Substantiation of a new cabbage machine harvesting technique

Abstract

Under conventional machine harvesting, cabbage heads are severely damaged during bulk loading into the back of an accompanying vehicle. Therefore, a new technique of cabbage machine harvesting has been proposed. This technique involves machine cutting of cabbage heads using a cutting unit with oscillating levelers, finishing of heads to the required condition using a conveyor cutter by re-trimming the stalks of unsalable heads using a guillotine-like method, distribution of the cabbage heads along the front of the cabbage harvester using a longitudinal conveyor, and manual transfer of the heads by workers from the longitudinal conveyor belt into interchangeable containers installed in the cabbage harvester. Furthermore, the possibility of loading the interchangeable containers after filling with cabbage into the back of a vehicle equipped with a roller conveyor for transport to a vegetable storage facility is also envisaged. Upon arrival at the vegetable storage facility, the cabbage containers are unloaded (after the vehicle's rear stop is moved to the unloading position). The tractor's suspension raises the front of the platform to the required height creating a slope for the containers to roll onto the roller conveyor under their own weight. The tractor then moves the unit forward as the containers are unloaded. The forces required to move the cabbage containers on the roller conveyor during loading onto the vehicle are analyzed, as well as the platform slope during unloading. As a result, it is proposed that the conveyor belt be constructed as a plate-like floor with flanges. To ensure the roller conveyor operates efficiently during unloading, the platform slope in the raised position should be at least 2.0 to 2.5%.