JPH08322531A - Nut cracking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a device for cracking nuts, especially, cashew nuts. CONSTITUTION: A crimping means 6 is provided for movably crimping nuts 10 to be cracked at a cracking position, a knife member 4 is equipped with two knife heads 25 and 25', and these heads respectively have arched knives 26 and 26'. The knife member 4 is attached to a propelling device 2 and moves forward to the crimped nuts 10. The forward moving operation is divided into two continuous stages, namely, a searching stage for recognizing the size of nuts and a cutting stage for adding a slight slit onto the shell of nuts. The knife head moves from a conventionally located cutting position to a separating position. At the separating position, the knife heads 25 and 25' are positioned outside a cutting surface so as to forcedly open the shell of nuts. Thus, respective nuts in various sizes can be cracked without damaging the shells of nuts.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pinching means for removably pinching nuts to an open shell position, a knife member, and a knife member. A device for opening shells of nuts, in particular cashew nuts, with a propelling means for cutting into the arranged nut shells.

[0002]

The processing of cashew nuts has formed an industry in many countries. This is because substantially all of this nut can be effectively utilized. Nut kernels are widely consumed and favored for their taste. Nut oil is extracted from the shell. Moreover, only the surrounding skin is often used separately.

[0003]

Conventionally, in order to open shells of cashew nuts, a knife was used to manually make a notch in the seam, and then some kind of tool was used to separate the shell from the core of the nut. This work is usually tedious and time consuming, as it requires sorting by size. In addition, the tools used to make the cuts often damage the core and prevent it from being sold as a first class product.

The object of the present invention is therefore to open nuts of various sizes, in particular cashew nuts, with as little damage to the core as possible.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a knife for removably nipping nuts in an open shell position, a knife member, a knife member, and a knife. Advancing means for advancing the member in the direction of the clamping means to cut into the nut shell arranged in the open shell position, the knife members each having at least one arcuate knife and the cutting position. With two knife heads that move between the
At the cutting position, they are basically located in the same cutting surface, and at the separating position, at least one of them is separated from the cutting surface. Is divided into two stages including a probing stage which is carried out until it engages with the nuts placed in the open shell position, and then a cutting stage which carries out a preset cutting action in addition to the probing action, A nut opening device is characterized in that the knife head is in the cutting position during the exploration and cutting steps and is moved to the separating position at the end or after the cutting step.

The knife member of the present invention comprises two knife heads each having at least one arcuate knife and movably mounted between a cutting position and a separating position. The two knife heads are essentially in the same cutting plane when in the cutting position and at least one knife is remote from the cutting plane when in the separating position. Furthermore,
The propulsion motion of the knife member is divided into two consecutive stages. In the exploratory stage, various exploratory actions depending on the size of the nut are performed until the knife member engages with the nut in the open shell position, and in the next cutting stage, apart from the exploratory action,
A preset cutting operation is performed. During the exploration and cutting steps, the knife head is in the cutting position, and at the end or later of the cutting step the knife head moves to the separating position.

According to the present invention, the individual conditions can be automatically accommodated, so that nuts, particularly cashew nuts, can be successfully opened without the need to pre-sort by size and shape. The basic reason for this is that the propulsion operation of the knife member is divided into two stages. In the first stage of operation, called the exploration stage, the knife head located in the cutting position advances until the knives in the same cutting plane engage the respective nuts in the open shell position. Movement distance at this time,
Here, the distance of the exploratory forward motion depends on the shape and size of each nut. For large nuts, the squeeze-and-forward movement is less than for smaller nuts. In each case, in the middle of the exploration phase, the knife is always placed towards the nut shell to "probe" by exploring the nut. When the exploration stage is complete, the actual open shell operation begins. For this purpose,
The knife cuts or cuts into the nut for a preset length (hereinafter "cutting forward movement"). This stage of operation is called the cut stage. This cutting forward motion is generally dependent on the typical average thickness of the nut shell of interest, and for cashew nuts, a cutting forward motion of about 2.5 mm has been found to be suitable. There is. This is the depth of the cut, which is less than the thickness of the nut shell so that the nut core or the surrounding skin is not damaged. At the end of the cutting step, the knife head moves from the cutting position to the separating position, for example in a manner oblique to the direction of propulsion, so that the shell is split in half and the core is exposed. After this, the knife member returns to the starting position in order to continue the shell opening operation for the next nut that has moved to the shell opening position.

