Device and Method Suitable for Matching and Adjusting Reel Speed and Forward Speed of Multi-Crop Harvesting

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors tried to explain the device and method developed for controlling and matching the reel speed and forward speed of multi-crop harvester. However, I think it is lacking in all aspects as an academic paper. In Introduction, analysis of related studies is insufficient and lacking of details. Also most of references are from Chinese researcher, despite there are many international studies related to speed control. In Materials and Methods, I don't understand the structure of target harvester and related mathematical theories because the explanation is too short and not logical. For example, about the symbol λ, the authors explained it as reel rotation speed in line 116-117 and weeding speed ratio in line 160. This inconsistency makes it difficult to understand what the true meaning of the value is. The format of flow chart in figures 2 and 6 are improper, and there is little theoretical background to equations. About tables 1-3, I don't know how the authors obtained the values and what the meaning of total harvest quality is. There is no Conclusion section and only a simple table is shown in Results and Discussion section without any explanation of how the authors obtained the values. Finally, the English grammar is also poor.

Author Response

Dear expert 1, Thank you for reviewing my article and giving valuable comments, I found in the process of Upload Reply Picture and Formula Can Not Upload, please check the response file.

Reply

Dear expert 1，Thank you for reviewing my article and giving valuable comments：

1. In the introduction, I added the reading literature and made a summary. For harvester experiments at home and abroad, most of them seek the best parameter combination. What I want to solve is the matching between reel speed and forward speed, because if they do not match, crops will be pushed down. Therefore, the matching is completed according to domestic and foreign references and mathematical models. In addition, the traditional reel speed is controlled manually, Therefore, we use hydraulic motor automatic control to obtain any speed。

I will explain the formula you don't understand as follows. As for the following formula, I did not write all the derivation process in the original text. This is my problem. There will be all the process in the revised article.λ Is the ratio of forward speed to reel speed in the harvester，λ=V_b/V_m, In order to show clearly, I will simulate the established reel model. The simulation results are as follows. As shown in figure 3,Since the diagram can not be uploaded, ask the expert to view it in the file.

So only in λ> 1. It has a better supporting effect on crops.

2. The flow chart in Figure 2 mainly shows that stm32f1 collects various parameters and outputs signals to complete the control of reel speed after processing, Firstly, the hall sensor can detect the forward speed and reel speed, then process the data through the program algorithm, and finally output the corresponding signal to drive the hydraulic motor on the one hand and change the forward speed on the other hand.

3. I will explain the formula in Figure 6 of the original text, that is, figure 8 of the modified article

First select the type of crop to harvest, Each crop has a suitable for them λ Range, f λ Inappropriate will cause great harvest loss, So it needs to be adjusted λ Scope of, The following is the derivation of the whole formula. As shown in figure 8,Since the diagram can not be uploaded, ask the expert to view it in the file.

According to the working principle of the reel, the motion of the reel in the process of harvesting crops belongs to a composite motion. The motion process is analyzed according to the motion trajectory diagram, and its motion trajectory is shown in the figure. As shown in figure 7,Since the diagram can not be uploaded, ask the expert to view it in the file.

Combined with the above figure, the mathematical model equation of reel in the working process can be established. The mathematical model is:

It is known that when the reel is used to reel crops, the horizontal split speed is zero, then there is the following formula: V_x=0=-R

Simultaneous two type: +h

Because y ≈ L, the mathematical model of the matching relationship between reel speed and harvester forward speed is: Above formula and λ= Vb / VM simultaneous

Therefore, under the matching of reel speed and forward speed λ It is related to header height h, reel installation height h, crop height L and reel radius R. changing these parameters can obtain appropriate results λ value.

4. The values in table 1-3 are obtained through the test. The total mass refers to the total mass of crop grains harvested 10 meters ahead of the harvester.

5. As for the conclusion, I summarized the obtained results again and compared them with the test at random speed.

Thank the experts for their valuable comments. I have revised the article.

6. As for the result part, I have made the comparison and the consummation, has made the summary which draws the conclusion.

