Advanced Pepper Separator Machine: A Project Report

ADVANCED PEPPER SEPARATOR
MACHINE
A Project Report
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the

Requirements for the award of the degree
Of
BACHELOR OF
TECHNOLOGY
In
MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING BY
ANOOP JOSEPH (NIE16ME010)

RIJU PAULSON (NIE16ME033)
ABHISHEK P S (NIE17ME001)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

NIRMALA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CHALAKUDY, THRISSUR
JULY, 2021
CERTIFICATE
I hereby certify that the work which is being presented in the B.tech. Project Report
entitled “ADVANCED PEPPER SEPARATOR MACHINE”, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the award of the Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering
and submitted to the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Nirmala College of
Engineering, Chalakudy, Thrissur is an authentic record of our own work carried out during
a period from June 2021 to July 2021 under the supervision of SHIFIN YOHANNAN
Asst. prof. of Nirmala College Of Engineering, Department Of Mechanical
Engineering.
The matter presented in this thesis has not been submitted for the award of any other
degree elsewhere.
Signature of Candidates
ANOOP JOSEPH (NIE16ME010)

RIJU PAULSON (NIE16ME033)
ABHISHEK P S (NIE17ME001)
This is to certify that the above statement made by the candidate is correct to the
Best of my knowledge.
Signature of the guide signature of H.O.D
SHIFIN YOHANNAN ARUN K S
Assistant Professor Head
Department of Mechanical Department of Mechanical
Engineering Engineering
Nirmala College Of Nirmala College Of
Engineering, Thrissur Engineering, Thrissur
Advanced Pepper Separator Machine
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The satisfaction that one gets on completion of a task cannot be fully enjoyed without
mentioning the people who made it possible. I am very much grateful to the almighty, who
helped me all the way molded me into what today I am today.
I express my sincere thanks and gratitude to honorable chairman Mr. Sajeev Vattoly,
Director Prof. A M Mathew, and General Secretary Mrs. Dally Sajeev for all the help they have
provided in accomplishing this task.
I convey my kind regards and thanks to beloved principal, Dr. V S PRADEEPAN, who
motivated me to take up the Project for having provided the suitable environment to work with.
I express my sense of gratitude and sincere thanks to the Head of Department, also my
Project guide, Mr. SHIFIN YOHANNAN, Assistant Professor, Department of mechanical
Engineering for his valuable guidance in the preparation throughout the period of work.
My sincere thanks to all the classmates, Teaching, Non-Teaching staff members and the
well-wishers for their constant support and co-operation all the time.
Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

ABSTRACT
Agriculture is the backbone of india’s economy. Application of technological innovation to

improve the productivity in agricultural activities is a continuous process. Nowadays, agriculture
related engineering projects have gained a lot of scope because of the need and usefulness in
uplifting the quality of work. Pepper separator machine is an agriculture related project for
facilitating efficient separation of pepper berries from its spikes. There are many problems
associated with existing design of pepper separator machine like high cost, low efficiency, low
capacity and more processing time. One of the main disadvantages of the existing machines is
that they damage the berries because of the use of metallic parts in them. To address this problem
an attempt was made to replace some of the metallic parts by rubber and automate the separation
of pepper. Thus, pepper would get threshed between the stationary and rotary rubber bushes and
get separated without damage.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER TITLE
PAGE NO
1. INTRODUCTION
7
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
11
3. AGRICULTURAL SURVEY
17
4. DESIGN CONSIDERATION
19
4.1 THE QUALITY OF PEPPER SEPARATED AND 19

CLEANED
4.2 THE SEPARATION AND CLEANING CAPACITY 19

OF MACHINE PER HOUR
4.3 THE SMELL AND TASTE OF PEPPER SHOULD NOT 19
BE CHANGE
4.4 COST OF THE CLEANED PEPPER PRODUCT 19
SHOULD BE ECONOMICAL
4.5 MAN POWER REQUIREMENT 20
4.6 FLOOR SPACE REQUIRED BY THE MACHINE 20
4.7 ELECTRICAL POWER REQUIREMENT 20
4.8 FLEXIBILITY OF THE MACHINE WITH RESPECT TO 20
HANDLING
5. DISCRIPTION OF PARTS AND WORKING PRINCIPLE 21
5.1 PLUMBER BLOCK 21

5.2 V-BELT 1 22
5.3 MOTOR 22
5.4 HOPPER 23
5.5 ROLLER DRUM 23
5.6 THRESHER TRAY 23
5.7 PULLEY 24
5.8 SHAFT 24
5.9 VIBRATOR 25
5.10 MESH 26
5.11 FIRE BOX 26
6. WORKING 27
7. DESIGN AND CALCULATION 28
7.1 PULLEY SIZE 28
7.2 PULLEY RATIO 28
7.3 SPEED RATIO 28
7.4 THE TORQUE REQUIRED BY THE SHAFT OF 28
THRESHER
7.5 POWER REQUIRED FOR THE THRESHER 29
7.6 SOLID MODELS AND ASSEMBLY 30
8. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 31
8.1 COST FOR MANUAL THRESHING 31
8.2 COST FOR MANUAL CLEANING 31
8.3 COST FOR MACHINE THRESHING AND 31
CLEANING

