Performance experiment of friction conveying device for maize ears

Abstract: At present, chain-rake grain conveying devices are widely used in corn united harvest machines. They are reliable with stable performance, but their structures are complicated. Screw conveying devices have the advantages of being simple in structure; they are also applied in corn united harvest machines, but since they use a helical blade space to transport corn, the structures are huge and difficult to configure in small corn united harvest machines. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new conveying device. The blades of the new maize ears helical blade friction conveying devices are lower, so the grains during the course of transmission are on the top of the blades at all times. Thus, the conveyer structure can be smaller in size, with less grain injuries in the conveying process.By using a self-made conveying device for maize ears, the research focused on the laws of effects on maize ears conveying performance caused by the new-type transmission auger's blade height, guide side panel's inclining angle, guide side panel position angle, auger lift-and-convey angle, and the rotational speed of the auger. Performances of maize ear conveying devices mainly displays in three aspects: the damage degree of maize ears, the quantity of shattering, and the transport capacity. In the paper, maize ears were first be divided into four states according to the average length, diameter and differences of moisture content. The first state was chosen in the test. Maize ears of the first state are different from the ones of state two, three, and four, respectively, in diameter, length, and moisture content. The state classification was used to study the adaptability of the conveyor as the single characteristic of the material changes. It helps to compare the test results more directly and clearly. Analysis of variance was used in the test to calculate the test results.The test verified that the maize ear conveying device is adapted to many causes, including different maize ear sizes and moisture content. With a blade height of 20 mm, an auger rotational speed of 300 r/min, side panel position angle of 70° and side panel inclination angle of 75°, the novel conveying device can convey maize ears better and effectively avoid the injury by traditional helical conveying devices.