DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[001 ] It is important to note that the embodiments disclosed herein are only examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed embodiments. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts through several views.

[002] The following are definitions used: "cashew nut fruit" - is the fruit collected from the cashew nut tree, typically collected after the cashew nut fruit falls to the ground; "raw cashew nut" or "RCN" - is a portion of the cashew nut fruit growing at the tip thereof and which contains therein the cashew nut; "cashew nut apple" or "apple" - is a portion of the cashew nut fruit which is, during the growth of the cashew nut fruit is attached to the cashew nut tree on one end and grows the RCN on the other end.

[003] The cashew nuts we eat go through many processes until ready for marketing. The cashew nut fruit, typically collected from the ground, comprises a cashew nut apple and a RCN. Thereafter separation of the RCN from the apple takes place. This is an inefficient, labor intensive and long process for all cashew plantations worldwide. Accordingly, several embodiments of an apparatus comprising a separation element, designed to separate the RCN from the cashew nut apple without damaging the cashew nut, are presented. The separated RCN is placed in a storage compartment attached to the apparatus. In one exemplary embodiment the apple itself may be stored for future process or mashed for use as a natural fertilizer. In another embodiment the apparatus further comprises a collection element designed to collect the cashew nut fruit from the ground.

[004] FIG. 1 is an exemplary and non-limiting side view of an apparatus 100 for separation of RCNs 20 from their respective apple 30 according to an embodiment. The apparatus 100 comprises a horizontal track 130-2 and an angular track 130-1 , the angular track 130-1 positioned at a downward angle with respect of the direction of the motion of the cashew nut apple 10 between the angular track 130-1 and the horizontal track 130-2. This ensures that the spacing between the angular track 130-1 and the horizontal track 130-2 becomes narrower as the cashew nut fruit 10 moves between the tracks. Each track 130 is further equipped with mechanical wheels, the angular track 130-1 with mechanical wheels 140-1 and 140-2 and the horizontal track 130-2 with mechanical wheels 150-1 and 150-2. The mechanical wheels 140 and 150 are used to both stretch the respective tracks 130 as well as to provide motion to these tracks 130. The mechanical wheels 140 turn in an opposite direction to the mechanical wheels 150, i.e., if the mechanical wheel 140-1 rotates in a clockwise direction then mechanical wheel 150-1 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, and vice versa. The apparatus 100 further comprises one or more top brushing wheels 120 (e.g., brushing wheels 120-1 and 120-2) and corresponding one or more bottom brushing wheels 1 10 (e.g., brushing wheels 1 10-1 and 1 10-2). After collection, the cashew nut fruit 10 is dispensed between the angular track 130-1 and the horizontal track 130-2 where the separation between the two is maximal. The motion of the angular track 130-1 and the horizontal track 130- 2 causes the cashew nut fruit 10 to move further between the angular track 130-1 and the horizontal track-130-2 experiencing a force applied onto both the RCN 20 and the apple 30. The angular track 130-1 is designed angular in order for its end to be close to the end of the horizontal track 130-2, and so that the RCNs 20 may pass through the space created between the angular track 130-1 and the horizontal track 130-2 where the distance between the tracks 130 is minimal. The angular track 130-1 is fluted and the horizontal track 130-2 is perforated and fluted in order to ensure that the cashew apple 30 is mashed into effectively a puree 35 and separated from the RCN 20. The puree 35 is drained through the perforated horizontal track 130-2 into an optional storage compartment (not shown). 