Physical and Mechanical Properties of Palm Oil Frond and Stem Bunch for Developing Pruner and Harvester Machinery Design

A development of oil palm pruner and harvester machinery design implemented in the field still faces a problem due to the lack of effective and efficient design which is need to be solved. It was noted that in order to develop the design, an early data and information of physical and mechanical properties of palm oil frond and stem fruits is critically important. The objective of the research was to obtain the physical and mechanical properties of palm oil frond and stem in order to develop the design of pruner and harvester machinery. The result showed that tool machinery was been advantageous by the physical properties of the plant i.e. the total weight of frond and leaf which enable to support the cutting process. The average of total weight of frond and leaf was 16.8 kg. The diagonal cutting trajectory was been more advantageous because of total weight and frond shape toward to the different of the plant tissue area. The measurement result shows that cutting curve follows the time required for cutting. The comparison among cutting curve shows differences in cutting thickness or length. In this case, the thickness is linear with cutting time. Besides, those curves show differences at the height which determine the maximum value of tested material cutting resistance. Alternative solution for machinery development design is pruner-harvester for height plant below 6 m and among 6 to 12 m. For below 6 m, pruner-harvester was designed by incorporating motor as power source and cutter-disc as the knife cutter. That condition was relied on that estate which was maintenance intensively commonly used cutter-disc. Pruner-harvester above 6 m and up to 12 m was improved based on manual egrek-designed by adding fresh fruit bunch alley supply glide in order to keep the fruits still in intact form. The consideration was based on affectivity and efficiency. It also considers homogenous ecological of palm oil plant which should be maintained to reduce global warming effect. Information obtained in this research could become positive consideration and alternative solution to provide problem solvingat early development design of palm oil pruner and harvester machinery.Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12777/ijse.4.2.2013.69-74[How to cite this article: Intara, Y.I., Mayulu, H., and Radite, P.A.S. (2013). Physical and Mechanical Properties of Palm Oil Frond and Stem Bunch for Developing Pruner and Harvester Machinery Design. International Journal of Science and Engineering, 4(2),69-74. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.12777/ijse.4.2.2013.69-74]


I. INTRODUCTION
A harvesting process of palm oil is a cutting mechanism of the frond and stem bunch (Delmastro and Francesco, 1998). A research in cutting mechanism of palm oil harvesting is very important to be conducted in order to develop more effective, efficient and ergonomic to anticipate future global competition (Ahmad et al., 2000). An engineering approach based on cutting mechanism of the frond and stem fruits analysis could be one of the answers. This analysis could provide basic parameter of the blade which enablesto cut the frond and stem bunch efficiently . At this present, the basic research of pruner and harvester palm oil frond and stem has not yet focused to the whole factors of physical, mechanical and structural properties of the plant material toward the cutting mechanism. Perrson (1987) stated that knowledge of plant structure is very important to generate the reaction of plant material toward the cutting force and deformation. Thus could also provide the easiness to gain logical solution in order to develop cutting tool design. An understanding of the force occurred on a tool should be gained based on the material characteristic. The developed interaction can be not used if there are a different on size and structure between laboratory and real at the field (Holman and Gajda, 1989).
The plant tissue which will be used as the sample has specific mechanical properties. De property is a displacement event of particular elem the surface fiber in a layer thickness due to the b which occurs up to underside of pressing are bending degree is influenced by the position of fib particular layer and the thickness of the la mathematical modeling of cutting force is influenced by the mechanical properties condition sample and force vector analysis employed in process. This force will correlate toward the defor properties of cut material (Yazid, 2005 b ).
A harvesting process of palm oil is a cutting mec of the frond and stem bunch (Delmastro and Fr 1998). A research in cutting mechanism of p harvesting is very important to be conducted in o develop more effective, efficient and ergono anticipate future global competition (Ahmad et a An engineering approach based on cutting mecha the frond and stem fruits analysis could be one answers. This analysis could provide basic param the blade which enablesto cut the frond and stem efficiently . At this present, th research of pruner and harvester palm oil frond an has not yet focused to the whole factors of p mechanical and structural properties of the plant m toward the cutting mechanism. Perrson (1987) stated that knowledge o structure is very important to generate the reac plant material toward the cutting force and defor Thus could also provide the easiness to gain solution in order to develop cutting tool des understanding of the force occurred on a tool sh gained based on the material characteristic. The de interaction can be not used if there are a different and structure between laboratory and real at th (Holman and Gajda, 1989).
