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Abstract.

A mechanized centrifugal melon shelling and cleaning Machine was developed. The development of centrifugal melon shelling and cleaning machine was to reduce the limitations associated with the traditional and other mechanized melon shelling methods. Mechanised shelling of melon increases the shelling efficiency of shelled melon thereby increasing the quantity of shelled melon per unit time. The mechanised shelling and cum cleaning machine consists of the hopper, shelling unit, cleaning unit, frames and power transmission unit. The shelling efficiency was evaluated using a 2 x 3x 5 factorial experimental design for two varieties of melon seeds, (eastern and northern), three levels of shaft speed (1400 rpm, 2100 rpm and 2800 rpm) and five levels of seed moisture content (7%, 12%, 17%, 22% and 27% wet basis). SPSS 16 was used to carry out the Analysis of Variance for the shelling efficiency and DNMRT was used to find the difference in means of seed variety (V), operating speed (S) and moisture content (M). The results showed that the highest shelling efficiency for variety E was 78.7% at a moisture level of 17% and operating speed of 2100 rpm while the highest shelling efficiency for variety N was 76.5% at a moisture content of 22% and operating speed of 2100 rpm. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of the effect of seed variety, operating speed and moisture content on shelling efficiency revealed that the seed variety, operating speed and moisture content are significant at 0.05 confidence limit for the shelling efficiency. The investigation revealed that the shelling efficiency increases with increase in operating speed and moisture content but tends to decrease above 2100rpm operating speed and 17% and 22% moisture content for the two varieties studied. At the operating speed of 2100rpm, the highest shelling efficiency of 78.7% at 17% moisture content was achieved for variety E and 76.5 % at 22 % moisture content for variety N. The developed melon shelling cum cleaning machine is recommended to be operated at operating speed of 2100rpm.