CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background and Rationale

Automation has played a vital, not only in modern industrial processes, but also in

agricultural crop processing systems. It is characterized by self-acting machine and devices with

integrated control systems that are often arranged in complex industrial processes or systems.

The necessary of automation is to reduce the human effort and to save time. As the world is

emerging with various type of technology for better quality of life and efficient production of

food, automation and mechanization technology for agricultural machines are used for faster,

lesser labor agricultural production for sustainable agriculture. The agricultural industry is

already adopting the modern way of crop production and processing. One of the agricultural

crops that need modern machines for more efficient production and processing is the coconut

(Walke et. al., 2017).

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical countries. In

the Philippines, statistics indicated that areas planted with coconut covers 3.517 M hectares

equivalent to 26% of the total agricultural land (PSA, 2015). Sixty-eight (68) out of 81 provinces

are considered coconut areas, representing 1,195 coconut municipalities. In 2015, the recorded

number of bearing trees reached 329.9 million with an average production of 14.902 billion nuts

in the last three years (PCA, 2017). Dar (2017) stated that the coconut lands host about 3.4

million farmers who are mostly below the poverty line even as coconut exports reached $2.0

billion in 2016. Coconut can be considered as one of the major crops in many provinces in the
Philippines because of its abundant supply in the market. Many surveys conducted and have

shown the entire parts of the coconut may be used for different purposes. Its fresh grated meat

has many uses to food processing and households, particularly in preparation of pastries, cakes,

production of coconut milk and oil to be used as important ingredients for many goods that can

be seen in the markets. It was revealed by Banson (1982) that the fresh grated coconut is often

used for food preparation.

Coconut is one of the most important tree crops in the tropical region of the world

securing food and shelter for millions of people. It is of economic importance, cultural

significance and many useful uses to humankind providing food, drink, fiber, wood, medicine,

energy, shelter and many more uses. It is a remarkable tree giving more than 300 products (C

Jayasekara, KDPP Gunathilake Proceeding of international coconut summit 7-11, 2007).

Coconut milk extractor is a device to extract fresh coconut milk. The extraction of

coconut meat is usually done manually by small industries and mechanically by some medium

scale industries. The high cost of mechanical coconut extractors makes small industries turn back

to the usual manual means which is time and effort consuming and often times unsanitary

because of the direct use of hands. The existing coconut milk extractor makes use of

compression as means of extraction. The process does not efficiently extract the coconut milk

because of the difficulty of machine to compress small particles of the grated coconut. In order to

minimize the laborious involvement in the extraction of coconut milk, high cost of the devices

and energy needs hence the driving force for this research (Claudio et. al, 2007).

In current practices on the market today, to produce the coconut milk must be used two

separate machines such as coconut grater machine to get the small pieces of coconut and then use

the coconut extracting machine to get the coconut milk. Have two works must be done before
getting the coconut milk. Currently available machines are semi-automatic, time consuming and

cutting of coconut and holding them in our hands for grating is not safe. The aim of this research

is to reduce size and cost of the machine than the one which is used in this industry. Thorough

extracting methods and market studies are discussed in order to improve the design. Material

availability and fabrication utilities are considered in the machine prototype construction

(Kenneth Hamilton Anak Munsang Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 2008).

Coconut milk is highly demanded especially by industry users. There are some needs to

obtain the fastest way of extracting coconut milk at rural communities. The existing traditional

way of extracting coconut milk involves a lot of process such as shredding, grating and

squeezing. It seems that, this method is time and energy consuming. Furthermore, by doing a lot

of different process, this method requires a lot of tools such as knife, grater and containers. These

tool especially the knife and grater can be harmful for users because of the sharp edges. Besides,

by having too many tools, it will make the place become messy and the user need to do a lot of

cleaning afterwards. The conventional method explained earlier requires a lot of involvement of

bare hands in the process. Hygiene factor is a main concern since the bacteria from the hands

will contaminate the milk. The bacteria will affect the quality of the milk thus making its hard to

keep the milk for a long time. The use of gloves is cleaner but this way is not practical and quite

fussy to be implemented. The traditional method of coconut milk extraction is associated with

numerous problems, such as, time consuming, tediousness and unhygienic products (Claudio et

al, 2007).

