Bread-slicing machine

Authors

  • Oladejo Kolawole Adesola Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
  • Taiwo Kehinde Adekunbi Department of Food Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-Ife, Nigeria
  • Adetan Dare Aderibigbe Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
  • Morakinyo Tunde Afolabi Department of Food Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-Ife, Nigeria

Keywords:

bread slicing, sliced-bread, slicing machine, reciprocating blades

Abstract

This study developed a compact front loading machine for slicing loaves of bread.  The machine is fast, efficient, safe and easy to operate.  It was designed to accommodate a normal loaf of bread per pass.  It works on the principle of gravity loaf in-feed system and the up-and-down reciprocating motion of the blade frame that carries 22 parallel cutting blades spaced at a regular interval of 14.5 mm apart.  It is driven by a 2 horsepower electric motor via a V-belt power transmission system.  The moving components are born on self-lubricating bearings and specially designed vibration absorbers; it automatically stops to save running cost once the loaf is completely sliced.  It also incorporates a crumb collection tray to enhance the hygiene of the process. Evaluation tests revealed that increasing the cutting speed above the standard commercial bakery speed of 420 r/min increased bread wastage and reduced uniformity of slice thickness.

Author Biographies

Oladejo Kolawole Adesola, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Department of Mechanical Engineering. Senior Lecturer

Taiwo Kehinde Adekunbi, Department of Food Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-Ife, Nigeria

Department of Food Science & Technology.  Professor in Food Processing Technology and Engineering.

Adetan Dare Aderibigbe, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Department of Mechanical Engineering. Senior Lecturer

Morakinyo Tunde Afolabi, Department of Food Science and Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, lle-Ife, Nigeria

Department of food science and Technology, Lecturer I

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Published

2016-07-04

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2016): CIGR Journal

Section

VI-Postharvest Technology and Process Engineering