Design and Experimental Evaluation of a Minimal-Damage Cotton Topping Device

Yang Xu, Changjie Han (), Shilong Qiu, Jia You, Jing Zhang, Yan Luo and Bin Hu
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Yang Xu: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Changjie Han: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Shilong Qiu: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Jia You: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Jing Zhang: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
Yan Luo: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Bin Hu: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-30

Abstract: Cotton topping is a crucial aspect of cotton production, inhibiting apical dominance in cotton plants. Existing cotton topping machinery often results in over-topping. To address this challenge, the characteristics of manual topping operations were emulated by incorporating bionic principles to analyze the motions involved. Studying the artificial topping action and the trajectory of hand movements led to the design of a bionic topping manipulator and a trajectory-generating mechanism, serving as the core component of the cotton topping device. A flat-bottomed follower disc cam mechanism was used to facilitate the automatic opening and closing of the manipulator. The cam’s working area was divided, its contour curve selected, and the manipulator’s pulling spring’s action point and length determined. Subsequently, parametric equations for the motion trajectory of the bionic topping manipulator were established. Building on the topping mechanism’s working principle, a mechanical model was developed to analyze the swing of cotton plants. The model demonstrates that the displacement at the free end of the stalk was primarily influenced by its length. A lifter was then designed to reduce plant swing amplitude and orderly distribute its top position. The designed prototype of a single-row cotton bionic topping device was tested and verified through orthogonal tests, using operating speed, rotational speed, and topping depth as test factors. The topping rate and over-topping rate served as the indices for testing. The results indicated an average topping rate of 78.67% and an over-topping rate of 8%. This was achieved at a 0.3 m/s operating speed, a 40 r/min rotational speed, and a 110 mm topping depth. Cotton topping devices demonstrated greater effectiveness in minimizing damage to cotton plants, and future research should focus on enhancing topping rates even further. This study provides a theoretical foundation and test data to support the design of cotton topping machinery, guiding future mechanical improvements and agricultural practices.

Keywords: cotton; topping; bionic; design; mechanical model; topping rate (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: 2024
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