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Biomechanical Characterization of Bionic Mechanical Harvesting of Tea Buds

Author

Listed:
  • Kun Luo

    (School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China)

  • Zhengmin Wu

    (State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China)

  • Chengmao Cao

    (School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China)

  • Kuan Qin

    (School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China)

  • Xuechen Zhang

    (School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China)

  • Minhui An

    (School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China)

Abstract

To date, mechanized picking of famous tea (bud, one bud one leaf) causes a lot of damage. Manual picking results in high-quality tea but the process is inefficient. Therefore, in order to improve the quality of mechanically harvested tea buds, the study of bionic picking is beneficial to reduce the damage rate of mechanical picking. In this paper, the manual flexible picking process is studied, and a bionic bladeless mechanical picking mechanics model is developed. The relationship between the mechanical properties and structural deformation of tea stalks is obtained by microstructural observation and mechanical experimental analysis and determination of the bud bionic picking mechanics flow by combined loading tests is carried out. The results show that the key factor for low damage in tea picking is the precise flexible force applied to different parts of the shoot tip during pinching, upward, and picking. The biological force of tea stalks is closely related to the stalk diameter and maturity of stalk tissue development. The larger the xylem of the tea stalk, the stronger its resistance to bending, stretching, and deformation. The stalks at the tender end of the tea are more resilient than the lower stalks and will not break under the action of large angle bending. Additionally, the stalks at the shoot tip have significantly lower pull-off force than the stalks at other places. By simulating the manual picking process, the mechanical picking mechanical parameters were determined to be a clamping pressure of 340 kPa, bending force of 0.134 N, and pull-off force of 5.1 N. These findings help the design of low-damage pickers for famous tea and provide a reference for low-damage bionic picking of tea.

Suggested Citation

  • Kun Luo & Zhengmin Wu & Chengmao Cao & Kuan Qin & Xuechen Zhang & Minhui An, 2022. "Biomechanical Characterization of Bionic Mechanical Harvesting of Tea Buds," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:12:y:2022:i:9:p:1361-:d:904390
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wenchao Wu & Yongguang Hu & Zehui Jiang, 2022. "Investigation on the Bending Behavior of Tea Stalks Based on Non-Prismatic Beam with Virtual Internodes," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Yingpeng Zhu & Chuanyu Wu & Junhua Tong & Jianneng Chen & Leiying He & Rongyang Wang & Jiangming Jia, 2021. "Deviation Tolerance Performance Evaluation and Experiment of Picking End Effector for Famous Tea," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, February.
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