DEVELOPMENT OF CONTINUOUS MAIZE DEHULLING, CLEANING AND MILLING MACHINE

Abstract

A continuous maize dehulling, cleaning and milling machine was developed. The machine consists of
three sections for dehulling, cleaning and milling which processes the maize to the desired product. The
dehulling speed was 450rpm while the milling speed was 2333rpm. The dehulling efficiency of the machine
at initial maize cob moisture content of 0 -1.33% ranges from 61.94% to 77.16% at longitudinal axial
dimension of 10-17.7cm and mass of cob range of 58 116.66g, while the throughput capacity ranges from
13.32 to 23.4kg/hr for the same range of axial length and weight. The axial dimension and weight of the
cob affected the dehulling efficiency and throughput capacity. The efficiency of dehulling decreased with
increase in the axial length and reached the minimum of 61. 94% at 13.6cm before it started to increase
again reaching the maximum of 77.16% at 15.5cm. The sieve analysis showed that the product from the
mill consists of fine flour, coarse flour, broken grain and whole grain. The milling efficiency ranged from
38.91 50.86% with a throughput capacity of 37.84 50.89kg/hr