Modeling the technological process of recycling fruit tree branches

Abstract

Pruning produces a byproduct – cut fruit branches – that clutters the orchard's row spacing and interferes with subsequent maintenance work. Therefore, pruning fruit trees and disposing of the resulting waste is a pressing issue. An analysis of the current state of fruit tree pruning disposal revealed that existing chippers can be classified by design into the following groups: stationary, positional, and mobile. Stationary chippers are most often used in horticulture when the chipped wood is subsequently used in the processing industry. Mobile chippers significantly reduce labor intensity. A mounted system ensures the unit's transport position and allows for adjustable penetration of the chipper's working parts into the soil. Modeling the fruit tree branch disposal process revealed the relationship between cutting force and the work of the cutting force on the key parameters of the fruit tree branch chipping process using a knife disk. Two-layer knives with a 9Kh5VF steel cutting edge, a grade 15 steel body, or solid knives made of U8A tool steel with a cutting edge hardness of HRC=50-55 are recommended. It has been shown that the greater the sharpening angle, the greater the cutting force. This leads to greater deformation of the material in front of the knife, resulting in greater pressure. This increases the specific cutting force. An expression has been derived for determining the optimal sharpening angle for the knife blade, which ensures the minimum knife wear coefficient and the lowest specific cutting force. These expressions can be used in the design of shredding machines.