DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS) LEAVES SLICING MACHINE

Authors

  • CN Anyanwu DEPT. OF AGRIC & BIORESOURCES ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
  • CA Kalu DEPT. OF AGRIC & BIORESOURCES ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
  • VC Okonkwo DEPT. OF AGRIC & BIORESOURCES ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
  • JI Ume DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA
  • I Onyekwelu DEPT. OF AGRIC & BIORESOURCES ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/njt.373.1791

Keywords:

design, development, fluted pumpkin, slicing machine

Abstract

A motorized fluted pumpkin leaves slicer was designed, fabricated and tested. The machine comprises a conveyor system made from a rubber belt, two pairs of bearings and two hollow metal rods, a frame made from metal sheets for support. The slicing unit comprising the cutting blades and a drive (transmission) shaft, and finally a 746 W (1 hp) power drive mechanism (electric motor). Tests carried out on the machine involved placing 1 kg of fluted pumpkin leaves on the conveyor belt, which was then conveyed to the slicing unit, where it was chopped to desired size. It took an average of 9 minutes to process 1kg of the fluted pumpkin leaves during the test. Series of tests were carried out on the machine, which showed that it had an efficiency of 73.2% and is much faster than hand/manual slicing method.

 

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v37i3.34

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Published

2018-07-01

Issue

Section

Agricultural, Bioresources, Biomedical, Food, Environmental & Water Resources Engineering

How to Cite

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS) LEAVES SLICING MACHINE. (2018). Nigerian Journal of Technology, 37(3), 813-817. https://doi.org/10.4314/njt.373.1791