Title of Invention

CASHEW NUT SHELLER

Abstract

This invention relates to a cashew nut sheller comprising a main frame (1) attaching a pedal operating assembly (2), a top shelling assembly (3) being operated with a spring loaded actuating assembly (5) to move down the shelling assembly (3) on pressing down the pedal operating assembly (2), a bottom holding assembly (4) slidably movable by a spring loaded sliding assembly (6) wherein by one stroke of operation one cashew nut is shelled when the top shelling assembly (3) and the spring loaded sliding assembly (6) respectively applies the impulse force and tensile force simultaneously when the cashew nut is shelled through resulted penetration of penetration of pins (21,28) of top shelling unit (20,21) and bottom holding unit (27,22).

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to cashew nut shelter. PRIOR ART Shelling of roasted cashew nut is conventionally accomplished by cracking the nut along its longitudinal axis in manual hand beating method to release the edible kernel. The irregular shape of the cashew nut and the brittleness of the kernel inside the rather hard shell make the shelling process complicated and results in breakage of kernels leading to reduction of market price and acceptability for export. The cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), present over the cashew nut shell surface causes a blistering effect on human skin and more over the conventional method hardly meets the quality control standards for shelling of cashew nuts. Reference can be made to Ohler, 1979 (Ohler, J. G. Cashew Communication 71, Deptt. Of Agril, Res., Royal Tropical Institute, Armsterdam, 1979, 18-49, 65; 201-207) wherein a manually operated device has been reported where there are two nut shaped blades between which the nut is held. The blades cut into the shell to a per-determined depth. One of the blades is twisted to separate the shell halves to complete shelling. The drawbacks arc that the method is a non-continuous one and needs enough skill because the nut is to be hand-held in between two blades making it prone to accident. Further, reference can be made to Thivavarnvor, 1989 (Thivavarnvong T. The Desing Synthesis of a Semi-automatic Cashew Nut Shells: ASAE Paper 1089-6615, 1989) wherein a semi-automatic version of the blade system has been proposed which relies on hand feeding of a circular plate conveyor which takes each nut in turn into the path of a cam operated blade. The drawbacks are that this method is labour intensive and the throughput is limited to 45 nuts/min for two people and one machine. Yet further, reference can be made to Russel. 1960 (Russel D.C. Cashew Nut Processing, Agricultural Services Bulletin 6, Agricultural Service: Division F.A.O , Rome 1969 21-50) wherein the principle of shelling is throwing the roasted cashew nuts at a target plate by means of a centrifuge. The drawbacks are that a significant proportion of the nuts may remain unshelied and the process often results in a high percentage of broken kernels (up to 30%). Reference may be made to Jain and Kumar, 1997 (Jain, R.K. & Kumar, and S. Development of a power operated cashew nut sheller Journal of Food Engineering) wherein a power operated cashew nut sheller based on the principle of compression and shear. The drawbacks are that the shelling efficiency is only 70% and yield in terms of whole, half, split and broken is 50%, 22% and 28% respectively. Reference may be made to U.S Patent 4612854 (Henry J.Chiro, 1986) wherein a nutcracker having a horizontal base and a horizontal lower cracking plate removing removable positioned on the base. An upper cracking plate is horizontally disposed above the lower cracking plate and slidably engaged on a upper frame allowing vertical horizontal movement of the upper cracking plate relative to the base. The drawbacks are that the shelter may only be suitable for spherical nuts not for the irregular shaped nuts as in case of cashew nut. Reference may be made to LT.S .Patent 641430 (Han, Marlin D.nut Splitter 1987) wherein a nut splitter has been developed for macalamia nuts utilizing a disk like cutting element for splitting the nutshell. The drawbacks are that the splitter is suitable for spherical macadamia nuts, may not be useful for irregular shaped cashew nuts. Reference may be made to U.S Patent 4044663 (Straw, Jesse Harold, Nut Shelter, 1977) wherein a nut shelter has been developed on the principle of applying an impact upon the nut once suitably positioned by a nut holder. The drawbacks are that in case of cashew nut the impact is to be applied along the longitudinal axis at 2 to 3 spots making it sure that the shell cracks fully and the kernel is released Based on the prior art details and drawbacks thereof as mentioned the necessity getting a suitable device for cashew nut shelling very much exists. The irregular shape of the cashew nut and brittleness of the kernel inside the rather hard shell are the major points of concern considering the invention of a cashew nut sheller. The thickness of the cashew nut shell around the kernel also varies and needs special attention. During shelling adequate care should be taken to release the whole kernel that ensures the cost factor and ultimately benefit to the cashew nut processor as well as the cashew nut growers. The presence of CNSL on the shell surface which causes blistering effect on human skin needs to be looked after to assure quality control aspects. