Republic of the Philippines

University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

College of Technology
Department of Electro-Mechanical Technology
C.M. Recto Avenue, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, 9000

A Thesis

Design and Innovation of Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Electro-

Mechanical Technology

Research Members:

Mark Gil A. Palasan

Froilan S. Tabaranza
Raul A. Sastre Jr.
Joshua Clyde Quintano
Maryland L. Salcedo

Adviser:

DR. RUVEL J. CUASITO SR., PECE

 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background and Rationale

Automation has played a vital, not only in modern industrial processes, but also in

agricultural crop processing systems. It is characterized by self-acting machine and devices

with integrated control systems that are often arranged in complex industrial processes or

systems. The necessary of automation is to reduce the human effort and to save time. As the

world is emerging with various type of technology for better quality of life and efficient

production of food, automation and mechanization technology for agricultural machines are

used for faster, lesser labor agricultural production for sustainable agriculture. The

agricultural industry is already adopting the modern way of crop production and processing.

One of the agricultural crops that need modern machines for more efficient production and

processing is the coconut (Walke et. al., 2017).

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical

countries. In the Philippines, statistics indicated that areas planted with coconut covers 3.517

M hectares equivalent to 26% of the total agricultural land (PSA, 2015). Sixty-eight (68) out

of 81 provinces are considered coconut areas, representing 1,195 coconut municipalities. In

2015, the recorded number of bearing trees reached 329.9 million with an average production

of 14.902 billion nuts in the last three years (PCA, 2017). Dar (2017) stated that the coconut

lands host about 3.4 million farmers who are mostly below the poverty line even as coconut

exports reached $2.0 billion in 2016. Coconut can be considered as one of the major crops in

many provinces in the Philippines because of its abundant supply in the market. Many

surveys conducted and have shown the entire parts of the coconut may be used for different
purposes. Its fresh grated meat has many uses to food processing and households, particularly

in preparation of pastries, cakes, production of coconut milk and oil to be used as important

ingredients for many goods that can be seen in the markets. It was revealed by Banson (1982)

that the fresh grated coconut is often used for food preparation.

Coconut is one of the most important tree crops in the tropical region of the world

securing food and shelter for millions of people. It is of economic importance, cultural

significance and many useful uses to humankind providing food, drink, fiber, wood,

medicine, energy, shelter and many more uses. It is a remarkable tree giving more than 300

products (C Jayasekara, KDPP Gunathilake Proceeding of international coconut summit 7-11,

2007). We all know the importance of coconut in different kinds of region so we made this

type of project in order to give importance or how to make use of it.

Coconut milk extractor is a device to extract fresh coconut milk. The extraction of

coconut meat is usually done manually by small industries and mechanically by some

medium scale industries. The high cost of mechanical coconut extractors makes small

industries turn back to the usual manual means which is time and effort consuming and often

times unsanitary because of the direct use of hands. The existing coconut milk extractor

makes use of compression as means of extraction. The process does not efficiently extract the

coconut milk because of the difficulty of machine to compress small particles of the grated

coconut. In order to minimize the laborious involvement in the extraction of coconut milk,

high cost of the devices and energy needs hence the driving force for this study (Claudio and

Emong, 2007).

In current practices on the market today, to produce the coconut milk must be used

two separate machines such as coconut grater machine to get the small pieces of coconut and

then use the coconut extracting machine to get the coconut milk. Have two works must be

done before getting the coconut milk. Currently available machines are semi-automatic, time
consuming and cutting of coconut and holding them in our hands for grating is not safe. The

aim of this project is to reduce size and cost of the machine than the one which is used in this

industry. Thorough extracting methods and market studies are discussed in order to improve

the design. Material availability and fabrication utilities are considered in the machine

prototype construction (Kenneth Hamilton Anak Munsang Universiti Malaysia Sarawak,

2008).

