Design and test on transmitting device for fresh apricot with single fruit rank in certain interval

Abstract: Apricot is a kind of very important fruit in China. Xinjiang is the largest apricot producer with a planting area of 1.324×105 hm2 and an annual production of 1.280×106 t. However, the fresh apricot is very liable to become putrid if it is not eaten and processed in time during the storing and transporting. Traditionally in China, fresh apricots can be processed into various apricot products with special flavor, such as dried apricot slices. Unfortunately, the amount of all the apricots processed accounts only for less than 11% of total amount of fresh apricots, and the processing almost relies on manual operation. Limited mechanization of apricot production especially for harvesting and processing has become a key factor in impeding the development of apricot industry in Xinjiang. During the processes of processing from fresh apricots into dried apricot slices, 2 devices and corresponding procedures are needed. The first procedure is that every apricot must be ranked automatically one by one with an interval, in order that the next device is able to automatically orientate and accurately cut apricot into 2 slices. Based on the combination theory of agricultural machinery and agronomy as well as the related basic study on the physical and mechanical properties of apricot during transporting and segueing, this research was conducted to determine the optimal structure and design parameters of the interval deliverer for fresh apricots, and to develop the fresh apricot conveying device with single apricot ranking in interval. This device included: a series of saddle rollers that rotate by their own axis as they move forward; the distributing mechanism i.e. the polygon cams make the apricots fed peacefully and ensure apricots into the next procedure one by one. All the process of sequencing feeding and transporting of fresh apricots was achieved through the performance combination of the chains consisting of saddle rollers with the distributing mechanism key parts. The performance test of the device developed was accomplished at Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the apricots used as experimental materials were yellow Cemaati and red Cemaati apricots with middle maturity from Yingjisha County of southern Xinjiang, which were checked by labor before the test. The sequencing rate of single fruit and cavity rate were as the test indices. The test result showed that the sequencing rate of single apricot was 91.4%, the cavity rate was 1.4% and the feeding efficiency was 1 200 kg/h. The research results will provide important basis for further research and development of the ranking feeding device for late mechanical orientation and cutting procedure automatically.