Design and Test of Apricot Kernel Shell Breaking Machine

Abstract

Low productivity and high price are considered problems of the apricot kernel breaking machine, which is widely used in current apricot production. In this paper developed an apricot kernel breaking machine was designed and the mechanical properties of apricot kernel by a shell breaking machine were analysed, and the key working parts of the shell breaking machine was designed. The structure and the working parameters of the shell breaking machine are the key factors affecting the shell breaking performance determined. In this paper, the effect of shell breaking was investigated by using shell breaking clearance, feeding speed and differential speed ratio of rollers as test factors and shell breaking rate and almond damage rate as evaluation indicators, the results of the test showed that the effects of all factors on the shell breaking rate and almond damage rate were: shell breaking clearance > feeding speed > differential speed ratio; according to the results of single factor test and orthogonal test, the machine can achieve a better shell breaking performance and work efficiency when the shell breaking clearance was 8.5 mm, the feeding speed was 350 kg/h and the differential speed ratio was 1.75. The validation experiment was carried out with the optimal parameters’ combination. The shell breaking rate and almond damage rate were 99.04 % and 2.28 %, respectively, which provided a theoretical basis for the design and optimization of the apricot kernel breaking machine.