1. A cashew nut shell removing apparatus comprising: a feeder (1) to receive and transport at least one cashew nut (2) in a pre-determined position at least one linear actuator (5, 6) to transport said cashew nuts (2) in said position towards at least one cutter (7), wherein said cutter (7) is positioned to cut a shell of said cashew nuts (2) from at least one side thereof; at least one conveyor mechanism comprising at least one shell remover to receive said cashew nuts (2) from the cutter (7) to vertically pierce through the shell of said cashew nuts (2), wherein said shell remover comprises a pair of blades for positioning said cashew nuts (2) and vertically piercing through the shell; and at least two spaced apart containers to separately collect the removed shell and at least one shell-free cashew nut.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feeder (1) is a screw vibrator feeder (1) configured to transport cashew nuts oriented in a vertical position

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one linear actuator (5, 6) comprises a horizontal pneumatic cylinder (5) and a vertical pneumatic cylinder (6).

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vertical pneumatic cylinder (6) vertically pushes said cashew nuts towards the cutter (7).

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said horizontal pneumatic cylinder (5) horizontally pushes said cashew nuts (2), after having undergone side-cutting by said cutter (7), towards said at least one shell remover attached to the conveyor mechanism.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutter (7) comprises a pair of vertical cutters (7) powered by a motor to cut both sides of the shell of said cashew nuts (2) oriented in the vertical position.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conveyor mechanism is a sprocket chain (38) adapted to undergo circular motion along-with said at least one shell remover.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shell remover comprises a pair of upper (32) and lower blades (33) to pierce through the thickness of the shell of the cashew nut, wherein said blades (32, 33) are assisted by at least two compression springs (31) having an adjustable tension.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least two sprocket chains (38) are adjacently placed to enable correspondingly adjacent shell removers to collectively trap the received cashew nut (2) between the upper (32) and lower (33) blades and thereafter vertically pierce the same.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shell remover comprises at least one cam (40, 41) to assist the upper blades (32) and lower blades (33) in operating with a fulcrum (36).

DESC:DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to equipment used for removing shells and more particularly relates to removal of cashew nut shells.
BACKGROUND
As agricultural products, cashew nuts are obtained alongside shells, thereby being in an unfinished form. Accordingly, as a mandatory finishing technique, cashew nuts are extracted out of the shell by a manual removal/breakage of shells through hammering.
Such manual efforts are indeed time-consuming owing to human limitation and capability. Further, the oil emanating from the shell due to hammer driven brakeage of the shell damages a skin and texture of the cashew nut, thereby compromising the saleable quality and at times even rendering the cashew nut unfit for human consumption.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an automated cashew nut shell remover that runs on an external power source such as electricity and helps to automatically remove the cashew nut shell and recover the cashew nut as present therein in a separate container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention describes a feeder to receive and transport the cashew nuts in a vertical orientation towards a cutter for executing side cutting of a shell of the cashew nuts. The cashew nuts are further pushed by a means and trapped in a shell remover meant for vertically piercing through the thickness of the shell of the cashew nut. Thereafter, the broken shell and the inside present cashew nut are separately collected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
To further clarify advantages and features of the invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates a cashew nut feeder, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig 2 illustrates a vertical cutter assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig 3 illustrates a drive mechanism for a conveyor mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig 4 illustrates a sprocket wheel and a spur gear assembly for a conveyor mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig 5 illustrates an exploded view of the shell remover, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig 6 illustrates a front view of the shell remover, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig 7 illustrates a side view of the shell remover with guide plates, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the shell remover, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 9 illustrates a magnified view of spacer and a pin required for sprocket chain mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 10 illustrates a magnified view of an adjustable sprocket wheel in the sprocket chain mechanism, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 11 illustrates a top view of the cashewnut shell removing apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 12 illustrates a side view of cashewnut shell removing apparatus, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
It may be noted that to the extent possible, like reference numerals have been used to represent like elements in the drawings. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of aspects of the invention. Furthermore, the one or more elements may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DEATILED DESCRIPTION
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof. Throughout the patent specification, a convention employed is that in the appended drawings, like numerals denote like components.
Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment”, “another embodiment” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or sub-systems or elements or structures proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems.
Embodiments of the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 illustrates a screw vibrator feeder (1) so as to receive and transport the cashew nuts for shell removal, in an implementation of the present invention. As a part of the operation, the cashew nuts, hereinafter referred to as nuts (2), are fed into the screw vibrator feeder (1).