The propulsion means preferably comprises an air power cylinder which allows the end of the probing phase to be sensed relatively easily. With a conventional pressure sensor, it is well possible to sense the pressure in the downstream cylinder chamber and a sharp drop in pressure indicates that the forward motion has stopped due to the knife and nut engagement.

During the final part of the exploration phase, the thrust force on the knife member is desirably reduced so that when the knife engages the nut, it cuts little or no nut. Once in contact with the nuts and at the end of the probing stage, the propulsion is increased to easily cut the desired length of nut shells. When the power cylinder is used, the propulsive force can be applied without problems by changing the pressure in various ways.

In order to optimally contact the knife member with each nut, the knife head with the knife preferably pivots about an axis extending perpendicular to the cutting surface and springs back to its basic position. be able to. next,
The bow knife is aligned by the curved surface of the nut shell in the process of engaging the nut.

More preferably, the knives of the two knife heads lie essentially on the same arc in the cutting position so as not to damage one another. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the gap of the knife from being closed. The knife returns from the incision surface to the initial position after each shell opening operation so that each nut is properly shelled in the desired position.

In order to optimally position each nut in the open shell position, clamping means are provided, each preferably comprising two sets of band spring-like long clamping springs and a band spring-like short centering spring. And a set of centering springs is located inside the set of clamping springs. The inserted nut is placed on the centering spring and is clamped by the clamping spring. With the proper shape of the spring, the knives can be easily lined up during the initial mating of the knife with the nut.

More preferably, another fixed knife is arranged on the holding means on the side opposite to the knife arranged at the cutting position. At the same time that the opposite movable knife bites into the nut, the other knife also bites into the nut, facilitating the task of separating the nut shell.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As an example, the device shown in FIG. 1 comprises a propulsion means 2 fixed to a holder 1 and having a knife member 4 attached thereto and a linearly moving output drive 3.
Further, in this embodiment, the position adjusting means 5 formed by the turret base is provided. Arrow 7 on the turret
As shown by, a plurality of holding means 6 that can be switched to the working position 8 one after another are attached. The switching operation is performed by, for example, rotating the turret table.

Further provided is control means 9 for controlling the operation of the device in a manner which will be described hereinafter. The propulsion means 2 of the present embodiment comprises a double-acting pneumatic power cylinder 12 having a housing 13, in which a piston 14 is provided.
Are movably provided in the axial direction. A piston rod 15 penetrating from the piston 14 extends axially through the housing 13, and both ends of the piston rod 15 extend through the housing 13.
Projecting from. The piston rod 15 belongs to the output drive unit 3, and in the present embodiment, the output drive unit 3 further includes a support plate 16, and the plate face of the support plate 16 is perpendicular to the long axis direction of the piston rod 15. 1 is fixed to the right end of the piston rod 15 in FIG. Two guide rods 1 extending parallel to the piston rod 15 for the purpose of preventing twisting and supporting.
7 and 17 'are provided, which extend laterally of the housing 13 and pass through a guide means 18 which is fixed to the housing 13 and is movable in the axial direction. The housing 13 has the holder 1 via the guide means 18.
It is fixed to. For this purpose, the guiding means 18 has a U-shaped configuration and is fixed to the end of the housing 13 closer to the support plate 16 and one of the edges 22 of the guiding means 18 is fixed to the holder 1. ing.

