CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGS

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Coconuts' remarkable level of resilience means that they can be grown in a wide

variety of soils, although coconuts require a relatively high amount of rainfall. The coconuts

thrive in on desert fringes and coastal areas. This plant is a tropical tree species which is

mainly harvested and grown by small-scale farmers. Production of coconuts is popular on

island and coastal areas, such as Samoa and Fiji, and as well as in the humid tropics,

such as Thailand and Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. (James Burton, 2018)

According to Burton (2018), the coconut is a very useful plant with a wide range of

products being sourced from it. Coconut products are used to make everything from

clothing to animal feed to beauty creams. Its kernel is harvested for its edible flesh and

delicious water, while its husk is used for its strong fibers. Most important, however, are

its oils, which are extracted, processed, and marketed for culinary, medicinal, and

cosmetic uses alike. Typically, the flesh is first dried down to 6% moisture to make copra.

This product is then hauled to factories across the world where it is manufactured into oil.

Less widely used, but more valuable, “virgin” coconut oil is directly extracted from raw

coconut.

The Philippines is the world's second largest producer of coconuts. It was

previously the world's largest producer before being overtaken by Indonesia. Luzon,

Southern Mindanao, and the Eastern Visayas are a few of the country's most prominent

locations for coconut producing. It is estimated that around one quarter of total farm land

in the Philippines is dedicated to coconut production. (James Burton, 2018)

 In the Philippines the Coconut tree is called the “Tree of Life’’, because of the

endless products derived from its various parts. They say if you’re stranded in a desert

island all you have to do is find a coconut tree and you will survive. In fact, during the

Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Typhoon Yolanda) in 2013, affected families survived on

coconuts alone for days. (Mia Caragay, 2016)

From leaves to roots, almost all parts of the coconut tree can be used — food,

shelter, fuel, decors, building house and even medicine. Coconut meat is a good source

of protein and an effective natural laxative. It is also a source of other products such as

coco flour, desiccated coconut, coco milk, coco chips, candies, latik, copra, and animal

feeds. Also used as a main ingredient for salad and other sweet delicacies. Coconut

water is used mostly for re-hydration and kidney cleansing. Other than that, there are still

ongoing researches regarding the use of coconut water. Nowadays, Coconut oil is more

popularly used for its benefits to the skin, hair, and face. It’s extracted from copra and

notable for its anti- microbial properties. Coconut roots can be used as a beverage, dye

stuff, and also for medicinal purposes. Coconut trunks can be used for building and

construction purposes. From the coconut trunk, handy and durable wood is obtained to

make various pieces of furniture and novelty items. Paper pulp can also be extracted from

the trunk. Coconut shell, a part of Coconut fruit, can be used for the production of

handicrafts items, as charcoal for cooking, and many more. Coconut husk (also known as

coir) a part of Coconut Fruit, is also used as an elastic fiber used for rope, matting, and

coarse cloth. Coconut leaves produce good quality of paper pulp, midrib brooms, hats and

mats, fruit trays, fans, midrib decors, lamp shades, bag, and utility roof materials. In Cebu

City, Coconut Leaves are used to wrap white rice called Puso.
 Apart from what was already mentioned, other parts of the coconut can be made

as slippers, “ubod” brine, building posts, fruit trays, parquet flooring, yeast, insulators, floor

husks, doormats and “latik”. (Mia Caragay, 2016)

Coconut dehusking involves removing of the husk from the coconut. Traditional

dehusking is time consuming and difficult process. To overcome these limitations, to

improve the automation and to provide safety for the operator, a new design of dehusking

machine is introduced and fabricated. This dehusker comprises usage of two horizontal

rollers with series of sharp tools which would shear the husk from coconut when rolling

against each other. Shear force is required for dehusking of mature green coconut and

dry brown coconut. More shear force is required more for mature green coconut than dry

coconut because the husk of mature green coconut still contains nutrients in its fibers

which help maintain its attachment to the core of the fruit unlike the dry ones. Torque and

speed reduction required for dehusking is calculated by using the force required for

shearing coconut. Optimum number of spikes is arranged on the rollers to dehusk the

coconut with minimum force.

1.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

1.2.1. Coconut Farming

Coconut, the fruit of the coconut palm tree which has the scientific name as Cocos

nucifera, belongs to the family arecaceae. Philippines is one of the world’s largest

producer of coconut. It can usually be found in the tropic and sub-tropic areas (Chan and

Elevitch, 2009).