Fig. 2 illustrates a vertical cutter assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In operation, as a part of transportation by the feeder (1), the nuts travel through a feeder path (3) towards a pair of motorized cutters (7), such that the transportation from the feeder (1) till the motorized cutters (7) maintains the nuts in a vertical or upright position. Such position of the nut (2) may be visualized as a cashew nut (2) placed in position where the grooves are on top. Specifically, the operation of the screw vibrator feeder (1) ensures that the nuts (2) travel towards the motorized cutter (7) in such type of upright position.

A vertical pneumatic cylinder (6) automatically gradually lifts the received nuts (2) towards the motorized cutters (7), such that both sides of the vertically positioned nuts (2) are cut by the cutters (7) to the extent of shell thickness without affecting the actual nut as sitting within the shell. Further, a horizontal pneumatic cylinder (5) pushes the nuts (2) through another feeder path (3) towards a shell remover as elaborated in Fig. 5 till Fig. 8.

Now coming to the operation of the shell removers, the nut (2) as transported through the feeder path (3) from the horizontal pneumatic cylinder (5) gets trapped between a pair of shell removers. Such trapping of the nut (2) has been clearly depicted in Fig. 8 and Fig. 11.

As shown in Fig. 7, 8, 11 and 12, the shell removers, are fitted on a conveyor mechanism that in an embodiment corresponds to a sprocket chain (38). Such sprocket chain (38) may be driven by sprocket wheels (23, 46). In a further implementation, there may be two adjacently placed sprocket chains (38) that undergo circular motion in opposite directions. The shell removers follow the circular motion of the respective sprocket chain (38) and accordingly undergo circular motion in a direction (clock-wise or anticlockwise) as associated with the particular sprocket chain (38).

Despite the fact that circular motions are opposite, it may be understood that adjacent disposition of the two sprocket chains (38) also undergo linear motion in the same direction by a particular distance. Accordingly, such phenomenon ensures that the respective shell removers converge at a common point, move synchronously in the same direction for a particular time span/distance and thereafter diverge from each other.

It is during such synchronized motion of the adjacent shell removers in the same direction, the nut (2) as being transported by the feeder path (3) is introduced into the shell remover. Accordingly, the nuts (2) introduced from the feeder path (3) gets trapped between the adjacently moving shell removers. Accordingly, upper and lower blades (32 & 33) of both shell removers impinge upon the nut (2) collectively, and slowly pierce through the nut (2) from the upper and lower side to the extent of vertically piercing through the thickness of the shell, without affecting the actual nut encapsulated within the shell

When the two shell removers diverge from each other at the end of a half circular path of the two sprocket chains (38), the shell-free nut (2) now falls into a particular tray/container. On the other hand, the shell that remains stuck within both the shell removers for some time drops into another tray/container that is spaced apart from the first tray/container. In other words, the shell of the nuts (2) is parted in two, while the seed or the edible nut fall down into a collection tray. The removed shell is gradually released into a separate tray.

Specifically, the action of shell removal as performed by the shell remover is assisted by the earlier made side cut made upon the nut (2) by the motorized cutter (7), while the nut (2) passes through the guide pipe (8) that is shown in Fig. 2. The cams (40 & 41), as shown in Fig. 7, which are rigidly fitted on the other side of the shell remover, help the upper and lower blades (32 & 33) to undergo lowering and lifting, respectively, about a fulcrum (35). In respect of the location of the fulcrum (35), reference may be made to Fig. 6. In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, wheels (26) are provided on top and bottom for the shell removers to exercise a smooth motion over the rigidly positioned cams (40 & 41).

