Alat Pemeras Lendir (Depulper) dan Pengering Biji Kakao Berbasis Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)

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The quality of dry cocoa beans is highly dependent on the drying process. The drying rate of cocoa beans needs to be regulated so that the quality of dry cocoa beans is maintained. The drying rate that is too fast causes the acetic acid to become trapped in the seeds, affecting the smell and taste. The slow drying rate causes the cocoa beans to rot or to sprout. The drying process of cocoa beans can be done conventionally using the sun's heat or using a drying machine. The use of a drying machine allows drying at any time without being affected by the weather. A cocoa bean press and drying machine is a device designed from a mechanical and electronic perspective to properly dry the cocoa beans. The electronic system consists of input, controller and output parts. The input section consists of a start stop button and a thermocouple sensor, the controller is a programmable logic controller (PLC) while the output is a heating element (heater) and an AC motor. In this cocoa bean drying machine, the most suitable temperature for the proper drying rate is 500 Celsius. The drying cylinder is rotated using an AC motor so that heat energy can be distributed evenly. The test results show that the drying machine can control a stable cylinder temperature around 500 Celsius and can dry the cocoa beans in 3.5 to 5 hours depending on the weight of the beans being dried and their water content.