DESIGN, FABRICATION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A MULTI-CROP SLICING MACHINE

Abstract

A multi-crop slicing machine was designed, fabricated and evaluated perfomance. The multi-crop slicer consists of hopper mainframe, conveying disc, slicing unit, slicing shaft, idler shaft, pulley, bearing, electric motor base and outlet. The machine is powered by a three-phase, 1400 rpm, (2.0 kW) electric motor. The performance of the multi-crop slicer was evaluated in slicing four selected crops (carrot, potato, onion and yam), grouped into three sizes (small, medium and large) and at five. machine speeds of 39 rpm, 41 rpm, 43 rpm, 46 rprn and 48 rpm respectively. The parameters under investigation were slicing efficiency and throughput capacity respectively. A speed of 46 rprn favour the slicing of large size only, while a throughput capacity of 48.9 kgh and efficiency of 95.4% were obtained for carrot. Medium and large size samples gave good result for potato at a speed of 41 rpin with capacities and efficiencies of 72.8 kgh, 85.9 kglh, 97.9% and 94.8% respectively. A speed of 4 1 lptn gave best result for small and medium size grade of onion with capacities and eficiencies of 44.6 kgh, 71.6 kg/h, 91.7% and 96.4% respectively. A throughput capacity of 135.7 kgh at a speed of 41 rpm and efficiency of 96% was obtained for yam. The ~nachineis therefore obs&-ved to perfolm best at the optimum operating speed of 41 rpm for all the crops selected except c a ~ ~ oTth.e result of the study shows that it could handle root and tuber crops satisfactorily. Slices ranges of 8mm t i 9mm thickness were obtained.