The plant tissue which will be used as the sample has specific mechanical properties. De property is a displacement event of particular elem the surface fiber in a layer thickness due to the b which occurs up to underside of pressing are bending degree is influenced by the position of fib particular layer and the thickness of the la mathematical modeling of cutting force is influenced by the mechanical properties condition sample and force vector analysis employed in process. This force will correlate toward the defor properties of cut material (Yazid, 2005 b ).
During cutting process, the blade penetrates i material, passing material strength which leads to m become split. In this process, material deforma different which depends on the blade shape and mechanical process (Sitkei, 1986).
Based on above consideration, the researc conducted to obtain field data and lab measurement upon the mechanical properties of p frond and stem. The research was objected to physical and mechanical properties of palm oil fro stem to develop pruner and harvester machinery d palm oil bunch.  Figure 1 shows the technique to obta material sample. The parameters which a measured in frond and stem analysis were b) fresh fruit bunch; c) leaf frond. Th consisted of: 1) weight and length of a) f and b) leaf frond; 2) angle and clearance b and trunk; b) leaf frond and trunk; c) fro bunch and frond.
Measurement method to measu properties is shown in Fig. 2 which cond these several parameters:

III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
An observation of anatomy parts of palm oil frond and bunch is shown in Figure 4 consists of tissues which compose the plant structure. Frond part was composed of hard bark which consists of epidermis, collenchyma and sclerenchyma tissue. The soften part at the middle is parenchyma tissue which is used as material test. The determination of material test was carried out as an earlier research to obtain research of cutting intact frond. Besides, that part was considered as easier to be employed in laboratory test before developing prototype implemented in the field. Thus was supported by Perrson (1987) who stated that knowledge of plant structure is required to understand the reaction of material upon cutting force and deformation. It also eases to find logical solution to develop cutting tool design. Sometimes, some differences between tool which was used in laboratory scale and will be developed to be implemented in the field were occurred.
A characteristic measurement of palm oil bunch and frond was conducted in order to obtain physical properties. The result of physical properties obtained in field measurement is shown in Table 1. The design of tool machinery was been advantageous by the physical properties of the plant, i.e. 1) the total weight of frond and leaf enabled to support the cutting process. The total weight of frond and leaf was 16.8 kg with frond surface area located at 12 cm from the stem was 96.8 cm 2 .
2) The diagonal cutting trajectory was been more advantageous because of total weight and frond shape toward to the different of the plant tissue area.The plant tissue which was used as the sample had specific mechanical properties (Hanim and Siti-Norsafurah, 2012).
The cutting specific force analysis was greatly influenced by the mechanical properties of tested agricultural product. The bending degree was influenced by the position of fiber laid on a particular layer and the thickness of the layer. The point which lay on a particular thickness layer experienced bending movement up to the underside of the blade. The mathematic model development of cutting force would be influenced by the mechanical properties of the tested sample. Vector force analysis which occurred at cutting process would associatewith deformation characteristic of the tested sample. The mechanical properties data of a material which was employed in cutting the palm oil parenchyma is showed in Table 2. Material deflection data was gained from stress and strain measurement which was then used to determine modulus elasticity (E), strength (σ), strain (ε), andpoisson ratio (ν).
