CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1

Preliminary

The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a tropical plant with edible multiple fruit
consisting of coalesced berries, and the most economically significant plant in the
Bromeliaceae family. Pineapples may be cultivated from a crown cutting of the fruit,
possibly flowering in 2024 months and fruiting in the following six months. Pineapple
does not ripen significantly post-harvest. Pineapples are consumed fresh, cooked, juiced,
and preserved, and are found in a wide array of cuisines. Malaysia is one of the world
major producers of pineapple other than Hawaii, Brazil, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand,
Australia, Mexico, Kenya, South Africa and Caribbean area. Canned pineapple fruit
have high market demand in countries like Japan, United States, European Union,
Middle East and Singapore.
This industry has the second highest export after watermelon in the tropical
fruit category. Before the rise of other commodity, the pineapple industry in Malaysia
was the main contributor of the country's economy. This industry played a role in

contributing to the countrys economy and provides direct job opportunities in the
plantation and processing industry and indirectly in the transportation and manufacturing
industry. Malaysian pineapple industry is supported by the government in aspect of land
development policy. The small and medium enterprise (SME) is given priority by the
government through the implementation of development and industrial support program.
Due to that, Pekan Nenas Johor has been dedicated to grow and produce pineapple
product such as jams, pineapple juice and many more. In this industry, the workers still
use the traditional peeling method, by using bare hand and knife to peel of the fruit skin.
The pineapple skin is thick and it is not easy to peel the skin off.

1.2

Problem Statement

This project is to prevent the excessive use of manpower and quality pieces
without leaving the contents pineapple pineapples left on the parts to be cut problems
among workers who manually peel the pineapple. Currently, there are very few
studies have been done for such a function. A pineapple peeler will be designed by
adapting the ergonomics criteria. In doing this, some of the problems associated with
the quality of cut pineapple and excessive use of manpower are tackled.

1.3

Objective

Project objectives will be achieved through the production of pineapple cutting machine
are:

i.
ii.
iii.

To study ways of cutting a pineapple that allows users to easily cut pineapple.
To study how the most appropriate way to cut pineapple.
To design a portable pineapple peeler with ergonomics approach using

iv.
v.
vi.

SolidWorks.
To reduce the use of labor.
To reduce waste volume pineapple contained in the joint parts.
To study the mechanism and physic law that been applied in this project.

1.4

Research Question

Here are some question that the project has been identified to ensure that projects
develop to help people solve their problems.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

What type of design to be developed?

What type of material those want to build this in project?
What the standard size for pineapple to be cut?
What mechanism and physic law that must been applied to run in this pineapple
cutting machine?

1.5

Scope
This scope focused on developing based on abc engine that uses a system of

gears and motors. Gear system used in this abc machine is a mechanical gear. Among the
types of gear used in this machine are a bevel gear, worm gear, helical gear and shaft
gear. Abc machine is driven by a motor that uses AC current to operate. The powerful
180-watt motor and a speed of 1400 rotation / minute have 2.5 ampere of current.

1.6

Result

As a result, a pineapple cutting machine will be created using the proper motor
and mechanical system generated by the electric power that can simplify the process of
cutting a pineapple.

1.7

Requirement

Among the requirements used in this project are :

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Abc machine
Servo motor
Lubricants
3 x 7cm shaft, 2.5 x 30.5 shaft
Stainless cutter

1.8

Software used in the project

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Yahoo search
Google search
Wikipedia
Solidworks 2014
Youtube

1.9

Significance of project

The significance of project are:

i.

To reduce humans energy. Pineapple which many will no longer be cut using a

ii.
iii.

public employee using a knife.

Reduce time. Users can save a lot of time cutting pineapple.
Save the cost. By using this machine, can save the cost of wage labor that many

iv.

and for long terms, it can provide more savings and increase profit margin.
Good potential in market. This product will be well received among those who
commercialize these products on a large scale pineapple product.

1.10

Draft Framework

Conceptual framework is important in making a study in which it is build on the

work plan to achieve the project objectives. This conceptual framework develop by
researchers to explain the overall implementation of the project. With this framework,
objectives and scope of the project can be complied with the proper based on the level of
study. Figure 1.1 show the block diagram of the framework for project to be develop in
which there are three main study stages, inputs, outputs, product and goals.

Simplify the
existing cutting
pineapple

Reduce costs and

labor

OBJECTIVE

Subject (input)

Pineapple Cutting Machine

Consumers

Housewife

Small
industry

1) Pineapple which many will no longer be cut using a

public employee using a knife.
2) Users can save a lot of time cutting pineapple.
3) By using this machine, can save the cost of wage labor
that many and for long terms, it can provide more
savings and increase profit margin.
4) This product will be well received among those who
commercialize these products on a large scale pineapple
product.

OUTPUT

Figure 1.1 Conceptual framework

1.11

Operational Definition

In the production of this designed project, there is a few definition and specific terms
that can be used to described in detail about the produced design. Among the definition,
such as:

1.11.1 Motor

An electric motor is an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into

mechanical energy. The reverse of this would be the conversion of mechanical energy
into electrical energy and is done by an electric generator. In normal motoring mode,
most electric motors operate through the interaction between an electric motor's
magnetic field and winding currents to generate force within the motor. In certain
applications, such as in the transportation industry with traction motors, electric motors
can operate in both motoring and generating or braking modes to also produce electrical
energy from mechanical energy. Electric motors are used to produce linear or rotary
force (torque), and should be distinguished from devices such as magnetic solenoids and
loudspeakers that convert electricity into motion but do not generate usable mechanical
powers, which are respectively referred to as actuators and transducers.

1.11.2 Gear

A gear or cogwheel is a rotating machine part having cut teeth, or cogs, which
mesh with another toothed part to transmit torque, in most cases with teeth on the one
gear being of identical shape, and often also with that shape on the other gear. Two or
more gears working in tandem are called a transmission and can produce a mechanical
advantage through a gear ratio and thus may be considered a simple machine. Geared
devices can change the speed, torque, and direction of a power source. The most
common situation is for a gear to mesh with another gear; however, a gear can also mesh
with a non-rotating toothed part, called a rack, thereby producing translation instead of
rotation. The gears in a transmission are analogous to the wheels in a crossed belt pulley
system. An advantage of gears is that the teeth of a gear prevent slippage. When two
gears mesh, and one gear is bigger than the other (even though the size of the teeth must

match), a mechanical advantage is produced, with the rotational speeds and the torques
of the two gears differing in an inverse relationship.

1.11.3 Shaft

Shaft is a mechanical component for transmitting torque and rotation, usually

used to connect other components of a drive train that cannot be connected directly
because of distance or the need to allow for relative movement between them. As torque
carriers, drive shafts are subject to torsion and shear stress, equivalent to the difference
between the input torque and the load. They must therefore be strong enough to bear the
stress, whilst avoiding too much additional weight as that would in turn increase their
inertia. To allow for variations in the alignment and distance between the driving and
driven components, drive shafts frequently incorporate one or more universal joints, jaw
couplings, or rag joints, and sometimes a splined joint or prismatic joint.

1.12

Conclusion

From the topic we can see the introduction and the flow of this project which is the
objective, the scope of the project, the draft framework and the requirement for this
project. Through all this information we can determine the flow and purpose of the
project.