• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2011

This study was carried out to develop a vine crusher for harvesting sweet potato. The experimental two-row vine crusher attachable to agricultural tractor composed of vine crushing part with frail type vine crushing blades and vine lifting blades, power transmission part with chain and gear transmission mechanism, crushing height control part with two control wheels and manual levers, and implement frames, was designed and fabricated. And this vine crushing performance was also analyzed. From vine crushing tests, backward travel direction (i.e., rotational direction of the vine crushing blades) showed better vine crushing performance than forward travel direction. Crushing ratio of remained vine was increased, and length of remained vine and length of crushed vine were decreased as working speed was decreased and rotational speed of vine crushing blades was increased. At a working speed of 0.27 m/s and rotational speed of vine crushing blades of 800 rpm, crushing ratio of remained vine was 98%, length of remained vine was 104 mm, and length of crushed vine was 327 mm. But, when crushing vine on irregular ridges, vines and mulching vinyl were wound in the vine crushing part. Therefore, change of location of power transmission chain mechanism, and an automatic control device for controlling crushing height were needed.