2
8.4 DISCUSSION 31
9. APPLICATIONS, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES 33
9.1 APPLICATIONS 33
9.2 ADVANTAGES 33
9.3 DISADVANTAGES 33
10. SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK 34
11. COST DETAILS 35
12. CONCLUSION 36
13. REFERENCE 37

3
LIST OF FIGURES
FIG NO DESCRIPTION PAGENO
1.1 PEPPER 7
1.2 PEPPER VINE 8
1.3 SEPARATION OF PEPPER SPIKES 9
1.4 CLEANING OF PEPPER 10
2.1 MOTORISE PEPPER THRESHER 11
2.3 MULTILEVEL VIBRATION SCREENING MACHINE 12
2.4 PEPPER/WHEAT THRESHER 12
2.5 GRAIN SEPARATOR USING SOLAR ENERGY 13
2.6 PEPPER THRESHER BY USING RUBBER BUSHES 14
2.7 PEPPER THRESHER 14
2.8 CYCLONE SEPARATOR 15
2.9 MECHANICAL SEED CLEANING USING AIR SCREEN CLEANER 16
5.1 PLUMBER BLOCK 21
5.2 V-BELT 22
5.3 MOTOR 22
5.5 ROLLER DRUM 23
5.7 PULLEY 24
5.8 SHAFT 24
5.9 VIBRATOR 25

4
5.10 MESH 25
6.1 WORKING FLOW CHART 27
7.6 SOLID MODEL OF STATIONARY DRUM (A) 29
7.6 SOLID MODEL OF ROTATING CYLINDER WITH BUSHES (B) 30
7.6 ASSEMBLY (C) 30

5
LIST OF TABLE
SL NO DESCRIPTION PAGE NO
3.1 PRODUCTION OF PEPPER ALL OVER THE WORLD 18
11.1 COST ESTIMATION 35

6
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit which is usually
dried and used as a spice and seasoning, known as a peppercorn. When fresh and fully mature,
it is approximately 5 millimeter’s (0.20 inch) in diameter and dark red, and contains a single
seed like all drupes. Peppercorns and the ground pepper derived from them may be described
simply as pepper, or more precisely as black pepper (cooked and dried unripe fruit), green
pepper (dried unripe fruit), and white pepper (ripe fruit seeds). Black pepper is native to south
India and is extensively cultivated there and elsewhere in tropical regions. Currently, Vietnam
is the world's largest producer and exporter of pepper, producing 34% of the world's Piper
nigrum crop as of 2013. Dried ground pepper has been used since antiquity both for its flavor
and as a traditional medicine. Black pepper is the world's most traded spice and is one of the
most common spices added to cuisines around the world. Its spiciness is due to the chemical
piperine, not to be confused with the capsaicin characteristic of chili peppers.
Figure 1.1 Pepper

7
As show in the figure 1.1, the word "pepper" has roots in the Sanskrit word pippali for long
pepper. Ancient Greek and Latin turned pippali into the Greek pepper and then into the Latin
piper, which the Romans used for both black pepper and long pepper, erroneously believing
that both came from the same plant. From its Sanskrit roots, today's pepper is derived from the
Old English pipor and from Latin, which is the source of Romanian piper, Italian pepe, Dutch
pepper, French poivre, and other similar forms. In the 16th century, people began using pepper
to also mean the unrelated New World chili pepper. People have also used pepper in a
figurative sense to mean "spirit" or "energy" at least as far back as the 1840s. In the early 20th
century, this shortened to pep.
Figure 1.2: Pepper Vine
As shown in the figure 1.2, the pepper vine is a perennial woody vine growing up to 4 meters
(13 ft) in height on supporting trees, poles, or trellises. It is a spreading vine, rooting readily
where trailing stems touch the ground. The leaves are alternate, entire, 5 to 10 centimeters (2.0
to 3.9 in) long and 3 to 6 centimeters (1.2 to 2.4 in) across. The flowers are small, produced
on pendulous spikes 4 to 8 centimeters (1.6 to 3.1 in) long at the leaf nodes, the spikes
lengthening up to 7 to 15 centimeters (2.8 to 5.9 in) as the fruit matures. The fruit of the black
pepper is called a drupe and when dried is known as a peppercorn .

