Development of Taro Picker and Evaluation of Operation Accuracy and Work Efficiency

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to reduce the labor required for the taro harvesting process after digging by a digging and separating machine. The process involves picking up taros from ridges, separating daughter tubers from mother tubers, and placing them in a container. First, we developed a prototype taro picker comprising a pick-up unit, conveyor transfer unit, and rotary transfer unit. A commercial walking-type onion picker was used as the base machine. The primary modifications were alterations to the rods of the pick-up conveyor and the addition of a conveyor belt. Furthermore, the rotary transfer unit comprised a screw blade, and a cylindrical sieve was joined to the rear of the base machine. Subsequently, we developed a mechanized harvesting system consisting of a prototype picker and a transport vehicle. During the harvesting process, a majority of clods were removed through the rotary transfer unit after the taros and soil clods were picked up by the conveyor. The taros transported from the chute of the rotary transfer unit were collected in a flexible container bag on a transport vehicle. The results of our experimental study indicate a harvesting success rate of 95.2% at a working speed of 0.05 m/s. In harvested containers, the ratio of clod weight to the total weight of taros was 7.2%, and the ratio of damaged tubers to total tubers was 3.1%. Furthermore, the work efficiency was 19.5 person･h/10a, which is three times that of the conventional system.