DESIGN AND EXPERIMENT OF A CLAW-CHAIN GARLIC CLOVE METERING DEVICE

To solve the problems of multiple picking and missed picking in garlic planting, single-seed picking has become a critical technology requiring urgent improvement. In response, a claw-chain mechanism for single garlic seed picking was developed. Based on theoretical analysis of the seed picking claw’s motion, the feasible ranges of claw speed (v), minimum seed-holding length (S₂), and sprocket inclination angle (θ) were determined. Using the EDEM simulation platform, the single-seed picking rate and missed picking rate under different parameter combinations were obtained. A Box–Behnken central composite design was used to conduct a three-factor, three-level quadratic regression experiment involving claw speed, minimum seed-holding length, and sprocket inclination angle. Design-Expert software was employed to establish a response surface model and optimize the key parameters affecting the single-seed picking rate. The optimal parameter combination was a claw speed of 0.05 m/s, a minimum seed-holding length of 32.4 mm, and a sprocket inclination angle of 5.6°. Under these conditions, the single-seed picking rate reached 90.25%, and the missed picking rate was 4.9%, meeting the technical requirements for garlic single-seed planting.