A peanut peeler, sheller or decorticator is a machine that removes the shell from the kernel of the peanut. Shelling plants are usually located close to harvesting areas, according to the American Peanut Council.
Cleaning and Sizing
The unshelled peanuts are inspected, graded and moved through screens, blowers and magnets that remove foreign matter like stones and soil. Then screens separate the peanuts by size before they are moved to rollers adjusted for size, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
De-Hulling
The rollers must crack the shells without damaging the kernels. Some machines have a horizontal drum with perforations and a ridged bottom, and a rotating beater is also used for shelling. The beater crushes the peanuts against the bottom ridges, pushing both the shells and peanuts through the perforations.
Separation
Screens and air drafts then separate the shell fragments and kernels as they fall from the drum. The kernels are then sized by screens and graded by electric eye sorters, which can remove damaged pods.
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