Advanced machine for sorting potatoes tubers

Abstract The article provided the results of studies to improve the design of a machine for potato sorting, the working surface of which consists of belts at different speeds. The aim of the work is to increase the accuracy of potato sorting according to their external dimensions, without damage. Using theoretical, one-factor, and multi-factor experiments and experiments in production conditions, the following optimal parameters of the improved patented machine for sorting potato were established: - the speed of a slow-moving belt of 0.4 m/s; - the speed of a fast-moving belt 0.6 m/s; - the angle between adjacent belts 0.46′26. With these values of the factors, the accuracy of the criteria of the sorting machine is 95%. An experimental model of the machine tested on the fields of farms of the Ferghana region of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In the process of potato sorting, it was revealed that the indicator of damage to potato in the course of the experiments did not exceed 0.5%. It was found that to achieve 95% accuracy of sorting, at a feed speed of potato heap onto the belt surface of the machine 4.5 kg per second, the angle between the belts should be 0.46′26, the speed of the slow-moving belt should be 0.4 m/s and the speed of the second should be 0.6 m/s.