Design and development of annatto (Bixa orellana L.) seed separator machine

A small, continuous power operated machine with a capacity of 132 kg/h was designed, fabricated and evaluated its performance for separation of annatto (Bixa orellana L.) seeds from freshly harvested pods. Physical and engineering parameters of annatto pods and seeds were evaluated to design a machine. The densities of pod, seed, and husk are 134.7 to 186.0 kg/m(3), 1206 to 1253.9 kg/m(3), 317 to 381.4 kg/m(3) respectively. The moisture content of seeds were in the range 18.83 - 20.1 % (db) and pod 8 to 10 % (db). Bixin content of seed was in the range 1.34 to 1.765 %. The friction angle for pod, seed, and husk lies between angle 30.15° to 35.76°. Breaking force was 98 N at a span of 14.5 mm. The machine consisted of concentric cylinders and beaters with different pitch of 40, 45 and 50 mm and a length of shaft is 800 mm. The actual machine output was observed to be 132.5 kg/h. Maximum bixin content was found to be retained at 300 rpm.