Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A dehusking machine (100) comprising:
a container (102) adapted to contain nuts to be dehusked wherein the container (102) is arranged to rotate around a vertical axis and comprises perforations at a bottom side of the container (102);
baffles (104) configured in the container (102) to make a skin of the nuts slack by creating an obstruction for the nuts inside the container (102);
an air blower (106) configured at the bottom side of the container (102) to blow air and to dehusk the skin of the nuts;
a hose (110) configured at an upper side of the container (102) such that the skin of the nuts are separated and blown to the hose (110) with the air blown by the air blower (106); and
an unloading window (112) configured on the container (102) to unload the dehusked nuts.
2. The dehusking machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air blower (106) is of 1 horse power (HP).
3. The dehusking machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air blower (106) is a pneumatic blower.
4. The dehusking machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unloading window (112) comprises a latch arranged to lock the unloading window (112) to remain closed during a rotation of the container (102).
5. The dehusking machine (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a bottom frame support (202).
6. The dehusking machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nuts comprise tree-nuts, seeds and/or legumes such as peanuts, cashew nuts, almonds, pistachio, black grams, and alike.
7. The dehusking machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a motor (108) is configured beneath the container (102) to rotate the container (102).
8. The dehusking machine (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the motor (108) is a direct current (DC) motor.
9. The dehusking machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the perforations of 2 millimeters are designed throughout the bottom of the container (102).
10. A method (300) of dehusking skin of nuts, the method (300) comprising:
putting nuts in a container (102);
rotating the container (102) around a vertical axis;
create an obstruction using baffles (104) to make a skin of the nuts slack;
blowing air from a bottom side of the container (102) to blow air and to dehusk the skin of the nuts;
separating the skin of the nuts and passing through a hose (110); and
unloading dehusked nuts using an unloading window (112).

Date: 30 March 2021
Place: Noida
Dr. Keerti Gupta
Agent for the Applicant
(IN/PA-1529)
, Description:FORM 2

THE PATENT ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&

THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)

DEHUSKING MACHINE
APPLICANT(S)
NAME: DAMARLA RAMESH BABU
NATIONALITY: INDIAN
ADDRESS: S R ENGINEERING COLLEGE, ANANTHASAGAR (V), HASANPARTHY (M), WARANGAL, TELANGANA 506371

