Technical Field The invention relates to a machine which provides automatic cracking of the pistachios shells without being untouched.

The invention especially relates to a pistachio cracking machine which comprises 1 st and 2nd cracking stations having a movable housing cracking the pistachio entering into the fixed cracking housing and consisting of two different conical angles, and product outlet station where the cracked pistachio exists from the system.

Prior Art

The method of fully cracking the shells of the pistachios, which are sold as dried nuts and fruits, and removing the inner sections thereof is not preferred much. The reason behind is that use and shelf life of the product prepared in this manner is significantly shortened.

However, cracking the shell section and providing an opening thereon and thereby putting the product for sale is a common marketing way. This cracking process can be performed manually with the use of several tools.

Methods used in the prior art for cracking the pistachios require high amount of labor. Machines used in the state of the art crack the pistachio by impact method, which in turn damages the pistachio. Moreover, as these machines are quite big, machine production cost is high.

Since some machines in the state of the art, however, perform limited number of cracking processes in a plenty of time and thus, production speed is quite low.

In the state of the art, in machines operating with the cracking method between two rollers, pistachio is cracked from the back or from the front according to the entry thereof between the rollers, which substantially reduces the quality of pistachio. The main drawback of this system is that pressure is not applied equally on each pistachio taken between the rollers. This causes about 30% of the pistachios taken into the roller to be completely crushed.

Machines functioning in the state of the art apply the same impact to each pistachio. Since shell thickness and resistance of each pistachio are different, applying equal and the same impact to all of them causes the pistachios with low strength to be crushed. This in turn creates high costs. Various embodiments with respect to said pistachio cracking machines are encountered as a result of the researches in the literature. One of them is the patent with the application No. TR2007/02046 titled "Spiral pistachio cracking machine." In the abstract of the invention, the following is disclosed; "The system developed for cracking the end of the pistachios consists of spiral conveyors, half-moon rollers, conical cracking housings, gauge and cracking cams. Pistachio transferred from a silo reaches to the half-moon rollers by moving on the spiral conveyors. The pistachio remaining on the rollers thanks to the inward rotation of the half-moon rollers is fitted into the conical housings, one of which is fixed while the other one of which is movable, and is calibrated by means of the gauge cam. Cracking cam applies pressure and provides the pistachio to be cracked from its end. After the cracking process is over, cracking cam removes the pressure. Cracked pistachio reaching to the opening of the half-moon rollers is discharged downward."

Another example with respect to said embodiment is the patent No. TR2013/06546 titled "Nut and pistachio cracking apparatus with pliers system". In the abstract, the following is disclosed; "The invention is related to cracking apparatus with pliers system which easily separates hulls of the nut or pistachio from the meat thereof undamaged and untouched by human hands compared to prior systems."

The aforementioned applications perform the pistachio cracking process automatically. However, a substantial portion of the cracked pistachios is crushed. Thus, these applications can be given as an example to the aforementioned disadvantages. In conclusion, improvement are made in parallel to the developing technology in the pistachio cracking machines, therefore; new embodiments which will eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages and will offer solutions to the existing systems are needed.

Objects of the Invention

Developed by being inspired of the current conditions, the invention relates to pistachio cracking machines which are developed to solve said disadvantages and offer some additional advantages.

The object of the invention is to minimize the labor by providing automatic cracking of the pistachios.

Another object of the invention is to provide the pistachio to be cracked in a level to be opened more easily by subjecting it to cracking in 2 different stations.

Another object of the invention is to activate the pistachio cracking machine installed with low cost by means of a motor. Moreover, that the multiple machines can be operated by a single motor by laying the same together constitutes a positive condition in terms of the low energy use.

Another object of the invention is to increase the production speed by providing pistachio to be fed automatically to the machine. Another object of the invention is to prevent crushing of the pistachios by applying sufficient amount pressure thereto. Thereby efficiency of the machine is increased.

To achieve the objects above, a pistachio cracking machine is developed where the pistachios fed to the product conveying apparatus by means of spiral conveyors are cracked in the 1 st and 2nd cracking stations and exit from the system through the product outlet opening.

The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood thanks to the figures below and the detailed description written with reference to those figures. Therefore, the evaluation needs to be done by taking said figures and the detailed description into consideration.

Brief Description of the Figures to Facilitate Understanding of the Invention

Figure - 1 is the top perspective view of the pistachio cracking machine according to the invention.

Figure - 2 is the bottom perspective view of the pistachio cracking machine according to the invention.

Figure - 3 is the partial perspective view of the pistachio cracking machine according to the invention.

