A Study of the Distribution of the Threshed Mixture by a Double Longitudinal Axial Flow Corn Threshing Device
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn order to determine the distribution pattern of threshed mixture in the double longitudinal axial flow threshing device, single-factor experiments were conducted on the self-developed experimental platform for the double longitudinal axis threshing device. The experimental factors included drum speed, threshing clearance, and feed rate. The variations in the distribution of threshed material along the axial and radial directions were examined. Conducting research on the distribution of threshed mixture on the cleaning sieve of the double longitudinal axis threshing device holds significant practical importance for optimizing the fan structure and improving the operational performance of harvesters.
Specific comments:
However, there may be questions as follows:
1. We suggest to add the structural parameters of the key components of the double longitudinal axial flow threshing device to make the effect better.
2. Please carefully check whether the line 218 for errors in “a similar pattern at different concave clearances”.
3. Please carefully check whether the line 218 for errors in “front 3/2 section of the threshing drum.”
4. We suggest using further data analysis to illustrate the extent to which working parameters affect the distribution of threshed mixture.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer:
On behalf of my co-authors, we thank you very much for your positive and constructive comments on our paper entitled “Study on the Distribution of Threshed Mixture by Double Longitudinal Axial Flow Corn Threshing Device” (ID: agriculture-2815247). Sincerely thanks for your recognition and support to our research, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to revise and improve the article.
We have carefully studied your suggestions and made corresponding revision based on the suggestions.We suggest to add the structural parameters of the key components of the double longitudinal axial flow threshing device to make the effect better.orrections in the paper and the responses to the comments are as follows:
Point 1:We suggest to add the structural parameters of the key components of the double longitudinal axial flow threshing device to make the effect better.
Response 1: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.We have added the key structural parameters of the double longitudinal axial flow threshing device in this paper.Line(138).
Point 2: Please carefully check whether the line 218 for errors in “a similar pattern at different concave clearances”.
Response2: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments. We have carefully examined the question you raised and it should be “The distribution of corn kernels mass along the drum axial direction is similar under different concave plate clearances”.(233)
Point 3:Please carefully check whether the line 218 for errors in “front 3/2 section of the threshing drum.”
Response 3: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments. We have modified the problem you raised and it should be 2/3. Line(288).
Point 4:We suggest using further data analysis to illustrate the extent to which working parameters affect the distribution of threshed mixture.
Response 2: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments. As for the study of the distribution of threshed mixture, we have consulted a large number of domestic and foreign data. By consulting the research basis of predecessors at home and abroad and combining with the analysis of data from a large number of single factor experiments, we have excluded many factors that have little impact on the study and have not been reflected in the paper. We have locked in the target factors that have a greater impact on the study. Finally, the regularities of distribution of the influence of each factor on maize threshed mixture was clarified.
Yours sincerely,
Dong Yue, Mr. and Duanyang Geng, Prof.
College of Agriculture and Food Engineering
Shandong University of Technology
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsComments:
This study systematically investigated the effects of drum speed, threshing clearance, and feed rate on the distribution of threshed mixture in both the axial and radial directions of a double longitudinal axial flow threshing device through single-factor experiments.
The findings could provide valuable reference for the structural design optimization of the double longitudinal axial flow threshing device, as well as the cleaning system.
The logic of the study is clear, methods are correct, results are accurate, and general quality of the manuscript is of good standard.
Suggestions:
① Whether “different concave clearances” in line 245 should be “different feed rate”?
② The format of references is not adequately normalized. For example, References 5 lacks year, volume and other information; The letter case of reference 7, representation of page numbers of reference 8 are inconsistent with other references in the paper, etc. The problems of references are not limited to mentioned above，please check and standardize them one by one.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageNo significant errors were found, and it is recommended to find native English speakers for appropriate promotion.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer:
On behalf of my co-authors, we thank you very much for your positive and constructive comments on our paper entitled “Study on the Distribution of Threshed Mixture by Double Longitudinal Axial Flow Corn Threshing Device” (ID: agriculture-2815247). Sincerely thanks for your recognition and support to our research, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to revise and improve the article.
We have carefully studied your suggestions and made corresponding revision based on the suggestions. The main corrections in the paper and the responses to the comments are as follows:
Point 1: Whether “different concave clearances” in line 245 should be “different feed rate”?