Coconut milk is highly demanded especially by industry users. There are some needs

to obtain the fastest way of extracting coconut milk at rural communities. The existing

traditional way of extracting coconut milk involves a lot of process such as shredding, grating

and squeezing. It seems that, this method is time and energy consuming. Furthermore, by

doing a lot of different process, this method requires a lot of tools such as knife, grater and

containers. These tool especially the knife and grater can be harmful for users because of the

sharp edges. Besides, by having too many tools, it will make the place become messy and the

user need to do a lot of cleaning afterwards. The conventional method explained earlier

requires a lot of involvement of bare hands in the process. Hygiene factor is a main concern

since the bacteria from the hands will contaminate the milk. The bacteria will affect the

quality of the milk thus making its hard to keep the milk for a long time. The use of gloves is

cleaner but this way is not practical and quite fussy to be implemented. The traditional

method of coconut milk extraction is associated with numerous problems, such as, time

consuming, tediousness and unhygienic products (Claudio and Emong, 2007).

In line with these problems and citations, there is a need to introduce an Automated

Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine that will improve the quality and quantity of

coconut milk production. The proposed Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor

Machine is designed in such a way that it is easy, safe and quick to grate and extract

coconuts. In this research the study will be conduct in mechanical mechanism area and
electrical mechanism. The materials that will use in this project are fully stainless steel as

required for food industry and the target market for this product is the Small and Medium

Industry.

The design could help the society in a better way by reducing the time and by

increasing the safety of people. This study was therefore carried out to design, innovate and

test the Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine for coconut milk production

in the industry.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

For the development of this study, we addressed the following questions:

 What design parameters should the researchers consider to develop the Automated

Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine?

 What development and innovation strategy should the researchers utilize to ensure that

the Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine will work?

 What evaluation parameters should the researchers assess in order to measure the

performance and acceptability of the Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor

Machine?
1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is to come up with the Automated Coconut Grater

with Milk Extractor Machine. Here are the specific objectives of the study:

 To design a relatively cost-efficient Automated Coconut Grater with Milk

Extractor Machine;

 To develop a Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine with

necessary equipment; and

 To evaluate parameters to assess in order to measure the performance and

acceptability of the Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine.

1.4 Significance of the Study

Specifically, this project aims to design and innovate an automated coconut grater

with milk extractor machine. The technologists came up to innovate the said project to help

the people in solving the coconut industry problem, which is grating and extraction of

coconut meat that usually done manually by small industries and mechanically by some

medium scale industries.

To the student, the proposed study will serve as one of their reference in innovating

more machines that can truly help humankind. This study will help the students to think

beyond their capabilities that there is so much more that they can do to the existing things

around them.

To the agriculture industry, this will serve as a help for faster, lesser labor agricultural

production for sustainable agriculture.

1.5 Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework used in this study is the input-process-output relationship.

As shown in Figure 1.1, Gather data, Ponder things that relevant to the existing innovations

and Tools and equipment for coconut process are the inputs. Designing, Development and

Fabrication, Assembly and Implementation and Evaluation then followed as the process

while the Integrated Coconut Extractor Processing Machine are identified as the outputs.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

- Gather data

- Ponder things -Designing - Integrated

that are relevant Coconut
-Development Extractor
to the existing
and Fabrication Processing
innovations
-Assembly and Machine
- Tools and
Implementation
Equipment for
coconut process -Evaluation

Figure 1.1 Conceptual Process Design

1.6 Scope and Limitation

The scope and limitation of this study is only applied to a specific good which is the

coconut. The study will focused on coconut production processes through a conventional

integrated machine. As mentioned in the background of the research, the current conventional

coconut machine has not yet stretched and is only limited to two processes, namely; grating

and extracting. The study will add up a new process and then integrated to the current
researches which are vital for research innovation and essential for time and energy

convenience.

The scope of the study will revolved around cutting, grating and extracting the

coconut from a conventional machine. It is bounded within the factor of coconut sizes and the

grater blade which is crucial to the process.

The study is limited to coconut sizes ranging from 4.5 inches to 5 inches diameter

only.

1.7 Definition of Terms

 Automation - Automatically controlled operation of an apparatus, process, or system

by mechanical or electronic devices that take the place of human labor.

 Mechanization – is normally defined as the replacement of a human task with a

machine.

