces of the piston and anvil that crack the nut hull are both configured so as to retain the nut in a stable position where it can be acted upon by the apparatus. In an alternate embodiment, the apparatus is modified so as to act as a garlic press using the same piston constrained motion. In a still further embodiment. the apparatus is modified so as to operate as a corkscrew to safely and easily remove the corks from bottles such as wine bottles.

Abstract: An apparatus for cracking nuts is disclosed which employs a striker mechanism to apply a sharp force to the shell of a nut in order to fracture it. The nut is held in a chamber consisting of an anvil and a cup, with a spring-loaded striker being cocked and released by the single motion of a lever. In the lever's normal raised state, the anvil and cup are separated to allow for insertion of the uncracked nut. As the lever is lowered, the anvil is gently closed down upon the nut to secure it with a light force between the anvil and the cup. As the lever continues its travel downward, the striker is cocked and released, imparting an impulse force on the cup and the nut, thereby cracking the shell of the nut with a predetermined force independent of the size of the nut. A fragment shield integral to the lever is lowered into place along either side of the cracking chamber as the lever is lowered, providing a simple and reliable safety mechanism.

Abstract: A system for splitting pistachios including an adjustable splitter assembly including plungers driven by cams. The cams are frictionally slidable on a rotating camshaft to allow snubbing of the plungers against the nuts. Cavities on the splitter jaw and plungers include relief holes to avoid crushing of the ends of the nuts and encourage an appropriate split. Cushions between the plungers and cam followers reduces impact on the pistachios.

Abstract: A process for splitting pistachios including a bin dumper, a sizer, moisturizers, blowers and splitting units arranged in seriatim. The blower removes excess water and particles from the nut surfaces after moisturizing and before splitting. The splitter includes a controlled surge bin having a brush gate associated with a sensor to control flow to a singulator. A vibrated singulator operates to release nuts to a splitting mechanism having opposed elements with cavities aligned to receive the ends of the nuts. Cradles retain the nuts in alignment for compression. Lateral vibration is induced in the cradles to ensure placement of the retained nuts.

Abstract: Nut cracking apparatus including a cracking machine with first and second opposed cracking plates with pivot means for suspending one of the plates from a pivot axis substantially parallel to and spaced from the pivot axis of the other suspended plate, the suspended plates being interconnected at the bottom of each plate by a link mechanism having a release, so that the plates are suspended with the spacing between the plates at the top of the plates being greater than the spacing at the bottom of the plates, the machine having a reciprocal drive mechanism that swings the plates together to a cracking position where the plates are closer together and then to a release position where the release mechanism moves the plates apart releasing the cracked nuts; the apparatus including a nut feed mechanism for a timed feed of nuts between the plates of the cracking machine.

Abstract: A knurled horizontal roller is journaled for rotation from a mount and a vertically elongated abutment member having upper and lower ends is pivotally supported at its upper end from said mount for angular displacement about a horizontal axis generally paralleling the axis of the roller. One side of the abutment member includes a partial cylindrical surface opposing one side of the roller and yieldable stop structure is operatively connected between the mount and the lower end of the abutment member yieldingly resisting movement of the lower end of the abutment member away from the lower periphery of the roller. The roller may be either rotated by hand through a hand crank operatively connected thereto or motor driven through the utilization of a pneumatic wrench or a variable speed drill, or the like.

Abstract: This invention provides for an apparatus that will shell and separate the shells from the meat of a cracked nut or legume. The apparatus of the present invention is also provided with an adjustable slide plate that will render the apparatus with the capacity of dehulling any variety nut or legume.

Abstract: A nut shelling apparatus including a back plate having a first roughened surface on one side, a rocker plate rotatably connected to the back plate and having a second roughened surface on a side adjacent the first roughened surface of the back plate, and a nut inlet connected to the back plate so as to open to a nut-receiving space defined between the roughened surfaces of the back plate and the rocker plate. The roughened surfaces are diamond plate surfaces. A skirt is affixed to the back plate and extends outwardly therefrom so as to be adjacent an outer edge of the rocker plate. The rocker plate is a concave member. The concave member includes a shaft which is rotatably connected to the back plate.

Abstract: A nut cracking machine constructed with a cracking unit having a first reel of generally cylindrical configuration with a periphery having a series of uniformly spaced first cracking faces and a second reel of generally cylindrical configuration disposed within the first reel with a periphery having a series of uniformly spaced second cracking faces oppositely facing the first cracking faces, the first reel and second reel being rotated together on displaced axes that are parallel, the machine having a nut dispensing mechanism for dispensing nuts between the opposed cracking faces where the nuts are cracked as the reels rotate.