Response 1: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments. “different feed rate”should be true and we have revised it In the article.Line(261).
Point 2: The format of references is not adequately normalized. For example, References 5 lacks year, volume and other information; The letter case of reference 7, representation of page numbers of reference 8 are inconsistent with other references in the paper, etc. The problems of references are not limited to mentioned above，please check and standardize them one by one.
Response 2: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.We have revised it in the Reference section.Line(365/370/372).
Yours sincerely,
Dong Yue, Mr. and Duanyang Geng, Prof.
College of Agriculture and Food Engineering
Shandong University of Technology
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors1) How the results of this study will be useful in improving the performance of threshers? Nothing has been mentioned in this regard.
2) The Reference section is missing from the manuscript.
3) Is there any particular reason to select corn crop for threshing? Why not other?
4) Remove equations from the Abstract section.
5) What is Flow guide plate angle mentioned in Table 1?
6) Line 139: The mentioned moisture content is of corn cobs or kernels etc.? Need clarity in writing.
7) In results and discussion section, the authors need to relate their findings with previous research studies. This is completely missing in the manuscript.
8) Following studies may be added for strengthening the masnucript:
Kumar, N., Upadhyay, G., Chhetri, K. B., Harsha, B. R., Malik, G. K., Kumar, R., Jasrotia, P., Samota, S. R., Kumar, N., Chhokar, R. S., & Gill, S. C. (2023). Pre-and post-harvest management of wheat for improving the productivity, quality, and resource utilization efficiency. In Wheat science (pp. 57-106). CRC Press.
9) Why coefficients are not reported for the equation of radial distribution curve.
10) The other statistical details of equation of radial distribution curve is also missing such as R2.
11) What are x and x0 in the equations? These are not defined.
12) How authors came to the regression equations of axial distribution of threshed mixture along the drum for corn kernels and corn cobs? Complete details need to be given in the manuscript.
13) On what basis the authors formulated these equations? In SPSS, generally we have to provide the equation, and then it gives the coefficient values.
14) Delete point 3 from Conclusion section.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
Dear Reviewer:
On behalf of my co-authors, we thank you very much for your positive and constructive comments on our paper entitled “Study on the Distribution of Threshed Mixture by Double Longitudinal Axial Flow Corn Threshing Device” (ID: agriculture-2815247). Sincerely thanks for your recognition and support to our research, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to revise and improve the article.
We have carefully studied your suggestions and made corresponding revision based on the suggestions. The main corrections in the paper and the responses to the comments are as follows:
Point 1: How the results of this study will be useful in improving the performance of threshers? Nothing has been mentioned in this regard.
Response 1: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments. We have added this part. In summary, this paper obtained the regularities of distribution of the threshed mixture of the double longitudinal axial flow corn threshing device through single factor experiment, which provides a design basis for the structural improvement of the double longitudinal axial flow corn threshing device and the distribution of the fan air volume in the cleaning system，so as to reduce the impurity rate and loss rate of the threshers.Line（329-334）
Point 2: The Reference section is missing from the manuscript.
Response2: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.May be the reason for sending. we have carefully checked the references section.
Point 3:Is there any particular reason to select corn crop for threshing? Why not other?
Response 3: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.Because the test bench in the article was designed by our team for threshed corn before, and the season of the experiment was just the time of harvesting corn.
Point 4:Remove equations from the Abstract section.
Response 4: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.The equation section has been removed from the Abstract.
Point 5:What is Flow guide plate angle mentioned in Table 1?
Response 5: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments. The flow guide plate angle in Table 1 is 30°.Line（140）
Point 6:Line 139: The mentioned moisture content is of corn cobs or kernels etc.? Need clarity in writing.
Response 6: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments. The moisture content measured in this paper is corn kernels and has been modified in the paper.Line（144-145）.
Point 7:In results and discussion section, the authors need to relate their findings with previous research studies. This is completely missing in the manuscript.
