OPTIMIZED DESIGN AND TESTING OF A PEANUT-PICKING DEVICE WITH A LARGE FEEDING VOLUME.

For a peanut-picking device with a feeding rate greater than 5 kg/s, the problem of low picking rate and high damage rate will occur during the picking process. A discrete element model is developed to determine the range of values of the main influencing factors affecting the peanut picking device. A three-factor, three-level orthogonal combination test was carried out with feeding volume, drum speed, and peanut-picking gap as test factors to investigate the effects of the main influencing factors on the quality of peanut picking operation of the peanut-picking device. The results of the field trials showed that the best results were achieved at the optimum combination of drum speed of 508 r/min, peanut-picking gap of 22 mm, and feeding volumes of 6.3 kg/s. At this time, the peanut picking rate was 99.17%, and the peanut breakage rate was 0.91, meeting the standard technical requirements for mechanized peanut harvesting. The study results provide a theoretical basis for further enhancing the development of peanut combine harvesting equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]