Research of simulation analysis and experimental optimization of banana de-handing device with self-adaptive profiling function

Abstract Aiming at the problems of high labor intensity, low efficiency and potential health hazards in the manual de-handing operation in the current banana harvesting and de-handing process, we have studied the key technologies of mechanical banana de-handing and tested the stability and universality of the operations of banana de-handing device. The self-adaptive profiling performance of banana de-handing device to banana bunch stalk with irregular geometric shape is the key and difficult point of realizing the mechanized banana de-handing. Therefore, the kinematics analysis of the radial self-adaptive mechanism in de-handing device was conducted, and based on the kinematic characteristic of de-handing cutters, the de-handing cutters are installed on the rotational self-adaptive mechanism. The simulation analysis results showed that the self-adaptive enveloping performance of de-handing device to banana bunch stalk is good, and the de-handing device works stably and reliably. In addition, the static analysis results for de-handing cutter showed that the maximum stress of the cutter during the actual banana de-handing operation is much smaller than its ultimate stress, and the cutter will not be permanently deformed or damaged. Finally, the updated banana de-handing device was used as the experimental platform to verify the coordination of the functions and the practicability of the operation of the de-handing device, and the one-factor experiments and the response surface optimization experiments of banana de-handing were conducted. The incision quality of banana hands after de-handing and the working performance of de-handing device were measured and evaluated. Our research provides a reference for improving the self-adaptive profiling performance of banana de-handing device to bunch stalk and optimizing the design of banana de-handing device, thereby laying a foundation for developing, manufacturing and promoting the mechanized, automated and intelligent banana de-handing devices.