Design parameters for vibratory mango harvesting system

ABSTRACT An inertia type slider crank limb shaker was designed and developed for harvesting mango fruits. Field tests on two local cultivars showed that to obtain maximum fruit removal with minimum tree damage, the shaker should be operated in the range of 76 to 102 mm eccentricity and 13 to 11 r/s for 4 s. To minimize tree damage, the clamp for holding the tree limb should be provided with a padding material having high shock absorbing characteristics. Among the cushioning materials tested, the nylon net had the lowest fragility factor and the lowest coefficient of restitution and its use is recommended for catching the fruits. The maximum limb displacement (S^^^^) ^^^ shaking frequency (f) follow the equation S^^^ = aQ exp (-Cof) where SLQ and CQ are coefficients. Apparent stiffness (K) of the limb increases with increase in shaking frequency according to equation fi = CQK where CQ is a coefficient. Fruit removal percentage (FR) is given by the regression equation FR = CjCf) + C2(s) + C3(fs) + C4(D) where D is limb diameter and Cj, C2, C3 and C4 are coefficients. The fruit detachment force to fruit weight ratio (FAV) is related to fruit size (Df) and detachment angle (d) by the equation of form L^CF/W) = CQ + CjCDf) + C2('d ) where CQ, Ci, C2 are coefficients.