05] After separation from its respective apple 30, the RCN 20 is brushed by a set of the one or more upper brushing wheels 1 10 and corresponding one or more lower brushing wheels 120. The wheel portion 1 12 of the brushing wheel (may it be 1 10 or 120) is coated, for example but without limitation, with a flexible fiber 1 1 1 soft enough so as not to harm the RCN 20 but brush off any remains of the apple 30, not previously removed. The upper brushing wheels 1 10 turn in an opposite direction to the bottom brushing wheels 120, but the same direction to the mechanical wheels 140, i.e., if the mechanical wheels 140 rotate in a clockwise direction then the upper brushing wheels 1 10 rotate in a clockwise direction as well, while the bottom brushing wheels 120 rotate in a counterclockwise direction, and vice versa. The rotation of the upper brushing wheels 1 10 and the bottom brushing wheels 120 cause the RCNs 20 to move further towards a storage compartment (not shown) to which the RCNs 20 drop into. In one embodiment, the apparatus 100 further comprises limiters (not shown) in either side of the apparatus 100 in order to prevent the cashew nut fruits 10, the RCNs 20, the apples 30, or the puree 35 from dispersing outside the borders of the apparatus 100. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that there may be two or more upper wheels 140 and two or more lower wheels 150 and therefore the drawing 100 should not be viewed as limiting upon the scope of the invention. Similarly, though only two upper brushing wheels 1 10 and two lower brushing wheels 120 are shown, this should be viewed as limiting upon the scope of the invention, and more specifically, a plurality of upper wheels 1 10 and a corresponding plurality of lower wheels 120 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 06] Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary and non-limiting side view of an apparatus 200 for separation of RCNs 20 from their respective apples 30 according to an embodiment is shown. After collection from the ground, an optional dispensing conveyer 60, with or without a moving belt, dispenses the cashew nut fruit 10 into a set of top separation wheels 210, e.g., 210-1 to 210-4, and bottom separation wheels 220, e.g., 220-1 to 220- 4. The upper separation wheels 210 turn in an opposite direction to the bottom separation wheels 220, i.e., if the upper separation wheels 210 rotate in a clockwise direction then the bottom separation wheels 220 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction, and vice versa. The top separation wheels 210 and bottom separation wheels 220 comprise spinning tubes 212 and firm , yet flexible, rotors 21 1. Once the cashew nut fruit 10 is caught between the top separation wheels 210 and the bottom separation wheels 220, the flexible rotors 21 1 are sufficiently firm to mash the cashew nut apples 30, yet soft enough to prevent any damage to the RCNs 20. The upper separation wheels 210 are designed to be in sufficient proximity so as to allow smooth rotation and still prevent any RCN 20 to be carried upwards there between. The bottom separation wheels 220 and their corresponding rotors 21 1 , are positioned close enough so as to prevent the RCNs 20 from dropping between the bottom wheels 220, however, having sufficient distance to allow the puree 35 to drop there between. The puree 35 may be collected into an optional storage compartment 40. The sufficient proximity of the bottom wheels 220 prevent the RCNs 20, or at least a significant portion thereof (i.e., those big enough not to drop in between the bottom wheels 220) from falling together with the puree 35 and into the optional storage compartment 40. Rather, the RCNs 20 are moved towards another set of spinning top separation wheels 210-2 and bottom separation wheels 220-2, and so on. Once the RCNs 20 are completely separated from their respective apples 30, the separated RCNs 20 fall into an optional storage compartment 50, according to an embodiment. The apparatus 200 may further contain limiters (not shown) in either side of the apparatus 200 in order to prevent the cashew nut 10, the RCNs 20, the apples 30, or the puree 35 from dispersing outside the borders of the apparatus 200. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that there may be a plurality of upper and lower separation wheels 210 and 220 respectively and therefore the drawing showing four sets of separation wheels, 210-1 through 210-4 and 220-1 through 220-4, should not be viewed as limiting upon the scope of the invention.

[007] Reference is made now to FIG. 3 that depicts an exemplary and non-limiting side view of an apparatus 300 for separation of RCNs 20 from their respective apples 30 according to an embodiment. The apparatus 300 comprises a structure 350 with a low and toothed portion 351 , a perforated conveyer belt 320 that is stretched and motioned by mechanical wheels 310. Affixed to the conveyer belt 320 is a plurality of angular flexible arms 330 by a housing connector 340. The housing connector 340 provides a spring that forces the flexible arm to distance itself from the conveyer belt 320 up to a predefined limit, i.e., it is not forced to eventually lean on the conveyer belt 320 facing the other direction.

