Farm structures and machinery

Appropriate technology
- It is a small-scale technology which is simple enough that people can manage it directly and on a
local level.
- is the simplest level of technology designed with special consideration to the context of where the
technology will be used
-uses locally available materials modified to serve a particular function of production.

Introduction

People improvised ways of shelling maize and groundnuts using simple machines which were
invented.

Shellers

A sheller is a machine which is used to shell agriculture products such as maize and groundnuts.

Simple maize sheller

It is a machine used to remove kernels from the cobs. Shellers can be hand operated, pedal operated
, engine driven, tractor powered and electric powered. The most common with small scale farmers is
the two-hole maize sheller shown below

1. Drum maize sheller

This is engine operated.

Maize sheller fabricated steel body supported on fabricated steel angles.

a) Well balanced threshing drum mounted on aligned roller bearings – is for shelling of grain/kernel
that is the beater bars are attached.

b) Fan - to clean small dust and other foreign particles.

c) Beater bars — have a roughened so as to tear soil the husk or cobs for thrashing the cob soil.

d) Concave plate - is for removing kernels.

e) Grain chute - to facilitate easy collection of maize kernels.

Operational principles of a maize sheller

The maize cobs are fed manually and shelling is done by the rotation of the disc blower and the
double moveable sieve which separates the foreign material from kernels.

Inside parts of a maize sheller

Simple Maize sheller

Functions of parts of a maize sheller

Cob tray/feed hopper

This holds the cobs before they are fed through the two feeder holes into the sheller.

Feeder holes

The feeder holes direct maize cobs to the stripping assembly.

Tension spring

The tension spring adjusts the holes to the size of the cobs as stripping starts at the holes.

Stripping disc

This part has some claws which rotate and cause the maize kennels to be detached or stripped from

the cob hence the name stripping disc.

Stripping wheel

The stripping wheel rotates and as it does, it removes kennels from the cob.

Top cover

The top cover envelopes the stripping gadgets to avoid coming out of maize kennels as Well as
accidents during operation.

Canvas strip

This avoids the stripping mechanism from being clogged by dust.

Sieves

There are three sieves in a simple maize sheller. The first one has large holes which allow smaller

kennels to pass through to the second sieve. The chuff and dust then passes out through the third

sieve and falls on the ground. This third sieve winnows the grain. There are three delivery spouts;
one delivers the cobs, the other the large grain, and the last one, the smaller grain.

Handle

The handle is used for turning the pinion which in turn turns the big gear which enables the stripping

mechanism to function.

Flywheel

This part helps by gathering momentum so that the handle can be turning.

Operation principle of the maize sheller

Maize cobs are fed through the holes. The holes are adjusted to suit the size of the cobs. The cobs
then get to the stripping disc where the kennels are stripped off from the cob by the stripping claws
and disc. The kennels then pass on to the top sieve and move up to the delivery spout for the larger
grain. The cobs also move on top of the sieve until they come out through the delivery spout for the
cobs. The smaller grain drops from the first sieve to the second sieve and then out through the
delivery spout for the smaller grain. The system separates the grain into two grades thus the smaller
grain and the larger grain. The chuff and dust fall out through the last sieve thus winnowing has
taken place already. When the wheels will be rotating, the sieves gadget will be moving back and
forth. This movement enables winnowing and movement of grain and cobs until they come out
through the different delivery spouts.

1. Groundnut sheller

It is a machine or device used to remove or shell the groundnut seeds from the shells. It is made up
of beater bars, metal iron box, the screen and handle. The shellers can either be hand or motor
driven.

The groundnut sheller comprises of 3 main parts which are:

a) Destoner for peanuts.

b) Conveyer.

c) Groundnut sheller.

lt has a compact structure, stable operation and less noise.

A groundnut sheller

Operation of a groundnut sheller

i) Nuts enter the drum and are subjected to a rotating beater paddle inside the drum.

ii) The shells break and nut kernels are allowed to fall through a sieve and are blown from the
machine by fans.

Advantages

i) Low price.

ii) High efficiency/ low breakage.

iii) Simple structure, easy operated.

iv) Portable/ move easily.

v) Durable/last longer.

Shelling efficiency depends on the following parameters

i) Variety.

ii) Moisture content of groundnuts.

iii) Feeding rate.

iv) Percentage of matured nuts.

v) Drying method.

vi) Rotations per minute.

Groundnut sheller

Several types of groundnut shellers exist ranging from hand operated to engine driven. They are

Simple in design as highlighted in Figure below

A simple groundnut sheller

Handle

This part is used for pushing back and forth the beater.

Beaters

Beaters press the pods on to the screen.

Screen

Screens can be of different sizes depending on the size of pods and kennels being shelled. The screen
lets out the pod chuff and the kennels. Winnowing is done after shelling.

Sheller stand/legs

Sheller stand/legs are there to give the Sheller a firm stand or support system.
Operational principle of the groundnut sheller

The groundnut pods are fed into the cylinder and the handle is pushed back and forth with beater
bar squeezing the pods against the screen, crushing the pods and letting the kennels and pod chuff
fall out through the screen holes. The pods chuff and kennels are then winnowed to separate these
two.

Maintenance of shellers

Doing the following helps to keep shellers properly functioning:

i) Clean the machine after use.

ii) Lubricate movable parts.

iii) Tighten all loose nuts and bolts before and after use.

iv) Store shellers in a shade.

v) Repaint the sheller when not in use for a long time.

vi) Replace worn out parts.

vii) Transport the sheller properly with the stand resting on the tailor or vehicle loading bay.