Preliminary Design of Oil Palm FFB Elevator Attached to Truck with Counting Feature to Reduce Workload

The primary product of oil palm processed into oil is its fresh fruit bunches (FFB), which typically weigh between 6 and 35 kg. After harvesting, these FBBs must be transported to the palm oil mill. One critical step in this process is loading the FBBs onto truck beds, which is currently done manually. This physically demanding task poses a risk of injury and requires considerable labor. Additionally, counting the number of FBBs loaded is necessary for inventory and logistics. This study presents a preliminary design for an FFB elevator system mounted on a truck bed, which also includes an automatic counting feature. The design methodology combines exploration of existing manual loading practices in oil palm plantation with redefinition through the development of a mechanical conveyor system integrated with mechatronic components. The design process involved calculating loading speed and power requirements, selecting appropriate energy sources, and incorporating a counting mechanism. The proposed system consists of an elevator attached to the side of a truck bed, powered by an electric motor with a minimum generator capacity of 3 HP, and achieves a loading speed of 6 FFBs per minute. The counting system is operated by an Arduino microcontroller, equipped with switches and counter sensors. The design serves as the foundation for future model development and functional testing to validate performance and feasibility.