A justification of the choice of parameters for the picking reel tooth on a lowbush blueberry harvester

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Date
2021Author
Arak, Margus
Liivapuu, Olga
Maksarov, V.V.
Olt, Jüri
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The functional working tool on the blueberry harvester is its rotating picking reel. Its
working element is the picking rake which is attached to the picking reel. A total of four rakes
are attached to the picking reel. A picking rake includes an axis which is attached in an articulated
manner between the reel’s end discs, and pin-shaped teeth which are rigidly attached to it. The
picking rake’s tooth must be made of a fully flexible material to prevent damage to the blueberry
plant. The aim of this research was to determine the flexure of test specimens (plastic rods) which
have been constructed from a fully flexible material of different conditions, along with the
suitability for use of such flexible material as the teeth on the picking rake. As a result of this
study, it became clear that, based on the results from flexure, durability, and residual deformation
tests, it is more expedient to choose Ertacetal C (POM-C) as the material for the picking reel’s
tooth, with a diameter of 4.3 mm.