ALMOND CLEANING MACHINE
Patent Information
- Application Number
- ES2026030958U
- Authority / Receiving Office
- ES · ES
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-05-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2036-05-07
Abstract
Description
ALMOND CLEANING MACHINE Object of the invention The present invention relates to an almond cleaning machine configured to separate shelled almonds from a mixture of stones and almonds. The machine is capable of separating the almonds from the stones. This process is continuous, with the mixture of stones and almonds (collected from the soil of an almond orchard) being discharged into an upper hopper. The mixture then passes into an interior space where the separation is achieved through a combination of a vibrating system and an air vacuum turbine system or device. The machine of this invention arose from the need to optimize the production of the almond cleaning and shelling line. It successfully separates stones of a similar size to the shelled almond, as well as stones of larger and smaller sizes. This not only prevents wear and tear and breakdowns in downstream machines, but also increases the line's output and improves the final product (shelled almonds), making it an essential tool for product optimization. Background of the invention Currently, almond harvesting, especially for those almonds that fall to the ground or are knocked down for collection, presents a technical challenge due to the presence of impurities, mainly stones similar in size to the nuts. Various methods and machines are known, as described below. The most basic method involves beating the trees and collecting the almonds manually onto mats or directly from the ground. Stones are then separated using hand-held sieves or screens that take advantage of size differences. However, this method is excessively time-consuming, labor-intensive, and ineffective when the stones are similar in diameter to the almond, as the sieve cannot differentiate them by density or shape. There are machines on the market that vacuum or sweep the product from the ground. These machines usually incorporate basic cleaning systems consisting of fans that expel leaves and dust (light elements). However, they have the drawback of not being able to separate heavy elements such as stones, which pass along with the almonds into the trailers, sometimes damaging the subsequent shelling machinery and reducing the value of the harvest. In processing plants, large systems are used that remove small impurities from the top by air aspiration. These impurities then enter a cylindrical chamber where, by gravity, the almonds and stones fall onto a metal sieve or conveyor belt. There, a further series of vacuum nozzles separate the almonds / shells from the stones. However, the feed rate is often irregular, which means that separation is not optimal if the incoming mixture flow is not strictly controlled. This makes the system difficult to regulate and prone to breakdowns. In such cases, very low production is achieved in the separation process. Most current systems lack effectiveness in the cleaning process, sometimes being excessively complex to regulate and optimize production without ever achieving it. All these limitations create bottlenecks in the product flow, preventing high-volume production. Furthermore, their ineffectiveness also causes breakdowns in subsequent machines in the processing line, as they fail to efficiently separate the stones, allowing them to pass through in varying quantities. Description of the invention In order to achieve the objectives and avoid the drawbacks mentioned in the previous sections, the invention proposes an almond cleaning machine that is configured to carry out the separation of the almonds themselves from a mixture of stones and almonds. It comprises a perforated tray receiving the mixture of stones and almonds, which is located within an interior space as the bottom of a housing structure; where said tray is attached to the housing structure. The machine further comprises an air-suction turbine device and a vibrating device linked to the housing structure. The vibrating device is configured to vibrate the housing structure, generating movement of the almond and stone mixture above the surface of the tray when the mixture is placed on it. The combination of the vibrating device and damping mechanisms creates a vibratory movement in the mixture, causing the stones and almonds to jump. The casing structure includes two opposing outlets: a first outlet through which the almonds from the mixture come out, and a second outlet through which the stones from the mixture come out. The tray includes a first lower end edge and a second upper end edge, opposite the first lower end edge; wherein the first lower end edge is located at a lower height than the second upper end edge. The tray is located on a downward-sloping plane towards its first lower extreme edge, leading to the first outlet, while the second upper extreme edge of the tray leads to the second outlet. The housing structure is attached to a first frame by means of a first lower fixing and a second upper fixing; where the first lower fixing is formed by several opposing damping mechanisms, while the second upper fixing is formed by several opposing supports. On the other hand, the air vacuum turbine device is configured to generate an airflow within the interior space