Influencing Factors of Cutting Force for Apple Tree Branch Pruning
Apple, which occupies the first position in the world with regard to its yield, is an important economic crop in China. Pruning of apple trees is still dominated by manual pruning, resulting in high labor costs and low efficiency. Additionally, there are some limitations with pruning machines. Thus,...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/2/312 |
| _version_ | 1797483713106280448 |
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| author | Chengjun Li Hanshi Zhang Qingchun Wang Zhongjia Chen |
| author_facet | Chengjun Li Hanshi Zhang Qingchun Wang Zhongjia Chen |
| author_sort | Chengjun Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Apple, which occupies the first position in the world with regard to its yield, is an important economic crop in China. Pruning of apple trees is still dominated by manual pruning, resulting in high labor costs and low efficiency. Additionally, there are some limitations with pruning machines. Thus, research regarding the mechanical properties of apple branches is the basis for the designing proper pruning machine. This paper aims to study the effect of the feed rate, cutting line speed, branch diameter, and moisture content on the cutting force. Results revealed that cutting force depended on the feed rate, cutting line speed, and branch diameter. Furthermore, both the cutting line speed and the branch diameter had a significant effect on the cutting force (<i>p</i> < 0.01), while the feed rate had a small effect on the cutting force (<i>p</i> > 0.05). However, the moisture content had no effect on the cutting force, with a difference of cutting force between samples with moisture content of 15% and 50% less than 5%. Based on the experiments performed, an equation relating the feed rate, the cutting line speed, the branch diameter was derived to calculate the cutting force. By verification test, it established that regression equation was valid with error less than 4%. This study explored the mechanical properties of apple branch, and obtained the optimal cutting parameters, which can provide a reference for the design of the pruning machine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:51:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-132e18a2bd3b420fb84175c3522ec54d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:51:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-132e18a2bd3b420fb84175c3522ec54d2023-11-23T18:18:14ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-02-0112231210.3390/agriculture12020312Influencing Factors of Cutting Force for Apple Tree Branch PruningChengjun Li0Hanshi Zhang1Qingchun Wang2Zhongjia Chen3School of Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaApple, which occupies the first position in the world with regard to its yield, is an important economic crop in China. Pruning of apple trees is still dominated by manual pruning, resulting in high labor costs and low efficiency. Additionally, there are some limitations with pruning machines. Thus, research regarding the mechanical properties of apple branches is the basis for the designing proper pruning machine. This paper aims to study the effect of the feed rate, cutting line speed, branch diameter, and moisture content on the cutting force. Results revealed that cutting force depended on the feed rate, cutting line speed, and branch diameter. Furthermore, both the cutting line speed and the branch diameter had a significant effect on the cutting force (<i>p</i> < 0.01), while the feed rate had a small effect on the cutting force (<i>p</i> > 0.05). However, the moisture content had no effect on the cutting force, with a difference of cutting force between samples with moisture content of 15% and 50% less than 5%. Based on the experiments performed, an equation relating the feed rate, the cutting line speed, the branch diameter was derived to calculate the cutting force. By verification test, it established that regression equation was valid with error less than 4%. This study explored the mechanical properties of apple branch, and obtained the optimal cutting parameters, which can provide a reference for the design of the pruning machine.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/2/312cutting forcecutting speedfeed ratemoisture contentapple |
| spellingShingle | Chengjun Li Hanshi Zhang Qingchun Wang Zhongjia Chen Influencing Factors of Cutting Force for Apple Tree Branch Pruning Agriculture cutting force cutting speed feed rate moisture content apple |
| title | Influencing Factors of Cutting Force for Apple Tree Branch Pruning |
| title_full | Influencing Factors of Cutting Force for Apple Tree Branch Pruning |
| title_fullStr | Influencing Factors of Cutting Force for Apple Tree Branch Pruning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influencing Factors of Cutting Force for Apple Tree Branch Pruning |
| title_short | Influencing Factors of Cutting Force for Apple Tree Branch Pruning |
| title_sort | influencing factors of cutting force for apple tree branch pruning |
| topic | cutting force cutting speed feed rate moisture content apple |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/2/312 |
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