Lemon Cutting Machine.
About the Practice
Lemon Cutting
Detail:
This machine is capable of cutting lemons ranging in size from 0.75 inches diameter to 2.5 inches diameter with the help of a spring loaded mechanism which also provides a better grip on the lemon which ensures uniformity in cutting. For packaging in smaller quantities, the lemon has to be cut into smaller pieces (12 to 16 pieces). Changes can be made in the present machine to do this as well as to grade the lemons. This results in lower cost of production.
About the Innovator
Address: VIRGO Engg. Works, 29/85, Theni Main Road, Usilampatti
City: Madurai
State: TamilNadu
PIN Code 625532
Practice Details
Link: The slices of fruit produced by using this machine are of a uniform size and can be neatly and conveniently collected and recovered. Optimized power transmission ensures less consumption of electricity (7-8 units in 8 hours of operations). This device is labour saving - only one person is required to operate it. There is a minimal wastage of the lemons in the cutting operation i.e. 100% of the yield is utilized. The machine is compact and made of stainless steel, which makes the process hygienic. The half CAM lever mechanism in the machine ensures that the lemons are fed to the cutting chamber one by one to avoid cluttering and this ensures proper cutting of the lemons. The synchronization of the movement of the four-edged vertical blade and rotary horizontal blade ensures that the lemon is cut right across both the axes and this ensures removal of seeds without any effort. This feature not only saves manpower costs and wastage due to improper cutting, but also contributes to the quality of pickles (seeds in pickles often cause irritation to the consumer). The cutting capacity of this machine is 160 lemons/ minute or 450 kg per hour. This innovative technology has an edge over two other manufacturers, who make similar machines, in terms of the low initial investment (Price-Rs.100,000) and low operating cost. This machine is also easier to operate and maintain than existing alternatives.
Manufacturing Capacity: Yes
Problem Scale: Mild