Response 7:Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments. The previous studies were all about the regularities of distribution of the threshed mixture from the single longitudinal axial flow threshing device, and almost no research on the regularities of distribution of the threshed mixture from the double longitudinal axial flow threshing device.
the corn kernels along the axial front 2/3 section of the threshing drum account for 88% to 94% of the total kernel mass. This indicates that corn kernels undergo significant separation in the first two-thirds of the threshing drum, aligning with the distribution pattern observed in single-longitudinal axial flow corn threshing device.Line（296-302）
Point 8:Following studies may be added for strengthening the masnucript:
Kumar, N., Upadhyay, G., Chhetri, K. B., Harsha, B. R., Malik, G. K., Kumar, R.,
Jasrotia, P., Samota, S. R., Kumar, N., Chhokar, R. S., & Gill, S. C. (2023). Pre-and postharvest management of wheat for improving the productivity, quality, and resource
utilization efficiency. In Wheat science (pp. 57-106). CRC Press.
Response 8：Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments. We have read the article you recommended.
Point 9、10:Why coefficients are not reported for the equation of radial distribution curve.The other statistical details of equation of radial distribution curve is also missing such as R2.
Response 9、10：Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.The radial distribution of the threshed mixture corresponds to y=a0+a1x1+a2x2+a3x3+a4x4+a5x5+a6x6+a7x7+a8x8+a9x9. The radial distribution R2 of corn kernels was 0.99, and the radial distribution R2 of corn cobs was 0.94. Added in the paper.Line（324）
Point 11:What are x and x0 in the equations? These are not defined.
Response 11：Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.x0 is a constant and has been modified in the article.Line（319-325）
Point 12:How authors came to the regression equations of axial distribution of threshed mixture along the drum for corn kernels and corn cobs? Complete details need to be given in the manuscript.
Response 12：Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive commentsUnder this optimized condition, repeated experiments were carried out for three times, experimental data were collected, and the regression fitting curves of the axial and radial distribution of the mixture along the drum after threshing were obtained by using Origin software (Figure 9). Meanwhile, analysis of variance was performed (Table 3). We have added a detailed description to the article.Line（313-319）
Point 13:On what basis the authors formulated these equations? In SPSS, generally we have to provide the equation, and then it gives the coefficient values.
Response 13：Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.After discussion, origin software was used to fit the regression equation by input the mass of each threshed mixture.
Point 14:Delete point 3 from Conclusion section.
Response 14：Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.We have deleted the third part from the conclusion.
Yours sincerely,
Dong Yue, Mr. and Duanyang Geng, Prof.
College of Agriculture and Food Engineering
Shandong University of Technology
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors1) In reply to my comment on the formulation of regression equations, the authors only mentioned that they have used the Origin software. However, detailed information needs to be provided in the Methodology section about the parameter settings they have used while formulating the equations in software.
Software will give one or more sets of equations based on your data, however, there should be some performance measure to analyze the solution. Using only R2 is not the right way to do this.
2) The following study may be added to strengthen the manuscript: "Pre-and post-harvest management of wheat for improving the productivity, quality, and resource utilization efficiency".
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
Dear Reviewer:
On behalf of my co-authors, we thank you very much for your positive and constructive comments on our paper entitled “Study on the Distribution of Threshed Mixture by Double Longitudinal Axial Flow Corn Threshing Device” (ID: agriculture-2815247). Sincerely thanks for your recognition and support to our research, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to revise and improve the article.
We have carefully studied your suggestions and made corresponding revision based on the suggestions. The main corrections in the paper and the responses to the comments are as follows:
Point 1: In reply to my comment on the formulation of regression equations, the authors only mentioned that they have used the Origin software. However, detailed information needs to be provided in the Methodology section about the parameter settings they have used while formulating the equations in software. Software will give one or more sets of equations based on your data, however, there should be some performance measure to analyze the solution. Using only R2 is not the right way to do this.
Response 1: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.We have given the significance in the table, that is, the P-value. When the P-value is less than 0.05, the level is significant; when the P-value is less than 0.001, the level is extremely significant.Line（327）
Point 2：The following study may be added to strengthen the manuscript: "Pre-and post-harvest management of wheat for improving the productivity, quality, and resource utilization efficiency".
Response 2: Dear reviewer, sincerely thank you for your constructive comments.We have read the manuscript carefully and the content of the manuscript was quoted.Line（100-101）.
Yours sincerely,
Dong Yue, Mr. and Duanyang Geng, Prof.
College of Agriculture and Food Engineering
Shandong University of Technology
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