Two further support plates 23 of the output drive unit 3
And 23 'extend from the support plate 16 in the direction opposite to the housing 13 and have the knife member 4 attached thereto. In the position in which the device is to be used, the knife member 4 has two overlapping knife heads 2 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
5 and 25 '. Each knife head 2
Attached to 5 and 25 'are arcuate knives 26 and 26' in a cutting position 27, which lies in the same plane, referred to as cutting surface 28, as shown in FIG. The two knives 26 and 26 'are arranged in line on the same arc 32 so as not to damage each other, as indicated by the dashed line in FIG. The length of the two knives 26 and 26 ′ of the embodiment are each about a quarter arc so that they together form a semicircle at the cutting position 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the knife can be opened from the cutting plane 28 to the left and right sides.

The two knives 26 and 26 'do not necessarily have to consist of one knife as shown, but may consist of a plurality of separate knives. A blade 33 is provided on the concave side of the knives 26 and 26 ', ie on the side facing the center of the arc. Knives 26 and 26 '
Is provided so that the blade 33 faces the power cylinder 12 in the axial direction and faces the holding means 6 in the working position 8 and faces the advancing direction 34 of the knife member 4.

The forward direction 34 is the direction in which the knife member 4 is moved by the propulsion means 2 from a basic position away from the clamping means 6 and into a working position closer to the clamping means 6. The advancing direction 34 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the power cylinder 12. Two knife heads 25 and 25 '
Is a support rod 3 that rotates on the support plates 23 and 23 'described above.
5 and 35 ', respectively. The two support bars 35 and 35 'lie laterally to each other, as shown in the plan view of FIG. One end thereof is located in a gap 36 between the two support plates 23 and 23 ′, and the other end is on the opposite side of the support plate 16 from the gap 36 toward the holding means 6 in the working position 8. It is protruding. The knife heads 25 and 25 'are attached to the protruding ends of the support rods 35 and 35'.

Two rotatably mounted support bars 3
The axes of rotation of 5 and 35 'are parallel to the cutting surface 28 and, at the same time, more particularly at right angles to the advancing direction 34. The support rods 35 and 35 'are mounted on the output drive unit 3 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shafts 37 and 37' as shown by arrows 42 and 42 '. 'Each engaged. Automatic control units 38 and 38 'and support rods 35 and 3
The contact points 43 and 43 'with 5'are preferably the pivot shaft 37.
And 37 'in relation to the support rod, on the side facing the power cylinder 12. In the present embodiment, the automatic control units 38 and 38 'include the support plates 23 and 2
3'is composed of a short stroke air power cylinder rotatably mounted with a housing,
The rotation axes of the rotation points 40 and 40 'are parallel to the rotation axes 37 and 37' of the support rods 35 and 35 '.
Therefore, by actuating the automatic controls 38 and 38 ', the knife heads 25 and 25' are moved from the illustrated cutting position 27, as indicated by arrows 42 and 42 '.
It is possible to move it to the separation position 41 indicated by the one-dot chain line and return it to the original position again. In the separating position 41, the knives 26 and 26 ′ of the knife heads 25 and 25 ′ are separated from the cutting surface 28 and are rotated from the cutting surface 28 so as to be located on the side opposite to the cutting surface 28. Move away while moving (see Figure 2).

To open the nuts, first, the holding means 6 holding the nuts is moved into the working position 8. The position where the nut 10 is arranged is named an open shell position. This time,
The knife member 4 is still in the basic position and is pulled away from the advancing direction 34 and is far away from the clamping means 6. The support bars 35 and 35 'are not yet pivoted so that the blades 33 of the knives 26 and 26' are arranged in the cutting surface 28.

On the feed side of the power cylinder 12, a liquid pipe 44 'is placed in a cylinder chamber 44 closer to the piston shaft rear portion 24.
By supplying the driving fluid through the output driving unit 3
Moves in the forward direction 34, resulting in knives 26 and 2
6'moves towards the nut 10 placed in the open shell position.
The stage of operation from the basic position to the engagement of the knives 26 and 26 'with the nut 10 is called the exploration stage. The pre-probing travel of the knives 26 and 26 'during the probing phase is not permanently set and the nut 10 placed in the open shell position.
Depending on the size and / or shape of the. For large nuts, the exploratory forward motion is naturally shorter than for smaller nuts.

