Development of a single-feed 3-in-1 cinnamon processing machine

Abstract

Sri Lanka is the leading True Cinnamon supplier to the global market. The most sought cinnamon extractant is the inner bark of the cinnamon tree, renowned for its culinary and medicinal applications. The production of quills from peeled cinnamon is the preferred market form and the long-established traditional method. The centuries-old traditional cinnamon peeling and quill making necessitates highly skilled labour. Presently, the industry grapples with multi-faceted challenges, including a shortage of skilled peelers, exorbitant processing costs, and a diminishing interest among younger generations to join the traditional process. To overcome these challenges, this paper to introduce a single-feed 3-in-1 cinnamon processing mechanism. Researching the traditional manual method of cinnamon processing to understand the rationale behind each step, exploring current automation or machine integration attempts, and exploring insights from other industries through literature review, industry/field visits, interviews with relevant stakeholders. SolidWorks® has been used for modelling the desingn concepts and full scale prototype has been developed. The proposed machine facilitates the processing of a single cinnamon trunk through five main subassemblies employing three distinct mechanisms: scraping, rubbing, and peeling. Laboratory testings of developed prototype were done to fine tune the mechanisms for each subassembly prior to the final assembly The machine shows promising results for 3-step cinnamon processing.