In line with these problems and citations, the researchers proposed a design and

innovation of an automated coconut grater with milk extractor machine that will improve the

quality and quantity of coconut milk production. The proposed automated coconut grater with
milk extractor machine is designed in such a way that it is easy, safe and quick to grate and

extract coconuts. In this research the study will be conduct in mechanical mechanism area and

electrical mechanism. The materials that will use in this research are fully stainless steel as

required for food industry and the target market for this product is the Small and Medium

Industry.

The design could help the society in a better way by reducing the time and by increasing

the safety of people. This research was therefore carried out to design, innovate and test the

Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine for coconut milk production in the

industry.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine seeks answers on the

following question:

 What design parameters should the researchers consider to develop the Automated Coconut

Grater with Milk Extractor Machine?

 What development and innovation strategy should the researchers utilize to ensure that the

Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine will work?

 What evaluation parameters should the researchers assess in order to measure the

performance and acceptability of the Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor

Machine?
1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is to come up with the Automated Coconut Grater with

Milk Extractor Machine. Here are the specific objectives of the study:

 To design a relatively cost-efficient Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor

Machine;

 To develop a Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine with

necessary equipment; and

 To evaluate parameters to assess in order to measure the performance and

acceptability of the Automated Coconut Grater with Milk Extractor Machine.

1.4 Significance of the Study

Specifically, this project aims to design and innovate an automated coconut grater with

milk extractor machine. The technologists came up to innovate the said project to help the people

in solving the coconut industry problem, which is grating and extraction of coconut meat that

usually done manually by small industries and mechanically by some medium scale industries.

To the student, the proposed study will serve as one of their reference in innovating more

machines that can truly help humankind. This study will help the students to think beyond their

capabilities that there is so much more that they can do to the existing things around them.

To the agriculture industry, this will serve as a help for faster, lesser labor agricultural

production for sustainable agriculture.

The conceptual framework used in this study is the input-process-output relationship. As

shown in Figure 1.1, Gather data, Ponder things that relevant to the existing innovations and

Tools and equipment for coconut process are the inputs. Designing, Development and

Fabrication, Assembly and Implementation and Evaluation then followed as the process while

the Integrated Coconut Extractor Processing Machine are identified as the outputs.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

- Gather data -Designing

- Ponder things -Development and - Integrated

Figure 1.1 Conceptual Process Design

The scope and limitation of this study is only applied to a specific good which is the

coconut. The study will focused on coconut production processes through a conventional

integrated machine. As mentioned in the background of the research, the current conventional

coconut machine has not yet stretched and is only limited to two processes, namely; grating and

extracting. The study will add up a new process and then integrated to the current researches

which are vital for research innovation and essential for time and energy convenience.

The scope of the study will revolved around cutting, grating and extracting the coconut

from a conventional machine. It is bounded within the factor of coconut sizes and the grater

blade which is crucial to the process.

The study is limited to coconut sizes ranging from 4.5 inches to 5 inches diameter only.

1.7 Definition of Terms

 Automation - the creation of technology and its application in order to control and

monitor the production and delivery of various goods and services. It performs tasks that

were previously performed by humans. Automation is being used in a number of areas

such as manufacturing, transport, utilities, defense, facilities, and operations and lately,

information technology reprogrammed while the computer is in use, the life of the

Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) can be an important

design consideration.
 Mechanization – is the process of changing from working largely or exclusively by hand

or animals to doing that work with machinery. In some fields, mechanization includes the

use of hands tools. Extension of mechanization of the production process is termed as

automation and it is controlled of closed loop system in which feedback is provided by

the sensors. It controls the operation of different machines automatically.

 Grater – is a kitchen tool which has a rough surface that you use for cutting food into

very small pieces. This a native traditional implement used for scraping the tough

coconut flesh off its shell. The blade is attached to the end of a wooden bench on which

the person doing the grating.

 Extractor - a machine or device used to extract something.

 Stainless Steel/Plate - A type of metal product that is more resistant to rust, staining and

corrosion than regular steel. It is an alloy of iron and carbon. Stainless steel/plate is

versatile and used in a variety of application. It is primarily selected for its resistance to

corrosion, longevity and formability. Typical uses of stainless steel/plate include

construction, food service applications, transportation, chemical marine, and textile

industries.

 Innovation – its modern meaning is a new idea, creative thoughts, and new imaginations

in form of device or method. Innovation is often also viewed as the application of better

solutions that meet new requirements, unarticulated needs, or existing market needs. Such

innovation takes place through the provision of more-effective products, processes,

services, technologies, or businesses models that are made available to markets,

government and society.