 Grater – is a kitchen tool which has a rough surface that you use for cutting food into

very small pieces.

 Efficiency- The ability to do something or produce something without wasting

materials, time or energy: the quality or degree of being efficient.

 Extractor - a machine or device used to extract something.

 Stainless Steel - A type of metal product that is more resistant to rust, staining and

corrosion than regular steel. It is an alloy of iron and carbon. Stainless steel is often

found in materials used in construction and tools.

 CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the related studies undertaken by the researcher. The study first

shown was about the Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine and its uses, as this can

supply the researcher with much needed additional information on the methodologies

available and used by other research counterparts.

This review of related literature involves in the parts of the study as follows: [2.1]

Design and Manufacturing of Coconut de-husking, Cutting and Grating Machine [2.2]

Coconut Breaker Extractor Grater Machine [2.3] Fabrication of Husk Remover with Shell

Cutter [2.4] Development of Multipurpose Coconut Cutting Machine [2.5] Coconut de-

shelling Machine [2.6] Control Systems and Components Overview.

2.1 Design and Manufacturing of Coconut de-husking, cutting and grating machine

KedarDeokar et al (2014), have proposed the design and manufacturing of coconut

de-husking, cutting and grating machine consists of three operations, namely: Peeling of

coconut fibres i.e. de-husking of coconut, breaking the coconut into two parts i.e. cutting and

grating of coconut i.e. removing out the copra (edible white part). For de-husking process, the

method selected for removing the fibres is the opposite movements of toothed shafts whose

spiked pins are inserted into the fibrous layer of coconut for its removal. If copra is the

desirable product then it will be sent to cutting process where it will be cut into two halves.

After this, grating will be executed. Sub-assemblies of each operation are made separately to

test the working of each process without any interference.

2.2 Coconut Breaker Extractor Grater Machine

Jerry James et al (2016), have described the proposed machine a Coconut Breaker

Extractor Grater which can break a de-husked coconut into two pieces, collect coconut water

and grate the coconut pieces into desiccated coconut. The main highlight is that there is no

contact between the tool and hands of the user both in breaking and grating of the coconut.

2.2 Design and Fabrication of a Machine

Naveen.J et al (2016), have discussed about the design and fabrication of a machine

that can perform the operations such as grinding rice flour, vegetable cutting and coconut

scrapping. It requires no special skills to operate the machine and would help the society in a

better way by reducing the time and also the number of labours.

2.3 Fabrication of Husk Remover with Shell Cutter

The new proposed design is needed for removal of husk from the coconut. In this

there are two pneumatic actuators. One is placed at the bottom of structure, it's for holding

the coconut and another one is placed on the top of the structure connected with hinge joint

for peeling the husk. In hinge joint there are five linkages used for dehusking the coconut.

These are operated with the help of pneumatic actuators. The actuations are controlled by the

5/2 DC solenoid valve. After the de-husking process the coconut shell is taken to the next

stage. This part is used for cutting the coconut shell. Here one pneumatic actuator is being

used. For cutting operation the knife is attached to the pneumatic actuator. When the

pneumatic actuator is actuated, the knife comes down with high force, breaking the coconut

into two. (Nagarajan.N1, Sundararajan.P.N 2,May 2015)

2.4 Development of Multipurpose Coconut Cutting Machine

This machine is mainly design to cut the coconut and to make the hole in coconut

with the help of various tools like cutting blade, hole making tool. The important thing about

this machine is that it reduces the time of cutting the coconut, along with the coconut the

various fruits can be cut out on these machines. The two operations can be done

simultaneously there is no any extra attachment is required for performing the operations.

The cost of the developed machine is very less so that it can be used in small restaurants and

shops. This will definitely improve the productivity. (Prof. S. M. Fulmali1, Prof. A. A.

Bhoyar2, Nov-2015)

2.5 Coconut de-shelling Machine

Ketan K. Tonpe et al (2014), have discussed about the coconut de-shelling machine

comprising of cutter with belt drive. Performances test analysis conducted show that the

machine de-shelled the fruits without nut breakage and also that its average de-shelling

efficiency and capacity are 90% and 195 coconut per hour. The machine also eliminated

dependency on the epileptic public electric power supply in our rural areas which constitutes

the major obstacle in the use of other mechanized coconut de-shelling equipment in the rural

area.

