Development of technology and means for machine harvesting of head cabbage in the non-damaging mode

Abstract

During the traditional mechanized harvesting of cabbage the heads are severely injured. In this regard, the purpose of research is to provide scientific justification for the new technology and devices for machine harvesting cabbage in a sparing mode. Using mathematical modeling, new methods of cabbage harvesting are justified, which provide for a gentle mode of shipment of heads by a combine harvester using a special device, first on a flexible flooring, and then carefully transferring them manually into containers. Thus, the methods of reducing the damage to cabbage heads during machine cleaning are formulated, and the nature of the influence of the main parameters of the proposed devices on the quality of the working process is analytically revealed. As a result, the rational parameters of the devices were determined: the departure of the loading zone of the tray Δ=0.100-0.150 m with its Flexural stiffness EI=16-20 H.m2 , the height difference of the edges of the flexible flooring h=0.25 m. The production test established the consistency of the proposed new technology of machine harvesting of cabbage and the possibility of reducing the damage to the heads to a level not exceeding 5-7% of the total mass of products.