Design and experiment of the comb-brush harvesting machine with variable spacing for oil-tea camellia fruit

Xiaoqiang Du, Tengfei Shen, Lijun Zhao, Guofeng Zhang, Anguo Hu, Shenggao Fang, Yongqing Cao, Xiaohua Yao

Abstract


Oil-tea camellia tree is an important oil plant in China that has long flexible branches. The most challenging feature for the mechanized harvest of oil-tea fruits is that its flower and fruit grow synchronously. In order to improve the harvesting efficiency and avoid damaging the flower bud, a hand-held fruit harvesting machine with a variable spacing comb brush was proposed. The harvesting machine can generate three kinds of actuation to detach fruit when it runs. The main actuation results from the brushing of multiple comb fingers. The other two kinds of actuation result from the beating of comb fingers on the fruits and the branches. The finger spacing of the comb brush can be adjusted consequently through moving the spacing adjusting crossbar. Hence, when the finger spacing is smaller than the diameter of the oil-tea fruit, the fruit is brushed off, but the flower bud and leaf pass through the finger gap. When the finger spacing is bigger than the fruit diameter, the fruit stuck between the fingers is loosened to ensure the continuous operation of the machine. Nylon was used as the material of the brush finger to avoid damage, which can also reduce the overall weight. The dynamic simulation of the harvesting machine was carried out with ADAMS, and the acceleration of the front end of the comb finger and the variation of the finger spacing were analyzed. The prototype of the harvesting machine was built and tested in the field. Field experiment results showed that when the speed of the comb finger drive shaft was 480 r/min, the average harvesting percentage of oil-tea fruit was 80%, and the flower bud was seldom detached, which met the working requirements of oil-tea fruit harvesting.
Keywords: oil-tea camellia fruit, harvesting machine, variable spacing, comb brush, simulation analysis
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20211401.5703

Citation: Du X Q, Shen T F, Zhao L J, Zhang G F, Hu A G, Fang S G, et al. Design and experiment of the comb-brush harvesting machine with variable spacing for oil-tea camellia fruit. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2021; 14(1): 172–177.

Keywords


oil-tea camellia fruit, harvesting machine, variable spacing, comb brush, simulation analysis

Full Text:

PDF

References


Rao H H, Huang D S, Wang Y L, Chen B, Liu M H. Design and experiment of hydraulic-driven camellia fruit picking machine. Transactions of the CSAM, 2019; 50(5): 133–147. (in Chinese)

Feng H X, Sam R, Jiang L Z, Li Y, Cao W M. High-performance size-exclusion chromatography studies on the formation and distribution of polar compounds in camellia seed oil during heating. Journal of Zhejiang University-Science B, 2016; 17(11): 882–891.

Yao X H, Zhu Y X. The efficacy and application of camellia seed oil. Flavour Fragrance Cosmetics, 2018; 5: 74–78. (in Chinese)

Huang D S, Rao H H. Research status and thinking on mechanized picking equipment of Camellia oleifera fruit in China. Forestry Machinery & Woodworking Equipment, 2019; 47(7): 11–13. (in Chinese)

Wu J, Wang W W, Wei D, Wang Y P. Some issue and consideration of development of Camellia oleifera industry. Forestry Economics, 2010; 5: 84–87. (in Chinese)

Feng G K, Rao H H, Xu P, Liu M H. Research status on picking equipment and technology of camellia fruit. Journal of Chinese Agricultural Mechanization, 2015; 5(36): 125–127. (in Chinese)

Du X Q, Chen D, Zhang Q, Scharf P A, Whiting M D. Dynamic responses of sweet cherry trees under vibratory excitations. Biosystems Engineering, 2012; 111: 305–314.

Hoshyarmanesh H, Dastgerdi H. R, Ghodsi M, Khandan R, Zareinia K. Numerical and experimental vibration analysis of olive tree for optimal mechanized harvesting efficiency and productivity. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2017; 132: 34–48.

Fantozzi F, Bartocci P, D'Alessandro B, Testarmata F, Fantozzi P. Carbon footprint of truffle sauce in central Italy by direct measurement of energy consumption of different olive harvesting techniques. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2015; 87: 188–196.

