Corn sheller

A corn sheller is a piece of machinery to shell corn kernels of the cob for feeding to livestock or for other uses.

History

The modern corn sheller is commonly attributed to Lester E. Denison from Middlesex County, Connecticut. Denison was issued a patent on August 12, 1839, for a freestanding, hand-operated machine that removed individual kernels of corn by pulling the cob through a series of metal-toothed cylinders which stripped the kernels off the cob.[1] Soon after, other patents were granted for similar machines, sometimes having improvements over Denison's original design.

Operation

The operation of a corn sheller is similar to a threshing machine, but with some differences to deal with larger grain size and other differences of corn compared to wheat and other crops. Corn shellers can be powered by a hand crank, a tractor, a stationary engine, or by an electric motor. Whole corn cobs are fed in. They are pulled between two toothed wheels, usually made of metal. Each wheel spins the opposite direction of the other. The teeth pull the kernals off the cob until there are no kernals left. The kernals fall out through a screen into a container (such as a bucket) placed underneath the machine. The cob is then ejected out, since it cannot pass through the screen. Some models have a "walker", similar to a threshing machine or combine, to take the cobs out.

Hand-held corn sheller

A hand-held corn sheller is an inexpensive tool designed to speed up the process of removing corn kernels from the cob by hand. While they cannot compete with large, electric corn shellers, they are an affordable solution for low-income farmers in developing countries. They can also be used in North America for shelling small quantities of corn. Hand-held corn shellers can significantly reduce threshing time and do not damage kernels.[2] They are currently manufactured in the United States from cast aluminum, distributed by the company Seedburo Equipment.[3]

Product Description

Hand-held corn shellers can be manufactured from aluminum or hard plastic. The most common style is a short tube with a notched end. The toothed end removes the kernels by abrasion. A cob of corn is in inserted in the round end and twisted through to the notched side. The twisting motion causes the notches pull off kernels without damaging them, and they fall into a bowl or basket below. Hand-held corn shellers can save a farmer hundreds of hours threshing each year.[4] It is capable of shelling 22–30 kg of kernels per hour, and there is very little to no damage done to the kernels.[5] The measurements of different shellers vary, but are approximately 3x3x3" and they weigh around 0.25 kg.[6] They are highly portable. The tool's simple technology and durable construction means it is very difficult to break, therefore reducing the risk of requiring repairs.[7]

Current Production

Aluminum hand-held corn shellers are currently manufactured using cast aluminum technology in the United States and marketed towards American homesteaders and small-scale farmers.[8] In some developing countries, such as Guatemala, Mexico, Malawi and Ghana, they are made from local recycled materials by hand.[9][10][11]

Export Potential

The hand held corn sheller design has been used in rural Mexico and Guatemala with success.[12] It is an affordable solution that impoverished farmers could purchase for the equivalence of a few dollars [13] They can be distributed in rural areas through local markets in order to reach farmers.

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "AMDP Manual Corn Sheller", "University of the Philippines", (2012).
  3. ↑ "Seedburo Hand Corn Shellers", "Seedburo Equipment", (2014).
  4. ↑ , "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", (No date given, accessed November 20th 2014).
  5. ↑ "AMDP Manual Corn Sheller", "University of the Philippines", (2012).
  6. ↑ "AgPoint Precision", (2014).
  7. ↑ Gempler's Commercial-Grade Outdoor Work Gear, (2014).
  8. ↑ "Seedburo Hand Corn Shellers", "Seedburo Equipment", (2014).
  9. ↑ Heng, X., Huo, B., Kranski, J., & Lee, J. "California Institute of Technology", (2005).
  10. ↑ Delgado, L. M. California Institute of Technology, (2008).
  11. ↑ , "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", (No date given, accessed November 20th 2014).
  12. ↑ Delgado, L. M. California Institute of Technology, (2008).
  13. ↑ Heng, X., Huo, B., Kranski, J., & Lee, J. "California Institute of Technology", (2005).

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