COCONUT DEHUSKING MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a machine for removing the husk from the nut portion of a coconut. More particularly, the present invention relates to a machine capable of separating the husk with less effort leaving the nut in tact.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known that the nut portion of the coconut is surrounded by fibrous husk having a relatively hard outer surface which strongly adheres to the inner nut portion. The husk is commonly stronger than the nut itself and may be up to 2 or 3 inches in thickness. The removal of the husk thus presents the problem of piercing the hard outer layer and then removing the husk from the inner nut without breaking the inner nut. The nut portion of the coconut as well as the husk itself is commercially more valuable.

Traditionally the husk is separated from the nut portion of the coconut by hand .Right from the ancient days till recent years, the coconut is de husked with a sickle. By inserting and twisting the sickle, the coconut is de husked. This system of de husking is very dangerous to the operator since there is every chance for slipping of the sickle.

There was an innovation subsequently where in a single headed spear is installed on the ground or on platform and the coconut is pressed on it. By +pressing the coconut, the spear enters in to the husk of the coconut and by manually twisting the coconut the husk is peeled off. In this method there is every chance of the operator falling on the spear, if the coconut get supped, which will cause serious injury to the operator. These processes are not only dangerous but also are a repetitive operation, and is extremely fatiguing. More over the productivity in the known methods is very low and may not be sufficient for de husking of large number of coconuts.

It will be advantageous to have an apparatus which will eliminate one or all the prior art problems.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The basic object of the present invention is to provide a coconut de husking machine which is specifically capable of separating the husk from the nut efficiently and maintaining the nut in an undamaged state for further processing..

Another object of the present invention is directed to provide a coconut de husking machine which is capable of separating the husk fully from the nut optionally.

A further object of the present invention is directed to provide a coconut de husking machine which is provided with mobility means for the easy shifting of the machine from place to place.

A further object of the present invention is directed to provide a coconut de husking machine which utilizes the gravitational force for the delivery of the coconut separated from the husk.

A further object of the present invention is directed to provide a coconut de husking machine which is provided with optional means for the removal of the fibres from the head portion of the coconut.

A further object of the present invention is directed to provide a coconut de husking machine which is provided with means for the removal of the husk without much damage.

A further object of the present invention is directed to provide a coconut de husking machine which can be built with multiple heads for de husking plurality of coconuts simultaneously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus the basic object of the present invention is to provide a coconut de husking machine comprising:

one or more cylinders;

one or more pegs;

a retainer assembly;

drive system;

one or more rollers;

one or more strippers; and

a frame,

wherein said cylinders are arranged in the horizontal axis and disposed one above the other in vertical axis,

wherein said cylinders are capable of being driven at opposite direction to each other at a pre determined speed by the drive system of the machine,

wherein said pegs are arranged radially over the surface of the said cylinders,

wherein said retainer assembly comprises one or more radial surface disposed
up stream of the said cylinders, and

wherein said rollers can be engaged optionally to remove fibers from the head
portion of the coconut.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the first cylinder comprises a tapered stepped down portion and provided with 2 rows of 6 pegs and 2 rows of 4 pegs
It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the second cylinder comprises 2 rows of 4 pegs.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the second cylinder comprises a pair of shoulder rings arranged at a pre determined distance and a spring is disposed in between the said rings.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the said spring is a closed coil helical spring.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein said closed coil helical spring is of left handed helix.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a coconut de husking machine, wherein the said retainer assembly is held under pressure against the said cylinders by pressure exerting means.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the said pressure exerting means is preferably tension spring.

In the above said invention, the helical elongated projections are arranged to the entire length of the said rollers and the rollers revolve in opposite direction.

It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein the said rollers are arranged approximately perpendicular to the axis of the said cylinders and arranged at an inclination to the ground.
It is another aspect of the present invention, wherein said strippers are mounted on the frame at the exit opening provided for the removal of the husks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

Figure 1 of the drawings schematically depicts the drive system of the machine according to the invention.

Figure 2 of the drawings schematically depicts the retainer assembly according to the invention.

Figure 3 of the drawings schematically depicts the optional arrangement used for the removal of the fibres from the head portion of the coconut according to the invention.