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to provide a Cashew nut sheller, which obviates the drawbacks of prior art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mean for applying impulse along the natural line of cleavage of the nut on the concave surface for rapture of the nutshell, which is made brittle during the roasting operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mean for holding the nut for giving necessary support during application of impulse force one the nut. Another object of the present invention is to provide a seven numbers of adjustable chisel shaped pins, which would penetrate the nut along the contour of the concave surface when the nut is placed along the longitudinal axis. Another object of the present invention is to provide chisel shaped pins for rupture and conical shaped pins for holding the nut during the application of impulse force. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mean for applying the tensile force by means of necessary links which would result in opening of the outer sale of the outer sale to release the whole edible kernel with testa intact. Another object of the present invention is to provide adjustments in safe of threaded pins to suit to the dimensions of the nuts of varying sizes. Another object of the present invention is to provide seven numbers pins at the top and five numbers pin at the bottom considering the contour of the top concave surface and bottom concave surfaces are adequately defined with minimum numbers of points for resulting a line of fracture on the top surface of the nut. Another object of the present invention is to provide spring-loaded supports both for impulse and tensile force application system to ascertain the restoration of normal position soon after completion of both above actions. Another object of the present invention is to provide a suitable fulcrum mechanism that connects the application of impulse and tension force and facilitates to happen simultaneously in one stroke of the operation. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to this invention there is provided a cashew nut sheller comprises a main frame, pedal operating assembly, top shelling assembly, bottom holding assembly, spring loaded actuating and sliding assembly wherein the main frame is attached to the pedal operating assembly, which is connected to the spring loaded actuating assembly and the assembly is attached to a top shelling assembly, fitted with a shelling unit. BRIEF DESCRITPION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS. Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and wherein: Figure 1 represents the isometric view of the Cashew nut Sheller in its initial position during the shelling operation. Figure 2 represents the isometric view of the Cashew nut Sheller in its final position during the shelling operation. Figure 3 represents the plan view of the Cashew nut Sheller. Figure 4 represents the elevation view of the Cashew nut sheller. DESCRITPION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Based on the principle of impulse and tension, the cashew nut sheller has been developed wherein nuts are placed on a bottom holding assembly one by one and are subjected to a impulse force by a top shelling assembly. The top shelling assembly comprises of for example seven numbers chisel shaped adjustable pins mounted on a curved plate while the bottom holding assembly has for example five adjustable conical shaped pointed pins, mounted on a flat plate and both the assemblies has half lap joints. The impulse force through the top shelling assembly is effected through the downward movement of the pedal with adequate force such that the pins mounted on it, penetrate to the desired depth on the longitudinal axis causing a rupture along the natural line of cleavage of the nut. The top shelling assembly and bottom holding assembly are linked through a suitable locking mechanism such that half of top and bottom pins move to right side resulting in spitting of the shell and release of the whole kernel. On the main frame the pedal operating unit is linked to the top and bottom assemblies with suitable hinge arrangements such that the impulse and tensile force are effected simultaneously resulting in the completion of the shelling process. The pins on top and bottom are mounted such that their depth of penetration can be adjusted as per the shell thickness at each point under load. Reference is made to fig 1-4. The "LP shaped pedal operating assembly(2) is attached to the main frame (1) on its two rear legs by swinging type hitches (9). The pedal pipe is rigidly fixed to the right side bar and is attached in parallel to the left side bar with two nuts and bolts. The left side bar through an "L" type link (10) is hinged to a spring loaded actuating assembly (5). The top shelling assembly (3) is attached through a hinge (11) on its left arm to the spring loaded actuating assembly which comprises of two coaxial pipes(12) fitted one over the other and three nos. of compression springs(13) separated by bushwasher type locks(14). The spring loaded actuating assembly is further supported by a bush type guide (15) and attached to a horizontal support (16) on the main frame. This