8
Pepper can be grown in soil that is neither too dry nor susceptible to flooding, moist, well-
drained and rich in organic matter (the vines do not do too well over an altitude of 900 m
(3,000 ft) above sea level). The plants are propagated by cuttings about 40 to 50 centimetres
(16 to 20 in) long, tied up to neighbouring trees or climbing frames at distances of about 2
metres (6 ft 7 in) apart; trees with rough bark are favoured over those with smooth bark, as
the pepper plants climb rough bark more readily. Competing plants are cleared away, leaving
only sufficient trees to provide shade and permit free ventilation. The roots are covered in leaf
mulch and manure, and the shoots are trimmed twice a year. On dry soils the young plants
require watering every other day during the dry season for the first three years. The plants
bear fruit from the fourth or fifth year, and then typically for seven years. The cuttings are
usually cultivars, selected both for yield and quality of fruit. A single stem bears 20 to 30
fruiting spikes. The harvest begins as soon as one or two fruits at the base of the spikes begin
to turn red, and before the fruit is fully mature, and still hard; if allowed to ripen completely,
the fruit lose pungency, and ultimately fall off and are lost. The spikes are collected and
spread out to dry in the sun, then the peppercorns are stripped off the spikes. In olden day
pepper is separated as shown in below figure.
Figure 1.3 Separation of pepper spikes

9
As shown in the figure 1.3, the pepper is separated from its spikes by spreading the pepper
spikes on a large level surface and stamping them manually with bare feet, until the pepper
separates from the spikes. It has got many disadvantages like more damage to the pepper, less
efficient. The threshed and dried black pepper has extraneous matter like spent spikes, pin
heads, stones, soil particles …etc, mixed with it.
Figure 1.4: Cleaning of pepper
As shown in the figure 1.4, cleaning is done by winnowing and hand picking which removes
some of the impurities. It is very much time consuming process and it requires more human
effort

10
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
Ijen Dakek , has developed and tested successfully Motorise Pepper Thresher machine as
shown in the figure 2.1. It Comprise of two main components thresher and stalk separator. In
the thresher black pepper spikes are threshed The motor drives the rotary scrapper when the
thresher rotates it pulls the pepper spikes over and force it to pass through a narrow passage
between the rotary scrapper and stationary scrapper. Due to the friction the stems breaks and
the berries are thus separated from the stalks. The stalk separators is located below the
threshers the berries will pass through the sieve and falls in to collector unit while stalks and
leaves are trapped and are removed manually. This system is replace both traditional method
of threshing pepper spikes and water retting of berries. This machine successfully will able to
perform the threshing job and removing of pepper spikes in much shorter time. It will able to
reducing some muscle power required for the process.
Figure 2.1 Motorize Pepper Thresher
Salunkhe Prashant et. Al, has developed and tested Multilevel Vibration Screening Machine as
shown in figure 2.2, this machine separate the grits of different types as well as size in less
time and at cheaper cost. Machine uses a single vibrator is for all sizes of powders produced;
which saves the machine cost considerably. The level of vibrations is changed in the machine
which enables to vibrate the grits placed at different level one by one or at the same time. The
amplitude of vibration or the frequency i.e. the number of stroke of vibration per minute can
be varied which
11
helps to apply desired vibration to the given grit; this improves the quality of powder
produced as well as the rate of production. Machine is compact hence occupies less space as
compared to the conventional machines.
Figure 2.3 Multilevel Vibration Screening Machine
Amisy Machinery, developed Pepper/wheat thresher machine as shown in figure 2.3, crops are
fed into the feeder where crops will be rubbed, squeezed, collided and shaken by assembly of
rack and screen mesh. Then the grain would be separated from the culm, and flow out from
the screen mesh. Finally, the culm will be thrown out by centrifugation of roller, and
threshing is finished. This machine has wide application. It is mainly used for threshing
various crops like pepper, rice, wheat, corn, soybean, barley, etc.
Figure 2.4 Pepper/Wheat thresher

12
Sateesh N. Dodamani et. Al, developed Grain separator using solar energy as shown in figure
2.4. The uncleaned grains are fed into the grain separator machine through a feed hopper. At
the bottom opening of hopper, an arrangement of rollers is made, which generates sufficient
mechanical friction to remove husk or outer chaff of grains. At the same time due to
oscillating movement of sieve plate broken grains are separated and a fan is mounted which
removes the light particle and husk The whole grains are collected at the collector plate. As
this machine is used in rural areas and the use of solar operated grain separator machine has
reduced the hazardous health implication human consumption and the solar product appeals
better and affordable by common people. No electricity is spent so this product saves the
energy and saves the environment from getting polluted, a mainly very needful for small and
medium class farmer.
Figure 2.5 Grain separator using solar energy
Binu et. al.[6], designed and fabricated Pepper thresher as shown in the figure 2.5. The set up
consist of a vertical rotating cylinder with rubber bushes on its periphery and powered by an
electric motor. It has surrounded by a stationery drum which also had rubber bushes on its
inner walls. Pepper spikes with berries were fed into the machine through the hopper. Pepper
would get threshed between the stationary and rotary bushes thereby separating the berries
from spikes. The bottom of the drum was provided with the mesh plate through which only
pepper seeds would pass and the spikes would remain over it. After separation pepper seeds
would be

13
collected from the two outlets. A brush connected to the shaft just above the base, would push
out all the spikes through another outlet.
Figure 2.6 Pepper thresher by using rubber bushes
Nagesh C Kamath et. Al, designed and fabricated pepper thresher, as shown in the figure 2.6.
A motor provided in the model is used to actuate the whole model. Pulley is attached to the
rear side of the rotating drum. This pulley is connected with the drive by means of belt as
shown in the diagram. The motor is rotated with the help of belt arrangement. The drum is
rotated with the constant speed of 75 rpm. Bottom having tray is used to collect the pepper.
This tray is oscillated with the help of cam mechanism. This cam mechanism also operate
with the help of same A.C motor.