of the housing structure above its downward-sloping tray; where said airflow is configured to drag and displace the almonds towards the first downward-sloping outlet. Attached to the housing structure is a feed hopper for the mixture of stones and almonds, which passes into the interior space of said housing structure to finally fall onto the tray, through an outlet passage of said hopper. The hopper's outlet passage has been fitted with a rotary valve configured to control the entry of the mixture into the housing structure 2, and also to control the opening and closing of said outlet passage; said rotary valve fitting within a hollow body located at the bottom of the hopper and forming part thereof; and said hollow body opening into the housing structure. The rotary valve comprises a shaft connected to a motor element, and several radial vanes that are attached to said shaft. The housing structure comprises an upper section to which the hopper is attached, a middle section made of flexible sheet material, and a lower section to which the vibrating device is attached. The middle section is located between the upper and lower sections and supports the receiving tray for the mixture of stones and almonds. The air vacuum turbine device connects to the top of the housing structure via an angled duct. Below the hollow body of the hopper there is a hinged gate that is linked to a drive mechanism to enable said hinged gate to be tilted; said drive mechanism comprising a threaded rod associated at one end to the hinged gate, and a knob accessible from the outside; said threaded rod being coupled in a threaded hole located in the housing structure. The drive mechanism is configured so that by turning the threaded rod through the knob, the hinged gate is moved to tilt it, placing it in a more or less advanced position, in order to unload the mixture of stones and almonds onto the tray in a more forward or more rearward area of said tray. The housing structure, as well as the vibrating device, are fixed onto the first frame, while the air vacuum turbine device is fixed onto a second frame. The lower part of the housing structure is fixed to the first frame by means of the first lower fixing formed by the various opposing damping mechanisms, while the upper part of the housing structure is fixed to the first frame by means of the various opposing supports; wherein the damping mechanisms comprise inclined elastic arms. The vibrating device comprises a motor element that transmits its rotary motion to a head by means of a belt; wherein said rotary head is linked to the lower part of the housing structure by means of a connecting rod that is connected at one of its two opposite ends to the rotary head by means of a first articulated connection in an off-center manner away from the articulation center of the head, while the opposite end of said connecting rod connects to the lower part of the housing structure by means of a second articulated connection. The motor element of the vibrating device is fixed to the first frame by means of an elongated support; and the rotating head is coupled to an additional support which is in turn attached to the elongated support. Next, to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive report and forming an integral part thereof, a series of figures are included in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the object of the invention has been represented. Brief description of the figures Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view of the almond cleaning machine, the object of the invention; where the machine receives a load that is essentially a mixture of stones and almonds. Figure 2a.- Shows an elevation view of the machine of the invention. Figure 2b.- Shows a sectioned elevation view of the machine of the invention. Figure 3.- Shows a plan view of the machine for cleaning almonds. Figure 4.- Shows a profile view of the machine of the invention. Figure 5.- Represents a perspective view of a part of the machine of the invention, showing essentially a vibrating device Figure 6.- Shows an elevation view of the vibrating device. Figure 7.- Shows an elevation view of a rotary vane valve. Figure 8.- Shows a schematic view of the movement of stones and almonds in opposite directions after the mixture is dropped onto an inclined tray. Description of an example of embodiment of the invention Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, the almond cleaning machine is configured to carry out the separation of shelled almonds from a mixture of stones and almonds; where the machine is able to separate the almonds on one side and the stones on the other. Based on this premise, the machine comprises a perforated tray 1 receiving the mixture of stones and almonds, which is located within an interior space (chamber) of a housing structure 2; where the tray 1 is rigidly attached to the housing structure 2 itself as the bottom of the same 2. The casing structure 2 includes, in principle, two opposing outlets: a first outlet 3 through which the almonds are discharged from the mixture, and a second outlet 4 through which the stones are discharged. The almonds are collected by a transverse conveyor belt 5 located at a lower level below the second outlet 4. In principle, tray 1 has a slight downward slope towards the first outlet 3, while this 3 communicates with the transverse conveyor belt 5 through an intermediate