Portable Cacao Bean Sorter

The University of Mindanao

College of Engineering Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

A Research Paper Presented to

Engr. Bacus, Delan ME

ME 418D/ Machine Design 1

(03131) 5:30-7:30

By:

Luster John Rojas

Deteu Cabadonga

October 2019
 I. Introduction

Our country was popular in terms of planting vegetables, it is because

of our weather condition that makes the Philippines to be an agricultural

country. Among these suited crops to be grown in the country is cacao. In

Davao Region, cacao or theobroma cacao is one the promising crops in

Mindanao island, which the soil quality is best for planting cacao trees.

The Philippines is said to be the first country in Asia that planted Cacao,

which is the most likely import such, chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa

powder, cocoa beans, and cocoa butter. Most major company in the

country, not all local production is being import cacao beans from other

countries. It is reported that the Philippines import 50,000 MT of cocoa

products to the local demand of the other countries (Philippine Cacao

Industry Road Map, 2017-2022).

Cacao beans is the main ingredient of chocolate production, most

likely use in cocoa nibs, cocoa powder, cocoa liquor, cocoa cake, cocoa

butter, and etc. In our local industry there are only 3 variety of cacao which

is most commonly cultivar grown by the farmers, these are Criollo,

Forastero and the Trinitario. This variety can be found in all countries that

supply cocoa production, and only 10% of the world’s cacao supply

(Philippine Cacao Industry Road Map, 2017-2022). Cacao is full of

vitamins, antioxidants is the most known vitamins that cacao holds it.

Many beauty products that make a super food or a natural multivitamin.

Both local and international cocoa products trade to the market nowadays

(Philippine Cacao Industry Road Map, 2017-2022). there are several

studies already published in relation to cacao post-harvest automation. A

group of Mechanical Engineering students published a highly productive,

cost efficient and environmentally friendly cacao splitting machine

(Adzimah S. et al 2010). However, no such specific items that will lead to

cacao sorter. Cacao sorter is quite different to another sorting mechanism

since the beans of cacao is spherical in shape (Bean Sorting Device,

2008). Many designs of cacao sorter machine can be locate and produce

agri-mechanical store most of the cacao folks still operating the traditional

and less efficient matter which is manual classification.

II. Objectives

1. To design a portable cacao bean sorting machine that is

capable of its maximum work load.

2. To determine the maximum and minimum load capacity limit of

the ramp appropriate for intended use