In the exploration stage, the zero or initial point of the nut shelling operation itself is set and the knives 26 and 26 'bite or cut into the nut shell to some extent. This biting or cutting operation is performed after the exploration step and is called a cutting step. The movement of the knives 26 and 26 'is also referred to as the cutting advance movement. The size of the cutting forward movement is different from the exploration forward movement which is different for each nut so that it can be automatically adapted to the individual situation of the work in progress.
It is predetermined by external factors and remains constant during the open shell process. This is a matter of empirical testing and can be set by the method described below, depending on the type of nut in question, as a preparation before using the device.

In this embodiment, as a measure of the completion of the exploration stage, the pressure drop which occurs when the downstream output or the forward movement of the piston 14 in the downstream cylinder chamber 45 is completed is utilized. For this purpose, the output cylinder chamber 45 or the pressure pipe 45 ′ connected to it is connected to an output sensor, which is not shown in detail, but which belongs to the control means 9.

In the exploration phase, the knives 26 and 26 'are pushed out with a relatively small force against the shell of the nut 10 so that no unwanted values occur in the initial position of the cutting phase. This is at least at the end of the exploration stage, where the upstream cylinder chamber 4
This is done by reducing the pressure in 4 from, for example, 5 bar to 1.5 bar. This decrease in pressure can be determined in advance by the control means 9 by the amount of displacement and / or time. At the beginning of the exploration phase, preferably a higher pressure and a higher displacement rate are selected than at the end of the exploration phase, so that at the end of the exploration phase, the knife cuts into the nut shell either completely or only slightly. .

At the end of the cutting step, that is, the knives 26 and 26 'have moved a preset cutting advance distance,
When cutting or cutting into the nut shell, the control means 9 move the knife heads 25 and 25 ′ from the cutting position 27 to the separating position 41, and the knife that cuts into the nut shell pries open the shell. If the nut having at least a substantially seamless seam 46 around the shell is arranged such that the seam 46 is located within the cut surface 28 in the open shell position,
This prying action becomes easier. Next, the knife 26
26 'and 26' bite into the nut from the seam 46 and can open the nut with relatively little force.

To facilitate the shell opening operation, preferably in addition to the movable knives 26 and 26 'of the knife member 4, each clamping means 6 is provided with a fixed knife 47. The fixed knife 47 is preferably such that the fixed knife or its blade is in the cutting surface 28 as shown and at the same time the movable knife 2 is
6 and 26 'are arranged in the same plane.

The shape of the fixed knife 47 preferably depends on the contour of the type of nut to be opened. To open the shell of cashew nuts, the blade may have a W-shape, as shown in FIG. This is because it is most appropriate to arrange the nut having such a kidney beans shape so that the groove portion faces the advancing direction 34 and the bottom surface of the holding means 6 to which the fixing knife 47 is fixed. is there.

The nuts 10 to be opened can be placed on the holding means 6 mechanically or manually. In this embodiment, more nuts can be processed by using the position adjusting means 5 in which a large number of sandwiching devices are arranged. However, when only one sandwiching means is provided, the sandwiching means can perform the illustrated work. Position 8
And the nut insertion position can be rotated more reliably, and as a result, the nuts that open shell there can be easily inserted.

To preset the cutting advancement or distance, the user needs to be familiar with the average thickness of the nut type to be opened. The penetration depth or notch depth should be set to be less than the thickness of the shell. Even if the knife does not completely penetrate the shell,
By moving to, you can fully pry the shell.

When the knives 26 and 26 'are moved to the separating position 41 and the shell is pryed or cracked, the knife member 4 is
By the operation in the direction opposite to the forward direction 34, it is pulled back to the basic position. Even during the pullback operation, the knife heads 25 and 25 ′ can return to the cutting position 27.