    1. In this paper, the matching adjustment method of rotational speed and forward speed of rotary wheel is proposed, and in the matching adjustment process, the range of rotational speed ratio suitable for harvesting different crops is satisfied, so as to reduce the loss of harvest.

    2. When harvesting different crops, harvest crops under different ratio λ and measure the loss rate of different crops under different ratio λ. The test results show that in the rice harvest test, the loss rate fluctuation between 1.4-1.8 is the least, so in general, When the ratio of rice to grain is between 1.4 and 1.8, it can have better harvest effect and lower loss, 1.6 is the best, the range of the ratio of rice to grain is between 1.2 and 1.7, 1.4 is the best, the range of the ratio of rice to grain is between 1.2 and 1.6, 1.3 is the best. Also chart illustrates the speed ratio is designed between close to 1 and 2 regardless of what kind of crop harvest effect is not ideal, so the optimization of speed ratio value range is designed to influence on the effect of harvest is bigger, also for the subsequent wheel speed is designed with the harvest machine speed matching regulate groundwork, follow-up can do crops such as sorghum, wheat harvest experiment exploring its optimum ratio range value is designed.

    3. according to the Shandong harvest rice test we can know that wheel speed is designed and the error of the matching speed regulating value does not exceed 2%, for meeting the design requirements, can better achieve wheel speed and speed matching is designed, and in the control system to join the selection of the speed ratio is designed, further optimize the match, not only meet the wheel speed and speed matching is designed, also can guarantee the harvest in the process, The rate of loss was reduced and the quality of the harvest was improved.

    4. By comparing the loss rate of harvested crops under speed matching and that under random speed matching, it can be found that the loss rate of harvested rice and rape is between 1.21% and 1.41% and 1.19% and 1.33%, respectively. The loss rate of harvested millet ranged from 1.15% to 1.33%, and the loss rate of any crop under the matching of rotation speed was lower than that under the random rotation speed. The experiment proved that the matching of rotation speed and forward speed could effectively reduce the loss rate.

    5. The device and method designed in this study are suitable for harvesting multiple crops, including rice, rape and millet. In the follow-up work, we will continue to increase the harvest experiment of wheat, sorghum and other crops to achieve multiple crop harvest.

Reviewer 2 Report

See file "Rew"

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear expert 2, Thank you for reviewing my article and giving valuable comments：

1. Dear experts, hello, for the uploaded file formula disappeared, I have solved, and check the correction of the article, this is my problem, will pay attention to the future.
2. As for the result part, I have made the comparison and the consummation, has made the summary which draws the conclusion

1. In this paper, the matching adjustment method of rotational speed and forward speed of rotary wheel is proposed, and in the matching adjustment process, the range of rotational speed ratio suitable for harvesting different crops is satisfied, so as to reduce the loss of harvest

2. When harvesting different crops, harvest crops under different ratio λ and measure the loss rate of different crops under different ratio λ. The test results show that in the rice harvest test, the loss rate fluctuation between 1.4-1.8 is the least, so in general, When the ratio of rice to grain is between 1.4 and 1.8, it can have better harvest effect and lower loss, 1.6 is the best, the range of the ratio of rice to grain is between 1.2 and 1.7, 1.4 is the best, the range of the ratio of rice to grain is between 1.2 and 1.6, 1.3 is the best. Also chart illustrates the speed ratio is designed between close to 1 and 2 regardless of what kind of crop harvest effect is not ideal, so the optimization of speed ratio value range is designed to influence on the effect of harvest is bigger, also for the subsequent wheel speed is designed with the harvest machine speed matching regulate groundwork, follow-up can do crops such as sorghum, wheat harvest experiment exploring its optimum ratio range value is designed.

3. According to the Shandong harvest rice test we can know that wheel speed is designed and the error of the matching speed regulating value does not exceed 2%, for meeting the design requirements, can better achieve wheel speed and speed matching is designed, and in the control system to join the selection of the speed ratio is designed, further optimize the match, not only meet the wheel speed and speed matching is designed, also can guarantee the harvest in the process, The rate of loss was reduced and the quality of the harvest was improved.