Reference Numbers

10. Spiral conveyor 42. 2nd movable housing

1 1. Spiral drive shaft 43. 2nd fixed housing ejector pin

20. Product conveying apparatus 50. Center cam

21. Product conveying apparatus cover 51. Cracking lug

22. Product conveying hole 35 52. Cracking wheel

30. 1 st cracking station 53. Gauge spring

31. 1 st fixed cracking housing 54. Fixed housing ejector pin hinge

32. 1 st movable housing 55. Outlet station ejector pin

33. 1 st fixed housing ejector pin 56. Cam motion transmission shaft

40. 2nd cracking station 40 60. Main body

41. 2nd fixed cracking housing 61. Main plate 62. Product outlet open 76. Grooves

63. Hinge fixing part 10 80. Product outlet station

70. Rotation mechanism 90. Pistachio cracking machine

71. Drive shaft A. Spiral rotation direction 72. Drive shaft wheel B. Pistachio advance direction

73. Rotating wheel C. Upward direction

74. Turn shaft 15 D. Downward direction

75. Grooved wheel

Scaling of drawings is not absolutely required and details, which are not needed for understanding the present invention, may have been neglected. Furthermore, elements, which are at least substantially identical or have at least substantially identical functions, are indicated with the same number.

Detailed Description of an Example of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the pistachio cracking machines (90) according to the invention are described only for a better understanding of the subject without any limiting effect. Pistachio cracking machine (90) consists of the 1 st fixed cracking housing (31 ) and 1 st movable housing (32) which provide cracking of the pistachio. It comprises 1 st cracking station (30); 2nd cracking station (40) consisting of 2nd fixed cracking housing (41 ) and 2nd movable housing (42) which provide the pistachio to cracked again; product conveying apparatus (20) conveying said pistachio to the 1 st cracking station (30) and 2nd cracking station (40). It comprises product outlet station (80) consisting of gauge spring (53) connected with said 1 st movable housing (32) and 2nd movable housing (42); main plate (61 ) where said product conveying apparatus (20) is placed; and product outlet opening (62) disposed on said main plate (61 ). It comprises a rotation mechanism (70), which is placed under said main plate (61 ) and provides rotation of the product conveying apparatus (20), and center cam (50) which provides the motion of said 1 st movable housing (32) and 2nd movable housing (42). Main body (60) which is positioned on the main plate (61 ) and bears the parts thereon comprises center cams (50). Structure principle;

Pistachios, which will be subjected to cracking process, are stored in a silo. Feeding the pistachios to the system is performed by means of the spiral conveyor (10). Motion of the spiral conveyor (10) is provided by the spiral drive shaft (1 1 ). Spiral drive shaft (1 1 ) is driven externally by a motor. Pistachio conveyed by a spiral conveyor (10) is poured on the product conveying apparatus (20). Function of the product conveying apparatus (20) is to convey the pistachios poured down from the spiral conveyor (10) to the 1 st cracking station (30) and 2nd cracking station (40).

Said product conveying apparatus (20) is operated by means of the rotation mechanism (70). Rotation mechanism (70) consists of drive shaft (71 ), drive shaft wheel (72), rotating wheel (73), turn shaft (74) and grooved wheel (75).

Drive shaft wheel (72) is fitted to the drive shaft (71 ). Drive shaft wheel (72) is connected with the rotating wheel (73). Turn shafts (74) are disposed on the rotating wheel (73). Said turn shafts (74) are fitted into the grooves (76) disposed on the grooved wheel (75) and provide the rotation of the grooved wheel (75). Figure 2 is the bottom perspective view of the pistachio cracking machine (90). Rotation process of the grooved wheel (75) described herein will clearly be understood referring to Figure 2.

Fixed product conveying apparatus cover (21 ) is disposed on the product conveying apparatus (20). This part prevents the pistachio from exiting during the motion of the product conveying apparatus (20). Grooved wheel (75) and product conveying apparatus (20) are connected such that the former is positioned under the main plate (61 ) and the latter is positioned on the main plate (61 ). Thereby, with the rotation of the grooved wheel (75) product conveying apparatus (20) rotates as well.

Function of the product conveying apparatus (20) is to convey the pistachio to the 1 st cracking station (30), 2nd cracking station (40) and finally to the product outlet station (80). 1 st cracking station (30) comprises two housings as 1 st fixed cracking housing (31 ) and 1 st movable housing (32). Likewise, 2nd cracking station comprises two housings as 2nd fixed cracking housing (41 ) and 2nd movable housing (42). Motion of the 1 st movable housing (32) and 2nd movable housing (42) is provided by center cam (50).