[008] After collection, the cashew nut fruits 10 are delivered to the separation apparatus 300 via a mechanical conveyer belt 70, or, without limiting the scope of the invention, any other machinery. The cashew nut fruits 10 are guided by the conveyer belt 70 to fall onto the perforated conveyer belt 320 such that each cashew nut fruit 10 is placed between two consecutive arms 330 of the moving conveyer belt 320. The motion of the moving conveyer belt 320 towards the structure 350, having a low and toothed toothed portion 351 , causes pressure to be applied on the flexible arm 330 against the pressure applied by the spring of the housing connector 340. Therefore, the toothed portion 351 of structure 350 forces the flexible arm 330 towards the perforated conveyer belt 320 so that the cashew nut apples 30 are mashed. The flexible arms 330 can be made of a flexible material such as, but without limitation on the scope of the invention, rubber or silicon, soft enough so as not to harm the RCN 20 but to completely mash the cashew nut apple 30 into a puree 35. The toothed portion of structure 350 is toothed in a plurality of places, e.g., 351 -1 , 351 -2 and 351 -3, in order to squeeze the cashew nut apples 10 as much as necessary for the separation of the cashew nut apple 30 from the RCN 20. In one embodiment the jiggered portion 351 may further have an angle with respect of the perforated conveyer belt 320 such that additional pressure is applied as the moving perforated belt 320 moves forward.

[009] During the mashing process, the puree 35 is drained through the perforated conveyer belt 320 into an exemplary but not limiting draining structure 42. The draining structure 42 collects the puree 35 from both sides of the apparatus 300. An optional draining tunnel 41 can be controlled and moved to both directions of the bottom openings of draining structure 42, and is connected to a storage compartment 40 that may store the puree 35 as needed.

[0010] Once out of the structure 350, the flexible arm 330 rises and returns to its default angular position forced by the spring of housing connector 340. The RCN 20 is by then completely separated from its respective apple 30, and rolls from the flexible arm 330 into an exemplary and non-limiting storage compartment 50, according to an embodiment. The apparatus 300 may contains limiter (not shown), located on either side of the apparatus 300 in order to prevent the cashew nut fruits 10, the RCNs 20, the apples 30, or the puree 35 from dispersing outside the borders of the apparatus 300. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that there may be a plurality of mechanical wheels 310 and therefore the drawing showing only two mechanical wheels 310, should not be viewed as limiting upon the scope of the invention. Similarly, though only three toothed positions 351 are shown for structure 350, this should be viewed as limiting upon the scope of the invention. Similarly, there is a plurality of flexible arms 330 and the scope of the invention should not be viewed as limited by the specific number of flexible arms shown in the instant figure.

[0011 ] Referring now to FIGs 4A and 4B, exemplary and non-limiting side and front views respectively of an apparatus 400 for separation of RCNs 20 from their respective apples 30 according to an embodiment are shown. The apparatus 400 comprises perforated baskets 430 attached to a conveyer belt 420 motioned by mechanical wheels 410. The apparatus 400 further comprises and a structure 440 that comprises one or more mechanical press arms 442. These are mounted in respective press arms shafts 441 , enabling a piston like motion of the press arm 442 within the shaft 441. The cashew nut fruits 10 are dispensed from an optional dispensing conveyer 80, or without limitation of any other machinery, into perforated baskets 430 attached at a predefined distance from each other on the conveyer belt 420. The dispensing conveyer 80 includes a mechanical hinge 81 allowing the arm 82 to drop towards a perforated basket 430 when necessary and releasing the cashew nut fruits 10 into the perforated basket 430. The perforated baskets 430 contain limiters 431 (see Fig. 4B) in order to prevent the cashew nut fruits 10, the RCNs 20, the apples 30 or the pure 35 (see Fig. 4B) from dispersing outside the borders of the perforated baskets 430.