hollow structure 25. The housing structure 2 is associated with a vibrating device 6 that transmits its vibrations to the entire housing structure 2, such that this vibrating device 6, in combination with an air vacuum turbine device 7, generates a technical effect that causes the stones to flow towards the second outlet 4 and the almonds in the opposite direction towards the first outlet 3. The vibrating device 6 is located below the housing structure 2. The vibration on tray 1 is a reverse vibration that causes the stones to be propelled uphill. Thus, during the operation of the machine, thanks to a damping mechanism 17 in combination with the vibration of the entire housing structure 2 that integrates the tray 1, a continuous movement of the mixture supported on said tray 1 is caused, generating jumps of the stones and also of the almonds, so that firstly the stones will run towards the second outlet 4 uphill of the tray 1, and secondly the almonds move in the opposite direction downhill towards the first outlet 3, this movement of the almonds being helped by an air current CA in aspiration / suction, generated precisely by the air vacuum turbine device 7, as will be described in more detail later. A hopper 8 is fixed to the housing structure 2, into which the mixture of stones and almonds is initially poured. This mixture then passes into the interior space of the housing structure 2 and finally falls onto the tray 1 through an outlet passage of the hopper 8. A rotary paddle valve 9 is inserted in this passage to control the entry of the mixture into the housing structure 2 and to control the opening and closing of this outlet passage. The housing structure 2 comprises an upper part 2a to which the hopper 8 is attached, an intermediate part 2b made of flexible sheet material, and a lower part 2c that connects to the vibrating device 6; wherein the intermediate part 2b is located between the upper part 2a and the lower part 2c, which integrates the tray 1 that receives the mixture of stones and almonds; and wherein the air vacuum turbine device 7 connects to the upper part 2a of the housing structure 2 by means of an angled duct 10. The intermediate part 2b of the housing structure 2 comprises a closed-contour laminar body that helps to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the lower part 2c of the housing structure 2 to the upper part 2a. As shown more clearly in Figure 2b, said rotary valve 9 fits within a hollow body 11 which is located at the bottom of the hopper 8 and forms part of it, while said hollow body 11 opens into the top part 2a of the housing structure 2. With said rotary valve 9, the passage of air through said hollow body 11 into the interior of the housing structure 2 can be regulated. Below the hollow body 11 there is a hinged gate 12 linked to a drive mechanism 13 to enable the hinged gate 12 to be tilted in order to unload the mixture of stones and almonds onto tray 1 in a more forward or more rearward area of said tray 1. The actuating mechanism 13 comprises a threaded rod 13a connected at one end to the hinged gate 12, and a knob 13b accessible from the outside; rotating said threaded rod 13a by means of the knob 13b moves the hinged gate 12 so that it can be placed in different positions. Said threaded rod 13a is coupled in a threaded hole 14 located in the upper part 2a of the housing structure 2. The rotary valve 9 comprises a shaft 9a connected to a drive element 19, and several radial vanes 9b that are attached to said shaft 9a. As shown more clearly in Figure 2b, the outlet of the angled section 10 of the air-vacuum turbine device 7 connects to a first end side of the upper part 2a of the housing structure 2, corresponding to which is the first outlet 3 through which the almonds exit and fall onto the conveyor belt 5 for collection. Meanwhile, the outlet of the hopper 8 connects to a second end side (opposite the first end side) of the upper part 2a of the housing structure 2, corresponding to which is the second outlet 4 through which the stones exit. As mentioned previously, the almonds flow downhill towards the first outlet 3, aided by the airflow CA generated by the air-vacuum turbine device 7. The housing structure assembly 2, as well as the vibrating device 6, are fixed on a first frame 16, while the air vacuum turbine device 7 is fixed on a second frame 15 that is arranged next to the first frame 16. The lower part 2c of the housing structure 2 is fixed to the first frame 16 by means of a first lower fixing formed by the various damping mechanisms 17 comprising opposing inclined elastic arms, while the upper part 2a of the housing structure 2 is fixed to the first frame 16 by means of several opposing supports 18. Thus, these damping mechanisms 17 directly support the lower part 2c of the housing structure 2, so that when the vibrating device 6 is activated, the vibrations are transmitted independently to this lower part 2c with respect to the fixed upper part 2a, which receives the vibrations to a minimal degree due to the intermediate part 2b, which is made of flexible sheet material. The vibrating device 6 comprises a motor element 23 that transmits its rotary motion to a head 20 by means of a belt 21; wherein said rotary head 20 is linked to the lower part 2c of the housing structure 2 by means of a connecting rod 22 that is connected at one of its two opposite ends to the rotary head 20 by