CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The kernel cracking machine is an automatic mechanise is a system used in cracking nuts. The system works with the help of a hammer and a fan connected to a shaft. The system has two section, one for cracking the other for sorting out the chaffs from the kernel. They are inter connected with a belt drive which connects the both shaft through a double gorge pulley to the single gorge in both the cracking mechanism and the sorting mechanism.

When the shaft rotates, it rotates the hammer and the fan simultaneously   while the hammer rotates in a clockwise direction, the fan rotates in anty clockwise. The system is connected with a cross belt drive with double and single gorge pulley which directs the movement and frequency from the motor. It has two outlet points and one inlet point. The machine is empowered by an electric motor source and diesel source.

With this project of my, it will solve the problem of wastage hence increased economic growth. It will also serve the problem of unemployment whereby recruiting more workers in small oil mills. This will go a long way to curve the problem of unemployment in our communities and country as well. So doing many farms will increase by planting more palms because of the expansion and increase in demand.

The government of Cameroon through the voice of the president have been fighting to curve the problem of unemployment in Cameroon, and in his numerous speeches, he urge the youths to involve themselves in agriculture.

Many have involve in palm oil production which is good but still waste raw material (palm nuts) which for some time now is used as fuel. But with this machine, which is affordable and portable, they will not waste ant more. I build this machine to tackle the problem of this wastage by cracking their nuts to kernel and sell or even process it to come out with pure kernel oil which is later transformed in many ways. The process of manufacturing kernel oil doesn’t end only in cracking, there are other processes involve in it which will be seen in the following chapters.

Problem statement

This project is an automatic cracking machine design for the purpose of cracking nus. I decided to work in this project because of the field knowledge I had before coming to College of Technology. And also what I grap in internship while working in companies.

My number one motivation was to build something real, functional to make my master and establishment proud of their student. Equally to see into the problems of our society, what our society wants to envelope poverty for good, which is the heart cry of college of technology (train locally, work globally).

Aim and objectives      

My aim for choosing this project is to reduce or eliminate the wastage of resources by our local farmer whom are my target consumers. For some now, farmers after milling oil they use the chaffs as fuel to cook palm nuts.

Not knowing they can make a fortune from it. But with the system, I’m sure it will reduce why not stop this wastage. Kernel is a raw material that is used to produce soap, bobbing oil, and kernel oil.

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