Soft-Shelled Nut Dehulling With Stacked Densimetric Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dehulling systems for soft-shelled nuts require multiple machines in series, occupying large spaces and incurring high costs, with inefficient operation and difficult adjustments due to the separation of shells and not dehulled nuts, and cumbersome suction mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A dehulling system with at least two stations, each comprising a dehulling machine and a densimetric separator screening machine, where the machines are stacked and connected, allowing for efficient regulation and reducing the need for separate suction mechanisms, using gravity for separation and minimizing space and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple dehulling stations arranged in series with separate screening machines are used, then the dehulling process can be completed, but the space occupation and machinery costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the dehulling machine and screening machine into a single integrated station. The screening machine is positioned directly below the dehulling machine, with the dehulled nuts falling directly into the screening area. This eliminates the need for separate screening machines at each station and reduces the overall number of machines required in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The screening machine is arranged vertically below the dehulling machine rather than horizontally beside it. This vertical arrangement utilizes the vertical dimension to save horizontal space, allowing the dehulled nuts to fall directly from the dehulling machine into the screening area below, thereby reducing the footprint of each station.
2Reliability
If multiple dehulling stations with full-capacity machines are used, then the dehulling process can handle varying loads, but the machines in later stations are poorly exploited and energy costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated station design ensures continuous operation at full capacity by combining dehulling and screening in one unit. The dehulling machine operates continuously with nuts falling directly into the screening area below, maintaining full utilization of the machine throughout the process rather than having underutilized machines in later stations.
3Reliability
If screening machines are located at a distance from dehulling machines, then the separation function can be performed, but the adjustments between machines become difficult and efficiency is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The dehulling machine and screening machine are merged into a single integrated station with the screening machine positioned directly below the dehulling machine. This close integration allows for easy visual inspection and quick adjustments between the two functions, eliminating the difficulty of adjusting machines that are located at a distance from each other.
4Reliability
If separate suction mechanisms are used to extract shells at each station, then the shells can be removed, but the mechanisms become cumbersome and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated station design extracts and removes the need for separate suction mechanisms by incorporating the screening function directly below the dehulling machine. The screening area naturally separates and removes shells and husks from the dehulled nuts through gravity and mechanical screening, eliminating the requirement for additional suction equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves reduced space occupation, lower costs, and improved efficiency by eliminating the need for multiple machines and allowing easy adjustment, while maintaining high operational effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the screening machine is a densimetric separator located lower than the dehulling machine
Implementation Method 2
the screening machine comprises in its interior air drive means for moving the dehulled grain towards the first outlet
Implementation Method 3
drum vibration means for moving the dehulled grain towards the first outlet in the upper part and moving the rest of materials towards the second outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A dehulling system for soft-shelled nuts includes at least two dehulling stations arranged in series, where each station is made up of at least one dehulling machine in a first dehulling stage and a screening machine in a second screening stage, both being a first and a second consecutive stages. The screening machine is a densimetric separator located lower than the dehulling machine and has an upper product inlet towards the interior thereof, which comprises a drum arranged according to an inclined plane, a first outlet for the dehulled grain in the upper part of the drum and a second outlet for the rest of materials other than the dehulled grain in the lower part of the drum.