means of a first articulated connection 22a in an off-center manner away from the articulation center of the head 20, while the opposite end of said connecting rod 22 connects to the lower part 2c of the housing structure 2 by means of a second articulated connection 22b. The motor element 23 of the vibrating device 6 is fixed to the first frame 16 by means of an elongated support 24. The rotating head 20 is coupled to an additional support which is in turn attached to the elongated support 24. Thus, with this described arrangement of the invention, the machine's function is to separate the stones from the almonds with their shell in a product cleaning and dehulling line. Reverse vibration (also often called positive vibration or countercurrent movement) is a key principle in tray 1, which supports the almonds and stones. Tray 1 acts as a densimetric table, enabling the separation of materials with similar specific weights but different densities, even when they have similar particle sizes (almonds and stones). The operation relies on the combination of three factors: the inclination of tray 1, the upward airflow, and the vibratory motion transmitted to the lower part 2c of the housing structure 2, which supports tray 1. Thus, the operation of the reverse vibration on tray 1 (densimetric table) is as described below. The effect of the reverse / upward vibration is that, unlike a simple conveyor belt, tray 1 is a perforated plate that vibrates, so that the denser material (stones), which is in direct contact with tray 1, is mechanically transported upslope from tray 1 to the second outlet 4. The action of the ascending air current (fluidization) is to pass and flow through the holes of the perforated tray 1, with the air entering from below tray 1, creating a "floating cushion" or fluidized bed that tends to lift the load elements (stones and almonds) supported by tray 1; managing to lift only the elements of lower density, such as the almonds in this case. The separation of the almonds and stones is carried out as follows. The denser material, such as the stones, initially remains stuck to the upper surface of tray 1 and, due to the action of vibration, the stones move in continuous jumps towards the upper part of said tray 1, sloping uphill towards the second outlet 4. In contrast, the light material, such as almonds, as it floats above tray 1 with continuous jumps, is not affected by the thrust of the vibration in the upward direction of tray 1, and therefore the almonds fall by gravity downwards towards the lower part of tray 1, aided by the airflow generated by the air vacuum turbine device 7, finally reaching the first outlet 3. As shown more clearly in Figure 8, what actually drives the stones uphill towards the second outlet 4 is the tension accumulated in the inclined elastic arms constituting the damping mechanisms 17 when they move from the dashed position (lower position) of said inclined elastic arms to the solid position (upper position), so that the lower position is reached by the operation of the vibrating device 6, while to move from the lower position to the upper position the impulse of the elastic arms prevails over the vibrating device 6. Thus, what really controls the impulses of the stones (and the almonds) upwards and forwards (towards the second outlet 4) are the elastic arms constituting the damping mechanisms 17. The cleaning process to separate the almonds and stones begins by pouring the mixture of stones and almonds into the hopper 8, which in turn is dragged by the rotary valve 9 that prevents the entry of air, which helps the extraction airflow generated by the air vacuum turbine device 7 on the mixture supported by the inclined tray 1, to drag the almonds downhill to the first outlet 3. The metallic casing structure 2 delimits an interior space or process chamber where the separation of the stones and almonds takes place; where, as previously mentioned, said casing structure 2 is composed of the upper part 2a and the lower part 2c joined or sealed by the intermediate part 2b made of flexible sheet material to achieve a certain airtightness. As previously mentioned, the airflow driven by the air vacuum turbine device 7 initially enters the fixed upper part 2a of the housing structure 2, and the mixture of stones and almonds also enters it 2a through the rotary valve 9; where this mixture finally reaches the vibrating tray 1 fixed to the lower part 2c. Once the stone and the almond with and / or without shell are inside the processing chamber with the vibrating tray 1, separation by reverse vibration occurs, so that the stone comes out through the second outlet 4 which at the same time acts as an air inlet thanks to the air vacuum turbine device 7; where the air current generated by the same 7 drags the almond towards the first outlet downslope. The mission of the airflow caused by the air vacuum turbine device 7 in this process is to help the almond continue its path towards the first outlet 3 downhill, taking advantage of the jumps it makes with the reverse vibration that at the same time brings the stone out through the second outlet 4. The airflow through the production chamber within the housing structure 2 is regulated by the rotation of the rotary vane valve 9. A frequency converter allows for the regulation of the air intake turbine 7 to optimize the required airflow; the turbine 7 is driven by a motor element 26.
