Evaluation of performance of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) pulp-flakes extractor

Abstract

The designed and developed semi-automatic machine to extract the seeds from the flakes. The scope in custard apple processing is deseeding of pulp and pulp- flakes extraction. Hence, there is need of effective machine which can separate pulp and seed from custard apple. The research was conducted to evaluate the performance of custard apple pulp-flakes extractor. The machine consists of constructional parts such as feeding hopper, central wire mounted roller with shaft, outer perforated casing, housing with seeds/pulp flakes outlet, seed outlet, pulp-flakes outlet, A.C. induction motor drive with gear box and frame on which all the parts were assembled. The effect of roller speed and angle of inclination on core recovery, flakes recovery, working capacity and seed separation was studied. The optimum values of core recovery, working capacity, seed separation efficiency and flakes recovery was 85 per cent, 80 kg/h, 86 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively, for 65 rpm of roller and 38o inclination angle of drum.