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

Abstract

A multi-crop slicing was designed, fabricated and evaluated for performance. 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 rpm and 48 rpm respectively. The parameters under investigation were slicing efficiency and throughput capacity respectively. A speed of 46 rpm favour the slicing of large size only, while a throughput capacity of 48.9 kg/h and efficiency of 95.4% were obtained for carrot. Medium and large size samples gave good result for potato at a speed of 41 rpm with capacities and efficiencies of72.8 kg/h, 88.9 kg/h, 97.9% and 94.8% respectively. A speed of 41 rpm gave best result for small and medium size grade of onion with capacities and efficiencies of 44.6 kg/h, 71.6 kg/b, 91.7% and 96.4% respectively. A throughput capacity of 135.7 kg/h at a speed of 41 rpm and efficiency of 96% was obtained for yam. The machine is therefore observed to perform best at the optimum operating speed of 41 rpm for all the crops selected except carrot. The result of the study shows that it could handle root and tuber crops satisfactorily. Slices ranges of 8mm to 9mm thickness were obtained.