1. Pecan Sheller Mockup Review Green A

2. Step 1A: Feeding Feeding and cracking are simultaneous processes Loading rate is limited by the time constraint of the cracker (6 seconds/pecan) Proposed method: vibratory bowl feeder

3. Step 1B: Kinetic Cracking 26 pecans/minute in experiment by unskilled user Rotating cylinder cracks the nut tips and shatters the shell Anvil automatically adjusts to any size nut

4. Step 2: Shelling Industry contacts have emphasized that shelling is the main problem Need to maximize ratio of perfectly halved pecans to pieced pecans

5. Step 3: Separating Must separate shell, packing material, and 2 kernel halves Pieces are low value: used in baking and confectionary Halves are high value: used in candy and sold on their own

6. Critical Module: Shelling Figure 1. Distribution of Time to Process 10 Pounds or 250 Pecans

7. Evaluation of Shelling Concepts By HandRate 26/min Shelled 100% (except those unshelled by cracker – if any) Halves 100% (except those broken by cracker – if any) Pro Highest yield Con Incredibly Slow Dollar Yield 1.04 lb/min $8.32/min

8. Evaluation of Shelling Concepts ShakingRate 40/min Shelled 100% (drill nut) 70% (without) Halves 5% (drill nut) 75% (without) Pro Fast but damages halves with drill nut Con Difficult to reproduce motion, not FIFO Dollar Yield 1.6 lb/min $12.80/min

9. Evaluation of Shelling Concepts TumblingRate 0.2/min Shelled 20% Halves 100% MoviePro Didn’t crush halves Con Ineffectual, not FIFO Dollar Yield 0.008 lb/min $0.06/min

10. Evaluation of Shelling Concepts Air FlowRate 0.25/min Shelled 10% Halves 100% Pro Promising: used in industry on large-scale Con Cannot be the singular shelling process Dollar Yield 0.01 lb/min $0.08/min

11. Working Concept Shear Rollers – Cracked pecans dragged along plate by gear teeth – Turning of gears shears off shell – Spring mounted base soft enough to avoid crushing meat

12. Working Concept Mechanical Shearing Rate 1/min Shelled >5% Halves 0% Pro Room for changes, optimization Con Ineffectual, grinds nuts Dollar Yield Small