Abstract: A pistachio huller provided wherein a means (16) having projections (18) pushes unhulled nuts between the surface of the means having projections and a surface of a means (30) having channels (28), the channels being wider than the pistachio nuts to be hulled. The projections protrude into the channels and the hulls are ruptured and abraded through contact between the surface of the means with projections and the surface of the channels whereby the nuts are hulled.

Abstract: A nutcracking apparatus includes a nutcracker and a compartmented receptacle. The receptacle if formed having side walls, end walls and a floor, with a support wall dividing the receptacle into a nut compartment and a smaller shell compartment. A support platform is mounted to the support wall and includes an overhang portion into the nut compartment to provide an adequate base for absorbing the force applied for cracking nuts. A cracking pad is mounted on the support platform which includes a recess for receiving and supporting a nut to be cracked. A cracking lever arm is pivotally mounted to the support platform and includes a notch aligned with the recess for engaging a nut between the cracking pad and the lever arm. Also supported on the support platform is an end containment wall, a side containment wall and an opposite shell-directing wall for controlling shell fragments during the cracking process.

Abstract: A nut cracking machine constructed to crack nuts of different size in a continuous operation is provided, the machine having first and second disks that are spaced apart with opposed tapered faces forming a narrowing gap therebetween, the first disk being rotated on a first axis and the second disk being rotated together with the first disk on a second axis slightly skewed from the first axis such that the face of one disk is oblique to the face of the other disk and when rotated together, the gap between the faces of the disks has a wide sector and a narrow sector. The machine includes a feed mechanism to feed nuts of different size to the space between the disks where the space is widest, the nuts advancing between the tapered faces until the nuts are engaged by the disks and are then transported to where the gap narrows, the disks compressing the nuts therebetween and cracking the shells.

Abstract: A nut cracker is designed to accommodate virtually any size nut and provide the same degree of cracking stroke with the same mechanical advantage irrespective of nut size, with only a simple thumb-screw adjustment of a cam.

Abstract: An electric powered portable nutcracker is provided that includes an actuator for forcing a piston to move in a direction toward a stationary jaw to crack a nut so that the broken shells can fall into a compartment in the base. The nutcracker can be structured so that it will separate the nut from the cracked shells into two different segments of the compartment in the base.

Abstract: The nutcracker apparatus includes a frame on which there is provided a front and a rear head assembly that each has a head which is resiliently urged toward the other but is limited in such movement by a knife at least in part located in a slot in the head. Each knife is mounted on a rod, the rear rod being movable toward the front rod to initially clamp the nut and as the movement of one head toward the other is limited by the uncracked nut, the rear knife continues to move toward the front knife to crack and/or split the nut. In one embodiment the rear knife is mounted by the rear rod which is moved forwardly by a pivotal handle moving binder members into binding engagement against the rear rod. In the second embodiment the rear rod is a piston rod of a piston cylinder combination that is operated automatically to crack a nut as the nut is dropped between the heads.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for cracking the husks of nuts comprising a cylindrical rotor having a plurality of cracking projections on its circumference, a semicircular suspension stator having a plurality of cracking projections on its inner surface, the stator being positioned against a corresponding sector of the cylindrical rotor with a downward decreasing gap left between the stator and the rotor, and a hopper with an opening at the bottom for dispensing nuts to the gap between the stator and the rotor. The nutcracker according to the present invention permits simultaneous cracking of nuts of different sizes at an increased efficiency.

Abstract: A nutcracker, mounted on a base, grips a nut to be cracked between a movable piston and an adjustable anvil. The user sets the optimum cracking distance initially by lining up an index marker located on the piston and adjusting the anvil to firmly hold the opposite end of the nut. Thereafter, the user need only move the lever handle to its up position and insert the nut--no further adjustment of the anvil is necessary for similar sized nuts. The user then moves the piston a limited distance by activating the lever handle connected to the piston through a toggle joint, or by some other limited-movement arrangement. This limited movement enables the inventive nutcracker to crack the nutshell without damaging the meat inside.

Abstract: An impacting nut cracker which utilizes an impacting plunger activated by a compression spring or electrical solenoid to deliver a sharp blow to an aligned adjustable anvil to provide a stroke of measured distance to a nut confined against a tailstock anvil, the position of which is determined by use of a sector gear and gear rack. A slidable and transparent guard over the impact area prevents excessive dispersion of the fractured shell. A concavity in the tailstock anvil and in the adjustable anvil causes a circular edge to engage each end of the nut to cause circular fractures beneficial in achieving greater uniformity in the fracture pattern of the shell.