Claims
1. A machine for cleaning almonds, configured to separate almonds from a mixture of stones and almonds; characterized in that: - it comprises a perforated tray (1) receiving the mixture of stones and almonds, located within an interior space as the bottom of a housing structure (2); wherein the tray (1) is attached to the housing structure (2); - it comprises several damping mechanisms (17) in combination with a vibrating device (6) linked to the housing structure (2); wherein the vibrating device (6) transmits its vibration to the housing structure (2) which is supported below by the damping mechanisms (17); and wherein these (17) and the vibrating device (6) cause the mixture of almonds and stones to jump when said mixture is supported on the tray (1);- the housing structure (2) includes two opposing outlet openings: a first outlet opening (3) through which the almonds from the mixture are discharged, and a second outlet opening (4) through which the stones from the mixture are discharged; - the tray (1) includes a first lower end edge and a second upper end edge, opposite the first lower end edge; wherein the first lower end edge is situated at a lower height than the second upper end edge; - the tray (1) is situated on a downward-sloping plane towards its first lower end edge opening into the first outlet opening (3), while the second upper end edge of the tray (1) opens into the second outlet opening (4); - the housing structure (2) is fixed to a first frame (16) by means of a first lower fixing and a second upper fixing;where the first lower fixing is formed by the various opposing damping mechanisms (17), while the second upper fixing is formed by several opposing supports (18); - comprises an air vacuum turbine device (7) that generates an aspirating air current (CA) within the interior space of the housing structure (2) above its tray (1);where said airflow helps to carry and displace the almonds downhill towards the first outlet (3).
2. Almond cleaning machine, according to claim 1, characterized in that a feeding hopper (8) for the mixture of stones and almonds is attached to the housing structure (2), and the mixture passes into the interior space of said housing structure (2) to finally fall onto the tray (1) through an outlet passage of said hopper (8).
3. Almond cleaning machine, according to claim 2, characterized in that a rotary valve (9) is inserted in the outlet passage of the hopper (8) to regulate the entry of the mixture into the housing structure (2) and also to control the opening and closing of said outlet passage; where said rotary valve (9) fits within a hollow body (11) located in the lower part of the hopper (8) and forming part thereof (8);and where said hollow body (11) opens into the housing structure (2).
4. Almond cleaning machine, according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotary valve (9) comprises a shaft (9a) connected to a drive element (19), and several radial vanes (9b) attached to said shaft (9a).
5. Almond cleaning machine, according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the housing structure (2) comprises an upper part (2a) to which the hopper (8) is attached, an intermediate part (2b) of flexible sheet material, and a lower part (2c) to which the vibrating device (6) is attached; wherein the intermediate part (2b) is located between the upper part (2a) and the lower part (2c) that supports the tray (1) receiving the mixture of stones and almonds;and where the air vacuum turbine device (7) connects to the upper part (2a) of the housing structure (2) by means of an angled duct (10).
6. Almond cleaning machine according to claim 3, characterized in that below the hollow body (11) of the hopper (8) there is a hinged gate (12) that is linked to a drive mechanism (13).
7. Almond cleaning machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive mechanism (13) comprises a threaded rod (13a) associated at one end with the hinged gate (12), and a knob (13b) accessible from the outside; where said threaded rod (13a) is coupled in a threaded hole (14) located in the housing structure (2);and where the positioning of the hinged gate (12) is regulated by the drive mechanism (13).
8. Almond cleaning machine, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing structure (2), as well as the vibrating device (6), are fixed on the first frame (16), while the air vacuum turbine device (7) is fixed on a second frame (15).
9. Almond cleaning machine, according to claims 5 and 8, characterized in that the lower part (2c) of the housing structure (2) is fixed to the first frame (16) by means of the first lower fixing formed by the several opposing damping mechanisms (17), while the upper part (2a) of the housing structure (2) is fixed to the first frame (16) by means of the second upper fixing formed by the several opposing supports (18);where the damping mechanisms (17) comprise inclined elastic arms.
10. Almond cleaning machine, according to claims 5 and 8 above, characterized in that the vibrating device (6) comprises a motor element (23) that transmits its rotary motion to a head (20) by means of a belt (21);wherein said rotating head (20) is linked to the lower part (2c) of the housing structure (2) by means of a connecting rod (22) which is connected at one of its two opposite ends to the rotating head (20) by means of a first articulated connection (22a) in an off-center manner away from the articulation center of the head (20), while the opposite end of said connecting rod (22) connects to the lower part (2c) of the housing structure (2) by means of a second articulated connection (22b).
11. Machine for cleaning almonds, according to claim 10, characterized in that the motor element (23) of the vibrating device (6) is fixed to the first frame (16) by means of an elongated support (24); and the rotating head (20) is coupled to an additional support which is in turn attached to the elongated support (24).