Design Optimization and Experiment of Four-Row Potato Seedling-Cutting Machine
Authors: Sun Jingbin , Li Xueqiang , Li Shaochuan , Wang Xiangyou , Wang Linlin 
Published: December 2021

Highlights

Based on the innovative analysis of the seedling-cutting operation mechanism, five shapes of seedling-cutting blades were designed, and a four-row potato seedling-cutting machine was developed.

The kinematics and mechanics of seedling-cutting blades were analyzed, which can provide a theoretical basis for the selection of experimental factors.

A regression orthogonal experiment and variance analysis were carried out to verify the performance of the four-row potato seedling-cutting machine. Finally, the main and secondary factors affecting the seedling-cutting performance and the optimal parameter combination were obtained.

Compared with other studies, the structure of the seedling-cutting blades are more complete in this study. The test results show that the qualified rate of the broken length of the potato seedlings is significantly improved, the missed cutting rate of the potato seedlings is reduced, and the length of the stubble is more uniform, which greatly improves the quality of seedling-cutting.

Abstract. A four-row potato seedling-cutting machine was designed to address the problems associated with potato seedling-cutting machines with low qualified rates of broken length and stubble length and high missed cutting rates. Based on the analysis of the seedling-cutting operation mechanism, key components were designed, and the kinematics and mechanics were analyzed. A regression orthogonal experiment was carried out, taking the rotation speed of the seedling-cutting blade shaft, forward speed of the seedling-cutting machine, and height of the short blade of the ridge top from the ridge platform as the experimental factors and the qualified rate of the broken length of the potato seedlings, missed cutting rate of the potato seedlings, rate of carrying potatoes, and length of the stubble as experimental indexes. The results showed that the prioritized impact of various factors on the qualified rate of the broken length of the potato seedlings ranked as follows: the rotation speed of the seedling-cutting blade shaft &gt; the height of the short blade of the ridge top from the ridge platform &gt; the forward speed of the seedling-cutting machine. The prioritized impact of various factors on the missed cutting rate of the potato seedlings ranked as follows: the forward speed of the seedling-cutting machine &gt; the rotation speed of the seedling-cutting blade shaft &gt; the height of the short blade of the ridge top from the ridge platform. The prioritized impact of various factors on the rate of carrying potatoes and the length of the stubble ranked as follows: the height of the short blade of the ridge top from the ridge platform &gt; the rotation speed of the seedling-cutting blade shaft &gt; the forward speed of the seedling-cutting machine. The optimal parameter combination was a rotation speed of the seedling-cutting blade shaft of 1400 r/min, forward speed of the seedling-cutting machine of 4.22 km/h, height of the short blade of the ridge top from the ridge platform of 62 mm. Based on this combination, the qualified rate of the broken length of potato seedlings was 94.1%, the missed cutting rate of the potato seedlings was 0.30%, the rate of carrying potatoes was 0.49%, and the length of the stubble was 54 mm. The index values of the verification experiments were 94.6%, 0.38%, 0.53%, and 56 mm, which were better than the standard values, indicating that this machine meets the basic operation requirements. The test results can provide theoretical support and technical reference for improving the parameter and structural design of a potato seedling-cutting machine. Keywords: Field experiment, Flail blade, Potato, Seedling-cutting machine.