Concepção de sistema de alimentação para protótipo de máquina de quebrar endocarpo de baru

Abstract

The focus of this work is to contribute to the development of a machine for breaking the endocarp of the baru fruit (Dipteryx alata). The process of breaking this fruit to obtain its kernel limits and hinders its commercial exploitation, which in turn discourages the study of its potential — both in the food industry and in other areas such as medicine, where active ingredients of natural origin are used. The mechanization of baru, a fruit of high value for family farming in the Cerrado, faces as its main obstacle the design of an efficient feeding system, due to the high morphological variability and the level of force required to break its endocarp. This work aimed to develop the conception of a feeding system for a prototype of a baru cracking machine, using a systematic and iterative design approach. The methodology was structured into two development cycles. The first cycle experimentally investigated a gravity batch feeding system, concluding that this approach is unfeasible due to the severe arching phenomenon, which causes recurring flow blockages. Based on this learning, a second cycle was initiated, focusing on the generation of concepts for continuous feeding. Through the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) multicriteria decision-making method, which prioritized criteria such as Manufacturing Cost, Robustness, and Ease of Maintenance, the Belt Conveyor with Lugs design was selected as the most promising. The main contribution of this study lies in the generation of empirical knowledge about the flow behavior of baru and the application of a structured engineering methodology to propose a technically viable and justified solution aligned with the needs of small producers.