MODIFICATION IN A PROTOTYPE FOR PEANUT DECORTICATOR FABRICATED IN SHUATS

– Peanut is an annual legume and most importantly a cash crop. It is a rich source of edible oil and protein. India produces 25% of the total oil seed production. Hands are generally employed for breaking the pods with thumb pressure but it is not so efficient for large quantity and requires much labor and more time for better shelling. Power operated as well as manual decorticators are also used for performing the same in large amount. Decorticators are used to extract seeds from peanut. Raw peanut is produced from the fields and decorticated with the help of decorticator to remove kernel from the peanut. A modified prototype was developed on AUTOCAD software which was pedal operated and reduced drudgery related to the removal of kernels of peanut. The developed prototype was stationary machine with a mechanism which involved conversion of human power to reciprocating movement of the rocker arm.