Development and Evaluation of a Honeycomb Uncapping Machine

Abstract

An uncapping machine was designed and fabricated to uncap both two sides of honeycomb leading to remove the thin wax layer that seals the honey cells. The developed uncapping machine is tested at the Agric. Eng. Res. Inst (2019) under four feeding chain speeds (10, 15, 20 and 25 rpm), four spiral knife speeds (150, 200, 250 and 300 rpm) and four levels of heating temperature for the uncapping device (without heating, 35 , 40 and 45 0 C). The interaction effect between different parameters for the uncapping device resulted in 192 tests. Measurements were taken for the machine productivity, uncapping efficiency and power requirement. The obtained results concluded that the uncapping machine can be operated successfully at the optimum operating parameters of 10 rpm feeding chain speed, 300 rpm spiral knife speed and 40 °C of spiral knife temperature. These operating conditions cause an uncapping efficiency of 95.2 %, productivity of 240 frames / h, consumed specific energy of 8.9×10-3 kW.h/frame. The uncapping machine reduced the estimated cost by 3 times than the manual knife uncapping. Therefore, the developed uncapping honeycombs machine is considered an effective solution for precise controlling of uncapping honeycomb invade Egyptian beekeepers and it gives continuous satisfactory uncapping.

Improvement and Evaluation of Honey Extractor

“…To satisfy this demand, beekeepers in the area must find a productive alternative to the antiquated and time-tested techniques they now employ for collecting honey from the honeycomb. A mechanical method for removing honey from honeycombs without affecting the honey's quality or natural form is required to remove the honey from the combs efficiently (Shaaban et al, 2019). This is possible by using an extractor's design.…”

“…This has been ascribed to quality concerns with honey that result from the existing honeybee keepers' conventional method of honey extraction, which hurts the honey's quality. According to Shaaban et al (2019), beekeeping must be fully sustainable and utilize locally accessible equipment if it is to be encouraged and promoted. Honey extraction is the central process in beekeeping.…”