Analysis of the Autoregressive Equation of the Dependence of Soil Separation in Potato Harvesters on the Length of the Elevator

Modernized potato harvesters are designed to deliver the required level of productivity under specified operating conditions and within different soil environments. However, in present-day field conditions, the effectiveness of these machines does not always meet expectations. In particular, the degree of complete separation of potato tubers from the soil mixture tends to decrease, which in turn leads to an increase in both quantitative losses and mechanical damage to the harvested tubers. These negative outcomes are largely associated with the insufficient efficiency and imperfect operation of the separating components that form a key part of the potato harvester’s working system. When the separating elements do not perform optimally, the soil–tuber mixture is not adequately processed, and this results in reduced harvesting quality and lower overall efficiency. The overall performance of a potato harvester is closely linked to the permeability and effectiveness of its separating elements. These components are responsible for allowing soil and smaller particles to pass through while retaining and transporting the potato tubers with minimal damage. If the permeability of these elements is not properly matched to the characteristics of the soil and crop, the machine’s performance deteriorates. Therefore, understanding and optimizing the parameters of the separating system is essential for improving the operational efficiency of modern potato harvesters. This study focuses on analyzing how the parameters of the elevator working elements depend on the structural design of the potato harvester. The elevator plays a crucial role in transporting the soil–tuber mixture through the separating system and facilitating the removal of soil from the harvested crop. By examining the relationship between the design features of the harvester and the operational parameters of the elevator working element, the research aims to identify ways to improve separation quality and reduce tuber losses and damage. To investigate these relationships, continuous variations in the mass, volume, and weight of soil entering the separating element were considered. These changing conditions simulate real harvesting scenarios in which the amount and properties of soil entering the machine vary over time. By analyzing how these variables influence the performance of the separating system, the study evaluates the dependence of the separating element length on the operational effectiveness of the potato harvester. The results provide insight into how design and parameter adjustments can enhance separation efficiency, improve permeability, and ultimately increase the overall productivity and reliability of potato harvesting machines under modern agricultural conditions.