Further, the shell remover also has two compression springs (31) on top and bottom of the shell remover and is provided with nuts (30). The tension of the springs (31) is adjustable over the nuts (30), thereby ensuring that the blades (32 & 33) would penetrate only till the thickness of the shell.

Fig. 3 illustrates a motor (15) and gear box (11) required to impart circular motion to the conveyor mechanism, whereas Fig. 4 depicts a sprocket wheel (23) and a spur gear (17) for facilitating the circular motion of the conveyor mechanism.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 depict exploded and assembled views of the shell remover, respectively. As evident from the figures, both the upper and lower blades (32 & 33) are configured to move towards the nut (2) for piercing, wherein said piercing is in respect of the thickness of the shell. In addition, the wheels (26) help the shell remover to pass on smoothly on the cams (40 & 41), as depicted in Fig. 7, wherein the cams (40 & 41) are variable in thickness. Shown in Fig. 7 is a side view of the shell remover with guide plates (39).

Fig. 8 illustrates a front view of the cashew nut shell remover with a drive assembly connected to a sprocket wheel (46). Fig. 9 illustrates a magnified view of a spacer (42) and a pin (44) required for adjustment of the sprocket wheel (46) that drives the sprocket chain (38). On the other hand, Fig. 10 illustrates a pitch adjustment mechanism (43, 44, 45) over the sprocket wheel (46) so as to implement the adjustable sprocket wheel (46) in the sprocket chain mechanism (38).

Finally, Fig. 11 represents a top view of the cashew nut shell removing apparatus, while Fig. 12 illustrates a side view of the same.

While certain present preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A cashew nut shell removing apparatus comprising:
a feeder (1) to receive and transport at least one cashew nut (2) in a pre-determined position
at least one linear actuator (5, 6) to transport said cashew nuts (2) in said position towards at least one cutter (7), wherein said cutter (7) is positioned to cut a shell of said cashew nuts (2) from at least one side thereof;
at least one conveyor mechanism comprising at least one shell remover to receive said cashew nuts (2) from the cutter (7) to vertically pierce through the shell of said cashew nuts (2), wherein said shell remover comprises a pair of blades for positioning said cashew nuts (2) and vertically piercing through the shell; and
at least two spaced apart containers to separately collect the removed shell and at least one shell-free cashew nut.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feeder (1) is a screw vibrator feeder (1) configured to transport cashew nuts oriented in a vertical position
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one linear actuator (5, 6) comprises a horizontal pneumatic cylinder (5) and a vertical pneumatic cylinder (6).
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vertical pneumatic cylinder (6) vertically pushes said cashew nuts towards the cutter (7).
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said horizontal pneumatic cylinder (5) horizontally pushes said cashew nuts (2), after having undergone side-cutting by said cutter (7), towards said at least one shell remover attached to the conveyor mechanism.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cutter (7) comprises a pair of vertical cutters (7) powered by a motor to cut both sides of the shell of said cashew nuts (2) oriented in the vertical position.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conveyor mechanism is a sprocket chain (38) adapted to undergo circular motion along-with said at least one shell remover.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shell remover comprises a pair of upper (32) and lower blades (33) to pierce through the thickness of the shell of the cashew nut, wherein said blades (32, 33) are assisted by at least two compression springs (31) having an adjustable tension.
9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least two sprocket chains (38) are adjacently placed to enable correspondingly adjacent shell removers to collectively trap the received cashew nut (2) between the upper (32) and lower (33) blades and thereafter vertically pierce the same.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shell remover comprises at least one cam (40, 41) to assist the upper blades (32) and lower blades (33) in operating with a fulcrum (36).