DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A SLICING MACHINE

Authors

  • A. E. OLUMILUA Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye- Ekiti
  • B. J. OLORUNFEMI Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye- Ekiti
  • O. T. OGINNI Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering Technology, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria
  • O. T. OGINNI Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering Technology, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria
  • S. E. KAYODE Department of Agricultural and Bio-resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University, Oye- Ekiti, Nigeria

Keywords:

Processing machine, slice-rate, slicing disc, efficiency, performance evaluation

Abstract

Utilization of machinery reduces the time and drudgery of processing tubers. The high cost, energy consumption, and bulkiness can however render it unimportant for small-scale industrial applications. The study developed a two-feeder slicing machine to reduce the time-consuming and human-injurious labour involved in traditional crop processing. The slicing machine utilizes cold and hot working processes, with two conical-shaped hoppers and removable discs with diameters of 80-90 mm and lengths of 170 mm. Using discs, the product is sliced into a discharge chute where it falls due to gravity, secured with a bolt and nut, powered by a two-horsepower electric motor, allowing adjustable slice clearance. The machine was tested on Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, and plantains, measuring geometric mean diameters and running at different speeds for two minutes. Materials were collected and categorized into sliced and unsliced forms. The machine achieved a maximum efficiency of 89% when slicing giant plantains at 412 rpm, while achieving the lowest efficiency of 60% when slicing little plantains at 224 rpm, with a slice rate range of 0.027 to 0.047 kg/sec. Cutting efficiency of the machine on small and large sizes of sweet potatoes were 64% and 69% at 224 rpm, while optimal efficiency was 84% at 477 rpm. The commercial and domestic two-feeder slicing machine efficiently sliced Irish potatoes (72%), plantains (88%), and sweet potatoes (75%), reducing manual labour, injury risk, and waste.

 

 

Author Biographies

A. E. OLUMILUA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye- Ekiti

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,

Federal University Oye- Ekiti

B. J. OLORUNFEMI, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye- Ekiti

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,

Federal University Oye- Ekiti

O. T. OGINNI , Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering Technology, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria

Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering Technology, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria

 

O. T. OGINNI , Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering Technology, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria

Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering Technology, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria

 

S. E. KAYODE, Department of Agricultural and Bio-resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University, Oye- Ekiti, Nigeria

Department of Agricultural and Bio-resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,

 Federal University, Oye- Ekiti, Nigeria

 

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Published

2025-07-11

Issue

No. 24 (2025)

Section

Articles