TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Pili Nut Cracking Machine

A Project Study
Presented to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Department
College of Engineering
Technological University of the Philippines
Manila

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Submitted by:
Bellosillo, Mariane A.
Ramos, Ronald Allan A.
Tangcay, Jefferson C.
Talamor, Ceejei Lanz C,
Tubid, Marlou B.

BSME – 5C

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 APPROVAL SHEET

In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of BACHELOR OF

SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, this study entitled PILI NUT

CRACKING MACHINE is hereby approved and accepted.

Approved:

ENGR. ROY B. TAGPIS

Project Adviser

ENGR. CARLOS E. ZAPANTA ENGR. NELSON D. DELA PEÑA, JR

Member Member

ENGR. ERICK R. NOO ENGR. FELIPE RONALD M. ARGAMOSA

Member
Member

ENGR. ROAN N. MAMBA

Chairperson

Accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of BACHELOR

OF SCIENCE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, Technological University of the

Philippines.

ENGR. EDWIN G. MACALINTAL ENGR. BENEDICTO N. FORTALEZA

Department Head College Dean

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The proponents would like to acknowledge the individuals who supported them,

inspired them, shared their thoughts, ideas and knowledge, expertise and devoted their

precious time and effort for this project to be successful.

First and foremost, to the Lord God Almighty, for providing the strength and

guidance for finishing this project.

The group would like to recognize the support of our dear adviser Engr. Roy B.

Tagpis for accommodating us during consultation and giving us guidance in making this

project.

The group would like to acknowledge the staff of C-Jun Machine Shop and to Mr.

Nonoy and Kuya Alvin for sharing their expertise on machine works and by extending their

hand by providing all the necessary adjustments during the fabrication.

To all the Professors for sharing their valuable insights on how to improve the

machine.

And to the parents, family, and friends for unconditional love and support that serve

as their inspiration specially in their studies, and to the financial support to accomplish this

Project.

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 ABSTRACT

Given the growing demand for pili nut products, both local and international,

several studies and researches have been conducted to find a more advance and faster way

of extracting pili nut from its shell without damaging the kernel itself. Similarly, this study

aims to improve and develop the efficiency and effectivity of the previous pili nut cracking

machine that have been designed few years prior to this research. The design considered

the application of force on the longitudinal axis instead of traversed axis of the pili nut.

Within this context, different force analysis had been formulated to show how much load

is needed to crack the nut shell in vertical position.

The machine consists of three (3) major elements: the conveyor, the feeding and

cracking system. These assembly are timed through a Geneva and Chain and Sprocket

mechanism that is driven by a 3-Hp DC motor. The operation is designed using Geneva

mechanism to drive the conveyor while the cracking system rely on the cam and follower

mechanism. The cracked pili nut will be transferred to a bin at the end of the conveyor. The

machine can crack with a feeding rate of 50 pili nuts per minute with 30% cycle time

improvement than manual cracking process

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title Page …………………………………… i
Approval Sheet …………………………………… ii
Acknowledgement …………………………………… iii
Abstract …………………………………… iv
Table of Contents …………………………………… v
List of the Tables …………………………………… vii
List of the Figures …………………………………… viii

Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction …………………………………… 1
Background of the Study …………………………………… 1
Conceptual Framework …………………………………… 2
General Objectives …………………………………… 3
Specific Objectives …………………………………… 3
Significance of Study …………………………………… 3
Scope and Delimitations …………………………………… 6

Chapter 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Conceptual Literature …………………………………… 7
Research Literature …………………………………… 15
Definition of Terms …………………………………… 17

Chapter 3 METHODOLOGY
Project/ Research Design …………………………………… 19
Project Development …………………………………… 19
Problem and Investigation Analysis …………………… 21
Research and Data Gathering …………………… 21

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 Conceptualization …………………………… 22
Design Phase …………………………… 22
Construction and Fabrication …………………………… 24
Testing and Evaluation …………………………… 24

Chapter 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Technical Description of the Project …………………………… 26
Technical Structure of the Project …………………………… 27
Project Capacity …………………………… 28
Data Gathering Process …………………………… 29
Presentation and Interpretation of the Testing Results ………………… 31
Cost of Materials and Specifications …………………………… 36

Chapter 5 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS &

RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of Findings …………………………………… 37
Conclusions …………………………………… 37
Recommendations …………………………………… 38

REFERENCES …………………………………… 39
APPENDICES
Appendix A. Computations …………………………………… 41
Appendix B. Cost of Operation, Savings and Break-even Analysis …….......... 45
Appendix C. Machine Parts and Measurements ………………………...…. 48
Appendix D. Machine Manual ……………………….…… 56
Appendix E. Job Safety Analysis ……………………………….…… 57
Appendix F. Documentation ……………………………….…… 59
RESEARCHERS’ PROFILE …………………………… 62

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table No. Title Page

3.2.4. Parts of Pili Nut Cracking Machine 23

4.1 Effectiveness of feeding mechanism per 50 pcs of pili 31

4.2 Effectiveness of feeding mechanism with recommended pipe 31

attachment

4.3 Number of acceptable and reject pili nut recovered 32

4.4 Cycle time per kg of 50 pcs sample 32

4.5 Comparative Cracking Efficiency and Cost Comparison 34

4.6. Bill of Materials 35

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure No. Title Page

1.1 Stages of Project Development 2

1.6 Volume of production of pili nuts in metric tons (Philippine 4

Statistic Authority)

2.1.3 Pili Industry in the Bicol Region 10

2.1.4.2 Dimensions of a typical pili nut and kernel. 11

2.1.4.3 Compressive force application along the longitudinal (FL) and 12

the transverse (FT) axes of pili nut

2.1.4.4 Dimension and Weight of pili kernels 13

2.1.4.5 Force, Deformation and Specific Deformation at Fracture 13

2.1.4.6 Transverse cracks (a), shell fragments (b) and kernel (c) of 14

representative fractured pili nut specimens compressed at two

loading orientations and at three nut moisture content levels.

3.2 Project Development Diagram 20

3.2.4.1 Initial Design of Pili Nut Cracking Machine 22

3.2.4.2 Exploded View of Pili Nut Cracking Machine 23

4.1 Final Design of Pili Nut Cracking Machine 26

4.2.1 Exploded View of Pili Nut Cracking Machine 27

4.2.2 Pili Nut Cracking Machine parts and auxiliaries 28

4.4.1 “Acceptable” kernel 29

4.4.2 "Reject" kernel 29

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4.4.3 Results of cracking on three different trials. Reject pili nuts (a), 32

acceptable pili nuts (b), uncracked pili nuts (c), cracked pili nuts

with their shells (d).

A.1 Support Plate Dimensions 48

A.2 Shaft C Dimensions 48

A.3 Shaft E Dimensions 49

A.4 Shaft Holder F Dimensions 49

A.5 Shaft D Dimensions 50

A.6 Cam Dimensions 50

A.7 Shaft D Dimensions 51

A.8 Bin Support Dimensions 51

A.9 Conveyor Bars Dimensions 52

A.10 Pili Bin Dimensions 52

A.11 Frame Dimensions 53

A.12 Geneva Mechanism Dimensions 53

A.13 Hammer Guide Dimensions 54

A.14 Shaft B Dimensions 54

A.15 Hammer Dimensions 55

A.16 Shaft F Dimensions 55

A.17 Alignment of Shafts and Sprockets 59

A.18 Installation of Chains and Sprockets 59

A.19 Conveyor Mechanism 60

A.20 Conveyor Bars 60

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A.21 Frame of the machine 60

A.22 Checking of Dimensions 61

A.23 Geneva Mechanism 61