Parameter Optimization of Finger Clip Plate Garlic Seed-Metering Device

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Firstly, the structure and working principle of the device were studied. Then the key structural parameters of the device were optimized by means of discrete element and multi-body dynamic coupling method (DEM-MBD), and the optimal opening Angle of the splint, diameter of the scoop and rotation speed of the disc were obtained. The research work of this paper is complete and detailed, but there are some problems as follows:

1. In section 2.3 "Design of Seed Harvesting Spoon", the author analyzed three positions for garlic seeds to enter the seed harvesting spoon, and calculated that the distribution probabilities of the three positions for garlic seeds to enter the seed harvesting spoon - lying on the side, lying and standing position were 39.82%, 42.94% and 17.24%, respectively. May I ask what the probabilities of these three positions were calculated based on? In addition, the section describes "In terms of the length, in order to guarantee that side-lying or lying is the posture of a single garlic seed entering seed-collector scoop,  the scoop opening diameter (D) must exceed the mean garlic seed width (W0),  and is less than its average length (L0). In the depth direction, for the intra-scoop seed barycenter of garlic,  the scoop depth (H) must exceed half of mean thickness of garlic seed (T0) and fall below half of its mean length (L0).” The diameter of the scoop is 20-28mm, and the depth of the scoop is 10mm. However, according to the author's description, the seed scoop diameter and seed scoop depth should be a range of values, rather than an exact value. The diameter and depth of the final scoop should be determined by subsequent simulation tests.

2. The mechanical characteristics of the spring in the clamping mechanism are the key to successfully clamping garlic grains. Simulation parameters such as spring stiffness coefficient and damping coefficient of the spring should be listed in section 2.7 "DEM-MBD Coupling Simulation".

3. What determines the simulation parameters in Table 2? Please indicate the source.

4. The definitions of test indexes Y1, Y2 and Y3 were not clear enough, and the meanings of n1, n2, n3 and n were not explained in the paper.

The quality of English needs to be improved

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

- Abstract: no background and conclusion can be found

- what is replay? double seeding? please use proper terminology.

- L36, extra comma

- literature studies regarding garlic seeding mechanism and relevant simulation results need to be added

- no objectives can be found in the introduction.

- such finger type seed meter has been around for decades and has been used for many large seed applications. how does the new seed meter differ from the existing ones?

- L111, figure 3 instead?

- DEM model: how was the geometry of garlic seed determined? how are the model parameters determined? all these are very critical information as to the accuracy and adaptability of the model. Please add and further clarify

- contact model parameters are missing in the paper. please supplement 

- 3.5 bench validation test is not part of the simulation result. please place it to the right place

n/a

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

In this study, discrete element method and multi-body dynamics (DEM-MBD) coupling simulation software was used to analyze the garlic seed-metering device process. Based on this, a three-factor five-level orthogonal test was conducted to determine the mathematic regression model of the experiment factors (i.e., the splint opening angle, scoop opening diameter, and rotation speed of the seeding plate) and evaluation indicators (i.e., the single seed rate, missing rate, and replay rate of the device) and to realize parameter optimization. Overall, the topic of this work is interesting. However, to meet the standard of Agriculture, English need to be improved throughout the text. Besides, the manuscript needs to address the following issues.

1.The importance and thus significance of work has not been properly justified in the background introduction. In addition, the author have illustrated generally research status about he finger clip plate type seed-metering device. Obviously, the limitation of presented researches need to be analyzed deeply, which is helpful for highlighting the innovation of this work.

2. It is recommended to supplement the pictures of garlic and its relevant parameters (e.g., size, shape, moisture content).

3. It is recommended to supplement validation tests using using a bench test on the finger clip plate garlic seed-metering device, which is premise of DEM-MBD simulated analyses. Whether the direct or indirect validation experiments both verify the validity of simulation.  

English need to be improved throughout the text.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Thank you for the revision

n/a

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors has addressed all comments.