Modifikasi dan uji performansi alat pengupas kulit buah mete gelondong (Anacardium accidentale L)

Abstract

Manual process of cashew nut shelling is labour intensive and low productivity less productive. Therefore, a mechanical cashew nut sheller was developed in this study based on the previous work of Dace Awaluddin (1995). The mechanism of power transmission was modified thus the operator may able to work in sitting position. The cashew nut sheller consists of a pair of knives, each shaped in the contour of half a nut. The knives come together by means of a foot operated lever. The left knive is connected to the left lever and the other knive is connected to the right lever. The left lever generate translational movement and make the left knive come forth and push the cashew nut. While the right lever produce rotational movement and make the right knive twist and cracking the shell. Due to the size variety of cashew nuts, the nut-shaped knives was designed based on three different size. The first type of knive was designed with dimension 33 mm to accommodate big size cashew nuts ranged from 28,50 – 32,15 mm. The second type with dimension 29 mm is for medium size nuts (24,80 – 28,45 mm), and the third with dimension 25 mm is for small size nuts (21,05 – 24,75mm). The rate capacity of the sheller was observed to be 0,334 kg/hour (0,368 kg/hour for big size nuts; 0,400 kg/hour medium size nuts; and 0,263 kg/hour small size nuts) at shelling efficiency 12,59%. The yields in terms of whole, cracked, sliced, and brokens were 76,67%; 17%; 3,33%; and 3% respectively.