Abstract: A depulping machine comprises a frame, a shaft mounted on the frame and at least one circular disk mounted for rotation on the shaft. The shaft passes perpendicularly through the disk. The disk tapers in a radially outward direction of the shaft and has spirally radiating ribs projecting laterally from opposite faces of the disk. A hopper is supported on the frame above the disks. Adjustable depulping plates are attached to the frame adjacent to, but spaced from the disks, and have cutting edges which cooperate with independently adjustable guide brackets and the disk faces and ribs to force pulp between the disk and the plates and to push beans, pits and the like on the plates along the edges, and out the machine.

Abstract: A nut splitter is shown which includes a base for supporting the splitter upon a planar surface. A jaw having a cutting wheel rotatably mounted thereon is pivotally mounted on the base and is movable between an open position allowing placement of a nut on the base and a closed position in which the cutting wheel of the jaw contacts a nut. A lever arm has a pivot end which is pivotally attached to the jaw and an oppositely extending length which terminates in a free end which forms a handle for applying force to the jaw to move the jaw between the open and closed positions. An elongate bar is pivotally attached at one end to a point intermediate the pivot end and free end of the lever arm and has an opposite end which abuts a stop on the base, whereby the bar serves as a fulcrum point for the lever arm in applying force to the jaw.

Abstract: A nutcracker having a horizontal base and a horizontal lower cracking plate removably positioned on the base. An upper cracking plate is horizontally disposed above the lower cracking plate and slidably engaged on an upper frame for supporting the upper cracking plate above the lower cracking plate and allowing vertical and horizontal movement of the upper cracking plate relative to the base and lower cracking plate.

Abstract: A nutcracker includes a frame having a jaw member mounted thereon and connected to a threaded support portion for movement relative to said frame to adjust for the size of nuts being cracked. A second jaw member is mounted juxtaposed to the first jaw member and is pivotally supported on said frame for oscillating movement by a rotating cam. A nut support member has a trough portion which is disposed below and between the jaw members in their minimum spaced position to crush a nut for supporting the nut for engagement by the jaw members and for movement to discharge a nut into a container disposed below the jaw members after the shell cracking or crushing cycle is completed.

Abstract: A nutcracking apparatus comprising a motor driven rotary roller type cracker member with longitudinal serrations or teeth which engages a nut and forcibly cracks the shell between the roller member and a stationary cracking member comprising a plurality of spaced apart cracking plates having a series of serrations or teeth formed thereon along a curved path. The stationary cracking member is mounted on a support member which is slidable on a bearing member within the apparatus housing and is adjustably positioned by an actuating screw. The adjustable support member includes a gauging jaw mounted thereon which is cooperable with a second gauging jaw mounted on the apparatus housing for gauging the overall dimension of a shell-enclosed nut.

Abstract: A nutcracker includes a base (12), a stationary jaw (16), a movable jaw (21) and an adjustable post (20). A driving cylinder (36) is urged along the longitudinal axis of the post (20) by a lever (26) connected through a connecting link (30). A spring (42) allows the post (20) to float until a canting pin (46) contacts one end of a ring (22) disposed around the post (20). When the ring (22) cants to contact the post (20), the force applied to the driving cylinder (36) is translated directly to the post (20) to crack a nut disposed between the stationary jaw (16) and the movable jaw (21).

Abstract: A pistachio huller is provided wherein a means having projections pushes unhulled nuts between the surface of the means having projections and a surface of a means having slots, the slots being narrower than the pistachio nuts to be hulled. The projections protrude into the slots and the hulls are ruptured and abraded through contact between the surface of the means with projection and the surface of the strips forming the means having slots whereby the nuts are hulled.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in blanching edible nuts, particularly peanuts. Two generally vertical plates are disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another and connected to a drive mechanism for producing lengthwise oscillations of the two plates, both of which are covered with abrasive inner surfaces. Unblanched peanuts are fed into a gap at the top of the two plates, which are set apart by a distance generally corresponding to the average thickness of the peanuts being processed. As the peanuts move down between the plates, the oscillating action of the plates blanches the peanuts which drop out through the bottom and are carried away for further processing, packaging, inspection or the like. Vertical grooves are formed in the inner face of each plate near each end thereof to prevent the nuts from falling out of the open ends between the plates.

Abstract: An inclined chute is attachable to a support by means of a base including a clamping arrangement. An inclined base portion supports said chute and also a pair of bearing posts. A drum disposed within the chute is journaled within the bearing posts. Adjustment means enable axial positioning of the bearing posts for adjusting drum and chute clearance to accommodate various sized nuts. A handle imparts rotation to the drum.

