Design and development of small scale pea depoding machine by using CAD software

Abstract

Agriculture mechanization played a significant economic role by increasing agriculture production and reducing cost of cultivation.  Agricultural mechanization has improved productivity to great extent, still post-harvest value addition to the raw product in India is very less as compared to other countries, which may be mainly due to lack of technologies.  There is a dire need to develop more processing machinery for value addition of agricultural produce with a reduction in time and labour.  Pea is an important cool season, leguminous crop of India.  Manual removal of peas from pods is a labourious and time consuming job.  In view of non-availability of efficient pea depoding machine work on design and fabrication of pea depoding machine was undertaken by Punjab Agricultural University during 2009-2011.  Computer aided design of machine was made by using “SolidWorks” software.  This design helps to find out the typical dimensions of various components of machine with great accuracy in small time and also gives fine representation of pea depoding machine by using simulation.  The machine was fabricated by using the low cost material available in market.  Main components of this machine are – frame, sieve, L-shaped blades, conveying blades, hopper, trays, motor and gear box.  Depoding of pea grain is based on the principle of friction generated by rubbing action of blades with the pea pods on sieves which helps in opening the pods of peas and cutting action of conveying blades.  Initial tests were done on the designed machine and it was observed that 60 r/min of blade shaft was best suited for depoding of pea from pods.  The average throughput capacity of the machine was 30 kg/h.  This machine will surely help farmers by adding the value to agricultural products.

Keywords: pea depoder, pea sheller, computer aided designing, solid modelling and simulation, shelling machines designing, designing of machines