Development of A Semi-Automatic Mushroom Block Compression Machine to Improve Production Efficiency
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Abstract
This research aimed to develop a semi-automatic mushroom substrate block pressing machine to improve production efficiency, reduce labor costs, and shorten the production cycle. Conventional production systems are limited by low output capacity and heavy reliance on manual labor. The developed prototype is driven by a 1-horsepower electric motor combined with a slider–crank mechanism and a four-cylinder system, allowing the simultaneous pressing of four mushroom substrate blocks per cycle.
Performance tests were conducted at operating frequencies ranging from 2 to 10 Hz. The results showed that at 10 Hz, the machine achieved a maximum production rate of 48 substrate blocks per minute, compared with 10 blocks per minute produced by the previous prototype. This corresponds to a 380% increase in production capacity relative to the original prototype and a 63.33% increase compared with manual labor per unit time.
The optimal operating frequency was found to be 3–4 Hz, yielding the highest average substrate block density of 0.78 g/cm³, while the overall average density across all tested frequencies was 0.64 g/cm³, indicating improved compaction quality. An economic analysis revealed a payback period of approximately 2.83 days. The proposed low-cost machine effectively increases production capacity, reduces labor dependency, and is suitable for small-scale producers seeking sustainable improvements in mushroom substrate block production efficiency.
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References
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