Figure 4 of the drawings schematically depicts the stripper arrangement adopted for the removal of the husk removed from the coconut according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

As would be apparent from the disclosure herein before this invention provides coconut de husking machine constructed on a frame provided with wheels for easy mobility essentially comprises a pair of cylinders driven by the drive system of the machine such that they rotate in opposite direction to each other; the cylinders being provided with pegs which are capable of penetrating the husk for its removal ; a spring loaded retainer assembly is disposed to retain the coconut against the revolving pair of cylinders ; plurality of strippers are mounted on the frame at the rear side of the cylinders to facilitate guiding the removed husks from the coconut fruit and directing them to a opening provided for the exit of the husks removed from the coconut fruit as well as to prevent the dropping of the husks towards the nip portion of the cylinders ; a mechanism for the optional complete removal of the fibres including that present on the head portion of the coconut and an arrangement to push the coconut towards the exit opening .

Reference is now invited to accompanying Figures 1 to 4 which illustrate an embodiment of the coconut de husking machine in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the said figures, the coconut de husking machine comprises a pair of cylinders namely a first cylinder (1) and a second cylinder (2) arranged in horizontal plane. Each cylinder having an elongated configuration and are disposed in spaced relationship to each other and are disposed one above the other in vertical plane and are arranged substantially in parallel relation to one another. The pair of cylinders (1,2) are mounted on a frame (3) of the machine in anti friction hearings and are capable of driven by the drive system of the machine in a direction opposite to each other .For example the drive system comprises a reduction gear drive (4) mounted on the frame(3) and driven by a motor (5) . The output shaft of the reduction gear drive (4) is drivingly connected to one end of the first cylinder (1). Means are provided on the other end of the first cylinder (1) for transmitting drive to the second cylinder (2)..

For example the first and second cylinders are drivingly connected by gear train / timing belt drive/ chain drive such that the first cylinder (1) and second cylinder (2) rotate in opposite direction to each other .In a preferred embodiment a drive gear wheel (6) mounted on the first cylinder (1) drives the second cylinder (2) through a driven gear wheel (7). The middle portion of the first cylinder (1) is having a tapered stepped down portion and provided with plurality radially arranged rows of pegs (P).

In a preferred embodiment at the starting portion and the ending portion of the stepped down portion 6 pegs are arranged as first radial row (8) and second radial row (9) and the pegs are arranged approximately 60 deg apart each other. In between the two radial rows (8,9) there is provided another two radial rows of pegs , namely third radial row (10) and fourth radial row (11) which are arranged approximately at equal distance between them as well as between the radial rows (8,9) , each comprises 4 pegs and are arranged approximately at angle 90 deg apart.

The second cylinder (2) comprises a pair of shoulder rings (12, 12') that are arranged at a pre determined distance in between them. In between the shoulder rings (12, 12') a closed coil helical spring (13) is disposed. The closed coil helical spring (13) is preferably of left handed helix. The second cylinder (2) further comprises two radial rows of pegs , namely fifth radial row (14) and sixth radial row (15) which are arranged just away from the shoulder rings (12,12') and comprises 4 pegs each and are arranged approximately at angle 90 deg apart. The location of the fifth radial row (14) and sixth radial row(15) are such that it will lie closer to the first radial row (8) and second radial row (9) arranged on the first cylinder (1).

In order to retain the coconut fruit against the revolving cylinders (1,2 ) for the removal of the husk, the apparatus is provided with a retainer assembly (16) which is arranged at the front side of the cylinders (1,2 ) . The retainer assembly(16) essentially provided with a retaining member (16a) having first radius (R1) in vertical plane and a second radius (R2) in horizontal plane. The retaining member (16a) is constructed using wear resistance material such as stainless steel and steel and comprises rigidly fitted side plates at the pre determined location. The retainer assembly (16) is pivotally supported on the frame (3) at pivot axis (17, 17') using pivot pins (18,18') . In order to hold the coconut fruit against the revolving cylinders (1,2) under pressure, the retainer assembly (16) is held using suitable pressure exerting means such as gas spring, tension spring. In a preferred embodiment the pressure exerting means is tension spring (19, 19'). While one end of the tension spring is fitted to the retainer assembly (16), the other end is fitted to the frame (3) in any one of the known methods. A handle (16c) is advantageously fitted to the retainer assembly (16) to facilitate easy opening of the retainer assembly (16) for loading the coconut fruit and the
like.

