Abstract
Separating farmer stock (FS) peanut materials into more than two diameters with conventional belt screens requires more than one screen with different spacings between belts. A new type of belt screen (diverging belt) was developed which separates materials into six sizes. The effects of varying the diverging belt screen operational parameters on separating farmer stock peanuts (cv. Florunner), loose shelled kernels (LSK), and foreign materials (FM) were evaluated with three replications. The operational parameters for two of the replicates were six consecutive positions along the deck length (30.5, 20.3, 50.8, 50.8, 50.8 cm and riding the entire deck length); six belt speeds (101.6, 111.8, 122.1, 132.3, 142.6, and 152.4 cm/sec); and six material feed rates (MatFR) (0.9, 1.8, 2.7, 3.6, 4.5, and 5.4 Mg/hr). Deck lengths and belt speeds were the same for the third replicate but MatFRs of 1.4, 2.7, 4.1, 5.4, 6.8, and 8.2 Mg/hr were used to evaluate performance of the screen at higher flow rates. Materials were collected into six compartments according to where they fell through the screen. The amount of materials falling through the screen deck varied directly with screen deck length, belt speed, and material feed rate. Screen deck length had the greatest effect on the amount of materials falling through. The diverging belt screen provides an alternative for multi-separation of FS peanut materials based on diameter.
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Keywords: Arachis hypogaea L, Cleaning, foreign material, loose shelled kernels, LSK, separation, screening
How to Cite:
Blankenship, P. & Dowell, F., (1997) “A Diverging Belt Screen for Farmer Stock Peanuts¹”, Peanut Science 24(1), p.37-41. doi: https://doi.org/10.3146/i0095-3679-24-1-9