Pecan processing method and system

Abstract

A pecan processing method and system is disclosed that increases the efficiency of pecan processing. In particular, pecan parts that fall beneath the cracker, secondary cracker product, are conveyed to an air separation device which removes dust and shells for disposal, and the remaining portion of the secondary cracker product is conveyed to width separation devices. In a second aspect, a largest width range of the cracker product after width separation is shelled by parallel, rubber-coated cylinders and then thickness separated into uncracked nuts and substantially whole cracked nuts. The uncracked nuts and the substantially whole cracked nuts are then separated, and only the uncracked nuts are returned to the cracker. The substantially whole cracked nuts are returned to the width separation device.

1 - 6 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       7 . A structure of a pecan processing machine comprising: 
 a cracker producing a primary cracker product and a secondary cracker product;    a separation device in operational relationship to the cracker and receiving the secondary cracker product, wherein the separation device separates the secondary cracker product into a first portion and a second portion; and    a width separation device in operational relationship to the cracker and the weight separation device, and wherein the width separation device receiving the primary cracker product from the cracker and the first portion of the secondary cracker product from the separation device.    
   
   
       8 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 7  wherein the separation device further comprises a weight separation device that separates the secondary cracker product into the first portion being a heavier portion and the second portion being a lighter portion.  
   
   
       9 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 8  wherein the weight separation device further comprises an aspirator.  
   
   
       10 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 8  wherein the weight separation device further comprises an air separator.  
   
   
       11 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 7  wherein the width separation device further comprises a series of substantially coplanar screens.  
   
   
       12 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 7  wherein the width separation device further comprises a series of substantially stacked screens.  
   
   
       13 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 8  wherein the weight separation device further comprises: 
 an inlet conduit;    a lighter product outlet conduit;    a separation chamber fluidly coupling the inlet conduit and outlet conduit, wherein the lighter portion of the secondary cracker product is separated from the heavier portion of the secondary cracker product in the separation chamber, and wherein the lighter portion of the secondary cracker product exits the separation device through the lighter product outlet conduit;    an air lock fluidly coupled to a bottom portion of the separation chamber, and wherein the air lock provides fluid isolation between the separation chamber and a heavier production outlet conduit; and    wherein the heavier portion of the secondary cracker product exists through the heavier product outlet conduit.    
   
   
       14 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 13  wherein the inlet conduit and outlet conduit have substantially a rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       15 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 13  wherein the separation chamber of the width separation device further comprises a baffle at least partially blocking a flow of air from the inlet conduit to the lighter product outlet conduit  
   
   
       16 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 7  further comprising a conveying system that transfers the secondary cracker product from the cracker to the separation device.  
   
   
       17 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 16  wherein the conveying system that transfers the secondary cracker product from the cracker to the separation device further comprises a transfer conduit, and wherein air moving within the transfer conduit carries the secondary cracker product.  
   
   
       18 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 17  wherein the transfer conduit further comprises a pipe having a substantially circular cross-section.  
   
   
       19 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 17  wherein the internal diameter of the transfer conduit is under at least a partial vacuum.  
   
   
       20 - 25 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       26 . A structure of a pecan processing machine comprising: 
 a cracker cracking pecans to produce a cracker product stream;    a width sizing device receiving the cracker product stream and dividing the cracker product stream into a plurality of width graduations;    a sorting device receiving at least a portion of a largest width graduation, and wherein the sorting device sorts substantially only uncracked pecans from the largest width graduation; and    wherein the substantially only uncracked pecans sorted from the largest width graduation are returned to the cracker.    
   
   
       27 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 26  wherein the width sizing device further comprises a series of substantially coplanar screens.  
   
   
       28 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 26  wherein the width sizing device further comprises a series of stacked screens.  
   
   
       29 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 26  wherein the sorting device further comprise a pin sorter.  
   
   
       30 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 26  further comprising: 
 a shelling device feedingly coupled to the width sizing device and receiving the largest width graduation, wherein the shelling device shells a portion of the largest width graduation; and    a thickness sizing device feedingly coupled to the shelling device, and wherein the thickness sizing device divides the largest width graduation into a larger thickness range comprising uncracked nuts and substantially whole cracked nuts, and a smaller thickness range.    
   
   
       31 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 30  wherein the shelling device further comprises a pair of substantially parallel rubber coated cylinders rotating substantially along the pull of gravity as measured between them.  
   
   
       32 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 30  wherein the thickness sizing device further comprises a vibrating screen having a plurality of elongated holes therein, and wherein the larger thickness range passes over the vibrating screen, and the smaller thickness range falls through the vibrating screen.  
   
   
       33 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 30  wherein the smaller thickness range is conveyed to the thickness sizing device.  
   
