Mechanistic analysis and experimental study of a shear-type low-loss fresh corn ear-picking mechanism

Abstract

Existing fresh corn (FC) ear-picking devices have a high ear damage rate and power consumption. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a shear-type ear-picking method that can reduce FC loss and power consumption. Using mechanical property tests for peduncles, the feasibility of the shear-type ear-picking mechanism was analyzed. According to the principle of contact mechanics, the factors influencing the contact force in shear-type ear picking were identified and a shear-type ear-picking mechanism with low FC loss was designed. By studying the relationship between the shear failure ratio of peduncles and the drawing force, the boundary conditions of ear picking without FC loss, and the interactions between plants and the ear-picking mechanism, a shear-type ear picking model without any loss using the combined quadratic regression orthogonal rotation test method was established. The mean shear failure ratio of peduncles was 73.97% by statistically analyzing the shear failure ratio of peduncles under different rotation speeds, which meets the boundary conditions of lossless ear picking. The results of the bench tests indicate that the shear failure ratio of peduncles was 72%, and the ear damage rate was 2.1%, satisfying the requirements of low FC loss under ear picking operations. Compared with the traditional board-type ear-picking mechanism, this method reduced the ear damage rate and power consumption by 8.6% and 15.5%, respectively. This study provides a theoretical foundation and technical reference for the development of FC harvesting equipment.