Du X Q, Jiang F, Li S T, Xu N N, Li D W, Wu C Y. Design and experiment of vibratory harvesting mechanism for Chinese hickory nuts based on orthogonal eccentric masses. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2019; 156: 178–186.

Yu P C, Li C Y, Takeda F, Krewer G, Rains G, Hamrita T. Quantitative evaluation of a rotary blueberry mechanical harvester using a miniature instrumented sphere. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2012; 88: 25–31.

Yu P C, Li C Y, Takeda F, Krewer G, Rains G, Hamrita T. Measurement of mechanical impacts created by rotary, slapper, and sway blueberry mechanical harvesters. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2014; 101: 84–92.

Caprara C, Pezzi F. Measuring the stresses transmitted during mechanical grape harvesting. Biosystems Engineering, 2011; 110(2): 97–105.

Rosa U A, Cheetancheri K G, Gliever C J, Lee S H, Thompson J, Slaughter D C. An electro-mechanical limb shaker for fruit thinning. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2008; 61: 213–221.

Savary S K J U, Ehsani R, Salyani M, Hebel M A, Bora G C. Study of force distribution in the citrus tree canopy during harvest using a continuous canopy shaker. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2011; 76(1): 51–58.

Sola-Guirado R R, Blanco-Roldan G L, Castro-Garcia S, Castillo-Ruiz F J, Gil-Ribes J A. Innovative circular path harvester for mechanical harvesting of irregular and large-canopy olive trees. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(3): 86–93.

Fu W, Zhang Z Y, Ding K, Cao W B, Kan Z, Pan J B, et al. Design and test of 4ZZ-4A2 full-hydraulic self-propelled jujube harvester. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(4): 104–110.

Luo S T, Rao H H, Zhang L Y, Yu J J, Xu X Q, Li T, et al. Design and experiment of tooth comb type device for camellia fruits picking. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research, 2017; 39(2): 84–88. (in Chinese)

Gao Z C, Li L J, Li X, Min S H, Yi C F. Development and test of picking actor in oil-tea camellia fruit picking machine of tooth comb type. Transactions of the CSAE, 2013; 29(10): 19–25. (in Chinese)

Rao H H, Zhang L Y, Huang D S, Chen B, Liu M H. Design and test of motor-driven picking actuator of camellia fruit with rotate rubber roller. Transactions of the CSAM, 2018; 49(9): 115–121. (in Chinese)

Minelli E. Apparatus for picking olives and the like. WO 2011/138058 A1.

Castillo-Ruiz F J, Tombesi S, Farinelli D. Olive fruit detachment force against pulling and torsional stress. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2018; 16(1): 1–10.

Fluck R C. Detachment of Tomato Fruit from Vines as Influenced by Fruit Maturity and Plant Desiccation. Transactions of the ASAE, 1970; 13(6): 704–707.

Zhang W Q, Li Z Z, Tan Y Z, Li W. Optimal design and experiment on variable pacing combing brush picking device for Lycium barbarum. Transactions of the CSAM, 2018; 49(8): 83–90. (in Chinese)

Rao H H, Luo S T, Yu J J, Zhang L Y, Liu M H. Study on simulation analysis of Camellia fruit picking and its bud damage with tooth comb dial knife machine based on ANSYS Workbench. Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis, 2017; 29(12): 2134–2141. (in Chinese)

Hafezalkotob A, Hami-Dindar A, Rabie N, Hafezalkotob A. A decision support system for agricultural machines and equipment selection: A case study on olive harvester machines. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 2018; 148: 207–216.

Pu Y J, Toudeshki A, Ehsani R, Yang F Z. Design and evaluation of a two-section canopy shaker with variable frequency for mechanical harvesting of citrus. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(5): 77–87.

Cao C M, Zhan C, Sun Y, Li Z Z, Wu W T, Ding R. Design and experiment of portable walnut high-altitude pat-picking machine. Transactions of the CSAM, 2018; 49(3): 130–137. (in Chinese)

Xu L M, Chen J W, Wu G, Yuan Q C, Ma S, Yu C C, et al. Design and operating parameter optimization of comb brush vibratory harvesting device for wolfberry. Transactions of the CSAE, 2018; 34(9): 75–82. (in Chinese)




Copyright (c) 2021 International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2023-2026 Copyright IJABE Editing and Publishing Office