[0012] Once under the structure 440, the cashew nut fruits 10 are squeezed by one or more mechanical press arms 442, which applies enough force to mash the cashew nut apple 30, and yet not using excessive force so as not to harm the RCN 20. The motion of the pressing arm 442 may be pneumatic, hydraulic, electric or mechanical, as may be deemed appropriate, and without departing from the scope of the invention. The apples 30 are pressed against the perforated bottom 432 of the basked 430 into the lower compartment of the perforated basket 430, so that the puree 35 is drained to two different sides by a pyramid or cone shaped structure 433, into an optional puree compartment (not shown). Once out of the structure 440, the perforated basket 430 drops the RCNs 20 into a RCN compartment (not shown). One of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that there may be two or more mechanical wheels 410 and therefore the drawing showing only two mechanical wheels 410, should not be viewed as limiting upon the scope of the invention. Similarly, though four mechanical press arms 442 in structure 440, this should not be viewed as limiting upon the invention and one or more press arms 442 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the number of perforated baskets 430 shown should not be viewed as limiting upon the scope of the invention, and any number of perforated baskets 430 may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0013] Reference is made now to FIG. 5 that shows an exemplary and non-limiting side view of an apparatus 500 for separation of RCNs 20 from their respective apple 30 according to an embodiment. The apparatus 500 comprises a perforated conveyer belt 520 motioned by mechanical wheels 510. It further comprises a structure 530 that contains therein mechanical press arms 531 located in shafts 532. After collection, an optional dispensing conveyer 90, or, without limitation, any other method of dispensing, dispenses the cashew nut fruits 10 onto the perforated conveyer belt 520. While the perforated conveyer belt 520 is in motion and enters structure 530, mechanical press arms 531 mash the cashew apple 30. The material from which the mechanical press arms 531 are made of and the force applied on the cashew nut fruit 10 are forcible enough to mash the cashew nut apple 30, and yet insufficient to cause harm to the RCN 20. During the process, the cashew nut apples 30 are forced down and squeezed through the perforated conveyer belt 520, so that the puree 35 is drained to an optional first storage compartment (not shown). After moving through several mechanical press arms 531 the RCN 20 is separated from the cashew nut apple 30, that has become the puree 35, and dropped into an optional second storage compartment (not shown). The apparatus 500 contains lim iters (not shown) in either side of the apparatus 500 in order to prevent the cashew nut fruits 10, the RCNs 20, the apples 30, or the puree 35 from dispersing outside the borders of the apparatus 500. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that there may be a plurality of mechanical wheels 510 and therefore the scope of the invention should not be viewed as limiting by the instant Fig. 5. Similarly, though four mechanical press arms 531 are shown in structure 530, this should be viewed as limiting upon the scope of the invention, and one or more press arms 531 may be used. 014] One of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that an apparatus for separation of the cashew nut form its apple is described. The apparatus comprises a transportation element for transportation of a cashew nut fruit and a separation element configured to squeeze to a puree the apple without damaging the RCN. The apparatus may further comprise a perforated surface to allow the puree to flow into a container element. The apparatus may further comprise a limiter to ensure that content on the transportation element and the separation element, remain thereon. In one embodiment another container element is attached to the apparatus in order to receive the separated RCNs. The apparatus receives the cashew nut fruits and may be attached to an optional machinery that collects the cashew nut fruits from the ground, for example, but not by way of limitation, as described in prior art. The apparatus may be further equipped with a fogger (not shown) in order to provide fog to the leaves of the cashew nut tree. The puree container of the apparatus may be further adapted for distribution of the puree as natural fertilizer during or after the separation process described herein.

[0015] In one exemplary and non-limiting embodiment the apparatus may appear as a combine harvester for harvesting the crops of a cashew nut tree, i.e. the cashew nut fruit. Such a combine harvester comprises of at least a gathering apparatus combined with a separation unit, such as one of the units described herein above, but not limited thereto. In one embodiment of the combine harvester it is further connectedto containers for collecting the RCNs and the puree. In another embodiment the puree is directed to become a natural fertilizer during or after the separation process described herein. In yet another embodiment of the combine harvester the natural fertilizer is returned to the ground from the puree container.

[0016] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosed embodiment and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.