Design, Fabrication, and Performance Evaluation of a Motorized Cocoon Deflossing Machine

Abstract

A motorized cocoon deflossing machine was designed, fabricated, and evaluated at the College of Engineering and Applied Technology, Benguet State University to help speed up silk production. The motorized cocoon deflossing is comprised of body frame, deflossing assembly, hopper, discharging chute, and prime mover. On the performance of the cocoon deflossing machine, three speed treatments (85-97rpm, 98-113rpm, and 114-119rpm) were tested and analyzed. Results showed that the optimum deflossing is at 85-97 rpm, which has the highest deflossing efficiency (98.22%) among three treatments with a capacity of 1.11 kg/hr. Compared to the existing hand-driven cocoon deflosser used by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), the motorized cocoon deflossing machine has higher deflossing capacity and efficiency. The computed initial cost of the machine is PhP 15,212.63. Other assumptions such as the 60 days annual use and custom rate of PhP50.00/kg for the use of the machine were based on the harvesting of time and the quantity of harvested cocoons in PhilFIDA. The calculated payback period is two years with a return of investment of 40.18%.