OPTIMIZATION AND TESTING OF OPERATING PARAMETERS FOR THE AUTOMATIC SEEDLING PICKING DEVICE OF TOMATO POT SEEDLING TRANSPLANTER

This study focused on an in-depth analysis of the cam motion process of the seedling clamp within the automatic seedling-picking device for tomato pot seedlings. Key influencing factors, including spring stiffness coefficient, seedling needle holding angle, and seedling-picking frequency, were selected for investigation. Evaluation indicators included substrate loss rate, pot seedling drop rate, and seedling-picking success rate. A three-factor, three-level, second-order rotational orthogonal combination test was conducted. Using Design-Expert V13.0.5 software for data analysis, the theoretical optimal parameter combination was identified: a spring stiffness coefficient of 376.8 N/m, a seedling needle holding angle of 15.6°, and a seedling-picking frequency of 89 plants per minute. Under this parameter combination, the substrate loss rate was reduced to 3.94%, the pot seedling drop rate to 2.01%, and the seedling-picking success rate reached 94.05%. A verification test conducted on the seedling-picking device test bench showed that the experimental results closely aligned with the optimized theoretical values. These findings provide a valuable reference for the structural optimization and performance improvement of seedling-picking devices in fully automatic tomato transplanters and contribute significantly to the advancement of automation in tomato transplanting operations.