The frame of the cotton picker is exposed to complex and varying loads during its operation. Therefore, conducting research on the vibration characteristics of the frame is crucial. In this study, vibration tests were conducted on the main vibration sources in a cotton picker at several measuring points on the frame. An accelerometer sensor was utilized to collect the signals. Fourier analysis was applied to analyze the vibration sources, encompassing the excitation frequency and the vibration source-coupled excitation frequency. Modal tests were also conducted to validate the finite element model and determine the natural frequencies of the frame. The results showed that the natural frequencies of the frame, specifically the third-order, fourth-order, and sixth-order frequencies, were comparable to the vibration source-coupled excitation frequencies. To prevent frame resonance, the response surface method was used to optimize the frame. Based on the MOGA algorithm, scheme 4 was identified as the optimal design. Furthermore, fatigue life calculations were carried out to optimize the parts with short lifespans on the frame, thereby enhancing the working performance.

Aiming at the problem of the difficult separation of film in the process of farmland residual film recovery, a clamping conveying residual film recovery device was designed and studied. The device was mainly composed of a clamp plate, clamp plate conveying chain, chain wheel drive shaft, and the residual film conveying chain and frame. Firstly, the structure and working principle of the device are introduced. The tensile properties of the residual film are investigated to determine the relationship between the average clamping force, the height of the clamp plate, the spacing of the clamp plate, and the rotational speed of the sprocket. Then, the mechanical properties of the residual film are discussed. The influence weight of each factor on the film impurity separation rate is summarized by single factor tests. The regression equation between the factors and film impurity separation rate is established. The results of the variance analysis of regression equation show that the film impurity separation rate was 93.70% at 1.08 m/s conveying speed of clamp plate, with 12 clamp plates, and 7 residual film conveyor chains. Taking the maximum value of the film impurity separation rate (η) as the objective using MATLAB, the optimal result was in good agreement with the regression equation. In addition, the field test results show that the film impurity separation rate was 92.35%. Compared with the theoretical analysis results, the relative error was 1.35%. The research results provide a theoretical reference for the design of related devices.

When the film is under no stress, it does not show any stiffness or capability to withstand loads. Therefore, with the help of ANSYS motion, the author applied pre-stress, controlled point coordinates and the equation of equivalent stress surface and used form-finding conditions to explore the equilibrium state of the films in different depths. The author established curve fitting equations and designed a new membrane-removing mulch film recovery machine. The author also analyzed key components and separately established regression equations between recovery rate, damage rate, release rate and the working angle of film picking mechanism, as well as the regression equation between the depth of picking mechanism into the soil and the working angle of clamping conveyor. Then the author conducted the variance analysis on these regression equations. By using Design Expert 8.0.6 to optimize the solution, when the working angle of the pick-up mechanism is 27.31°, the depth of the pick-up mechanism is 73.0 mm. The working angle of the clamping and conveying device is 38.33°, the recovery rate is 93.9% and the damage rate is 89.3%. The test result shows that when parameters are set as above values, the recovery rate of residual film is 92.5%, the release rate is 87.6% and the error values of damage rate and release rate are both lower than 1.5%, which have verified the feasibility of the optimization solution. The experimental result can work as a reference for the optimum working parameters of the new membrane-removing mulch film recovery machine.

This study aims to address the low cleaning efficiency (73.12%) and high cotton loss rate (12.50%) of existing stripper-and-stick cleaners when processing machine-harvested long-staple cotton. Based on the material characteristics of Xinjiang long-staple cotton, a novel impurity removal device was designed specifically for its cleaning. A mechanical model of cotton–impurity interaction was established to guide the design of U-shaped saw cylinder parameters. Static analyses conducted via Ansys Workbench revealed that both straight and arc-shaped sawteeth exhibited negligible deformations (≤4.73 × 10⁻⁴ mm) and von Mises stresses (≤9.52 MPa), meeting the practical operational requirements. Through orthogonal experiments (sawtooth type, linear velocity, and feed speed), the optimal operating parameters were determined as arc-shaped sawteeth, 7.5 m/s linear velocity, and 11 t/h feed speed. Prototype testing demonstrated that under these parameters, the impurity removal device achieved an average cleaning efficiency of 82.42% (a 9.30% improvement over conventional devices) and an average cotton loss rate of 8.34% (a 4.16% reduction compared to conventional devices). This study provides a valuable reference for the design and optimization of stripper-and-stick cleaners specifically tailored for machine-harvested long-staple cotton.

The frame of the six-row self-propelled packaging cotton picker serves as the primary load-bearing structure. During operation, the frame is subjected to multiple vibration signals, which are further intensified by coupling effects. These vibrations negatively impact the machine’s operational stability and overall performance. In this study, vibration source tests were designed to collect dynamic response data, enabling systematic analysis of excitation mechanisms and vibration characteristics. Furthermore, a comprehensive analytical approach integrating finite element simulation with experimental analysis was employed to optimize the layout of the vibration sources on the frame. Finally, the frame was validated through modal testing, with multiple measurement points arranged at the interfaces between the frame and the vibration source for vibration tests and time–frequency domain analysis. The results indicate that the final optimized dimensional parameters of the frame were determined as follows: X1 = 1575 mm, X2 = 805 mm, and X3 = 275 mm. Furthermore, time–frequency domain analysis reveals that the natural frequency of the rack designed in this study is effectively separated from the dominant excitation frequency band. This design feature successfully mitigates the risk of resonance, thereby fulfilling the intended performance objectives.