In some embodiments, a method for processing almonds includes sorting almonds into groups; and drying the sorted almonds. Sorting the almonds may include sorting based a size, a dimension, a mass, and/or an aerodynamic property. Drying the almonds includes subjecting the almonds to heated air for a time period and further include circulating the heated air at a velocity.

The present invention refers to a cracking-shelling mechanism with variable eccentric adjustment for shelled fruits, that comprises a plurality of longitudinal blocks parallel among them, consisting of a couple of first elongated bars with recesses on its internal sides and, adjacent to said first elongated bars, at least one second elongated bar, which exhibits recesses on its internal sides, forming holes when the first and second elongated bars are confrontedly arranged. Each couple of first elongated bars is connected by means of a lever, in its turn connected to a connecting rod, to an eccentric rotation shaft. The lever is connected to a fastening means at a support point and the support means comprises displacement means that change its position with respect of the fastening means, in such a way that the first elongated bars run is adjusted, jointly, with respect of the second elongated bar.

A device includes a blade, which is movable within an associated working space for cutting product units, and a conveying device in which the product units can be individually conveyed into the working space of the blade. The conveying device includes at least one two-part conveying channel associated with the blade, in which on one side first conveyor elements and on the other side second conveyor elements are guided, which are assigned to one another in pairs and which have each a recess for partially receiving a separated product unit. The sides of the first and second conveyor elements, which are facing one another, delimit therebetween the free working space, so that the blade is guidable within the working space partially or completely through the product units held in the first and second conveyor elements which correspond to one another.

The present disclosure discloses a machine and a method for peeling skin from un-peeled objects that mainly includes at least one controller, an object: handling unit, an agitating: and heating unit and a peeling and separating unit. The agitating and heating unit includes an agitator and a heater. The agitator receives un-peeled objects and hot abrasive particles. During agitation, un-peeled objects and hot abrasive particles tumble with each other thereby loosing bond between skin and objects and provide objects with loosely bonded skin. The heater heats the abrasive particles and then permits, flow within the agitator by use of abrasive conveyor. Objects with loosely bonded skin are then provided in the peeling and separation unit for peeling and separating skin from un-peeled objects and provide peeled objects in a controlled manner.

A machine for the integral processing of hard or soft shelled nuts herein proposed comprises a feeding hopper and at least one receptacle having a first end for connection to said hopper and a second opposite end, where said receptacle is located in a horizontal position according to the longitudinal direction of the machine and comprises therein a central shaft located according to the longitudinal direction thereof and connected at one end to a rotating element, where said central shaft has finger-like elements projecting radially outwards from various longitudinal positions thereof.

The invention relates to a cracking-shelling mechanism for nuts with a hard or soft shell, with a plurality of first and second blocks the facing sides of which have a plurality of complementary first and second notches in a staggered arrangement, wherein each first notch is associated with at least a second notch and forms a cracking hole with each one, wherein the notches have first and second vertexes for each hole, forming a specific angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and in the standby position of the first block, said first and second vertexes of each first notch are arranged so as to coincide with second and first vertexes, respectively, of a second notch.

A method for preparing a pumpable batch composition of stone fruit and/or nut fruit seeds, in particular nuts, almonds or nut and almond mixtures, with the following steps: Breaking open of the already pitted or stoned stone-fruit or nut-fruit seeds first takes place by pre-crushing. A hot air and/or vacuum exposure of the composition arising from the pre-crushing then takes place for the purpose of breaking open its cells. This is followed by a usually single-stage, optionally also multi-stage, further grinding of the composition arising from the pre-crushing and the hot air or vacuum exposure to form a pumpable batch composition.

An integrated machine for processing nuts with hard or soft shells, having a feeding hopper and a processing mechanism suitable for peeling or dehulling the fruit, including screener arranged below the processing mechanism, the screener comprising at least one screen element to separate the product into two levels, where the processing mechanism includes an outlet for the mixture obtained after processing the fruit and arranged in correspondence with a projection of a first inlet end of the screener, and a selector to make a selection by suction applied to at least one level of the screening means.

A cracking and shelling mechanism for nuts having a plurality of first elongated parallel blocks with a first end fastened to alternate movement means in both senses along the longitudinal axis thereof and a plurality of second elongated parallel blocks parallel to the first blocks and arranged in an alternate and adjacent way to the first blocks, wherein the movement means of each first block includes a seesaw element which is connected to at least one pair of blocks of a first and second adjacent blocks, such that the second blocks exhibit an alternate movement in both senses along the longitudinal axis thereof, and in opposite sense to the movement of said first adjacent block, wherein said seesaw element includes a fixed central rotation shaft, a first rod connected to the central shaft and to the first block and a second rod, diametrically opposed to the first rod, connected to the central shaft, and to the second block.

A combined machine for harvesting and shelling almonds is described, comprising a shelling machine combined with a harvesting machine, wherein the shelling machine is connected to the harvesting machine so that the outlet of the almonds harvested by the harvesting machine coincides with the loading area of the shelling machine; such combined machine allows directly performing in a field, and upon harvesting, the shelling of the almonds; the shelling machine is arranged transversally to the advancement direction of the harvesting machine and is connected to the top part of the harvesting machine, so that the end from which the shelled products go out bestrides the adjacent row to the row treated by the harvesting machine and the shelled almonds are poured into a trailer towed in an adjacent inter-row.