Design of Stretchable Style Pick-Up Device for Tomato Seedling Transplanters

Abstract

To solve tomato planting problems, such as high labor intensity and low efficiency, we designed a stretchable style pick-up device, which met the requirements of whole-row picking and improved the efficiency and speed of seedling picking. We designed the parts of the device according to the height of the seedlings and the size of the tray. Seedling analysis was carried out and a parametric model created. Additionally, an evaluation of seedling picking was developed, which included both parallel and vertical displacement. We manufactured the parts according to the simulation parameters, which were optimized by ADAMS. The parts were assembled and the trajectory test carried out. When whole-row seedlings were grown for 30 days, the moisture content was 65.21%, the picking success rate was 92.19%, leaf damage rate was 3.13%, and the substrate damage rate was 1.54%. The study can provide a reference for the design of automatic tomato transplanters.

Keywords

• pick-up device
• stretchable style
• kinematical analysis
• seedling picking test