4. By comparing the loss rate of harvested crops under speed matching and that under random speed matching, it can be found that the loss rate of harvested rice and rape is between 1.21% and 1.41% and 1.19% and 1.33%, respectively. The loss rate of harvested millet ranged from 1.15% to 1.33%, and the loss rate of any crop under the matching of rotation speed was lower than that under the random rotation speed. The experiment proved that the matching of rotation speed and forward speed could effectively reduce the loss rate.

5. The device and method designed in this study are suitable for harvesting multiple crops, including rice, rape and millet. In the follow-up work, we will continue to increase the harvest experiment of wheat, sorghum and other crops to achieve multiple crop harvest.

Reviewer 3 Report

The introduction should provide more detailed information on the issue at hand. Scientific novelty must be highlighted.

All figures must be marked (a, b...) and explained separately in Figures 1 and 7. 

All members should be explained in formula (1). The authorship of the formulas should be specified.

The results in the graphs need to be explained in more detail. All results need to be thoroughly analyzed.

188 line: "installation height H, header height H" is not clear.

The given results should be compared with the other authors studies in the discussion section. The information is discussed very shortly. It would be necessary to widen the discussion.

The references are not very exhaustive.

The article should be prepared according to the requirements of the authors.

Author Response

Dear expert 3，Thank you for reviewing my article and giving valuable comments. I found in the process of Upload Reply Picture and Formula Can Not Upload, please check the response file.

In the introduction, I added the current problem of large loss rate caused by speed mismatch, and added some previous literature.

Thank you for your comments. Some letters in the formula have been marked on the figure；

The results obtained are summarized again, including the final conclusion, and compared with the previous tests,

For H, the original text should forget the explanation. Here should be the installation height of reel, which has been modified

In the conclusion part, we analyze and compare the test results of this device with the results of previous experiments, and come to the conclusion that under the matching adjustment of reel speed and forward speed, the loss rate of harvested crops is reduced. The test comparison diagram is shown below. As shown in figure 13, since the diagram can not be uploaded, ask the expert to view it in the file.

2. As for Marking a and bat the bottom of the diagram, it has been settled as required

As shown in figure 1and12,Since the diagram can not be uploaded, ask the expert to view it in the file.

As for the result part, I have made the comparison and the consummation, has made the summary which draws the conclusion:

1. In this paper, the matching adjustment method of rotational speed and forward speed of rotary wheel is proposed, and in the matching adjustment process, the range of rotational speed ratio suitable for harvesting different crops is satisfied, so as to reduce the loss of harvest

2. When harvesting different crops, harvest crops under different ratio λ and measure the loss rate of different crops under different ratio λ. The test results show that in the rice harvest test, the loss rate fluctuation between 1.4-1.8 is the least, so in general, When the ratio of rice to grain is between 1.4 and 1.8, it can have better harvest effect and lower loss, 1.6 is the best, the range of the ratio of rice to grain is between 1.2 and 1.7, 1.4 is the best, the range of the ratio of rice to grain is between 1.2 and 1.6, 1.3 is the best. Also chart illustrates the speed ratio is designed between close to 1 and 2 regardless of what kind of crop harvest effect is not ideal, so the optimization of speed ratio value range is designed to influence on the effect of harvest is bigger, also for the subsequent wheel speed is designed with the harvest machine speed matching regulate groundwork, follow-up can do crops such as sorghum, wheat harvest experiment exploring its optimum ratio range value is designed.

3. According to the Shandong harvest rice test we can know that wheel speed is designed and the error of the matching speed regulating value does not exceed 2%, for meeting the design requirements, can better achieve wheel speed and speed matching is designed, and in the control system to join the selection of the speed ratio is designed, further optimize the match, not only meet the wheel speed and speed matching is designed, also can guarantee the harvest in the process, The rate of loss was reduced and the quality of the harvest was improved.