14
Figure 2.7 Pepper thresher
Muhammad I. Taiwo et. Designed and fabricated cyclone separator as shown in figure 2.7. A
high speed rotating (air) flow is established within cylindrical or conical containers called a
cyclone. Air flows in a helical pattern, beginning at the top (wide end) of the cyclone and
ending at the bottom (narrow) end before exiting the cyclone in a straight stream through the
centre of this cyclone and out the top. Larger (denser) particles in rotating stream have too
much inertia to follow the tight curve of fall to the bottom of the cyclone where they can fall
to the bottom of the stream, and strike the outside wall, then fall to the bottom of the cyclone
where they can be removed. In a conical system the rotational radius of the stream is reduced,
thus separating smaller particles is done. Cyclones separator have often been regarded as low-
efficiency collector. However, efficiency varies greatly with particle size and cyclone design.
Some cyclone manufacturers advertise cyclones that have efficiencies greater than 98% for
particles larger than 5 micron.
Figure 2.8 Cyclone separator

15
Agricultural Research Service United States Department Of Agriculture developed
Mechanical seed cleaning using air screen cleaner as shown in the figure 2.8, Seed flows by
gravity from the hopper into a feeder that mixes the seed mixture into an airstream, which
removes light, chaffy material so that the remaining seed can be distributed uniformly over
the top screen. The top screen scalps or removes large material, the second screen grades or
sizes the seed, the third screen scalps the seed more closely, and the fourth screen performs a
final grading. The finely graded seed is then passed through an airstream, which drops the
plump, heavy seed, but lifts and blows light seed and chaff into the trash bin.
The arrangement described above

uses two screens as top screens and two as bottom screens. Other arrangements possible with
a four-screen machine are three top and one bottom, or one top and three bottom.
Figure 2.9 Mechanical seed cleaning using air screen cleaner

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CHAPTER 3
AGRICULTURAL SURVEY
The pepper plant thrives in hot and humid tropical climates, and it can reach a height of 33
feet. However, under cultivation, the plant is restricted to a maximum height of 13 feet. The
ideal annual rainfall for the plant is 200 cm while the temperatures range from 10 0 to 400
Celsius. The plant grows well in soil rich in humus and well drained with a pH ranging from
5.0 to 6.5. Cultivation can either be done through cuttings or by use of seeds. Cuttings are
preferred over seeds in commercial cultivation since they require a shorter period to grow.
The pepper plant has a climbing nature and planting is done against a support such as a pole
or a tree. After 3 to 4 years the plant bears small flowers on pendulous spikes. The fruits are
produced in the fifth year, and harvesting commences once one or two fruits appear red which
mostly happens after six or seven months.
3.1 PRODUCTION OF PEPPER ALL OVER THE WORLD
Vietnam is the world leader in production of black pepper, producing 163,000 tons which are
about 34% of the world’s production. The plant is a traditional cash crop in the country, and
95% of the black pepper produced is for export primarily to the US, India, Netherlands, and
Germany. Indonesia is the second largest producer at 89,000 tons while India produces 53,000
tons. Other countries on the list are Brazil (42,000 tons) and China (31,000).
Rank Country Production (in thousands of tons)

1 Vietnam 163
2 Indonesia 89
3 India 53
4 Brazil 42
5 China 31
Table 3.1: Production of pepper all over the world

17
In India, Karnataka is leading producer of pepper accounting for almost 50 per cent of the
production in the 2014-15 crop year. Of the estimated all-India pepper production of 70,000
tonnes, Karnataka’s share was 33,000 tonnes while that of Kerala was 28,000 tonnes during
the period. In 2013-14, the figure was 16,000 tonnes and 20,000 tonnes respectively.
Pepper, a major ingredient in the traditional wellness system, is the most important spice
traded in the world, accounting for about 35 per cent of total spice export earnings ($2.30
billion) last year. The price had touched a record Rs 450 per kg for black pepper and Rs 800
per kg for white pepper.

