A quick search turned up this.

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/almonds-cutting-machine.html

I don't know what kind of volume you're talking about, but there's one here that's smaller.

http://aqucut.com/slicing-cutting-machines.html#almond-pistachio-slicer-machine

No friend, those are almond slicing or shredding machines. I am talking about

a precise halving machine for almond seeds, a machine that is bulk fed, continuous , able to handle large quantities (in tons) and can cut almonds (mixed sizes) into almost equal halves TRANSVERSELY ! ( ie at the middle cross-section).

I can easily visualize a machine to do that, but it would have to handle a single seed at a time into the correct position for splitting. It would have to do it pretty fast to handle tons of almonds!

The cutting process involves two phases

1. Automatic positioning of seeds

2. Continuously slitting them transversally into two halves.

Wonder how you would do that!!:)

Because the seeds can vary in length in a 2:1 ratio or so, each seed would need to be actively centered under the cutter, I'd think. I can imagine stops at the ends of the seed being brought in with a centering mechanism, but getting a lot of through-put would require many parallel lines.

You could visit a plant that slivers almonds or that makes thin almond slices (cut parallel to the natural split line between seed halves). Some of the challenges would be similar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8sIS3sYYs&feature=related

Apparently elastifying is helpful to keep the seed from fracturing when cut.

http://borrell-usa.com/Processing/Almond-plasticizer-Conditioner-Elastifying-system-MQ-342.html

Maybe you could do a joint venture with Borrell?

the Youtube vid, shows a machine for slivering etc but not cutting. sorry It won't work.

Borrel doesn't make a machine for transversally halving almond seeds, hence regret it too doesn't provide an answer to the problem. However, their grader might be of assistance if the almonds have to be graded first for size before almost precise slitting.

Can you tell why you need two equal haves of almond seed and how many tones per hour? As of I know, almond is sold without halving and used in small pieces or slices.

As I visualise, it may require several parallel feeding (conveying) lines with arrangement to vibrate and hold the seed from the two sides (skirts) which will converge narrow enough (seed thickness) to allow a single seed when it reaches near vertical chopper. Conveying speed and vibration near the slitter should be low enough to prevent bumping of seed. At the slitting point three simultaneous actions are required. (1) Side skirts should tightly hold the seed (positioning). (2) Conveyor has to stop for a moment and (3) Slitter blade should drop and come back to its original position. If difficulty in stopping conveyor, then slitter blade has to move at conveyor speed while slitting and come back. Cycle time for these three action shall be hardly few seconds.

Almond seeds are very jumpy as well as running them along a converging vibrating shoot might not rightly position them for the blade to locate the point where they have to be cut. I think your idea is not workable, sorry.

Good question. Almond seeds are used for sugar coating or sweetening for addition to a mixture of Asian condiments (mouth freshener) ,packed and sold in sachets of 10 to 30 gms each. The producers here are much concerned about the rising prices of almonds and want to use less almonds per pack. That is they want to use 2 almonds instead of 4 by cutting them into halves for economic reasons and to avoid price increase or to continue with the same price but reduce the net weight per pack. Trade trick,clever, I suppose. But this is how businessmen make money everywhere!!:)

The almond mix condiment is a big business in Asia as well as it is very popular among Asians of Indo-pakistan, Bangla Desh or where ever these Asians are found the world over. A machine that could almost precisely cut even 500 kgs of almonds per 8 hour day would be okay as several of those could be installed and run for higher production.

I think your idea may not be feasible for the tricky nature of almond seeds which are very jumpy and liable to get jammed in the vibrating lines!

the main issue is how the cutter would locate the cutting

position of the almond seeds in a continuous bulk fed process?? How would the almonds position themselves transversally before the cutter continuously hits the 'final nail' on their heads without letting them hop here and there???

i'd agree with there bwing 2 operations needed, 1. feeding the seeds into the splitter and 2 splitting the seeds

i believe that a vibratorry feeder could be fitted with custom feeding tracks designed to delivery the almonds properly oriented one by one to the splitting mechanism.

i'll leave the splitting phase to someone else :)

Simplify your life by sorting the seeds by size first.

Okay, that done what next??:)

Hi all

here is a youtube video about the product wherein almonds are used as one of the ingredients

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SKIZiZ0MDc

and here are pictures to show the Mewa (condiment) containing almonds ....

http://www.google.com.pk/search?q=shahi+mewa%2Bpictures&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=lcI&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=TAZET877K8Ka-gbF4LmFCw&ved=0CCIQsAQ&biw=1152&bih=668

I don't think a machine exists that will cut almonds exactly in half. Aside from inventing/designing one, it would probably be best for your customer to change the shape of his snacks/condiments and incorporate one of the methods of bulk chopping/slicing that is already common and available, adding the almonds by weight.

Designing a new machine is probably beyond the scope of what most CR4 users are interested in doing.

I'm coming up empty on your links.

I am not disappointed...already working on it.

There is a solution for everything, the search for knowledge must go on!!

Good luck! Let us know what you finally come up with.

GA. Looks good!

I think the almonds would still have to be sorted by size though, and have the sheering planes adjustable. I guess I spoke too soon.

Happy designing........................................so, do you get a cut? (pun intended)

Wow! that's great but you seem to have misunderstood my question!

However, I am grateful to you for attending to the problem and sparing your valuable time and effort in pondering over the subject.

What I am looking for the following type of almond cutting..:) I trust this picture will remove any confusion over my question.

http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/wiley/visualfood/17_NoixGraines/50144-AmandeEcaleeCoupe.jpg

Thanks again for your co-operation.

That definitely has possibilities as well! GA.

Yes, that picture did remove the confusion.

OK, So you want to split them crosswise. Just a little modification to allow the seeds to enter crosswise, and the same apparatus will work. It might be a little harder, as I believe there is a greater variation in length than in thickness.

I thought your client wanted the product to look like whole almonds. If they were split the way I originally thought, they would look a lot more like whole almonds.

Here's a little more detail, set for the crosswise split:

On further thought, if you cut the almonds this way, many (I suspect most) will break apart into quarters. I think this is true even using the sharpest of blades, but it would be even more likely as the blades or edges dull.

Whether this is a good or bad thing will depend on the point of view of your client and its customers.

If you split the nut along its natural cleavage, as I originally suggested, I think most will easily split into just two parts, and again those parts, especially once coated, will look more like whole nuts.

thanks..

Nuts longitudinally split at the natural cleavage are already in use in the baking industry to decorate cakes and are easy to do after a little soaking in water and passing through some shaker. But the typical kind of 'traditional condiment' product wants nuts to be cut across the middle in halves...as if the producer want the cut nut portions to look round or like tiny cubes or dices.

For your info -Here is a link about Almonds

http://www.answers.com/topic/almond

If you use this to post your links, it will be better. I can't find any of them.

Just copy and paste from your browser window.

Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience caused.

Have just noticed the link icon and will use it in future for posting url's:)