It is known for its great versatility as seen in many domestic, commercial, and

industrial uses of its different part. They are part of the daily diet for many people.
Coconuts are different from any other fruits because they contain large quantity of water

and when immature they are known as tender-nuts or jelly-nuts and may be harvested for

drinking. When they mature they still contain some water and can be used as seed nuts

or processed to give oil from the kernel, charcoal from hard shell and coir from fibrous

husk (Anon., 2011).

1.2.2. Coconut Dehusking Using Horizontal Rollers

Dehusking of coconut is a very necessary step in making the coconut ready for

further utilization. Coconut dehusking implicates the removal of the husk or the outer

covering from the coconut fruit. Traditional dehusking is time-consuming and is a difficult

thing to do. To surpass these restrictions, to develop and improve the automation, and to

provide safety for the operator, an innovative design of dehusking machine is introduced.

This horizontal roller-type dehusker comprises usage of two horizontal rollers with series

of sharp tools which would shear the husk from coconut when rolling towards each other.

Shear force is required for dehusking of dry brown coconut and mature green coconut.

Shear force required is more for mature green coconut than dry coconut. Torque and

speed reduction required for dehusking is calculated by using the force required for

shearing coconut. Optimum number of spikes is arranged on the rollers to dehusk the

coconut with minimum force. (G. Sujaykumar, et al., 2017)

1.2.3. Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation

Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every particle attracts every other

particles in the universe with a force which is directly proportional to the product of their

masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

𝐺𝑚1 𝑚2
𝐹𝑔 =
𝑟2
Where:

F = the gravitational force acting between two objects,

m1= mass of object 1

m2 = mass of object 2

r= the distance between the centers of their masses

G = the gravitational constant

1.2.4. Archimedes’ Principle

Archimedes’ principle, physical law of buoyancy, discovered by the ancient Greek

mathematician and inventor Archimedes, stating that any body completely or partially

submerged in a fluid (gas or liquid) at rest is acted upon by an upward, or buoyant, force

the magnitude of which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body. The

volume of displaced fluid is equivalent to the volume of an object fully immersed in a fluid

or to that fraction of the volume below the surface for an object partially submerged in a

liquid. The weight of the displaced portion of the fluid is equivalent to the magnitude of the

buoyant force. The buoyant force on a body floating in a liquid or gas is also equivalent in

magnitude to the weight of the floating object and is opposite in direction; the object neither

rises nor sinks.

The equation is:

𝐹 = 𝜌𝑓 ∗ 𝑔 ∗ 𝑉

we have,

F = Buoyant Force
ρf = density of fluid.

g = gravity acceleration.

V = volume of object.

1.2.5. Chain and Sprockets

A sprocket or sprocket-wheel is a profiled wheel with teeth, or cogs, that mesh with

a chain, track or other perforated or indented material. The name 'sprocket' applies

generally to any wheel upon which radial projections engage a chain passing over it. It is

distinguished from a gear in that sprockets are never meshed together directly, and differs

from a pulley in that sprockets have teeth and pulleys are smooth.

1.2.6. Calculating the Sprocket Ratio

The sprocket ratio is a function of the relative sizes of the driving and driven

sprockets, and while you could calculate it by dividing their diameters, it's easier to just

count teeth. The sprocket ratio is simply the number of teeth on the driving sprocket (T1)

divided by the number of teeth on the driven sprocket (T2).

Sprocket ratio = T1/T2

1.2.7. Relative Revolutions per Minute

A larger sprocket ratio may make a bicycle more difficult to pedal, but that's

because it increases the rotational speed of the rear wheel, and that makes the bicycle go

faster. On the other hand, a small socket ratio makes it easier to accelerate. The ratio of

the rotational speed of the driven sprocket (V2) in rpms relative to those of the driving

sprocket (V1) is the same as the sprocket ratio.

Sprocket ratio = T1/T2 = V1/V2

1.2.8. Bearing

A bearing is a machine element that constrains relative motion to only the desired

motion, and reduces friction between moving parts. The design of the bearing may, for

example, provide for free linear movement of the moving part or for free rotation around a

fixed axis; or, it may prevent a motion by controlling the vectors of normal forces that bear

on the moving parts. Most bearings facilitate the desired motion by minimizing friction.

Bearings are classified broadly according to the type of operation, the motions allowed, or

to the directions of the loads (forces) applied to the parts.

