Design and Fabrication of a Fruit Juice Extractor Processing Machine

Fruit juice extraction is the process of squeezing the liquid content out of fresh fruits, to ease effective storage and prevent unnecessary wastage. The stages involve cutting, crushing, squeezing, pulping and pressing. The study was conducted out to Design and Fabricate a Fruit Juice Extractor Processing Machine. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out to carry out the design analysis of the juice extractor, determine the optimum operating factors for the machine and evaluate the production capacity of the juice extraction machine. Investigation revealed that fruits are seasonal and therefore are not available in sufficient quantities throughout the year because it is difficult to store them in their natural form. The major problem is the high perishing rate of fresh fruits especially in the Sub-Saharan region. Primary data were collected from the primary source which questionnaire was used as an instrument of data collection while secondary data were sources from textbooks, journals, newspapers and the internet were employed. This study is very important in that it will encourage the commercial production of fruits and therefore help to boost the agricultural sector of the economy. It will help to beat down the cost of fruit juice which can adequately serve as a substitute to bottled drinks. As a result, the consumption of fruits will increase thereby improving the health of the common man. Juice will no longer be seen as a luxury for the high class. The cost of importation of foreign extractors which tends to reduce the country's GDP will be greatly reduced. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the length of the auger should be increased and should cover about 95% of the shaft for proper juicing and easy ejection of seeds. Also, the perforation of the inner cylinder should be increased in order to allow free flow of the extracted juice.