In order to further improve the capabilities of the knives 26 and 26 ', and more specifically to accommodate the shape of each nut that opens the shell, the knife heads 25 and 25' of this embodiment are
As shown by arrows 49 and 49 ', it is rotatably attached to each support rod 35 and 35'. Rotation axis 4
8 and 48 ′ extend at right angles to the cutting surface 28, as seen in the cutting position 27. Contact with the outside of the nut shell then causes the knives to pivot individually, which allows them to move in an optimal position relative to the shell. Desirably, the knife heads 25 and 25 'are two knives 2.
It bounces back to its basic position, as shown in FIG. 1, where the distance between 6 and 26 'is maximal. More specifically, the knife heads 25 and 25 'are biased toward one another by a spring 52 which engages the knife at one end and the support rod 35 or 35' at the other end. The basic position is
It is determined by the joint points 53 fixed to the support bars 35 and 35 '. When the knives 26 and 26 'come into contact with the nuts, they move in conjunction with each other such that their gap and the radius of the arc they form are both small.

In this embodiment, each knife head 25 and 2
5'shows knives 26 and 26 ', and knife knives 54 and 54' holding the knives and more particularly having a plate-like shape.
It consists of and. The knife stand is composed of support rods 35 and 3
It pivots on 5'and engages a return spring 52 so that the knife head can spring back to its basic position.

The piston shaft rear portion 24 outside the housing 3
An adjustment device 21 is provided therein, which ensures the setting of the initial position associated with the start of the cutting phase of the knife member 4. In the illustrated structure, a step portion 55 is provided on the piston shaft rear portion 24 in the direction opposite to the forward direction 34 of the piston shaft 15. The portion from the step portion 55 to the end of the piston shaft rear portion 24 is referred to as the end portion 56, and the diameter of the end portion 56 is smaller than the diameter on the advancing direction 34 side. The distal end 56 is threaded and has a nut 63 attached thereto. Further, a substantially sleeve-shaped joint portion 57 is axially movably fitted to the outer periphery of the terminal portion 56. The joint portion 57 is the spring 5
8, the shaft 8 is urged in the axial direction toward the forward direction 34, that is, in the direction of the step portion 55. When the output drive unit 3 is located at the basic position shown in FIG. 1, the joining portion 57 contacts the step portion 55 by the urging force of the spring 58. This contact position shown in FIG. 1 is hereinafter referred to as the initial position.

Further, the operating range setting section 62 is provided with a terminal section 5
It is attached to 6. The operating range setting portion 62 includes the nut 6 screwed into the thread of the end portion 56 by the spring 58.
Since 3 is pressed, it does not move in the direction opposite to the forward direction 34. In this way, the spring 58 pushes the joint portion 57 and the operation range setting portion 62 in the axial direction. Operating range setting unit 62
Has a fishing line shape in this embodiment, and the joint 57
Are radially covered outward in the axial direction.

By applying a force to the joint 57 that exceeds the repulsive force of the spring 58, the joint 57 relatively moves to the end position, as shown at 55 'and 62' in FIG. It contacts the operating range setting unit 62 '. The adjusting device 21
Further, in this embodiment, a wedge-shaped lock portion 64 is provided. The lock portion 64 is located at a portion axially between the housing 13 of the power cylinder 12 and the joint portion 57. The lock portion 64 is arranged in the illustrated non-operating position when the output drive portion 3 is in the basic position, and does not make axial contact with the joint portion 57. The non-actuated position is shown in FIG.
Is indicated by 64 '. The automatic control unit 65 controls the operation of the lock unit 64. In this embodiment, the automatic control unit 65 is an air power cylinder that performs a short stroke, and is fixed on the housing 13. The lock portion 64 is connected to the piston rod of the automatic control portion 65. By operating the automatic control unit 65, the locking unit 64 can be moved from the illustrated non-operating position to the locking position shown by the solid line in FIG. In the locked position, the lock is in the axial path of the joint 57. The lock portion 64 is preferably arranged at a right angle to the forward direction 34. One of the wedge surfaces of the lock portion 64 faces the joint portion 57, and the wedge rear surface 61 on the opposite side is arranged to push the rear surface of the housing 13.

