Development of a stripper machine for Al-Mabsili dates and evaluation of human interactions and performances

Al-Mabsili dates are harvested before fully ripen stage and stripped manually. This study aimed to develop a stripper machine for Al-Mabsili dates using different power sources (motor, exercise machine, bicycle) and to compare performances with traditional method. With different power source options, operator’s physiological and anthropometric parameters were increased and stabilized after stripping 5 bunches. The calories burnt, energy expenditure were highest in traditional method (2.3 kcal/kg, 14 kJ/kg) while energy expenditure rates were higher in exercise machine and bicycle (24.3 and 25.7 kJ/min). The stripping efficiency of all power sources was above 95%. The Cornell whole-body postural discomfort was lowest in exercise machine and highest in traditional method. Right hand was found more affected in Cornell hands discomfort evaluation. Exercising machine was best in Cornell seat comfort evaluation, traditional method was lowest. The average NIOSH lifting index was satisfactory (0.54). Growers preferred motor as the best power option.