Development and Performance Evaluation of a Slicing Machine for Selected vegetables

June 27, 2020

Ezeanya

Greener Journal of Physical Sciences

Vol. 6(1), pp. 1-9, 2020

ISSN: 2276-7851

https://gjournals.org/GJPS

Development and Performance Evaluation of a Slicing Machine for Selected vegetables

Ezeanya, Nnaemeka Charles

Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526, Owerri, Nigeria.

ARTICLE INFO

ABSTRACT

Article No.:01162010

Type: Research

The purpose of this study was to develop an efficient and ergonomically safe slicing machine that is affordable to a small scale farmer. Slicing machine is useful for farmers in chopping of fodder; and for crop processing industries in slicing of vegetables in readiness for other processing activities. A slicing machine, equipped with two slicing blades was designed, fabricated and evaluated for performance. The machine was powered by a 0.25hp, single phase electric motor. The performance of the machine was evaluated using three selected crops (onion bulbs, carrots, and Irish potatoes); grouped into small-sized samples (22.62-33.14 mm) and medium-sized samples (33.35-49.9) ; at four machine speeds of 53, 58, 62, and 69 rpm. The parameters investigated were slicing efficiency and throughput capacity. Results showed that the highest mean slicing efficiency of 87.6% was attained from the machine when slicing small-sized Irish potatoes at rotational speed of 58 rpm; while the lowest mean slicing efficiency of 60.7% was attained from the machine when slicing medium-sized onion bulbs at rotational speed of 69 rpm. The throughput capacities developed by the slicer were affected by slicing speeds; and ranged from 20.52 – 44.28 kg/hr. It was also observed that the machine could slice onion bulbs, carrots and Irish potatoes satisfactorily with slice thicknesses ranging from 5mm to 6mm.

Accepted: 21/01/2020

Published:

27/06/2020

*Corresponding Author

Ezeanya, NC

E-mail: n_ezeanya@yahoo.com

Phone: 08037529679

Keywords:

Vegetable slicer; Single phase; electric motor; machine speeds; Slicing efficiency; throughput capacity

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Cite this Article: Ezeanya, NC (2020). Development and Performance Evaluation of a Slicing Machine for Selected vegetables. Greener Journal of Physical Sciences, 6(1): 1-9.

Journal Name : citation_journal : Greener Journal of Physical Sciences

Publication Status/Date : usp_status_date : 27/06/2020