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CHAPTER 4
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
The main expectations of the pepper customers are to have high quality of product. That
means the farmers should provide more qualitative product. To provide more qualitative
product the farmers need high capacity and efficient equipment. Thus following design
criteria have to be fulfilled to reach farmers goal.
1. THE QUALITY OF PEPPER SEPARATED AND CLEANED
The quality of the pepper separated should be good and 100% free from the dust. In
conventional method of separation and cleaning of pepper breakage or damage is present in
the finished product, so the quality of pepper is decreased. To avoid such difficulties “Pepper
Separation and Cleaning Machine” has been designed which gives high quality pepper.
2. THE SEPARATION AND CLEANING CAPACITY OF MACHINE PER HOUR
Compare to the conventional method of separation and cleaning of pepper “Pepper Separation
and Cleaning Machine” has the upper hand. In conventional method, quantity of pepper
separated and cleaned is just 16kg/hr, by using this machine quantity of pepper separated and
cleaned is 80-120 kg/hr. This clearly shows capacity of this machine is 5 times more than the
conventional method.
3. THE SMELL AND TASTE OF PEPPER SHOULD NOT BE CHANGE
The two main feature of the pepper is smell and taste. The pepper which is separated and
cleaned in the machine must retain its original smell and taste. There should not any damage
to the pepper while separating and cleaning.
4. COST OF THE CLEANED PEPPER PRODUCT SHOULD BE ECONOMICAL
Compared to the conventional methods of separation and cleaning of pepper, the cost of
cleaned pepper should be less. The designed machine is combined of separation and cleaning
process, hence the cost will be economical.

19
5. MAN POWER REQUIREMENT
In conventional methods the time required by one person for separation and cleaning of
pepper is 16kg/hr. But the capacity of the machine in this project work is 80-120kg/hr for dry
and wet pepper respectively. Also the conventional method required skilled labours. Since the
process of this machine is very simple, an unskilled labour can also handle the machine very
easily and effectively.
6. FLOOR SPACE REQUIRED BY THE MACHINE
Volume occupied by the machine should be as less as possible. So the machine is made
compact so that it can be kept at any place and the transportation also become easier if the
machine is compact. It can also provide with wheeling mechanism which makes the
transportation of machine easier provided there is a proper locking system of wheels when the
working is in process.
7. ELECTRICAL POWER REQUIREMENT
Electrical power required is much less since the pepper separation and cleaning machine uses
0.5hp motor which requires minimum electricity.
8. FLEXIBILITY OF THE MACHINE WITH RESPECT TO HANDLING
Since the process is simple any unskilled labour can handle this machine. Even the owner can
carry out whole operation himself.

20
CHAPTER 5
DISCRIPTION OF PARTS AND WORKING PRINCIPLE
The “advanced Pepper Separator Machine” has following parts:
5.1 PLUMBER BLOCK
Plumber block is a pedestal used to provide support for a rotating shaft with the help of
compatible bearings & various accessories. Housing material for a Plumber block is typically
made of cast iron or cast steel.
Figure 5.1 Plumber Block
A plumber block as shown in the figure 5.1 usually refers to housing with an included anti
friction bearing. A plumber block refers to any mounted bearing where in the mounted shaft is
in parallel plane to the mounted surface, and perpendicular to the Centre line of the mounting
holes, as contrasted with various type of flange blocks or flange unit.
Bearing housing are usually made of grey cast iron. However, various grades of metal can be
used to manufacture the same included ductile iron, stainless steel, and various type of
thermoplastics and polyethylene-based plastic. The bearing element may be manufactured
from 52100 chromium steel alloy (the most common), stainless steel, plastics, or bushing
material such as SAE660 cast bronze, or SAE841 oil impregnated sintered bronze, or
synthetic material.

21
5.2 V-BELT
V-belt is the one of the main components in the “Pepper Separation and Cleaning Machine”.
M22 V-belt s used in this machine.
Figure 5.2: V-belt
A V-belt as shown in figure 5.3 is a loop of flexible material used to link between two or more
rotating shafts mechanically, most often parallel. Belts may be used as a source of motion to
transmit the power efficiency, or track relative movements. Belts are loop over pulleys and
may have twist between the pulleys, and the shaft need not be parallel. In a two pulley system
the belts can either drive by the pulleys normal in one direction (the same if on parallel
shafts), or the belt may be crossed so the direction of the driven shaft is reversed (the
opposite direction to the driver if on parallel shafts).
5.3 MOTOR
Motor is a device that converts electricity into a mechanical motion. A single phase a 0.5HP
motor is used in the “advanced Pepper Separator Machine”.
Figure 5.3 Motor

22
A single phase AC motor as shown in the figure 5.3 is electric motor driven by an alternating
current. The AC motor commonly consisting of two basic parts an outside stationary stator
having a coil supplied with alternating current to produce a rotating magnetic field, and an
inside rotor attached to the output shaft producing a second rotating magnetic field. The rotor
magnetic field may be produced by permanent magnets, reluctance saliency, or Dc or Ac
electrical windings.
4. HOPPER
Hopper is the one of the main components in the “Pepper Separation and Cleaning Machine”.
Below the hopper roller drum is placed. The hopper as shown in figure 5.4 through which
pepper spikes are fed into the pepper thresher machine. It is made up of cast iron.
5. ROLLER DRUM
Roller drum rotates inside the hopper with the help of motor. The motor drives the roller
drum, as the roller drum rotates it pulls the pepper spikes over and force it to passes through a
narrow passage between the roller drum and fixed thresher tray
Figure 5.5 Roller drum
5.6 THRESHER TRAY
Thresher tray is the stationary part placed below the roller drum. It is hemispherical in
structure. Through this pepper berries are separated from the spikes. Thresher tray is made up
of galvanized iron sheet of 4mm thickness. It consists of 11mm holes. Through these holes,
the separated berries fall into the vibrator tray.