1.3 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

INPUT PROCESS

I. GATHERING OF
I. KNOWLEDGE
MATERIALS
REQUIREMENTS
- Assembly of
- Working principle
materials
of Motorized
Roller shredders
II. DESIGN
- Matured coconut
- Reseach Design
physical
properties
III. CONSIDERATION
II. MATERIALS AND
- Evaluation
EQUIPMENTS
- Specifications

OUTPUT

Dehusked Matured Coconut Production using Motorized Roller Shredders

via Chain and Sprocket

Fig. 1.1 Conceptual Framework of the Study

The figure shows the nature of the study, and describes the concept of how the

innovated coconut dehusking will be performed.

Input. The topic of the study is decided and knowledge requirements were also

understood and specified. Familiarity of the physical properties of Matured coconut, chain

and sprocket mechanism, AC motor, and horizontal double roller shredders were the

major knowledge required in motorized matured coconut dehusking. The principle of

universal gravitation and the rotary motion of the spiked roller are some of the main factors

to successfully remove the husk of the coconut.

Process. Recapitulation of the research methodology is a must. The project design starts

with conceptualization of the scientifically known principles, considerations of the parts

and the materials to be used in the fabrication of the machine, and the cohesion of every

single parts or stages to work as one project. With regards to the project design, the

development of the system’s schematic and block diagram always follows. The machine

specifications are precisely observed to obtain accurate results.

Output. This part reflects the success or the failure of the system. The research title

supports the whole study in accordance with its significance and objectives of the study,

hypotheses, and statement of the problem.

1.4 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Listed below are the problems the researchers aim to address:

1. What is the difference of coconut dehusking (in terms of coconut dehusked per

hour) between manual and motorized method of husk removal?

2. What is the most recommended rpm of the roller shredder to remove the husk

successfully?

3. What is the power rating (in Watts) of the motor recommended for the dehusking

process?

4. What controlled variable will be manipulated to be able to attain same results for

dehusking different sizes of coconut?

5. Approximately, what is the percentage of husk removal after using the machine?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS

Provided below are the alternative and null hypotheses of the study.

Alternative:

 Matured coconut will be dehusked on an average of 80%

 The Motorized dehusker will produce more dehusked coconut than the

conventional method.

Null:

 The motorized dehusker will not be able to dehusk different sizes of Matured

coconut.

 The coconut shell will not be free from damages after being dehusked.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study has scopes and limitations that are needed to be considered in

designing and fabricating this project. This study only focuses on designing and fabricating

an automated coconut de-husker that can only husk a matured coconut fruit compared to

manual de-husking process. The husk that will be removed has no specific value of the

volume de-husked. This machine will use the principles of AC Motors, chain and sprocket,

pillow blocks and gears. The roller-shredder is made up of _m of solid steel, will use 4

pillow blocks, 2 chains and 4 sprockets. Coconut fruits that will be loaded in machine

should be pre-cut for more convenient use of the machine.

 The power rating (in Watts) of the motor recommended for the de-husking process

is _W.

In addition, the project is delimited to the husked coconut only and the researches

will not utilize the residual wastes of the machine for any other purposes.

1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be conducted to benefit the following:

To the coconut farmers. This study aims to create an automated coconut de-

husker that will easily take off the coconut’s husk. This will save more time compared to

de-husking using traditional methods.

To the students. This research study will be conducted to train the students’

researching abilities, making them more competitive and capable in the researching field

to the university.

To the university. The university will benefit on this research thru the raising of

more research capable students by training them on various research studies.

To the future researchers. This study can serve as a guide for the future research

studies, helping the future researchers to create more efficient and more economic ways

to de-husk coconuts.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

This section of the study explains every notable words which may assist readers

and give a brief but concise explanation of terms used in the research. The definition of

the terms is based on how the researchers used the words in accordance with the study.
AC motor - is an electric motor driven by alternating current. It is

connected to the chain and sprocket to be able to turn the

roller crushers.

Chain and sprocket - is a mechanism connected to the AC motor to be able to

transport the rotary motion from the motor to the shaft of the

roller crushers.

Coconut - also known as Cocos nucifera, is a fruit which is covered

with fibers and outer shell and is intended to be dehusk to

be able to access the edible part of the fruit.

Coconut Husk - the part of the coconut which includes the fiber and the

outer shell. The main purpose of the dehusking machine is

to remove this part.

Matured Coconut - the coconut can be classified as matured thru bisual

inspection.

Roller Crushers - cylindrical-shaped objects that sort of turn towards each

other with a gap in between where the coconut is placed.