PARAMETERS AND OPERATING MODES OF THE PNEUMATIC SYSTEM OF A POTATO DECAPITATION DEVICE

Obtaining environmentally friendly potato products without additional application of agrochemicals is possible on condition that a technological method of decapitation is used. This stimulates the crop viability and helps to increase the leaf surface. The process of decapitation consists in removing the apical part of stems, which spurs the development of lateral shoots. Potato has both upright and defl ected stems, therefore, the upper part should be brought to the cutting unit before decapitation, and since the stems can be easily injured, this operation needs to be very delicate. In this regard, the authors suggest paying attention to
a possibility of lifting the potato stems to the cutting unit knife during decapitation, making use of suction air fl ow. This approach allows to perform the operation with minimal friction between a plant and the surface without injuring its stems and leaves. The authors provide grounds for a method of determining the parameters of a pneumatic system of lifting potato stems. It has been found that to ensure stem lifting with a shoot height difference of 0.10…0.15 m during potato decapitation, use can be made of a unit with a suction pipe mouth diameter of 0.35 m, and at the air velocity of 10…15 m/s, respectively.