A table mounted device for cracking dika nut (Irvingia gabonensis)

Abstract

A simply designed machine for cracking dika nut was fabricated. The nut is fed by hand inbetween a toggle mechanism comprising of the slider and a fixed block. Fracture mechanism was based on the deformation characteristics of dried dika nut under uni-axial compression. When actuated, the slider compresses the nutshell to failure along its line of symmetry. The experimental machine gave 100% cracking efficiency but with 24% kernel breakage in cracking sun-dried dika nut at 6.6% moisture content (w.b). The machine provides a viable and effective technique for safe dika kernel extraction.