Authors

Abstract

The spring finger collection mechanism is a core component of balers. It is usually used to collect soft straw crops (corn straw, wheat straw, green forage), and rarely used for hard stem crops (such as branch pruning residues). Due to different biophysical characteristics of hard stem crops and soft straw crops, the collection mechanisms are also different. In China, branch pruning residues in apple orchards are collected manually. It is a heavy labor task. To this end, this article uses an improved spring finger mechanism to collect pruning residues in apple orchard branches, effectively replacing manual collection operations. A dynamic motion trajectory simulation platform is developed by analyzing each action using pitchforks or other agricultural tools throughout the entire collection process, and combined with the structure of the spring finger collection mechanism. The platform of the spring finger collection mechanism is improved to collect orchard branches, and redesign and manufacture the core components of the collection mechanism. In addition, comparative tests were performed on4 different placement orientation sunder the conditions of R=40±2 r/min and V=0.9-1.1 m/s. That is, 1) messy, 2) transverse, 3) portrait orientation (the treetop firstly contacts the collection device), and 4) portrait orientation (the thick stems of the branches first touch the collection device). The results indicate that 1) and 2) have similar success rates in picking branches, while 3) and 4) have lower success rates, especially with 4) being the lowest). The analysis found that some branches were directly inserted into the spring finger gap and moved under the machine, resulting in a large amount of losses. This study aims to improve the success rate of picking branches in the bundling machine and verify the relationship between different placement directions and the success rate of picking branches.

Abstract in Chinese

弹簧指型收集机构是打捆机的核心部件，通常用于收集软秸秆作物（玉米秸秆、小麦秸秆、绿色牧草），而很少用于硬秸秆作物（树枝修剪残留物）。由于硬秸秆作物和软秸秆作物的生物物理特性不同，两者的收集机制也有所不同。在中国，苹果园的树枝修剪残留物是人工收集的。这是一项繁重的劳动任务。本文采用一种改进的弹簧指式机构收集苹果园枝条修剪残余物，以有效代替人工收集作业。通过分析在整个收集过程中使用干草叉或其它农具的每个动作，并结合弹簧指型收集机构本身的结构，开发了一个动态运动轨迹仿真平台。该平台对弹簧指型收集机构进行了改进以适应收集果园枝条，并对收集机构的核心部件进行了重新设计和制造。此外，在R=40±2 R/min和V=0.9~1.1 m/s的条件下，对4种不同的摆放位置进行了对比试验，即1）杂乱、2）横向、3）纵向（树梢首先接触收集装置）和4）纵向（树枝的粗茎首先接触收集装置）。结果表明，1）和2）拾取树枝的成功率相似，而3）和4）的成功率较低，尤其是4最低），分析原因发现一些树枝直接插入弹簧指间隙并移动到机器下方，从而导致大量损失。本研究的目的是提高打捆机的拾取枝条成功率，并验证不同放置方向对拾取成功率的影响关系。