A Mini Maize Sheller That Can Separate the Kernels From the Cob

A Mini Maize Sheller That Can Separate the Kernels From the Cob

Maize is a staple crop and a major food for both human and animal consumption.mini maize sheller It is usually sold with the corn kernels still attached to the cob and shelling the corn is an essential step in post-harvest handling and marketing. This process is time consuming and labour intensive, it also causes physical strain on the hands of farmers especially women. This study aimed to design and fabricate a mini maize sheller that can separate the kernels from the cob. The results of this research shows that the fabricated machine can improve maize processing and reduce labor costs, while also reducing post-harvest losses and the drudgery of female farmers.

The developed machine consists of a frame, hopper, transmission shaft, cylinder with spikes and blower, concave with sieve and power source.mini maize sheller Its overall weight is 0.2Kg and it can be used by one person with ease. Its threshing capacity is more than two times greater than the traditional hand-held methods which include animal trampling and beating with sticks or stones. Its shelling efficiency is 100% and there was no breakage of the grains during shelling. Farmers were excited about the use of this machine because it reduces their drudgery and saves them money from purchasing and hiring others to shell their corn.

Moreover, it can be easily assembled and dismantled for transportation and storage.mini maize sheller Its construction and materials were designed with the help of solid works software which also provided a 3D model of the prototype. The structural analysis of the device was conducted by using von Mises stress analysis. A prototype was fabricated and tested at the department of Mechanical Engineering and it proved that it is a good machine that can separate the corn from the husk and make it more profitable for small farmers.

A number of factors were investigated including threshing capacity, separating capability, material efficiency, mechanical damage and power consumption to optimize the machine specifications. A regression model was also developed to show the relationship between the shelling performance and moisture content of the corn. This information will be helpful in designing and improving the future machines.

The fabricated machine has the potential to be improved and it can be used by more farmers. This can be done by modifying the feeding mechanism, making it easier to maneuver and making sure that it can shell both big and small sized maize cobs. Further, it should be made more versatile so that it can be used for other agricultural crops such as cassava, banana and plantain. The optimum design of the machine will ensure high efficiency and low production costs. It is important that the threshing and shelling processes are optimized to increase the longevity of the product and maximize profits for small farmers. Moreover, the machine can be used to increase farmers’ incomes and improve their quality of life. This can be achieved through the reduction of their drudgery and the pain they experience on a daily basis.