Here, when the propelling means 2 is in the basic position, the lock portion 64 is in the inoperative position. In the next exploration stage, the output drive section 3 moves in the forward direction 34, and the joint section 57 and the operation range setting section 62 also move. Even if the exploration step ends early, the axial distance between the joint 57 and the lock portion 64 in the non-actuated position is greater than the maximum possible width of the exploratory forward movement so that the joint 57 and the lock portion 64 do not contact each other. Is also big.

When the end of the exploration stage is detected by the decrease in the pressure in the downstream cylinder chamber 45, and when the exploration stage is completed,
The automatic control unit 65 operates and the lock unit 64 moves in the forward direction 3
It moves at a right angle to 4 and moves to the locked position. The locking position is the joint 5 with the wedge surface 66 facing the forward direction 34.
This is the position where the joint surface 67 of No. 7 is pushed. Since the lock portion 64 is fixed by the engagement with the rear surface 61, the joint portion 57 is prevented from further moving in the forward movement direction 34. Since the pressing force of the lock portion 64 is smaller than the repulsive force of the spring 58, the lock portion 64 does not push the joint portion 57 from the initial position.

When the lock portion 64 moves to the lock position,
The cutting phase begins. As described above, in the cutting step, a larger force is exerted than in the exploration step and exceeds the repulsive force of the spring 58. As a result, the piston rod 15 (as indicated by 55 'in FIG. 5) and the output drive section 3 move in the forward direction 34, and the operating range setting section 62 collides with the joint section 57. The operation range setting unit at the collision position is indicated by 62 '. At this time, the relative positional relationship between the piston rod 15 and the joint 57 changes, and the joint 57 moves from the initial position to the end position.

The length of the movement or path of the joint 57 shown from the initial position to the end position is clearly equal to the length of the cutting advancing operation. Therefore, the cutting advance path length can be adjusted by adjusting the operating range a. In this embodiment, the setting of the operating range a can be adjusted by changing the relative positional relationship between the operating range setting unit 62 and the piston rod 15. In rare cases, the operating range setting unit 6
It is necessary to slightly screw the nut 63 attached to No. 2 into the piston rod 15. The operating range setting unit 62 itself is
It is supported by the force of the nut 63, the joint portion 57, and the spring 58.

After completion of the cutting step, the knife heads 25 and 25 'are switched to the separating position 41, as described above. The signal for performing this switching is, in the embodiment,
It is delivered from a sensor 68 mounted on the adjusting device 21, preferably via a back pressure nozzle 69. Back pressure nozzle 69
Operates at the beginning of the cutting phase and blows out compressed air. At the end of the cutting step, the back pressure nozzle 69, which is provided in the working range setting part 62 in the illustrated embodiment, is covered by the facing part, here the surface of the joint part 57. The resulting increase in pressure causes a switching signal to initiate the separating operation of the knife member 4.

By virtue of the principle of movement in the opposite direction, at the same time as the shell is plucked, air is preferably blown from the nozzle 72 into the operating position of the knives 26 and 26 ', thereby preventing clogging of the working part. Since the lock portion 64 can set the end of the exploration step each time, the depth of the cuts of the knives 26 and 26 'is within an allowable range, and the probability that the nut core will not be damaged is high.

