To address the inefficiency and high cost of manual potato pickup in segmented harvesting, a dual-disc potato pickup and harvesting device was designed. The device utilizes counter-rotating dual discs to gather and preliminarily lift the potato–soil mixture, and combines it with an elevator chain to achieve potato–soil separation and transportation. Based on Hertz’s collision theory, the impact of disc rotational speed on potato damage was analyzed, establishing a maximum speed limit (≤62.56 r/min). Through kinematic analysis, the disc inclination angle (12–24°) and operational parameters were optimized. Through coupled EDEM-RecurDyn simulations and Box–Behnken experimental design, the optimal parameter combination was determined with the potato loss rate and potato damage rate as evaluation indices: disc rotational speed of 50 r/min, disc inclination angle of 16°, and machine forward speed of 0.6 m/s. Field validation tests revealed that the potato loss rate and potato damage rate were 1.53% and 2.45%, respectively, meeting the requirements of the DB64/T 1795-2021 standard. The research findings demonstrate that this device can efficiently replace manual potato picking, providing a reliable solution for the mechanized harvesting of potatoes.

Aiming to address the problems of poor separation of peanuts and soil and severe damage of pods during peanut harvesting in saline soil, a peanut digging and harvesting machine was designed using extrusion shaking vibration and roller extrusion. Theoretical calculations determined the structural parameters of critical components. The law of motion of the seedling soil assemblage at the stage of separation and transportation was derived by analyzing the kinematic properties. The soil extrusion vibration crushing dispersion and sieving process was analyzed, and the factors affecting soil crushing and separation were determined by establishing the extrusion collision model. One-way and orthogonal tests used soil content, breakage, and loss rates as test indicators. The orthogonal test showed that the working parameters were as follows: working speed was 0.889 m/s, the inclination angle was 21.5°, the working line speed of the sieve surface was 2.00 m/s and the roller gap of the roller squeezing device was 37 mm, the peanut harvesting rate of soil content was 1.36%, the breakage rate was 0.78%, and the loss rate was 1.15%. The paper references developing a peanut harvester for clay-heavy soil with soil separation performance improvement.

Calibration and experiment of the contact parameters for the discrete meta-simulation of peanut pods during harvest in saline soils

To study the cutting mechanical properties of quinoa straw and reduce the cutting force and unit area cutting power consumption of quinoa straw, this study took quinoa from low-altitude areas as the research object. Through observation and experimental analysis of quinoa from low-altitude areas, the relevant external characteristics of quinoa straw were recognized, providing a certain research basis for the development of quinoa-specific harvesting machinery. In the cutting mechanical experiments, a reciprocating cutting test bench for straw was designed. Single-factor experiments were conducted on the moisture content, cutting speed, blade angle, and cutting angle of quinoa straw. Response surface experiments were conducted on cutting speed, blade inclination angle, and cutting inclination angle to reveal the variation laws of the cutting mechanical properties of quinoa straw, providing a scientific basis for the rational formulation of harvesting strategies. In the single-factor experiments, the ultimate cutting stress of the stem and the unit area cutting power consumption decreased with the increase in moisture content; the ultimate cutting stress of the stem and the unit area cutting power consumption decreased first and then increased with the increase in cutting inclination angle; the ultimate cutting stress of the stem decreased with the increase in blade inclination angle, while the unit area cutting power consumption decreased first and then increased; the ultimate cutting stress of the stem and the unit area cutting power consumption decreased first and then remained stable with the increase in average cutting speed. In the response surface experiments, the optimal parameter combination was an average cutting speed of 0.8 m/s, a cutting inclination angle of 9.8°, and a blade inclination angle of 33.2°. The verification test proved that the error was no more than 4%. Under the optimal parameters, the ultimate cutting stress and unit area cutting power consumption of the straw were 9.1% and 2.9%, respectively.

This study aims to address the major challenges encountered during peanut harvesting and digging in saline–alkali soils, including high digging resistance, poor soil fragmentation, and difficulty separating pods from the soil. A combined cutting–extrusion excavation device was optimized based on soil dynamics. A mechanical model for soil fragmentation via cutting and extrusion was constructed, alongside a mechanical model for separating soil–nut aggregates. Key factors influencing the device’s operational performance were identified, and parameter ranges were determined. Through theoretical analysis and discrete element simulation, the force distribution on the device during operation and the soil fragmentation mechanism were elucidated. Single-factor experiments determined the influence of each factor on evaluation metrics. Through orthogonal experimental analysis, the optimal parameter combination was determined as a blade angle of 21°, a rake angle of 50°, and a forward speed of 4 km/h. At this setting, the number of bonds broken was 172,652, and the working resistance was 14,673.5 N. Field test results indicate that the cutting–extrusion combined excavation device achieved 75.29% soil fragmentation and 16,965.4 N of working resistance. Compared to the original excavation device, soil fragmentation increased by 20.68% and working resistance decreased by 8.06%. The cutting–extrusion combined excavation device outperforms the original excavation device.

In response to the pressing issues of unclear adhesion mechanisms during the soil-removal process in peanut harvesting, poor soil fragmentation quality, and difficulties in separating the pods from the soil. Based on TRIZ theory, this study has innovatively designed a separation device that relies on external forces, such as kneading and squeezing. A mechanical model of soil fragmentation and separation was developed. The key factors affecting the device’s operational performance were identified. Through theoretical analysis and discrete element simulation, this study elucidates the working principle by which the device crushes and separates soil particles using kneading and squeezing forces. Through analysis of one-factor and orthogonal experiments, the optimal operating parameter combination for the device was determined to be: a drum installation clearance of 104.7 mm, a rotational speed difference of 75.2 rpm, and a pattern roughness of Grade III (reticulated). The system’s performance metrics are a soil removal rate of 96.59% and a pod damage rate of 2.48%. Field tests have confirmed that the deviation from simulation results is minimal. The device’s performance meets the requirements of actual production.