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ABSTRACT
Crops like plantain, potato and carrots are semi-perishable crops and large quantity is wasted due to deterioration during the peak harvest. To ensure food security and to reduce wastage, the adoption of an effective way of processing them into chips for preservation and availability throughout the year is necessary. The main objective of this study was to design and fabricate a multi-crop (plantain, potato and carrot) slicing machine so as to optimize its efficiency at low cost, reduce total time of slicing and produce hygienic and quality chips.
The design of the machine began by identifying problems that occurred with existing slicing machines; it was then designed based on the concept adapted from the problems. Three different concepts were considered and a detailed design of each of the components such as the power, belt, pulley, shaft and bearings of the chosen concept were analyzed with a detailed cost analysis of the components. Finally, fabrication and assembling of the machine was done. The machine operates on power being transmitted from the electric motor to the shaft via a pulley system. The shaft then transmits the power to the cutting mechanisms which consists of a disc with attached blades for cutting the crop fed in vertically from the feeding chute.
Test results with the machine in slicing samples of carrot, plantain and potato indicated satisfactory performance with zero injury to operator and increase in the speed of slicing of crops to meet the high demands of chips production. The efficiency of the multi- crop slicing machine is 87 % with capacity of 145.13 kg/hr for plantain and 84% efficiency and 124.23/hr for carrot. This slicing machine is therefore recommended for both domestic and industrial applications.
