Clove Bud Separator
Details: Conventionally, the clove buds are removed from the stalk manually after harvesting. For the separation of clove buds, 40 labours are required to process approximately 600 kg of clove buds in a day, making it a labour and a time-consuming process. This innovative machine separates stalks and clove buds from clusters by rubbing. The bud cluster is passed through a cylindrical drum inside which three spiral blades rotate, resulting in rubbing and separation of stalk and buds. A one hp motor operates the machine. This machine can process 400 kg clusters per hour with an efficiency of 99%. By the conventional method, costing of bud separation comes to be Rs. 12/kg, while using this machine, it comes to less than Rs. 1/kg.
Innovator: Shine Joseph, Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala
State: Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala
Funding agency: Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India
Implementing institute: National Innovation Foundation India (NIF), info.nif@nifindia.org
Benefits
The Clove Bud Separator offers several advantages over manual clove separation: Reduced Labor Costs: Achieves a 99% separation efficiency with minimal human intervention, significantly reducing the need for manual labor (40 laborers processing 600 kg/day vs. the machine processing 400 kg/hour). Increased Efficiency: Processes clove buds 15 times faster than manual methods, translating to quicker turnaround times and potentially higher output. Cost-Effective Operation: Lowers separation cost per kilogram from Rs. 12 to less than Rs. 1, leading to significant cost savings for clove producers. Gentle Separation: The rotating blades likely separate the cloves with minimal damage, potentially improving the quality of the cloves.