23
5.7 PULLEY
Pulley is one of the main components in the “advanced Pepper Separator Machine”.
Figure 5.7 Pulley
Pulley as shown in the figure 5.7 is a wheel on an axle or shaft that is designed to support
movement and change the direction of force applied by the belt.
5.8 SHAFT
Shaft is a rotating machine element, usually circular in cross section.
Figure 5.8: Shaft
A shaft as shown in the figure 5.8, is used to transmit power from one part to another. The
various member such as pulleys and gears are mounted on it.

24
5.9 VIBRATOR
A Vibrator is a mechanical device to generate vibrations. The vibration is often generated by

an electric motor with an unbalanced mass on its driveshaft.
Figure 5.9 Vibrator
Vibrator as shown in the figure 5.9, is placed below the mesh. It is a 40w motor fitted with
eccentric load to its shaft.
5.10 MESH
Mesh is the important part in the “advanced Pepper Separator Machine” through which
pepper is separated and cleaned from dust.
Figure 5.10 Mesh

25
Mesh as shown in the figure 5.10, by which pepper is graded. The machine consist of two
type of mesh. Through the 4mm mesh rich grade pepper is collected. In the 2.5mm mesh low
grade pepper is collected.
5.11 FIRE BOX
Which is used to heat the

atmospheric air, through the blower the heated air pass through the pepper and fed into the
hopper

26
CHAPTER 6
WORKING
In this project work, a 0.5 HP single phase motor is used which runs at 1428 rpm and
connected to the shaft of 20mm diameter having length of 660.4mm. When motor starts
rotating at 1428 rpm, the driven shaft rotates at 238 rpm which in turn rotates the roller drum.
Pepper is fed into the hopper which is at the top of thresher.
Pepper spikes with berries were fed into the machine through inlet. These pepper spikes are
subjected to heat treatment, with the help of a fire box and chamber. The heated pepper with
spikes were fed into rotating cylinder. The amount of flow is controlled by a valve. Then the
spikes are fed into the thresher through the hopper. The thresher comprise of two main
components, the roller drum and fixed thresher tray. The motor drives the roller drum. When
roller drum rotates it pulls the pepper spikes over and force it to passes through a narrow
passage between the roller drum and fixed thresher tray. As the pepper spikes pass through
this narrow passage rubbing action similar to the traditional method of separation of pepper
made by the feet takes place. The stem breaks and the berries are thus separated from the
stalk. Then the separated berries are passed to the cleaning system. Where by using vibratory
mechanism rich grade pepper is collected in separate chamber and small size pepper
(weightless pepper) and dust are collected in the bottom tray.
Figure 6.1 Working Flow Chart

27
CHAPTER 7
DESIGN AND CALCULATION
1. PULLEY SIZE
Speed range required for ideal processing or working of thresher = 200-300rpm.
By taking a pulley of 12 inch diameter, the speed we can get is
N1/N2 =D2/D1
Where, N1 = Speed of drive pulley (motor) = 1428rpm
N2 = Speed of driven pulley
D1 = Diameter of driver pulley = 5cm
D2 = Diameter of driven pulley = 30cm
1428 / N2 = 30 / 5
N2 = 238rpm
2. PULLEY RATIO
D1: D2 = 30: 5
= 6: 1
3. SPEED RATIO
Speed of driver pulley: Speed of driven pulley
N1: N2 = 1428: 238
= 6: 1
4.THE TORQUE REQUIRED BY THE SHAFT OF THRESHER
Maximum amount of pepper can be fed into the thresher = 5kg (wet pepper)
Force on the shaft, F = 5*9.81
49.05N = 50N

28
Torque, T = F*r
Where, F = Force on the roller drum
r = Radius of roller drum
T = 50*100
= 5000N-mm
= 5N-m
5. POWER REQUIRED FOR

THE THRESHER
P = (2πNT) / (60*motor efficiency*transmission loss)
P = (2πNT) / (60*0.8*0.8)
P = 195W = 0.27HP
6. SOLID MODELS AND ASSEMBLY
The SOLID models in Figure 1 and 2 show the stationary drum and the rotating cylinder with
rubber bushes respectively
Figure 7.6 (A) Solid Model of Stationary Drum