All the devices and sensors of the devices illustrated are connected to the control means 9. The control means 9, although shown schematically, regulates and controls the flow of each operating stage. In order to surely arrange the nut 10 in the open shell position, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the sandwiching means 6 is provided with a strip-shaped spring structure, whereby the inserted nut 10 is located at the center position. Place and fix. Specifically, 2
A pair of clamping springs 73 and 73 'are arranged facing each other and spaced apart. Each clamping spring 73 and 73 '
One end 74 of the is fixed to the bottom 75 of the clamping means 6,
A fixed knife 47 is also provided on the bottom 75. The other end 76 of the spring is located in the working position 8 and faces the knife member 4 and is not fixed. The two clamping springs 73 and 73 'of each set are arranged face to face across the cutting surface 28, the clamping springs on the same side preferably being arranged at least substantially coplanar within the cutting surface. . The sandwiching springs 73 and 73 ′ extend substantially straight from the bottom 75 while curving slightly outward, and bend in a hump shape on the way.
Each spring first extends outward, then inward again, and finally bends outward.

Therefore, the gap 77 between the holding springs 73 and 73 'first spreads from the bottom 75, widens most at the hump-shaped bent portion, and then narrows again toward the bent end. Is spreading again. Therefore, the nut 10 does not have to be inserted straight.

The two gaps 77 between the springs are each provided with a further set of centering springs 78 and 78 '. These are similar to the clamping springs 73 and 73 ',
One end is fixed to the bottom 75 and the other end is not fixed. They are, however, shorter than the clamping springs 73 and 73 ', and the free ends 82 extend to the point where the clearance is generally greatest. The longitudinal shape is likewise curved and / or bent, bent inward near the bottom and then extends outward and upward to the support 83. When the nut 10 is inserted, the bottom of the nut 10 rides on the support portion 83,
The upper part partially overlaps the ends of the clamping springs 73 and 73 '. Since all springs flex elastically independently of each other, each nut 10 is automatically centered when inserted. When the shell of the nut 10 is opened, the holding springs 73 and 73 'are opened and the shell is dropped.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily open nuts of various sizes without damaging the core.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of an apparatus of the present invention showing a structure for opening shells of cashew nuts as an example.

2 is a partial view of the device of FIG. 1 as seen in the direction of arrow II, the solid line indicating the cutting position 27 and the broken line indicating the separating position 41 of the knife head.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the fixing means of FIG. 1 viewed from the direction of arrow III.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the fixing means of FIG. 3 seen from the direction of arrow IV.

5 is a partially enlarged view of the device of FIG. 1, showing a part near the means for determining the starting position of the cutting step.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Holder 2 ... Propulsion means 3 ... Output drive unit 4
... Knife member 6 ... Clamping means 8 ... Working position 9 ... Control means 1
0 ... Nuts 12 ... Air power cylinder 13 ... Housing 1
6, 23 ... Support plate 25 ... Knife head 26 ... Knife 27 ... Cutting position 28 ... Cutting surface 32 ... Arc 33 ... Blade 34 ... Forward direction 35 ... Support rod 37, 48 ... Rotating shaft 38 ... Automatic control unit 41 ... Separation position 45 ... Downstream cylinder chamber 47 ... Fixed knife 57 ...
Joint part 62 ... Operating range setting part 64 ... Lock part 65 ... Automatic control part 66 ... Wedge surface 68 ... Sensor 69 ... Back pressure nozzle 72 ... Nozzle 73 ... Clamping spring 78 ... Centering spring