4. By comparing the loss rate of harvested crops under speed matching and that under random speed matching, it can be found that the loss rate of harvested rice and rape is between 1.21% and 1.41% and 1.19% and 1.33%, respectively. The loss rate of harvested millet ranged from 1.15% to 1.33%, and the loss rate of any crop under the matching of rotation speed was lower than that under the random rotation speed. The experiment proved that the matching of rotation speed and forward speed could effectively reduce the loss rate.

5. The device and method designed in this study are suitable for harvesting multiple crops, including rice, rape and millet. In the follow-up work, we will continue to increase the harvest experiment of wheat, sorghum and other crops to achieve multiple crop harvest.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Although some parts are revised according to comments, I think this manuscript still does not satisfy the quality as an academic paper. I can't find differences from previous studies because there are already many studies related to speed control using hydraulic and electric systems. It's hard to understand the contents clearly because details for the system construction and experiment are insufficient.

Author Response

Dear experts, thank you for reviewing my article, based on your questions, I will give the following explanation:

1. Here are questions about the novelty of the article’s research：

My main research is the reel speed and harvester forward speed matching problem. Each crop requires a different speed of advance from that of the reel. It has been proved in the literature and our experiments that too high or too low rotation speed of reel will cause the loss of grain. If the speed is too fast, it will increase the blow to the grain, and if the speed is too slow, it will be too late to harvest and cause blockage. So I’m going to use the mathematical model to match the speed of the reel to the speed of the reel. Domestic and foreign scholars have studied the reel speed and forward speed on the harvest effect。

According to the simulation and the literature, it can be known that only when λ is greater than 1, it has the effect on crops. So I added my own ideas on how to harvest different crops under different lambda to find their optimal ratio range. When the speed of reel is matched with the forward speed, the value of λ is kept as ideal as possible, which can further reduce the loss. This is also the basis for unmanned harvesters. According to the mathematical model, we can know the parameters that affect λ, so we can adjust these parameters to get the ideal λ before harvesting. In order to further research, the variable diameter reel can be designed to realize the full automation of reel parameters. The emphasis and novelty of this paper is to match the speed of reel with the speed of advance, at the same time, to make the λ value of different crops in the range suitable for the crops, so as to further reduce the loss of harvest。

2. Problem of incomplete system model

Thanks to the experts for their valuable suggestions. When I reviewed my paper, I found that I did lack some necessary procedures, including some parameter tables and schematic diagrams. So I added the control system schematic in the article, because the reply can not upload the picture, please experts to the article in line 348 view.

In addition, the system selection of the motor and proportional solenoid valve parameters I have also increased, please experts to the Article 394 lines.

In order to verify the accuracy and feasibility of the system, I also built a model of proportional solenoid valve control hydraulic motor in Aemsim, and carried out simulation. The simulation and system setup are presented in lines 416 to 425.

Teacher’s advice to me is very valuable, but also in the future I submitted in the accumulation of experience, taught me to complete the content, so that the reader more clearly.

3. About the experiment

Because in the reel speed and forward speed match, in order to minimize the loss, I do three crops in different λ harvest experiment. Finally, the range of λ suitable for the crop was determined according to the range of loss rate, This brings λ into the proper range by adjusting the parameters before harvesting the crop, In this way, the rate of crop loss can be minimized.

In the last part of this article, two experiments have been done, The first is to verify whether the control system we designed is feasible and whether the error meets the requirements. The second experiment is to prove that this method has a better harvest effect. These are the three experiments involved in the paper, If the λ range that is suitable for the crop is not optimized to match only the forward speed, the speed of the reel may be too high or too low, and the effect on the loss of harvest will not be obvious.

In the last experiment, we compared the method designed in this paper with the method under the random rotation speed of the reel,In the last experiment, we compared the method designed in this paper with the method under the random rotation speed of the reel. The results show that the method used in this paper can reduce the rate of crop loss,These experiments are necessary

Reviewer 2 Report

No more suggestion.

Author Response

Thank the experts for their guidance and affirmation of my article. I will work harder in the future. Thank you for your hard work. I wish you success in your work.

Reviewer 3 Report

No comments.

Author Response

Thank the experts for their guidance and affirmation of my article. I will work harder in the future. Thank you for your hard work. I wish you success in your work