Development and Analysis of a Belt Picking System for Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Harvesting

Abstract

In this study, a picker system with a belt-pulley mechanism, whichcan be used in sesame harvesting only to aim grabbing the plantstems, was designed and manufactured. In addition, the optimumworking criteria were determined in laboratory conditions. To thisaim, catching efficiency of the picker was evaluated statisticallydepending on different pulley diameters (155, 185 and 210 mm),belt speeds (0.55, 0.66 and 0.77 m s-1) and belt gaps (0 and 5 mm).The catching efficiency increased as the pulley diameter, the beltspeed and the belt gap increased. The picking system was found tobe successful on catching the plant stems. Furthermore, thecoefficient of friction between the plant body and the catching beltwas determined according to the stem moisture content. As the stemmoisture content decreased, a slight decrease was observed in thecoefficient of friction between the belt material and the stem.