Design evaluation of coffee pulper using anthropometric data of male farmers in Cavite, Philippines

Date

10-2009

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Rossana Marie C. Amongco

Committee Member

Pepito M. Bato, Delfin C. Suministrado, Marvin C. Petingco

Abstract

A survey was conducted to develop an anthropometric data and working profile of male farmers in Cavite, Philippines. Thirty-eight body dimensions were obtained from 80 male farmers through actual measurements. These body dimensions served as bases in evaluating a manually-operated Coffee Pulper. The working population has an average age of 50.5 years old with a range of 19 to 64 years old. The age of the male farmers that are commonly involved in agriculture is 55. Due to different working profile, it was found out that it could cause variability to the physical body dimensions. For the analysis of the gathered data, age factor was considered. This is because as the person grows older, the physical stature also changes and there is an age limit for the age where this variation becomes critical. The correlation of some body dimensions were also obtained with respect to the standing height. Values ranges from 0.186 to 0.986 which means that as the stature becomes longer, some body measurements also get longer. The 5th and 95th percentile values were used in the analysis of a manually-operated coffee pulper. The 5th percentile values are the farmers with 144 cm to 158.2 cm standing height while the 95th percentile values are the farmers with 166.2 cm to 179.4 cm. The body dimensions considered for analysis were the hand breadth, grip diameter, forearm-hand length and elbow height. This is in relation with the coffee pulper’s length and diameter of the handle, height of the stand and handle from the ground and the diameter of the wheel where the handle is attached to. For the grip diameter, it was found out that the measured grip diameter of the handle is just 2 cm which is too small for 4.3 cm value of 5th percentile and 5.4 cm for the 95th percentile. The need for redesigning the handle is necessary for easier operation of the coffee pulper. On the other hand, the length of the handle which is 10 cm is just enough for the 95th percentile value of the hand breadth (9.1 cm). Considering the height of the handle and stand, a certain range for arm flexion angle which is 15° to 75° was used. This is to obtain the comfort zone of the user. The calculated height of the handle with respect to the ground using the 95th percentile is 80.53 cm while 70.30 cm for the 5th percentile. And for the diameter of the wheel where the handle is attached to, is 18.54 cm for the 5th percentile value. The results suggested that there is a need for the redesigning of the basic and important parts of the coffee pulper for the user to work comfortably and effectively. Also, this is to avoid the development of musculoskeletal disorder in using the coffee pulper.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology

Call Number

LG 993.5 2009 A2 M38

Document Type

Thesis

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS