Friction force on potato during potato-soil separation

ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore the friction force on potatoes in the process of potato-soil separation, its influencing factors and laws, and establish a testing system of potato-friction force. It was verified that the potato mass, crank speed, and sieve inclination significantly affected the potato’s friction force along the sieve surface. The interaction of potato mass and crank speed had the greatest effect on the friction force on the potato along the sieve surface. In addition, under the same factors of potato mass of 200~400 g, crank speed of 200 r min-1, and sieve inclination of 14.7°, the friction force of potato along the sieve surface with soil was much greater than that along the sieve surface without soil, ranging between 2.32 and 4.85.