Design and test of 1SMB-3600A type fragmented mulch film collector for sowing layer soil

To mitigate the problem of mulch film pollution in farmland and to speed up the resource utilization of agricultural film, a 1SMB-3600A type fragmented mulch film collector was designed. Firstly, the structural parameters of its key components are determined, and the key operating parameters affecting the operation of the mulch film collector are obtained by kinetic analysis. Secondly, the field tests were conducted using the Taguchi OA experimental design method. It used machine forward speed, tie tooth roller speed, and operating depth as test factors, and the mulch film pick-up rate and film wrap rate as test indicators to determine the operational efficacy of the machine. The results obtained the order of the significant influence of the individual factors on the indicators. Besides, with the mulch film pick-up rate as the main index, the optimal combination of working parameters for the mulch film collector was determined as follows: machine forward speed of 6 km/h, tie tooth roller speed of 50 r/min, and a working depth of 100 mm. Finally, the validation tests were carried out under the optimal combination of parameters. The results showed that the average value of mulch film pickup rate, the average value of film wrap rate, and the operating efficiency were 65%,1.4%, and 2.2 hm2/h, respectively. This study is intended to provide a new pickup method and technical reference for the development of mulch film collectors.