Design, development and testing of an auger‐assisted semi‐automatic coconut husking machine

Abstract

AbstractCoconut husking is the primary and most difficult post‐harvesting operation among coconut processing. The physical properties of the coconuts such as length, diameter, perimeter, weight and husk thickness at the apex, at the pedicel end, at the ¼ from pedicel end, at the ½ from the pedicel end and at the ¾ from the pedicel end and the husk‐separating‐forces are calculated to design machine components. A prototype of an auger‐assisted semi‐automatic coconut husking machine (ASCHM) have designed, constructed, tested and its husking rate, husking effectiveness, husking efficiency, percent of nut breaking, and capacity of the machine has evaluated. The machine comprises mainly of a pair of upright blades; held juxtaposed for manual impaling, and an electrically‐driven auger. The mean time required for complete husking of green coconut and dry coconut have been found to be 12.6 s and 13.6 s respectively. The husking efficiency of ASCHM was found as 100% with no nut breaking with a capacity of 242 nuts/hr for green coconuts and 229 nuts/hr for dry coconuts. Further, performance of the developed tool has been compared with that of CPCH and KAU coconut husking tool.Practical ApplicationsMain contribution of this work is to design, development and testing of a semi‐automatic coconut husking machine and to analyze the performance of the same in terms of husking rate, husking effectiveness, husking efficiency, and percentage of nut breaking and capacity of the machine was evaluated. The results are then compared with those obtained for a manual and fully automated husking machine as well. Husk separating force calculation have been done considering the relevant physical properties of the coconut like size, shape, weight, and so forth. The observations are further then used for the design of machine components and the selection of a power source. The information deduced can be used as a database for future modifications as well as development of coconut husking machines.