Diseño y construcción de una descortezadora de coco

Abstract

Coconut fiber dehusking is performed by manual, mechanical and machine-based methods. There are toothed roller devices, a rotary punch, tweezers and a rotary-shaft machines. The objective of this project was to design and build a coconut dehusker to provide the national market with an alternative to industrialize the dehusking process. A set of three equipment alternatives was formulated. The equipment to be designed was selected based on the manufacturing cost, production capacity, percentage of total fiber removal, operating cost and coconut control in the dehusking process. The required technical specifications were determined, the performance of the machine manufactured was evaluated and a preventive maintenance plan was formulated in order to reduce operational working times, reduce manufacturing costs, increase the amount of fiber traditionally removed by means of a semiautomated deburring machine. The equipment developed is of the hydraulic oil type, driven by a lever control that activates the clamping, displacement and dehusking mechanism. The equipment was checked and validated by means of a test protocol, obtaining an average of 3 peeling coconuts per minute, a percentage of fiber removal of more than 95%, costing less than $ 4500 and a semiautomation percentage of 90%. All the design parameters were met and a robust, reliable, low cost and easy maintenance equipment was obtained