Abstract: A triphammer nutcracker for use in fracturing the shells of various nuts of differing sizes and shell textures is disclosed. An operating handle is raised and lowered in a pumplike manner to provide access to a cracking chamber wherein the nut to be cracked is placed, to slide a shield completely around the cracking chamber, and to retract and release a spring biased hammer which strikes a pestle with sufficient force to drive the pestle toward the mortar thereby cracking the nut held therebetween. The broken shell fragments fall into a catch basin and any remaining shell and the nut meat fall into the catch basin as the next operating cycle is started. The nutcracker is structured in a manner such that the hammer will not be released to crack the nut until the shield is in place to enclose the cracking chamber thereby preventing flying nut fragments.

Abstract: A nut cracker includes a base that supports an adjustably fixed anvil member and a moveable ram member under the control of a handle, there being a guide interconnecting the ram member with the base which maintains the ram member in an erect position. The confronting faces of the anvil member 17 and the ram member 27 are provided with recesses into which the ends of the nut are received with clearance so that the outer rim of such recesses engage the nut to provide the cracking force to its shell remotely from the ends of the nut. With this construction, a heavy-duty unit is provided which is especially useful for cracking nuts that have hard or strong shells such as black walnuts and butternuts, and the construction further enables the shells to be broken and nut meats recovered in larger pieces without over-cracking.

Abstract: A nutcracker which automatically adjusts for nut size. The nut is cracked between a piston and a receiver. The receiver holds the nut and is locked into place by a latching mechanism made up of a plurality of disk elements, stacked together. A locking lever raises one or more disk elements out of place and latches against the flat face of an adjoining disk. A cover may be provided to activate the latching mechanism and cover the nut to be cracked, protecting the user.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cracking and/or deshelling nuts or seeds by feeding them between adjacent runs of clockwise and counterclockwise driven belts which carry them against and between vertically spaced pairs of rollers to effectively posture and then to apply cracking pressure to the nuts and seeds along their largest dimension. Similar operating apparatus also has utility for cracking naturally occuring clusters of garlic or shallot bulbs and the like into the individual bulbs.

Abstract: In treating nuts which are supplied by way of transport means and which are held between two conveyor belts, a groove of uniform depth is milled into the shell of the nut by means of overlapping milling discs, which groove permits the shell of the nut to be broken open by a subsequent splitting means.On the transport means, the nuts are separated and aligned by vibration and the configuration of the guide tracks. A spiral conveyor with a baffle is also provided for this purpose.The conveyor belts are adapted to the different thicknesses of the nuts by means of vertically adjustable rollers.The depth of the groove which is less than the thickness of the shell of the nut is restricted by toothed rings on the milling discs and annular shoulders which are arranged at a displaced position relative thereto radially with respect to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Machine for cracking shell fruit comprising a rotor (1) formed of two plates (2) and (3) and having cavities (4), the axes of the plates (2) and (3) being inclined so as to vary the overall size of the cavities (4), and furthermore comprising a feed device formed in particular of transfer tubes (19) and cups (20) mounted on a disk (18).

Abstract: A transport mechanism for transporting an uncracked nut from a supply of uncracked nuts into a zone between a pair of synchronously movable surfaces which receive the uncracked nut and transfer it to a zone of reduced geometry which results in the imposition of an axial crushing force on the nut is disclosed.

Abstract: An implement for breaking open nuts by cracking instead of crushing them; the device including a concave stationary jaw, in which the nut is seated, and a concave slidable jaw for moving against an opposite side of the nut, the slidable jaw being supported on a screw-threaded shank that rotates in a stationary threaded opening so to advance the movable jaw a specific distance that is enough to crack open only the nut shell and not the nut meat.

Abstract: A pistachio huller having two stages; a first stage including a pair of rollers between which the pistachios are passed to rupture the pericarps thereof to form tag ends of pericarps adherent to the shells of the pistachios and a second stage including a plurality of parallel fine rollers closely spaced to preclude the passage of pistachios therebetween with the adjacent fine rollers alternately and oppositely oscillated to strip the tag ends of pericarps from the pistachios.

Abstract: A nutcracker designed to eliminate the scattering of shells and hulls in the cracking operation which includes a carrying tray with a hinged base mounted therein and having a cooperating hinged cracking lever with cracking lever flanges to permit cracking nuts by operation of the lever and simultaneously preventing the hulls or shells from scattering. The nut is confined in a cracking chamber defined by the cracking lever, the cracking lever flanges and the hinged base.