FACTORS AFFECTING THE MECHANICAL GRADING OF PEACH FRUITS

Yehia, I.; Arafa, G. K.; Abd El-Rasheed, A.

doi:10.21608/mjae.2017.96081

FACTORS AFFECTING THE MECHANICAL GRADING OF PEACH FRUITS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Prof. and Head of Mechanization systems of operations, Ag. Eng. Res. Inst., Ag. Res. Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

² Sen. Res., Ag. Eng. Res. Inst., Ag. Res. Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

³ Res., Ag. Eng. Res. Inst., Ag. Res. Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

10.21608/mjae.2017.96081

Abstract

The main objective of the present study is to study factors affecting the mechanical grading of peach fruits. The studied parameters were: grading-drum speeds of 4, 7, 10 and 13 rpm (0.05, 0.08, 0.12 and 0.15 m/s), fruit batch of 5, 10, 15 and 20 kg and types of grading cylinder (PVC and rubber coated cylinder) using constant grading tilt angle of 7^o.
The main results in this study can be summarized in the following points: The maximum grading-efficiency of 98.9 % were obtained with grading speed of 4 - 7 rpm and feed rate of 5 kg. Meanwhile, the minimum grading-efficiency of 83.6 % were obtained with grading speed of 13 rpm., and feed rate of 20 kg. The maximum fruit damage of 4.14 % was obtained with grading speed of 13 rpm (0.15 m/s) fruit batch of 5 kg and PVC cylinder. Meanwhile, the minimum fruit-damage of zero and 0.07 % was obtained with grading speed of 4 rpm (0.05 m/s), fruit batch of 20 kg and rubber-coated cylinder. The maximum machine productivity of 1075.6 kg/h was obtained with grading speed of 13 rpm (0.15 m/s) fruit batch of 20 kg. Meanwhile, the minimum machine productivity of 295.9 kg/h was obtained with grading speed of 4 rpm (0.05 m/s), fruit batch of 5 kg. The operation and production costs and rubber-coated cylinder) were 12.82 L.E./h and 26.98 L.E./ton at optimum conditions (grading speed of 7 rpm or 0.08 m/s, fruit batch of 10 kg and rubber-coated cylinder.

Main Subjects

Processing Engineering of Agricultural Products

References

Abd-Alla, H., S. M. Radwan, M., M. El-kholy and M. S. Radwan (2000). A weight grading machine for different fruits and vegetables. Misr J. Ag. Eng., 17(3):675-696.

Agric. Statistics Economic Affairs Sector, (2006). Data on citrus statistices, Oral com Prof. Dr. Latif, Sen, Res., Citrus Div., Hort.Res. Inst., A.R.C.

Amin, E. E. A. A. (1994). Development of a grading machine for some horticulture farm crops. J.Agric. Sci. Mansoura Univ. 19(7) :3139-3149.

Awady, M. N., 1978, (updating 1998), Engineering of tractors and Agricultural machinery. TextBook., col. Ag., Ain-shams Univ., 5 th. Ed.,: 164-167. (In Arabic).

Buyanov, A. I. and B. A. Voronyuk (1985). Physical and mechanical properties of plant, Fertilizers and soils. Amerind Pub. Co., PVT., LTD., New Delhi, India. 753 P.

El-Raie, A. E., A. F. El-Sahrigi and M. M. Mousa (1998). Engineering factors affecting the development of grading machine for fruits. 6^th Conference of Misr Society of Ag. Eng., 21-22 Oct.: 79-90.

El-Raie, A. E., I. Yehia, M. Attallah, and K. S. Khalil (2012). Factors affecting the design a grading machine for lemon fruits, Misr J. Ag. Eng., 37(2): in Press.

Genidy, S. K. A. (2003). Manufacturing and performance evaluation of a locally machine grading of some vegetables and fruits. Ph. D. thesis Agric. Eng, Dept., Fac. Of Agric., Kafr-El Sheikh, Tanta Univ.

Matouk, A. M., A. M. El-Gengy, Y. M. El-Hadidi, E. A. Amin, and M. M. Abd El-Rahman (1999). Evaluation the effect of some mechanical parameters on handling characteristics of sphere-like crops. Misr J. Agric. Eng., 16(4):701-719.

Mohsenin, N. N. (1986). Physical properties of plant and animal materials. Gorden and Breach Sc. Pub., N. Y.

Mostafa, H. M. S. (2003). Development an appropriate system for onion grading. Unpublished M. Sc. Thesis. Fac. Of Agric. Moshtohor. Zagazig Univ. Benha Braanch.

Mousa, M. M. (1998). Engineering factors affecting the development of grading machine for citrus, Ph. D., Fac. of Ag., Cairo U.: 126-255.

Patrick, C. (2002). Systems for pre-sprouting potatoes, crops technologist, green mount agricultural college, N. I., National Potatoes Conference, February, Burdens Distribution Ltd:1-2.

Xiaoyang, G, P. H. Heinemann and J. lrudayaraj (2003). Non-destructive apple bruise on line test and classification with Raman spectroscopy. Paper No:033025 an ASAE meeting presentation July 27-30.