Development and performance evaluation of manually and motorized operated melon shelling machine using impact technique

Abstract

Melon shelling in most part of the world is usually done manually by hand, and like all other manual operations it is time consuming and strenuous. The design and construction of manually and motorized operated melon shelling machine using impact method was done in order to meet the domestic, commercial and industrial requirement of melon for food processing. Two of the main cultivars of melon found in Western part of Nigeria; which are Bara and Serewe can be shelled properly by this machine; the machine is made up of three sections namely the hopper, the shelling chamber which consists of the shelling disc and the shaft, and the gear system. The machine was made from locally sourced materials and it can be used in both urban and rural areas even where there is no power supply. The percentage of melon been shelled in either manual or motorized operation in two successive runs of the two types of melon (Bara and Serewe) was found to be above eighty percent (80%) and the shelling efficiency of the machine is above 68%. © 2009 Kavala Institute of Technology.