Theoretical study of the formation process of mushroom substrate blocks in a piston press

The article discusses the interaction of a piston press with a substrate when forming blocks for growing mushrooms. Existing piston press designs have a rectangular channel, which determines the nature of the pressing process and the forces acting on the material. A block can be formed with a non-constant density across the cross-section. To equalize the density in the proposed press, the pressing channel is made in the form of a cone. The conducted force analysis made it possible to establish analytical expressions for determining the forces on the piston. To work in a channel of variable cross-section, the piston is made in the form of two movable contacting working plates with the ability to move relative to each other.