29
Figure 7.6(B) Solid Model Of Rotating Cylinder With Bushes
Figure 7.6(C) Assembly

30
CHAPTER 8
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Analysis is done on the basis of cost, time and output between human and machine.
1. COST FOR MANUAL THRESHING
Labour cost per day: Rs. 500
Working hours: 8hrs
Pepper threshing per hour:

16kg
2. COST FOR MANUAL

CLEANING
Labour cost per day: Rs. 500
Working hours: 8hrs
Pepper cleaned per hour:

16kg
Total pepper threshing and cleaning per day: 128kg (approximate)
Total cost for separation and cleaning per day: Rs 1000
3. COST FOR MACHINE THRESHING AND CLEANING
Pepper threshing and cleaning per hour: 80-120kg
Working hours: 8hrs
Pepper threshing and cleaning for 8 hours: 640-

960kg
Energy consumed:
Ac motor = 368W
Vibrator= 40W
Total= 413W
1Unit=1kWh=1000W
So if the machine runs 31
for one hour it
consumes
413/1000 =0.413units
Therefore for 8 hours= 8*0.413=3.304units
Rate of one unit of electricity= Rs 4.55
Cost per day= 4.55*3.304 =Rs 15
One labour is required: Rs 500 (owner can do the work himself)
Total cost per day: 500+15=Rs 515
If the owner can himself is operating the machine, then the total
cost per day = Rs 15
4. DISCUSSION
 The capacity of this machine is about 80-120 kg/hr, so output of this machine is more
when compared to the traditional method of threshing and cleaning of pepper.
 In traditional method more time is required for separation and cleaning of pepper.
 In traditional method damage to the pepper berries is more, so by using this machine
no damage to the pepper berries.
 By using this machine only one labour is sufficient to handle the whole process, so it
reduce time and labour.

32
CHAPTER 9
APPLICATIONS,
ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
1. APPLICATIONS
1. It can be used in rural areas

2. It can be used to separate many agricultural product by changing the mesh size.
3. Affordable for Small scale industry.
2. ADVANTAGES
1. Dust and other waste particles are easily removed.

2. Easy to operate and handle.
3. Suitable for large scale pepper cleaning.
4. Skilled labour not required.
5. Different graded peppers are obtained.
6. Both separation and cleaning operation is done in one machine.
7. Less floor space is required.
8. Consumes less power.
9. Lesser maintenance.
10. No damage to the pepper.
11. A single worker will be sufficient to handle all process, hence economical.
3. DISADVANTAGES
1. It cannot be used in places where electricity is not available.

2. Noisy in operation.
3. Initial investment is slightly high.

33
CHAPT
ER 10
SCOPE
FOR
FUTUR
 The machine size can be increased to increase the output.
E
WORK
 Automatic feeding of the pepper to the machine can be used to reduce human effort.
 Pepper collecting bags can be used to collect the pepper.
 Noise can be reduced by installing rubber pads.

34
C
H
A
P
T
SI. No Description Quantity
E Price
1 Sheet metal R kg
25 5500/-
2 Bearing 21 no 700/-
1
3 Pulley and shaft - 2500/-
4 V-belt C
1 no 200/-
O
5 0.5hp single phase 1 no 5200/-
S
motor T
6 Mesh D
2 no 500/-
E
7 Heater - 5000/-
T
8 Rubber Bushes (Set) A- 1300/-
I
9 Square Pipe L no
1 400/-
S
10 other - 4000
TOTAL - 25,300
TABLE 11.1 COST ESTIMATION

35
CHAPTER 12
CONCLUSION
Conclusion is drawn on the basis of the information collected on each aspect of this project.
Traditionally separation and cleaning of pepper is done manually, which involves labour cost,
time, physical activities, and dust. All the above problems can be completely eliminated by
using the “Fabrication of Pepper Separation and Cleaning Machine”. This project aims at
giving separated and cleaned pepper without lowering the grade of pepper which is of
paramount important, with minimum cost. This machine will be a boon for the pepper
growing farmers, as pepper separation and cleaning can be done by minimum time, less or no
labour, and at minimum cost. Thus addressing all the problem aspects that are faced by
present day pepper growers.

36
CHAPTER 13
REFERENCE
1"Piper nigrum",Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), Agricultural Research

Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), March 2008,
2Ijen Dakek, Design and fabrication of Motorised pepper thresher, Investigate the possibility
of Threshing Pepper spikes and removing of pepper skin by mechanical mean, University
Malaysia Sarawak, 20th October 2000.
3Salunkhe Prashant, Saurabh Naik, Sagar Sonawane, Vedanti Deore, Dinesh Bhadane, Study
on Design of Multilevel Vibration Screening Machine, International Conference on Emerging
Trends in Engineering and Management Research, ISBN: 978-81-932074-7-5, 23 march 2016.
4Amisy Machinery, Development of Pepper/Wheat Thresher, Amisy Machinery-Farming

