Design and fabrication of an engine powered coffee pulping machine

Abstract

This project detailed the design, fabrication, and subsequent performance evaluation of a locally constructed engine-powered coffee pulping machine. The need for an efficient and accessible pulping solution for coffee farmers motivated the development of this machine. The fabrication process involved the selection of appropriate materials and the assembly of key components, including a power unit, pulping cylinder, and bean separation mechanism. Following fabrication, rigorous testing was conducted to assess the machine's capacity, pulping efficiency, and the percentage of damaged coffee beans. The results of these tests, conducted on varying quantities of coffee cherries, indicated a consistent pulping efficiency of 94% and a low damage rate of 1%. The machine demonstrated a processing capacity of 350 kg/hr. Furthermore, the washed coffee beans obtained from the pulped output exhibited a washing efficiency of 98% with the washing system operating at a capacity of 282 kg/hr. These findings highlight the potential of the developed engine-powered coffee pulping machine to provide an effective and reliable solution for primary coffee processing(child labour being one of them), thereby contributing to reduced child labour, improved efficiency and quality in coffee production.