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Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering

ISSN 2095-7505

ISSN 2095-977X(Online)

CN 10-1204/S

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Front. Agr. Sci. Eng.    2024, Vol. 11 Issue (4) : 626-641    https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2024555
Optimization of a precision symmetric finger-clamping garlic seed-metering device
Qian ZHANG, Yongjian WANG, Hua LI(), Jifeng GAO, Yuangeng DING
College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210031, China
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Abstract

This study aimed to address the sowing quality problems commonly encountered in the mechanized process of sowing garlic seeds, such as a low single-seed rate. To rectify these types of issues, the symmetric seed-collection spoons and the seed-distribution plate structures were designed based on an existing finger clip plate garlic seed-metering device. First, the optimal installation angle of the seed-distribution plate and optimal number of seed-collection spoons were determined using single-factor simulation tests based on discrete element method-multibody dynamics (DEM-MBD) coupling, and the effects of different seed-collection spoon tapers, finger clip gradual closing angles, and seed tray rotation speeds on the performance of the seed-metering device were analyzed. Second, based on the single-factor simulation tests, a quadratic regression orthogonal rotary combination simulation test was conducted using the taper of the seed-collection spoon, finger clip gradual closing angle, and seed tray rotation speed as the test factors and the single-seed rate (1 seed per spoon), empty rate (0 seed per spoon), and multiple-seed rate (≥ 2 seeds per spoon) as the test indices. Parameter optimization was performed using an established regression model. Finally, bench tests were conducted to verify the reliability of the simulation results. The results showed that the optimal parameter combinations were a seed-collection spoon taper of 1.6, a finger clip gradual closing angle of 21.4°, and a seed tray rotation speed of 31.5 r·min−1. Also, the seed-metering device exhibited a single-seed rate of 94.2%, an empty rate of 2.1%, and a multiple-seed rate of 3.7%.
Keywords Garlic      precision seed-metering device      parameter optimization      symmetric finger-clamping device      DEM-MBD coupling     
Corresponding Author(s): Hua LI   
Just Accepted Date: 27 March 2024   Online First Date: 15 April 2024    Issue Date: 12 November 2024
 Cite this article:   
Qian ZHANG,Yongjian WANG,Hua LI, et al. Optimization of a precision symmetric finger-clamping garlic seed-metering device[J]. Front. Agr. Sci. Eng. , 2024, 11(4): 626-641.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/10.15302/J-FASE-2024555
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fase/EN/Y2024/V11/I4/626
Fig.1  Seed-metering device: 1, side plates; 2, intermediate partition; 3, falling seed guide plate; 4, seed-collection spoons; 5, seed tray; 6, seed-distribution plates; 7, pickup finger; 8, pickup finger fixing boxes; 9, finger trail clip; 10, finger pole; 11, fine-adjustment springs; and 12, control board that opened and closed the clip.
Fig.2  Seed-metering device: I, loading area; II, clamping area, III, transfer area; and IV, delivery area.
Fig.3  Pickup finger structure: 1, finger lug; 2, finger clip; 3, finger pole; 4, finger trail clip; 5, seed tray; 6, collection spoon; 7, pickup finger fixing box; and 8, fine-adjustment spring.
Fig.4  Dimension parameters of the seed-collection spoon.
Fig.5  Installation angles of the seed-distribution plate.
Fig.6  Control board partitions. The finger clip gradual opening angle is denoted by Φ1, the finger clip complete opening angle is denoted by Φ2, the finger clip gradual closing angle is denoted by Φ3 and the finger clip complete closing angle is denoted by Φ4.
Fig.7  Control board (lateral view).
Fig.8  Force analysis of target seed for different conditions during seed-collection: (a) without garlic seed in the spoon; (b) with garlic seed in the spoon.