Center cam (50) has such a structure that is provided in both sides of the main body (60) by means of a shaft fitted through the main body (60). Cracking lugs (51 ) are attached to both sides of the center cam (50). Cracking wheels (52) are placed on the main body (60) in a manner to correspond to the cracking lugs (51 ). Cracking wheels (52) are also connected with the 1 st movable housing (32) and 2nd movable housing (42) and provide these housings to perform the cracking process. 1 st movable housing (32) and 2nd movable housing (42) are connected with the cracking wheels (52) by means of the gauge springs (53). Gauge springs (53) provide the 1 st movable housing (32) and 2nd movable housing (42) to be calibrated by moving onto the product.

Pistachio, which is subjected to cracking in the 1 st cracking station (30) and 2nd cracking station (40), exits from the system through the product outlet station (80) by means of the outlet station ejector pin (55). Outlet station ejector pin (55) is driven by the cam motion transmission shaft (56) connected to the center cam (50).

1 st fixed housing ejector pin (33), which provides the pistachio entering into the 1 st fixed cracking housing (31 ) to be pushed back and conveyed to the product conveying apparatus (20), is provided in the lower section of the pistachio cracking machine (90). Moreover, 2nd fixed housing ejector pin (43) is disposed, which also provides the pistachio entering into the 2nd fixed cracking housing (41 ) to be pushed back and conveyed to the product conveying apparatus (20).

1 st fixed housing ejector pin (33) and 2nd fixed housing ejector pin (43) are attached to the fixed housing ejector pin hinges (54). Said fixed housing ejector pin hinges (54) are attached to the cam motion transmission shafts (56) and connected with the center cam (50). Thereby, motions of the 1 st fixed housing ejector pin (33) and 2nd fixed housing ejector pin (43) are provided in downward direction (D) and in upward direction (C).

Fixed housing ejector pin hinges (54) are fixed to the main plate (61 ) by means of the hinge fixing parts (63). Main body (60) and the parts are mounted on the main plate (61 ). Operating principle;

Pistachios poured down from the silo are conveyed one by one by means of the spiral conveyor (10) and poured down to the product conveying hole (22) on the product conveying apparatus (20). Center cam (50) starts to rotate upon being driven by an external motor. With this process, product conveying apparatus (20) rotates in pistachio advance direction (B) and conveys the pistachio to the 1 st cracking station (30). Herein, pistachio is poured down to the 1 st cracking housing (31 ). Meanwhile, a new pistachio is poured down to the other product conveying hole (22).

1 st movable housing (32) is moved in upward direction (C) by the center cam (50) and stands as fixed there. 1 st movable housing (32) is released with the motion of the center cam (50). Then, gauge spring (53) pulls the disengaged 1 st movable housing (32) in downward direction (D). 1 st movable housing (32) moving in downward direction (D) fits on the pistachio disposed in the 1 st fixed cracking housing (31 ) and stops. Cracking wheel (52), which operates synchronously with the 1 st movable housing (32), also stops and takes its position for the cracking process. Then, cracking lug (51 ) turns the cracking wheel (52) and thereby, 1 st movable housing (32) further moves slightly in downward direction (D) and cracks the pistachio.

After this process is over, center cam (50) re-pulls the 1 st movable housing (32) in upward direction (C). In line with this re-pulling, 1 st fixed housing ejector pin (33) driven by the center cam (50) also pushes the pistachio in the 1 st fixed cracking housing (31 ) in upward direction (C) and prevents any possible compression. Thereby, pistachio re-enters into the product conveying hole (22) in the product conveying apparatus (20).

The system continues to move. Product conveying apparatus (20) rotates with the motion it receives from rotation mechanism (70) and conveys the pistachio to the next station namely, the 2nd cracking station (40). Meanwhile, a new pistachio is again poured down to the other product conveying hole (22) in the product conveying apparatus (20).

Herein as again in the 1 st cracking station (30), there is two housings as 2nd movable housing (42) and 2nd fixed cracking housing (41 ). However, conical angles of these housings are different from the pistachio cracking housings of the 1 st cracking station (30). The reason behind is to provide the pistachio to be cracked better by contacting with the pistachio from different points.

Herein again, with release of the center cam (50) and pulling of the gauge spring (53), 2nd movable housing (42) moves toward the 2nd fixed cracking housing (41 ) in downward direction (D) and calibrates the product. Again, as is the case in the first station, cracking lug (51 ) turns the cracking wheel (52) and thereby pistachio cracking process is completed. 2nd movable housing (42) and 2nd fixed housing ejector pin (43) driven by the center cam (50) move synchronously and remove the pistachio from the 2nd fixed cracking housing (41 ) and insert it again into the product conveying hole (22) in the product conveying apparatus (20). By this way, product conveying apparatus (20) rotates easily and conveys the pistachio to the product outlet station (80). The pistachio reaching to the outlet station is pushed by means of the outlet station ejector pin (55) driven by the center cam (50) and exists from the machine (90) through the product outlet opening (62) on the main plate (61 ) with its cracking process being completed.