The coconut nut free from husk will be left with part of fibres at its top portion. This is essential to keep the coconut free from getting decomposed for a considerable duration of time. In certain end use like oil mill applications. It is essential the nut is fully free from husk and fibers. The apparatus according to the invention is provided with an optional arrangement which is capable of removing the fibres that present at the top portion of the coconut.

The coconut that is free from husk but with fibres on its top portion is fall in between a pair of rollers (20,20') with helical elongated projections (20a,20'a) arranged to its entire length and revolving in opposite direction. The rollers (20, 20') are arranged approximately perpendicular to the axis of the first and second cylinders (1, 2). Also the rollers (20, 20') are arranged at an inclination to the ground so that the coconut can skid over them due to the gravitational force and reach the exit opening. The drive to the rollers (20, 20') can be advantageously taken from the motor (5) in any one of the known methods.

If the coconut delivered by the machine requires fibre at its head portion, the pair of rollers (20,20') are covered by a cover , which may be preferably made of sheet metal.
In a preferred embodiment the drive from the driven gear wheel (7) is transmitted to the gear wheel (21) mounted on the drive shaft (22). A first bevel gear (23) is mounted on the drive shaft (22) and a second bevel gear (24) is mounted on the shaft portion of the roller (20). The shaft portion of the roller(20) also carry a driver gear wheel (25) which engages with a driven gear wheel (26) mounted on the roller (20').

In order to aid the skidding of the coconut towards the exit opening, the apparatus is provided with a pulley (27) mounted with a push rod (28) over it. The drive from the drive shaft (22) is transmitted to the pulley (27) by a endless member (29) such as V belt by suitable means. The push rod (28) is radically mounted on the upper portion of the pulley (27), which positively pushes the coconut to assist skidding towards the exit opening due to the rotation of the pulley (27). To facilitate guiding the removed husks from the coconut fruit, the apparatus is provided with plurality of strippers (30) that are mounted on the frame(3) at the exit opening provided for the removal of the husks such that the strippers strip the husk separated from the coconut. The strippers (30) also prevent the dropping of the husks towards the nip portion of the rollers (1,2).

For the ease of feeding of the coconut fruit to the de husking machine, suitable feeding device may be attached. For example such a device may be a trolley mounted hopper with inclined guide surfaces for advantageously using the gravitational force for transferring the coconut fruit to the de husking machine. For simplicity the machine with one working head is explained in detail. It is to be understood however it is possible to have a machine with plurality of working heads and such inventions are also within the scope of the invention claimed.

Though this invention is hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to
specific embodiments, obvious alterations and modifications known to persons
skilled in the art are well within the scope of the appended claims.

WE CLAIM:

1. A coconut de husking machine comprising:

one or more cylinders;

one or more pegs;

a retainer assembly;

drive system;

one or more rollers;

one or more strippers; and
a frame,

wherein said cylinders are arranged in the horizontal axis and disposed one
above the other in vertical axis,

wherein said cylinders are capable of being driven at opposite direction to
each other at a pre determined speed by the drive system of the machine,
wherein said pegs are arranged radially over the surface of the said cylinders,
wherein said retainer assembly comprises one or more radial surface disposed
up stream of the said cylinders, and

wherein said rollers can be engaged optionally to remove fibers from the head
portion of the coconut.

2. A coconut de husking machine as claimed in claim 1. wherein the first
cylinder comprises a tapered stepped down portion and provided with 2 rows of
6 pegs and 2 rows of 4 pegs

3. A coconut de husking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cylinder comprises 2 rows of 4 pegs.

4. A coconut de husking machine as claimed in claims 1 and 3, wherein the second cylinder comprises a pair of shoulder rings arranged at a pre determined distance and a spring is disposed in between the said rings.

5. A coconut de husking machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the said spring is a closed coil helical spring of left handed helix.

6- A coconut de husking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said retainer assembly is held under pressure against the said cylinders by pressure exerting means which is a tension spring.

7. A coconut de husking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said rollers with helical elongated projections are arranged to the entire length of the said rollers and the rollers revolve in opposite direction.

8. A coconut de husking machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein the said rollers are arranged approximately perpendicular to the axis of the said cylinders and arranged at an inclination to the ground.

9. A coconut de husking machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strippers are mounted on the frame at the exit opening provided for the removal of the husks.

10. A coconut de husking machine substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.