   
       34 - 42 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       43 . A structure of a pecan processing machine comprising: 
 a cracker producing a primary cracker product stream and a secondary cracker product stream;    a separation device feedingly coupled to the secondary cracker product stream of the cracker, wherein the separation device separates the secondary cracker product by weight into a lighter portion and a heavier portion;    a width sizing device receiving the primary cracker product stream and the heavier portion of the secondary cracker product stream, the width sizing device dividing the primary cracker product stream and the heavier portion of the secondary cracker product into a plurality of width graduations;    a sorting device receiving at least a portion of a largest width graduation, and wherein the sorting device sorts substantially only uncracked pecans from the largest width graduation; and    wherein the substantially only uncracked pecans sorted from the largest width graduation are returned to the cracker.    
   
   
       44 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 43  wherein the weight separation device further comprises: 
 an inlet conduit;    a lighter product outlet conduit;    a separation chamber fluidly coupling the inlet conduit and the lighter product outlet conduit, wherein the lighter portion of the secondary cracker product stream is separated from the heavier portion of the secondary cracker product by air flow, and wherein the lighter portion of the secondary cracker product stream exits the separation device through the lighter product outlet conduit;    an air lock fluidly coupled to a bottom portion of the separation chamber, and wherein the air lock provides fluid isolation between the separation chamber and a heavier production outlet conduit; and    wherein the heavier portion of the secondary cracker product stream exists through the heavier product outlet conduit.    
   
   
       45 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 44  wherein the inlet conduit and outlet conduit have substantially a rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       46 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 44  wherein the separation chamber of the width separation device further comprises a baffle at least partially blocking a flow of air from the inlet conduit to the lighter product outlet conduit.  
   
   
       47 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 43  further comprising a transfer conduit adapted to transfer the secondary cracker product stream from the cracker to the separation device, and wherein air moving within the transfer conduit carries the secondary cracker product stream.  
   
   
       48 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 47  wherein the transfer conduit further comprises a pipe having a substantially circular cross-section.  
   
   
       49 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 47  wherein the internal diameter of the transfer conduit is under at least a partial vacuum.  
   
   
       50 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 43  wherein the width sizing device further comprises a series of substantially coplanar screens.  
   
   
       51 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 43  wherein the width sizing device further comprises a series of stacked screens.  
   
   
       52 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 43  wherein the sorting device further comprise a pin sorter.  
   
   
       53 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 43  further comprising: 
 a shelling device feedingly coupled to the width sizing device and receiving the largest width graduation, wherein the shelling device adapted to shell a portion of the largest width graduation; and    a thickness sizing device feedingly coupled to the shelling device, and wherein the thickness sizing device divides the largest width stream into a larger thickness range comprising uncracked nuts and substantially whole cracked nuts, and a smaller thickness range.    
   
   
       54 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 53  wherein the shelling device further comprises a pair of substantially parallel rubber coated cylinders rotating substantially along the pull of gravity as measured between the pair of rubber coated cylinders.  
   
   
       55 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 53  wherein the thickness sizing device further comprises a vibrating screen having a plurality of elongated holes therein, and wherein the larger thickness range passes over the vibrating screen, and the smaller thickness range falls through the vibrating screen.  
   
   
       56 . The structure of a pecan processing machine as defined in  claim 53  wherein the smaller thickness range is conveyed to the width sizing device.  
   
   
       57 . A thickness separation device for separating nut parts, the thickness separation device comprising: 
 a first steel roller having a circular cross section;    a second steel roller having a circular cross section, the second steel roller substantially parallel to the first steel roller;    a first slot defined by a larger diameter portion of each of the first and second steel rollers;    a second slot defined by a smaller diameter portion of each of the first and second steel rollers; and    and wherein thicker nut parts slide over the first slot and fall through the second slot, and wherein thinner nut parts fall through the first slot.    
   
   
       58 . The thickness separating device for nut parts as defined in  claim 57  further comprising said first and second steel rollers sloped from their larger diameter portions, having a higher elevation, to their lower diameter portions.  
   
   
       59 . The thickness separating device for nut parts as defined in  claim 58  further comprising said first and second steel rollers rotating substantially opposite the pull of gravity as measured between them.  
   
   
       60 . The thickness separating device for nut parts as defined in  claim 59  further comprising a circumferential notch in the larger diameter portion of each of the first and second steel roller.  
   
   
       61 . The thickness separating device for nut parts as defined in  claim 60  further comprising: 
 said first slot having a smaller dimension slightly less than a thickness of a sticktight nut part; and    said second slot having a smaller dimension greater than the thickness of a sticktight nut part.    
   
   
       62 - 73  (Cancelled)