Fig.9  Forces exerted on the pickup finger.
Fig.10  Forces exerted on the garlic seed during the seed-transfer process.
Fig.11  Simplified RecurDyn model of the seed-metering device.
Fig.12  Seed-metering device model imported into EDEM.
Material Density (kg·m–3) Poisson’s ratio Elastic modulus (MPa)
Garlic seeds 1080 0.23 23.8
Steel (45#) 7800 0.25 68,935
Resin 1140 0.394 2000
Tab.1  Material parameters
Contact Collision recovery coefficient Static friction factor Dynamic friction factor
Seed–seed 0.492 0.385 0.102
Seed–steel 0.427 0.473 0.234
Seed–resin 0.432 0.466 0.214
Tab.2  Simulation parameters
Fig.13  Monitoring area model.
Fig.14  Three loading states exhibited during the simulation process: (a) single-seed; (b) multiple-seed; and (c) no seed (empty).
Code Factor
Spoon taper X1 Finger clip gradual closing angle X2 (° ) Rotation speed X3 (r·min?1)
–1.682 1.40 15 25
–1 1.48 17 27
0 1.60 20 30
1 1.72 23 33
1.682 1.80 25 35
Tab.3  Experimental scheme
Fig.15  Bench validation test: 1, conveyor belt; 2, motor; 3, motor governor; 4, seed-metering device; 5, mounting rack; 6, seed loading chamber; 7, seed-collection spoon; 8, pickup finger; and 9, seed-distribution plate.
Seed-distribution plate installation angle (° ) Single-seed rate (%) Mean (%) Empty rate (%) Mean (%) Multiple-seed rate (%) Mean (%)
30 93/94/93 93.3 1/4/2 2.3 6/2/5 4.3
60 93/91/91 91.7 5/2/5 4.0 2/7/4 4.3
90 90/90/88 89.3 7/6/4 5.7 3/4/8 5.0
Tab.4  Simulation results for different installation angles of the seed-distribution plate
Fig.16  Seed population velocity curves for different installation angles of the seed-distribution plate.
Number of spoons Single-seed rate (%) Mean (%) Empty rate (%) Mean (%) Multiple-seed rate (%) Mean (%)
5 85/88/90 87.7 6/6/3 5.0 9/6/7 7.3
6 94/93/94 93.7 3/2/2 2.3 3/5/4 4.0
7 91/90/93 91.3 4/4/3 3.7 5/6/4 5.0
8 91/89/87 89.0 7/7/6 6.7 2/4/7 4.3
Tab.5  Simulation results for different numbers of spoons
Fig.17  Relationship between evaluation indicators and different spoon tapers.
Fig.18  Relationship between evaluation indicators and different finger clip gradual closing angles.
Fig.19  Relationship between evaluation indicators and different rotation speeds of the seed tray.
No. Factor Test indicator
X1 X2 X3 Y1 (%) Y2 (%) Y3 (%)
1 –1 –1 –1 89.7 6.0 4.3
2 1 –1 –1 83.3 5.7 11.0
3 –1 1 –1 91.3 1.0 7.7
4 1 1 –1 86.0 1.3 12.7
5 –1 –1 1 91.3 8.0 0.7
6 1 –1 1 88.3 7.0 4.7
7 –1 1 1 89.3 6.7 4.0
8 1 1 1 92.7 0.7 6.7
9 –1.682 0 0 92.3 6.7 1.0
10 1.682 0 0 87.7 1.7 10.7
11 0 –1.682 0 87.3 9.0 3.7
12 0 1.682 0 93.0 0.3 6.7
13 0 0 –1.682 86.7 2.0 11.3
14 0 0 1.682 93.7 5.3 1.0
15 0 0 0 93.3 3.0 3.7
16 0 0 0 94.3 2.7 3.0
17 0 0 0 92.7 2.7 4.7
18 0 0 0 92.0 3.7 4.3
19 0 0 0 94.0 1.7 4.3
20 0 0 0 93.0 3.0 4.0
21 0 0 0 94.7 2.3 3.0
22 0 0 0 94.3 0.7 5.0
23 0 0 0 93.3 2.3 4.3
Tab.6  Experimental design and results
Source Single-seed rate (Y1) Empty rate (Y2) Multiple-seed rate (Y3)
SS df F p SS df F p SS df F p
Model 201 9 17.9 < 0.0001b 135 9 16.1 < 0.0001b 236 9 42.1 < 0.0001b
X1 26.9 1 21.5 0.0005b 17.4 1 18.6 0.0008b 87.7 1 141 < 0.0001b
X2 19.2 1 15.4 0.0018b 73.0 1 78.1 < 0.0001b 17.3 1 27.9 0.0001b
X3 39.1 1 31.2 < 0.0001b 14.2 1 15.2 0.0018b 100 1 161 < 0.0001b
X1X2 6.75 1 5.39 0.0371a 2.35 1 2.52 0.1367 1.33 1 1.81 0.2014
X1X3 18.0 1 14.4 0.0022b 6.13 1 6.55 0.0238a 3.13 1 5.03 0.043a
X2X3 0.495 1 0.395 0.5405 0.353 1 0.377 0.5498 0.013 1 0.021 0.8881
X12 32.6 1 26.0 0.0002b 7.05 1 7.53 0.0167a 9.36 1 15.1 0.0019b
X22 30.0 1 23.9 0.0003b 11.2 1 12.0 0.0042b 4.50 1 7.24 0.0185a
X32 29.9 1 23.9 0.0003b 3.77 1 4.03 0.0658 12.4 1 20.0 0.0006b
Residual 16.3 13 12.2 13 8.08 13
Lack of fit 10.1 5 2.58 0.1126 6.17 5 1.65 0.2528 4.20 5 1.74 0.2322
Error 6.24 8 6 8 3.87 8
Sum 218 22 147 22 243 22
Tab.7  Variance analysis
Fig.20  Effects of interacting factors on the single-seed rate: (a) finger clip closing angle vs. taper of seed-collection spoon; (b) operation speed vs. taper of seed-collection spoon; and (c) operating speed vs. finger clip gradual closing angle.
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