Machines, 2010.
5Sateesh N. Dodamani, Sachin Modi, Girish Huddar, Shaikh Mohammed Zishanmr, Prathik
Talati, Design and Fabrication Of Grain Separator Using Solar Energy, KLS Gogte Institute of
Technology, Belagavi, 18th July 2008.
6Binu Mithun, Roan Horben Rego, Jhonson Joe Pinto, Sharath B Shetty, Rohit Banger,
Design and Fabrication of Pepper Thresher, Journal of Mechanical Engineering and
Automation 2017, 7(3): e-ISSN: 2163-2413, p-ISSN: 2163-2405, 2017, pp-82-84.
7Nagesh C Kamath, Suranjith Kumar K, Sujan Kumar, Sowrish D Bangera, Purushotham,

Design and Fabrication of Pepper Thresher Machine, CANTECH 2015.
8Muhammad I. Taiwo, Mohammed A, Namadi and James, B. Mokwa, Design and Analysis
of Cyclone Dust Separator American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER), e-ISSN: 2320-
0847, p-ISSN : 2320-0936 ,Volume-5, Issue-4, pp-130-134.
9Agricultural research service, United States department of agriculture, mechanical seed

cleaning, agricultural handbook no-179, seed cleaning and handling, Washington D.C,
October 1968.

37
10 Krishnamuthry K. S, Kandiannan K, Sibin C, Chempakam B, Ankegowda S.J, Trends in
Climate and Productivity and relationship between Climatic variables and Productivity in
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 81(8): 29 January 2018,
pp-729–733.
11P Heartwin Amala Dhas and V S Korikanthimath, Processing and quality of black Pepper,
Journals of spices and Auromatic crops, Vol. 12(1), 2003, pp-1-13.
12R S Khurmi and J K Gupta, A textbook on Machine Design, 2nd ed., S. Chand publisher,
1979, pp-84.
13K. Mahadevan, K Balaveera Reddy, Design Data Hand Book, 2nd edition, CBS
Publishers, 2013.

38

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ADVANCED PEPPER SEPARATOR

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the

ANOOP JOSEPH (NIE16ME010)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

ANOOP JOSEPH (NIE16ME010)

Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

Agriculture is the backbone of india’s economy. Application of technological innovation to

Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

4.1 THE QUALITY OF PEPPER SEPARATED AND 19

4.2 THE SEPARATION AND CLEANING CAPACITY 19

4.5 MAN POWER REQUIREMENT 20

4.6 FLOOR SPACE REQUIRED BY THE MACHINE 20

4.7 ELECTRICAL POWER REQUIREMENT 20

4.8 FLEXIBILITY OF THE MACHINE WITH RESPECT TO 20

5. DISCRIPTION OF PARTS AND WORKING PRINCIPLE 21

5.1 PLUMBER BLOCK 21

5.5 ROLLER DRUM 23

5.6 THRESHER TRAY 23

5.11 FIRE BOX 26

7. DESIGN AND CALCULATION 28

7.1 PULLEY SIZE 28

7.2 PULLEY RATIO 28

7.3 SPEED RATIO 28

7.4 THE TORQUE REQUIRED BY THE SHAFT OF 28

7.5 POWER REQUIRED FOR THE THRESHER 29

7.6 SOLID MODELS AND ASSEMBLY 30

8. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 31

8.1 COST FOR MANUAL THRESHING 31

8.2 COST FOR MANUAL CLEANING 31

8.3 COST FOR MACHINE THRESHING AND 31

Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

9. APPLICATIONS, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES 33

10. SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK 34

11. COST DETAILS 35

Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

FIG NO DESCRIPTION PAGENO

1.2 PEPPER VINE 8

1.3 SEPARATION OF PEPPER SPIKES 9

1.4 CLEANING OF PEPPER 10

2.1 MOTORISE PEPPER THRESHER 11

2.3 MULTILEVEL VIBRATION SCREENING MACHINE 12

2.4 PEPPER/WHEAT THRESHER 12

2.5 GRAIN SEPARATOR USING SOLAR ENERGY 13

2.6 PEPPER THRESHER BY USING RUBBER BUSHES 14

2.7 PEPPER THRESHER 14

2.8 CYCLONE SEPARATOR 15

2.9 MECHANICAL SEED CLEANING USING AIR SCREEN CLEANER 16

5.1 PLUMBER BLOCK 21

5.5 ROLLER DRUM 23

Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

6.1 WORKING FLOW CHART 27

7.6 SOLID MODEL OF STATIONARY DRUM (A) 29

7.6 SOLID MODEL OF ROTATING CYLINDER WITH BUSHES (B) 30

7.6 ASSEMBLY (C) 30

Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

3.1 PRODUCTION OF PEPPER ALL OVER THE WORLD 18

11.1 COST ESTIMATION 35

Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

Figure 1.1 Pepper

Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

Figure 1.2: Pepper Vine

Dept. of Mechanical engineering Nirmala college of engineering

Figure 1.3 Separation of pepper spikes

P = (2πNT) / (60motor efficiencytransmission loss)