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a system and method for de-husking nuts and particularly to a de-husking machine for de-husking skin of roasted peanuts.
Description of Related Art
[002] Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are one of the major ingredients in the traditional snack “chikki”. Other ingredients are jaggery, salt, preservatives, ghee and/or oil. This is a popular snack item which is in dried form and packed in plastic film for three to four months storage at room temperature. This has been one of the ingredients in the emergency rations for the armed forces food pack.
[003] In process of bulk making of the chikki, after being roasted the peanuts need dehusking such as the skin of the peanut is completely removed before making the snack. Conventionally, the peanuts are generally dehusked one by one and collected to a container and further the skins of the peanuts are disposed of. The manual process of dehusking peanuts requires manpower as well as additional time. Moreover, it is very difficult to maintain a proper hygiene during the manual dehusking of the peanuts.
[004] There is thus a need for a de-husking machine that can dehusk the peanuts and other nuts in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a dehusking machine comprising: a container adapted to contain nuts to be dehusked, wherein the container is arranged to rotate around a vertical axis and comprises perforations throughout at a bottom side of the container; baffles configured in the container to make a skin of the nuts slack by creating an obstruction for the nuts inside the container; an air blower configured at the bottom side of the container to blow air and adapted to dehusk the skin of the nuts; a hose configured at an upper side of the container such that the skin of the nuts is separated and blown to the hose with the air blown by the air blower, and an unloading window configured in the container to unload the dehusked nuts.
[006] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a method of dehusking skin of nuts. The method comprising: putting nuts in a container; rotating the container around a vertical axis; creating obstructions using baffles to make the skin of the nuts slack; blowing air from a bottom side of the container to blow air and to dehusk the skin of the nuts; separating the skin of the nuts and passing through a hose, and unloading dehusked nuts using an unloading window.
[007] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application provide a dehusking machine which is capable of dehusking nuts in an efficient manner.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present application a dehusking machine which is capable of dehusking peanuts in bulk which can further be used for making of a jaggery based snack, chikki.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application a dehusking machine which is capable of dehusking nuts in bulk without exploiting a huge manpower.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application a dehusking machine which is economic to manufactures.
[0011] Next, embodiments of the present application may a dehusking machine which is capable of maintaining a proper hygiene while dehusking the nuts.
[0012] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0013] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting a dehusking machine, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative view of the dehusking machine, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for dehusking skin of nuts, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0020] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises,” and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.
[0021] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention, may provide a dehusking machine 100. The dehusking machine 100 may comprise a container 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the container 102 may be adapted to store nuts to be dehusked.
[0023] As referred herein, the term ‘nuts’ may be used for any edible and non-edible substances. In an embodiment of the present invention, the nuts may be tree-nuts, seeds and/or legumes such as peanuts, cashew nuts, almonds, pistachio, black grams, and alike. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nuts may be peanuts that may need dehusking. In general, for many recipes, the peanuts may be roasted and a skin on the peanuts may need removal.
[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the container 102 may be in a shape of a drum that may be adapted to rotate around a vertical axis.
[0025] The container 102 may comprise a bottom side and an upper side. In an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom side of the container 102 may comprise perforations. The perforations on the bottom side may allow an air to pass through the container 102.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the container 102 may be made of a stainless steel material. In another embodiment of the present invention, the container 102 may be made of an engineering plastic, a polymer, a metal and/or other material. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container 102 may be made of a food grade material such as the stainless steel of grade 304 (SS304). The embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material including known, related art, and/or later developed.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the container 102 may be made to have a diameter of 800 millimeters, a thickness of 2 millimeters with perforations of 2 millimeter throughout the bottom and a Height of 500 millimeters. In an embodiment of the present invention, the container 102 may accommodate hundred kilograms of the nuts at a time per batch. The embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any dimensions of the container 102 for dehusking a small batch of the nuts, a medium-size batch of the nuts, and/or a large batch of the nuts.
[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dehusking machine 100 may comprise baffles 104 and an air blower 106. The baffles 104 may be configured on an inner side of the container 102 and may be arranged in such a way that a movement of the nuts may be constructed by the baffles 104. With the obstructions created by the baffles 104, the skin of the nuts may get slack.
[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air blower 106 may be configured at the bottom side of the container 102. The perforations may allow the air to pass through the container 102 such that air blower 106 may blow air and may dehusk the skin of the nuts. In an embodiment of the present invention, the air blower 106 may be a pneumatic blower. The embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the air blower 106 including known, related art, and/or later developed in technology.
[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air blower 106 is fixed beneath the container 102 without connecting to the container 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the air blower 106 may have a capacity is 1 Horse Power (HP).
[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, a motor 108 may be configured beneath the container 102 to rotate the container 102. The motor 108 may be directly coupled with a shaft (not shown) and bearings (not shown). The shaft may be attached to the container 102 and may enable the container 102 to rotate along the vertical axis. In an embodiment of the present invention, the motor 108 may be a direct current (DC) motor. In another embodiment of the present invention, the motor 108 may be a synchronous motor, an induction motor and/or a servo motor.
[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the container 102 may further comprise a hose 110 and an unloading window 112. The hose 110 may be configured at the upper sider of the container 102 such that the skin of the nuts may be separated and blown to the hose 110 with the air blown by the air blower 106.
[0033] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the dehusking machine 100 may comprise a bottom frame support 202 (as shown in the FIG. 2). The bottom frame support 202 may be made of an engineering plastic, a polymer, a metal and/or other material. The embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material including known, related art, and/or later developed in technology.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the unloading window 112 may be configured at the bottom side of the container 102 with a gasket (not shown) to unload the dehusked nuts. The unloading window 112 may be of 10 x 10 centimeter. In an embodiment of the present invention, the unloading window 112 may be provided with a latch (not shown) which may be arranged to lock the unloading window 112 to remain closed during the rotation of the container 102.
[0035] As depicted in FIG. 3, an embodiment of the present invention may provide a method 300 of dehusking skin of nuts. The method 300 may comprise:
[0036] At step 302, the dehusking machine 100 may be loaded with the nuts in the container 102.
[0037] At step 304, the dehusking machine 100 may rotate the container 102 around the vertical axis.
[0038] At step 306, the dehusking machine 100 may create the obstructions using the baffles 104 to make the skin of the nuts slack.
[0039] At step 308, the dehusking machine 100 may blow air from the bottom side of the container 102 to blow air and to dehusk the skin of the nuts.
[0040] At step 310, the dehusking machine 100 may separate the skin of the nuts and may allow the skins to pass through the hose 110.
[0041] At step 312, the dehusking machine 100 may unload the dehusked nuts using the unloading window 112, and the method 300 may conclude.
[0042] Embodiments of the invention are described above with reference to block diagrams and schematic illustrations of methods and systems according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the diagrams and combinations of blocks in the diagrams can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto one or more general-purpose computers, special purpose computers, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce machines, such that the instructions which execute on the computers or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks. Such computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the block or blocks.
[0043] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0044] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.