2.6 Control Systems and Components Overview

Associating a special-purpose automated machines and standard machines by

automation attracted the attention of many machine buyers. These improved or automated

machines were in the direction of cutting costs by doing the job better, quicker, and

automatically. The work of the operator was further eased and simplified by the development
of infallible control panels to the point that running a machine consists only of pressing

buttons.

Numerous technologies of agricultural automation are being developed by

universities researchers that create questions about efficiency. Many new concepts are being

developed to allow agricultural automation to grow and deliver its full potential. To take full

advantage of these technologies, it should not just consider the implication of developing a

new single technology but should look at the wider issues of a complete mechanization

system, including appropriate machinery and design management. Using a small automated

machine (small smart machine) is a current trend where the machine is a little better than the

existing one. Automation, much like mechanization, depends on machines to execute

functions many of which were first performed manually. Automated machineries are

manufactured and used in many different operations such as manufacturing, processing,

communications and any other industries that automation is really applicable. Automating the

process will reduce the amount of manual labor, improve throughput and produce consistent

results [20]. Thus, every device in automated machines requires control system either it is

Open loop system or a Close loop system.

Open loop system is a system that operates with no automatic correction of the

variation in its output. This type of control requires human judgment and/or depends on

human intervention to the machine being operated. Close loop system is a system where the

output has an effect upon the input quantity in such a manner as to maintain the desired

output value. In designing automated machines, electronic components are one of the

important parts to perform the tasks accordingly with less or no human intervention.
 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

The purpose of this study is to present underlying effective methods to be used as a

means and aid for the success of the study, as well as the procedures and techniques that

underpins the realization of the study’s objective. The methodological framework is the

section of the study wherein it shows the steps that the researchers have to follow the process.

As shown in Figure 3.1.

 Identifying the components

DESIGN  Find a design fabricating team
 Components of the research such as :
Micro switch, Electric Motor,

 Developing of the Design

DEVELOPMENT  Prototype Assembling
 Implementation

TESTING/  Testing of the Control and Power

Circuit
TROUBLESHOOTING  Troubleshooting

EVALUATION  Evaluating the output of the prototype

 Figure 3.1 Methodological Framework

3.1.1 Working Components

In Figure 3.7 shows micro switch.This will run and stop the motor.

Figure 3.7 Micro Switch

In Figure 3.8 shows the belt & pulley. It will transmit the force from electric motor

to the roller. One pulley is the driver pulley, and the other is the driven pulley.
 Figure 3. Belt & Pulley

In Figure 3. shows the motor that will drive the pulley of the roller. It will serve a

vital role in the prototype.

Figure 3. Motor

In Figure 3. shows the control box where the relays and contactor are placed inside.
 Figure 3. Control Box

In Figure 3.20 shows the magnetic contactor. It makes and breaks all power supply

lines running to the load and interrupts the electrical power circuit.

Figure 3.20 Magnetic Contactor

 In Figure 3.22 shows the push buttons that will on and off the machine when in

manual mode.

Figure 3.22 Push buttons

In Figure 3.23 shows the pilot lamps that will indicates the status of the machine.

Figure 3.23 Pilot Lamp

 Figure 3.24 Worm Screw

In figure 3.25 Worm screw this machine will extract the coconut grated milk
 Figure 3.25 Arm

In this Figure 3.25 the arm will hold the coconut.

Figure 3.26 Cutting blade

In this Figure 3.26 the Cutter blade will cut the coconut into two.
 Figure 3.27 Grater Blade

In Figure 3.27 the Grater blade will grate the coconut

Figure 3.28 Top View

Figure 3.29 Front view

Figure 3.30 Right side view

Figure 3.31 Isometric view

 220 V Motor
Start
DC 12V Sensor 1 DC Motor 2 Sensor 2
Motor

Sensor 4 Limit Switch DC Motor 1 Sensor 3 AC Motor