CONSTRUCTION OF A TOMATO GRINDING MACHINE

An improved tomato grinding machine was constructed and fabricated using locally available materials to solve the problem of metal contamination, corrosion effect from machine Darts among other problems associated with the conventional tomato grinding machines that are used in Nigeria. It is fabricated to reduce noise pollution and to enhance the hygienic processing of tomato as well as individual entrepreneur for rendering grinding services in the neighborhood and market place thereby creating employment for Nigerians. Food crops like pepper, cowpeas, maize and soybeans can also be grinded using machine. The machine consists of a hopper, 6.5 hp electric motor, frame, shaft, bearing, grinding plate, the driving and driven pulleys, v-bet, and discharge chute. The tomatoes are meant to be located into the hopper and to be collected through the discharge chute. The water is sprinkled manually on the tomatoes from bucket held by the operator at interval depending on the speed of the machine. The average grinding capacity and grinding efficiency were determined as 2.5kg, 5kg and 87% respectively. The machine was observed to perform effectively and therefore, recommended for domestic and commercial use by the grinders in the market place.