Research and Validation of Vibratory Harvesting Device for Red Jujube Based on ADAMS and ANSYS

Abstract

The mechanization of red jujube industry is a high-potential agricultural research field in China. In this study, a vibration harvesting device has been developed for jujube trees that features adjustable vibration frequency and amplitude. The device is designed to make jujube trees vibrate with varying diameters by utilizing different vibration frequencies and amplitudes according to the tree’s size such that jujubes can be harvested efficiently. The study completed the structural design of excitation and fruit collection mechanisms based on the working principle of vibration harvesting. The red jujube excitation mechanism was dynamically simulated using ADAMS, and it was found that the acceleration at the end of the vibration rod of the mechanism had a tendency to sharply increase and decrease, which was conducive to the vibration shedding of red jujube. A collision model between the red jujubes and the fruit collection umbrella was constructed, and the fruit collection mechanism was structurally simulated using ANSYS. The tests showed that the device effectively harvested red jujubes from nine types of jujube trees with diameter ranges of 29.15–31.26 mm, 49.56–52.34 mm, and 65.23–73.25 mm. The average net harvesting rates were 93.98%, 94.71%, and 94.33%, and the average fruit collection efficiencies were 95.78%, 89.43%, and 85.04%, respectively. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the excitation and collection mechanisms and provide a theoretical basis for the development of vibratory harvesting devices for red jujubes.

Optimizing Harvesting Efficiency: Development and Assessment of a Pneumatic Air Jet Excitation Nozzle for Delicate Biostructures in Food Processing

“…In response to these challenges, our study seeks to explore the potential of air jet excitation nozzle devices in facilitating fruit detachment, focusing specifically on crops such as coffee, olives, oranges, and berries. While previous research has primarily focused on characterizing dynamic properties using contactless excitation methods for drying and harvesting [29][30][31], our experiments aim to validate the device's efficacy in inducing specific vibration modes conducive to fruit detachment. Nevertheless, there are numerous promising paths for future research.…”

Agricultural Machinery Adequacy for Handling the Mombaça Grass Biomass in Agroforestry Systems

“…In addition to the lack of dedicated mechanization, farmers encounter a range of additional challenges. These include inadequate income [20], high expenses [21], limited government incentives [14], insufficient availability of large land areas that warrant machinery investment [22], an aging population [20], adherence to traditional practices [23], and escalating population density and labor availability in urban areas [24]. Agricultural mechanization makes work easier and significantly reduces production costs [25] at the same time, and it is likely to have broader impacts on agronomy, the environment, and socioeconomic factors than is commonly recognized [26].…”