| In this work, a variable size nut cracking machine has been designed and constructed to improve the efficiency of shelling operation of quite a number of nuts. The machine is designed to be adaptable to the cracking requirements of some number of nuts, whose shell can be processed to brittleness. The machine performs two operations, shelling of the nut and separation of the shell from the nut. The machine comprises of a hopper, rectangular box housing the cracking drum and compression plate, and a two stage agitated separating tray (to sort the nut from the shell), all supported by a frame. The cracking drum, which is driven by a v-belt connected to an electric motor, also provide the agitation to the separating tray via a v-belt connected a cam mounted... |