arrangement makes the top shelling assembly to move down when the pedal is pressed down. The top shelling assembly is hinged to the main frame by two support blocks and bushes(17). It has got two parallel round bars (18) and two square bars (19) fitted perpendicular to each other on which the shelling unit (7) has been fitted. The left hand side bar is rigidly fixed while the right hand side bar is movable and gets interlocked to a spring loaded sliding assembly (6) as the top shelling assembly moves down. The shelling unit comprises of two halves of curved metal plates(20) interlocked by a half-lap joint and has/seven nos. chisel shaped pins (21) mounted on the curved plates, which are adjustable. There are three pins on the left hand side and four pins on the right hand side of the shelling unit. The spring loaded sliding assembly (6) has got a spring (22) locked between two bushes (23) and is hinged at one end to a horizontal parallel pipe by a clamp (24) while the other end is attached to the bottom holding assembly. This assembly (4) has got two parallel square bars (25) just below the two parallel bars of the top shelling assembly of which the left side is fixed and the right side is movable on the main frame by the help of two bushes (26). The bottom springs(13) separated by bushwasher type locks(14). The spring loaded actuating assembly is further supported by a bush type guide (15) and attached to a horizontal support (16) on the main frame. This arrangement makes the top shelling assembly to move down when the pedal is pressed down. The top shelling assembly is hinged to the main frame by two support blocks and bushes(17). It has got two parallel round bars (18) and two square bars (19) fitted perpendicular to each other on which the shelling unit (7) has been fitted. The left hand side bar is rigidly fixed while the right hand side bar is movable and gets interlocked to a spring loaded sliding assembly (6) as the top shelling assembly moves down. The shelling unit comprises of two halves of curved metal plates(20) interlocked by a half-lap joint and has seven nos. chisel shaped pins (21) mounted on the curved plates, which are adjustable. There are three pins on the left hand side and four pins on the right hand side of the shelling unit. The spring loaded sliding assembly (6) has got a spring (22) locked between two bushes (23) and is hinged at one end to a horizontal parallel pipe by a clamp (24) while the other end is attached to the bottom holding assembly. This assembly (4) has got two parallel square bars (25) just below the two parallel bars of the top shelling assembly of which the left side is fixed and the right side is movable on the main frame by the help of two bushes (26). The bottom holding assembly has got two halves of flat metal plates (27) interlocked by a half-lap joint and has five nos. pointed shaped pins (28) which are also adjustable and positioned in between two inclined metal plate supports. Three are two pins on the left hand side and three pins on the right hand side of the holding assembly. The right side square bar of the bottom holding assembly is attached to two bushes for facilitating sliding movement i.e. one on the top shelling assembly while the other one is fitted to a shaft (37) on the main frame. On the left side square bar of the bottom holding assembly a fulcrum unit (8) is rigidly fixed which has got two arms (30) placed perpendicular to each other. One of these arms is attached to the horizontal parallel pipe (33) by a hinge (32) while the other is hinged (34) to a vertical pipe (34)(Fig 4). A bush type guide (35) fitted to the horizontal support of the main frame, supports this vertical pipe and has a platform (36). rigidly fixed at the bottom. When this platform is pressed down the sliding assembly moves to right by the action of the fulcrum and results in movement of the right side halve of the top shelling unit and bottom holding unit. The main advantages of the present invention are :- 1. That, the shelling of one roasted cashew nut is completed in one stroke of operation. 2. That, the whole kernel is released intact from the shell of the nut when shelling process is completed. 3. That, the height of the pins are adjusted before the start of shelling operation which ensures the desired depth of penetration in the shell without causing any damage to the kernel of the cashew nuts of the grade for which pins are already set. 4. That, the cashew nut is left alone being placed in longitudinal axis of the nut on the bottom holding assembly in between the two side supporting plates that ensures safety to the operator. Further more the CNSL contact with hand is avoided to a great extent. OPERATION OF THE INVENTION A cashew nut is placed on the bottom holding assembly in between two side supports along the longitudinal axis. The pedal is then pressed downwards, that brings the top shelling assembly down by the help of the spring loaded actuating assembly resulting in penetration of pins along the natural line of cleavage of the nut. Further movement of the pedal makes the platform of the vertical pipe move down resulting in the sliding assembly to move to right by the action of the fulcrum. By this time the right hand side halves of top shelling unit and bottom holding unit also move to right being interlocked which results in the splitting