Development of a Bush Mango (Irvingia Gabonensis) Nutcracker-6

Abstract

This research work involves the design and fabrication of Irvingia nut cracking machines. It operates using impact technique which involves collision between the seednut and stationary wall. The procedures employed the design stage, fabrication and testing. The machine components are: impact drum, shaft, impeller (rotor), electric motor, driver and driven pulley and hopper. The cracking chamber consists of the impeller and impact drum. The seednuts were pre-treated before testing by sun-drying to improve its crackability. The machine gave a better performance at the speed of 2600 revolution per minute with average cracking efficiency, percentage kernel breakage and capacity of 88%, 17.5% and 916 nuts/hr. The improvement in the design can be achieved by incorporating a kernel and shell separator along the chute.