Young Coconut Peeling Machine

Abstract

This research was to develop a machine for peeling a young coconut fruit into pentagonal shape. The machine composed of two small peeling units as the first of which peeled fruit body and the second unit peeled its shoulder. Both peeling units were mounted on a common L-beam 25 mm. steel frame with 2.3 mm. thickness. The frame was 69 cm. wide, 158 cm. long 120 cm, high and weighed 120 kgs. The young coconut peeling machine (YCPM) was driven by a 3 phase, 3 hp, 380 V. 50 Hz variable speed motor. Each peeling unit consisted of 31 mm. x 198 mm. x 1.5 mm. stainless steel knife. The knife was powered by chain and sprocket sequentially driven by motor through pulley and v-belt. YCPM testing with 80 young coconut fruits of “Narm Hom” variety of Grade 2 indicated that knife velocity thickness of fruit skin after each peeling and storage time affected the quality of the fruit surface after peeling. The suitable knife velocity, fruit skin thickness and storage time were 45 rpm., not exceeding 2 mm. and not exceeding 1 week respectively.