of the nut shell to two halves to release the whole intact kernel (Fig. 2). Then the pedal is released and the top shelling assembly and bottom holding assembly regain their position automatically by the action of the springs on the spring loaded actuating assembly and spring loaded sliding assembly. This way, by one stroke of operation one cashew nut is shelled when the top-shelling assembly and the spring loaded sliding assembly, respectively applies the impulse force and tensile force simultaneously. The next stroke of operation starts again with the placement of another cashew nut in between the side supports. The height of the pins on top shelling unit and bottom holding unit are adjusted as per the size of the cashew nut. For a particular grade of the cashew nut this arrangement can be fixed and can be changed when the grade is changed. The height of the main frame has been designed to facilitate the pedel operation in standing posture by an operator. It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:- WE CLAIMS 1. A cashew nut shelter comprising a main frame (1) attaching a pedal operating assembly (2), a top shelling assembly (3) being operated with a spring loaded actuating assembly (5) to move down the shelling assembly (3) on pressing down the pedal operating assembly (2), a bottom holding assembly (4) slidably movable by a spring loaded sliding assembly (6) wherein by one stroke of operation one cashew nut is shelled when the top shelling assembly (3) and the spring loaded sliding assembly (6) respectively applies the impulse force and tensile force simultaneously when the cashew nut is shelled through resulted penetration of penetration of pins (21,28) of top shelling unit (20,21) and bottom holding unit (27,22). 2. A cashew nut sheller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pedal operating assembly (2) is of U-shaped attached to the main frame (1) on its two rear legs by swinging type hitches (9). 3. A cashew nut sheller as claimed in claim 2 wherein the left bar of the pedal operating assembly (2) is hinged to the spring loaded actuating assembly (5) through an 'L' type link (10). 4. A cashew nut sheller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the top shelling assembly (3) is attached through a hinge (11) on its left arm to the spring loaded actuating assembly (5), which comprises of two coaxial pipes (12), fitted one over the other and for example three nos. of compression springs (13), separated by bushwater type locks (14). 5. A cashew nut sheller as claimed in claim 4 wherein the top shelling assembly (3) is hinged to the main frame (1) by two support blocks (16) and bushes (15) and has got two parallel round bars (18) and two square bars (19) fitted perpendicular to each other. 6. A cashew nut sheller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shelling unit comprises of two halves of curved metal plates (20) interlocked by a half- lap joint and has for example seven nos. chisel shaped pins (21) mounted on the curved plates, which are adjustable. 7. A cashew nut sheller as claimed in claim 4 wherein the spring loaded sliding assembly (6) has got a spring (22). 8. A cashew nut sheller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom holding assembly (4) has got two parallel square bars just below the two parallel square bars (25) just below the two parallel bars of the top shelling assembly (3) and two halves of flat metal plates (27) interlocked by a half-lap joint and has for example five nos. pointed shaped pins (28). 9. A cashew nut sheller as claimed in claim 8 wherein on the left side square bar of the bottom holding assembly (4) a fulcrum unit (8) is rigidly fixed. 10. A cashew nut sheller substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to drawings. This invention relates to a cashew nut sheller comprising a main frame (1) attaching a pedal operating assembly (2), a top shelling assembly (3) being operated with a spring loaded actuating assembly (5) to move down the shelling assembly (3) on pressing down the pedal operating assembly (2), a bottom holding assembly (4) slidably movable by a spring loaded sliding assembly (6) wherein by one stroke of operation one cashew nut is shelled when the top shelling assembly (3) and the spring loaded sliding assembly (6) respectively applies the impulse force and tensile force simultaneously when the cashew nut is shelled through resulted penetration of penetration of pins (21,28) of top shelling unit (20,21) and bottom holding unit (27,22).

Documents:

350-kol-2005-granted-abstract.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-claims.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-correspondence.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-description (complete).pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-drawings.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-examination report.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-form 1.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-form 18.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-form 2.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-form 26.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-form 3.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-form 5.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

350-kol-2005-granted-specification.pdf