Peeling machine for peeling nuts

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of machines used for peeling nuts, such as almonds and the like which have been previously blanched, the machines having an accessible frame inside which there is a series of rollers arranged in pairs with nuts passing between them and each of them being associated with a rotating shaft, respectively, with movements at different speeds.

Claims

1. A blanched nuts peeling machine comprising: a frame inside which there is at least one pair of parallel main rollers with a passage space for passage of blanched nuts between the at least one pair of parallel main rollers, wherein each main roller is associated with a rotating shaft secured in a cantilever arrangement to a vertical inner panel and the rotating shafts of the at least one pair of parallel main rollers rotate at different speeds, in use, to enable peeling the blanched nuts; a plurality of secondary rollers, each secondary roller being associated with one of the main rollers, respectively, located at a distance from the associated one of the main rollers and connected to the associated one of the main rollers by a closed rubber band; the secondary rollers associated with the at least one pair of main rollers are arranged symmetrically with respect to an intermediate vertical plane between the main rollers; a plurality of tighteners for tightening the closed rubber bands; and a door secured to the frame opposite the vertical inner panel, the door being operable between a closed position and an open position, wherein when the door is in the closed position, the door and frame form a closed cabinet and when the door is in the open position, a user can access the inside of the frame; wherein the secondary rollers have a diameter less than a diameter of the main rollers and wherein each secondary roller is secured only at one end to the vertical inner panel so that each of the closed rubber bands is, upon opening the door, removable from its associated secondary roller and main roller by moving away from the vertical inner panel and without releasing either end of the associated secondary or main roller from the vertical inner panel.

2. The blanched nuts peeling machine according to claim 1, wherein each tightener is formed, respectively, by a tensioning roller arranged outside the closed rubber band, the tensioning roller having a shaft connected to a first end of an arm, which is in turn secured at a second end opposite the first end to a rotating rod fixed to the vertical inner panel.

3. The blanched nuts peeling machine according to claim 1, wherein the secondary rollers are fixed in position inside the frame.

4. The blanched nuts peeling machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of parallel main rollers comprises a first pair of main rollers and a second pair of main rollers, the first pair of main rollers is located above the second pair of main rollers such that the passage space for the passage of nuts between the first pair of main rollers and the second pair of main rollers is aligned with the intermediate vertical plane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a series of drawings is provided as an integral part of said description in which the following has been depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the peeling machine for peeling nuts with the access door in the front face being open for a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an elevational view of the rollers with the bands of the peeling machine for a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the rollers with the bands of the peeling machine for a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the rollers with the bands of the peeling machine in a situation in which one of the bands has been removed, for a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) In view of the drawings provided, it can be observed how in a preferred embodiment of the invention the peeling machine 1 for peeling nuts, such as almonds and the like which have been previously blanched, proposed herein comprises a frame 2 inside which there is a series of parallel main rollers 4 arranged in pairs with a passage space 5 for the passage of the nuts between them. Each main cylinder 4 is associated with a rotating shaft 6, these rotating shafts 6 being secured at only one end to a vertical inner panel 7.

(7) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this peeling machine 1 for peeling nuts further comprises secondary rollers 8, each of them associated with one of the main rollers 4, respectively. Each secondary roller 8 is located a certain distance from the associated main roller 4 and is connected thereto by means of a closed band 9. The secondary rollers 8 corresponding to one and the same pair of main rollers 4 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the intermediate vertical plane between said main rollers 4.

(8) In this preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, the peeling machine 1 for peeling nuts has an access door 3 on the front face of the frame 2. This allows complete access to the elements inside the machine, making the cleaning and maintenance tasks easier. This is possible because the main cylinders 4 and the secondary cylinders 8 are secured at only one end to the vertical inner panel 7, this end being the end opposite the front face of the frame 2.

(9) Likewise, in this preferred embodiment of the invention the rotating shafts 6 of the main cylinders 4 of this machine preferably have drive means and rotate at different speeds, respectively, to enable peeling the nuts 14.

(10) In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for tightening each band 9, as can be seen in FIG. 2, are formed by a tensioning roller 11 arranged outside the band. This tensioning roller 11 is connected through its shaft to a first end 12.1 of an arm 12 which is in turn secured at a second end 12.2 opposite the first end to a rotating shaft 13 fixed to the vertical inner panel 7.

(11) These means for tightening apply suitable tension on the band so that it can peel the nut more efficiently and at the same time; when the means for tightening do not apply said tension on the band, said band can be easily removed from the rollers on which it acts, as shown in FIG. 4.

(12) As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in this preferred embodiment of the invention the secondary rollers 8 have a diameter less than the diameter of the main rollers 4 and are fixed in position inside the frame 2.

(13) Likewise, in this preferred embodiment of the invention the peeling machine 1 also comprises means for tightening each band 9 and washing and drying means 10 for washing and drying same, which in this embodiment are formed by washing and press drying.

(14) The bands 9 used in this preferred embodiment of the invention are made of rubber, although they could be made of PVC or any other material with similar hardness characteristics.

(15) In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the main rollers 4 of each pair are susceptible to relative joint movement with respect to an intermediate vertical plane between both. This allows regulating the passage space between the rollers, keeping the plane through which the nut falls constant, increasing peeling efficiency.

(16) With the peeling machine for peeling nuts proposed herein, significant improvements with respect to the state of the art are achieved from both the productivity and efficiency viewpoints.

(17) Therefore, by using bands for peeling the nuts instead of rollers, the length of the contact surface of these bands is greater than the length of the contact circumference of the rollers, so it will take a longer time for the bands to be worn down and therefore, with less wear, the times in which there is a need for replacement is prolonged, and with it there will be less machine shutdown times and higher production.

(18) Likewise, by using bands, when the wear conditions make replacing the bands necessary, the band is changed but not the roller, so it is overall simpler and more comfortable and there is no need to handle the rollers, which are considerably heavy.

(19) All this favors shorter times for replacement tasks, so the machine remains shut down for less time and can operate again in a shorter period of time, obtaining a higher productivity.

(20) The separation between the main and secondary cylinders offers spaces in which the band is free of contact with any of the two cylinders and this makes gripping the bands, once they are loosened at the time of removal for replacement, easier.

(21) An efficient, easy and practical machine with a higher productivity is therefore achieved.