Extn. and sepn. pf cocoa beans from their pods - using machine which cuts pod around its equator without damaging bean

摘要

The pod halves are screened, e.g. via a horizontal, rotary screening drum. The beans are collected in a receptacle beneath the screen while the pod halves are rejected at the discharge end of the screen. The machine comprises a horizontal conveyor band on which each pod is carried with its equator coinciding with a vertical plane parallel to the direction of motion of the conveyor. The pod is conveyed beneath a pivoted beam which extends longitudinally above the conveyor and slopes convergently downwards in its direction of motion. The underside of the beam is fitted with a vertical blade which cuts into the equatorial plane of the pod as the pod is rolled along between band and beam. The pivoted beam is loaded downwards to cut into the pod to a depth sufficient to halve the pod without damaging the bean. The conveyor or the underside of the beam pref. has side flanges to guide the pod in relation to the blade. The pivoted beam makes the machine adjustable for all sizes of pod. The extracted bean is undamaged. The machine is simple and compact and can be trailer-mounted to collect beans directly from the field on to which cut pods are immediately rejected. Yield is above 95%.