The result of cutting force could be simulated which shows graph in Fig. 6. In the cutting mechanism of palm oil frond using knife cutter, the length of cutting is the function between time (s) and force (daN/cm). The measurement of palm oil cutting was conducted at laboratory using flat knife cutter with sharpness angle at 10 o applied in UTM. The frond as tested material was in intact form which was cut at different area i.e. 25%, 50% and 75%.   The measurement result shows that cutting curve follows the time required for cutting. The comparison among cutting curve shows differences in cutting thickness or length. In this case, the thickness is linear with cutting time. Besides, those curves show differences at the height which determine the maximum value of tested material cutting resistance. The technical problems occurred during palm oil cutting and harvesting applied in the field is shown in Table 3. Table 3 shows the importance of developing pruner and harvester design to replace the manual tool in order to provide more effective and efficient palm oil maintenance and harvester process. Further solution is to design pruner-harvester for height below 6 m and among 6 to 12 m. For below 6 m, pruner-harvester was designed by incorporating motor as power source and cutter-disc as the knife cutter. That condition was relied on that estate which was maintenance intensively commonly used cutter-disc. Pruner-harvester above 6 m which could reach 12 m was improved based onmanual egrek-designed by adding fresh fruit bunch alley supply glide in order to keep the fruits still in intact form. The consideration was based on affectivity and efficiency. It also considers homogenous ecological of palm oil plant which should be maintained to reduce global warming effect (to lessen plant rejuvenation and replanting)   2. The design of tool machinery was been advantageous by the physical properties of the plant, i.e. 1) the total weight of frond and leaf enabled to support the cutting process. The total weight of frond and leaf was 16.8 kg with frond surface area located at 12 cm from the stem was 96.8 cm 2 . The diagonal cutting trajectory was been more advantageous because of total weight and frond shape toward to the different of the plant tissue area. 3. The plant tissue which was used as the sample had specific mechanical properties. The mathematic model development of cutting force would be influenced by the mechanical properties and force vector which associate with deformation characteristic of the tested sample. Material deflection data was gained from stress and strain measurement which was then used for determining modulus elasticity (E), strength (σ), strain (ε), and poisson ratio (ν). 4. The measurement result shows that cutting curve follows the time required for cutting. The comparison among cutting curve shows differences in cutting thickness or length. In this case, the thickness is linear with cutting time. Besides, those curves show differences at the height which determine the maximum value of tested material cutting resistance. 5. Further development is to design pruner-harvester for plant height below 6 m and among 6 to 12 m. Table 3. Technical problems occurred in palm oil cutting and harvesting in the field a. Traditional tools requiredhigh energy for carrying out maintenance andharvest b.
Picking dropped fruits is wasting time c.
Operator needs one wheel container for assisting the harvesting activity Operator complaint 5 a.
Picking dropped fruits is wasting time and lowering the efficiency process b.
In a slop topography area, picking is more wasting time. Sack can be an alternative.
Dropped palm oil fruits should be picked and then collected on a container 4 a. Maintenance activity of cutting frond beforeharvesting is veryimportant, because it eases the using of harvesting tool b.
Frond cutting should be conducted prior harvesting the bunch c.
The direction of cutting (dodos) is performed beside the frond d.
Dodos is manually push mechanism harvesting tool e.
Egrek is manually pull mechanism harvesting tool.
Harvesting process should consider former frond cutting 3 a. It is still considered as efficient for big mill b.
Laborer is still quite cheap, especially in Asia c.
Price is affordable and easily to be produced a. Traditional tools requiredhigh energy for carrying out maintenance andharvest b.
Picking dropped fruits is wasting time c.
Operator needs one wheel container for assisting the harvesting activity Operator complaint 5 a.
Picking dropped fruits is wasting time and lowering the efficiency process b.
In a slop topography area, picking is more wasting time. Sack can be an alternative.
Dropped palm oil fruits should be picked and then collected on a container 4 a. Maintenance activity of cutting frond beforeharvesting is veryimportant, because it eases the using of harvesting tool b.
Frond cutting should be conducted prior harvesting the bunch c.
The direction of cutting (dodos) is performed beside the frond d.
Dodos is manually push mechanism harvesting tool e.
Egrek is manually pull mechanism harvesting tool.
Harvesting process should consider former frond cutting 3 a. It is still considered as efficient for big mill b.
Laborer is still quite cheap, especially in Asia c.
Price is affordable and easily to be produced