Zexin Zhao

This study aimed to explore the friction force on potatoes in the process of potato-soil separation, its influencing factors and laws, and establish a testing system of potato-friction force. It was verified that the potato mass, crank speed, and sieve inclination significantly affected the potato’s friction force along the sieve surface. The interaction of potato mass and crank speed had the greatest effect on the friction force on the potato along the sieve surface. In addition, under the same factors of potato mass of 200~400 g, crank speed of 200 r min^-1, and sieve inclination of 14.7°, the friction force of potato along the sieve surface with soil was much greater than that along the sieve surface without soil, ranging between 2.32 and 4.85.

To investigate the influencing factors and intrinsic relationships between potato impact force and impact damage during potato soil separation, a testing system for potato impact force was established. The impact force test system is composed of a base, a height adjustment device, a simple separation screen, a soil storage tank, an impact force sensor, and so on. By allowing potatoes to fall freely to simulate the collision process, impact force data are collected, and a high-speed camera is used to locate the impact position and analyze the degree of damage. Through the response surface analysis method, the influencing factors and laws of the impact force and impact damage during the collision process between potatoes and rods under soil and no-soil conditions were studied. The results of the response surface analysis indicate that when the screen inclination is within the range of 14.12° to 14.77°, falling height ranges from 453.83 mm to 500 mm, screen rod spacing falls within 36.50 mm to 40 mm, and the screen rod material is rubber. Potatoes can still be at a relatively low damage level when enduring a large impact force. This study has significant implications for reducing potato impact damage during harvesting, enhancing economic benefits in the potato industry, and advancing the technical level of potato harvesting equipment. In the future, based on the results of this study, further exploration can be made to optimize the design of potato harvesting equipment so as to better reduce the damage to potatoes during harvesting and subsequent processing processes and promote the sustainable development of the potato industry.