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A sandwiching means for detachably sandwiching nuts at an open shell position, a knife member, and the knife member are attached, and the knife member is advanced toward the sandwiching means to be placed at the open shell position. Propulsion means for cutting into a nut shell, the knife member each having at least one arcuate knife, and two knife heads moving between a cutting position and a separating position, the knife comprising: In the cutting position, they are basically located in the same cutting plane, and in the separating position, at least one of them is separated from the cutting plane. Is divided into two stages including a probing stage which is carried out until it engages with the nuts placed in the open shell position, and then a cutting stage which carries out a preset cutting action in addition to the probing action, Knife head The nut opening device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cord is located at the cutting position during the exploration stage and the cutting stage, and moves to the separating position at the end or after the cutting stage. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the propulsion means comprises a fluid power cylinder. 3. A decrease in pressure in the downstream cylinder chamber of the fluid power cylinder is utilized to sense the engagement of the knife and nut and predict the end of the probing stage. The apparatus according to 2. 4. The propulsion force exerted by the propulsion means on the knife member is at least during the final stage of the exploration step less than in the next cutting step.
The apparatus according to any of the above. 5. The propulsion force is preset by the pressure in the fluid power cylinder.
The device according to any one of 1 to 4. 6. The propulsion means comprises an output drive unit which is connected to a knife member and moves linearly, and the output drive unit is movable between an initial position and an end position in cooperation with the output drive unit. A certain joint portion is provided, the joint portion is biased toward the initial position side in the advancing direction, and while it exceeds the repulsive force, it can move in the opposite direction to the advancing direction and can move to the end position. Is provided so as to engage with the operation range setting section that is connected to the output drive section and moves together with the output drive section, and the distance between the initial position and the end position corresponds to the desired pre-cutting travel distance, Don't move in the forward direction after the end of the stage,
Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lock is provided in the path of the joint on the side facing the forward direction. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the operating range setting unit is connected in a straight line with the output driving unit so that the end position of the joint can be set in various ways. 8. The locking portion is a wedge-shaped portion that extends across the forward direction, and moves into the operation path of the joint after the end of the exploration step so that the wedge surface engages with the joint. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that 9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising a sensor for emitting a switching signal when the joint portion moves to the end position, on the basis of which the knife head moves from the cutting position to the separating position. The device according to any one of 1. 10. The back pressure nozzle attached to a joint or an operating range setting section, and the sensor is arranged so as to be covered by facing parts in an end position. The described device. 11. Each knife head is connected to an output drive of the propulsion means so as to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to the cutting surface, and is elastically biased to a basic position. Device according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the knives of the two knife heads are arranged in a line on the same arc in the cutting position. 13. The two knives are characterized in that the length of each of the knives is approximately equal to a quarter arc, and in the cutting position both halves together are approximately a half arc. 1
3. The device according to 2. 14. Each knife head is attached to a support rod, and the support rod is rotatable about a rotation axis extending parallel to the cutting surface and connected to an output drive unit of a propulsion means. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it is provided. 15. A support rod, each support rod engaging an automatic control, said automatic control being attached to an output drive for moving a knife head between a cutting position and a separating position. 15. It is rotatable together with it.
An apparatus according to claim 1. 16. Device according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the knives of the two knife heads are arranged on opposite sides of the cutting surface in the separating position. 17. A fixed knife is attached to the clamping device and extends into the cutting plane, the knife of the knife head being located opposite them when in the cutting position. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 16. 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the fixed knife has a W-shaped blade for opening shells of cashew nuts. 19. Two sets of band-shaped holding springs facing each other are attached to the holding means, nuts in an open shell position are elastically held between the holding springs, and one end of the holding spring is fixed. 19. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the other end is not fixed and is curved and / or bent in the longitudinal direction. 20. A set of strip-shaped centering springs are arranged in the gap between each sandwiching spring, one end of the spring being fixed and the other end not being fixed, the spring being shorter than the sandwiching spring and having an open shell. 20. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that it has a shape which is curved and / or bent in the longitudinal direction to support the nuts that open in position. 21. Nuts provided with a plurality of holding means, wherein the plurality of holding springs are attached to a turret stand and continuously move into a working position, and the nuts held by the holding springs within the working position. 21. The device according to any of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that is arranged in the open shell position. 22. Nuts having a circumferential seam in the shell are arranged in the open shell position, such that the seam extends at least substantially in the incision plane.
The apparatus according to any of the above. 23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting forward path is determined by the average thickness of the nuts to be opened. 24. A device according to any of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that the notch advance path is shorter than the average thickness of the shell of the nut type to be opened. 25. A nozzle is provided, and when the knife head is in the separating position, the nozzle blows air into a gap between the nozzle and the opposite holding device. The device according to any of the above.