Parameterisation and Optimisation of a Hand-Rake Sweeper: Application in Olive Picking

Rafael E. Hidalgo Fernández, Pilar Carranza-Cañadas, Francisco J. García-Salcedo and Paula Triviño-Tarradas
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Rafael E. Hidalgo Fernández: Department of Graphic Engineering and Geomatics, University of Cordoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Pilar Carranza-Cañadas: Department of Graphic Engineering and Geomatics, University of Cordoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Francisco J. García-Salcedo: Independent Scholar, Cordoba, Spain
Paula Triviño-Tarradas: Department of Graphic Engineering and Geomatics, University of Cordoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: Olive picking is one of the most common social agricultural activities in many regions of Andalusia where the predominant crop is the traditional olive grove. The machinery used includes shakers, blowers and essential, low-cost hand-rake sweepers. The latter are generally used by the women of the squads to sweep the olives that fall from the trees. This article is focused on the design and optimisation of a hand-rake sweeper, in terms of durability and cost, for the picking of olives and other fruits, such as almonds, which are currently the main alternative to nonperennial crops in Andalusia. A parametric design of a hand-rake sweeper was created for this application using the design software CATIA, and its most vulnerable points were analysed in terms of effectiveness with varying design parameters, conducting usage simulations with ANSYS for a light material such as polypropylene. The maximum von Mises stress of the whole structure was 155.81 MPa. Using ANSYS, the dimension parameters of the hand-rake sweeper structure were optimised. The modified design was analysed again, showing a reduction of maximum tensions of 10.06%, as well as a decrease in its maximum elongations (0.0181 mm).

Keywords: parametric design; rake; picking; static analysis; CATIA; ANSYS; von Mises stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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