DIRE DAWA UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTION OF TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL OF

MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Design and Manufacturing of Semi-Automated Potato

Harvesting Machine
PREPARED: - BY:-
1. KALANTENEH ALEMAYEHU…...........................DDU1001069
2. KALEAB TSEGAYE…………………………...…..DDU1001627
3. YAMLAK BELETE………………………………...DDU1001562

Advisor: - Hailemichael S. (MSc)

Dire Dawa; Ethiopia
outline
 Introduction
 Statement of the Problem
 Objective
 Methodology
 Part design
 Auxiliary analysis
 Conclusion
 Recommendation
 Introduction
 The potato is the most important cultivated tuber crop around
the world. It is considered the fourth largest source of human
food, standing after rice, wheat, and corn.
 Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the
fields.
Why Ethiopian’s farmers have less
production rate
 They used traditional way of harvesting

 Grain loss is huge due to

- many tubers are left underground
- damaged tubers
 The operation is tedious and time consuming
 Which machine satisfy the
farmer need ?

Concept alternatives

(A) Semi-automated potatoes harvesting machine

(B) Combine potato harvesting machine

(C) Medium sized tractor mounted harvesting

machine
The method uses a weighted sum of the ratings to determine
concept ranking. The reference points for each criterion are
signified by bold rating values.
Evaluation of concepts
Selection criteria A B C
Performance 0 0 +
Inexpensive - + +
Easy to operate + 0 0
Durability 0 0 +
Ergonomics 0 + +
Simple design + 0 0
Easy manufacturing + 0 -
Simple assembly + + -
Easy maintenance + 0 0
Pluses 5 3 4
Same 3 6 4
Minus 1 0 2
Net 4 3 2
Rank 1 2 3
Continue Yes No No
 Statement of the Problem
 Most Ethiopian farmers or potato diggers use their hands and
small dibber to harvest wide area of farm. Actually there are
different modern types of potato harvesting machines which can
harvest wide area of farm within few hours but due to their high
cost and as they requires skilled operator our farmers could not
afford those lovely machines. All in all, harvesting with hands is a
heartbreaking operation in our country.

 Disadvantage of harvesting with hand are

 Consuming much time
Loosens the ability and motivation of diggers
Decreases quality of potato
 Exposes to safety hazard for diggers
 Objective
General objective
 The main objective of this thesis is to design and manufacturing
of semi-automated potato harvesting machine.
Specific objective
 The specific objective of this thesis is to design detail parts of
semi-automated potato harvesting machine, modify the existing
semi-automated machine, make 3D model of the machine, and
fabricate the machine components (its assembly) and test the
machine capacity and efficiency
 Methodology
Consists a series desired sequencing of these steps.
 Working Structures and principles
 Working principle
Potato harvesters are machines that harvest potatoes. They work
by lifting the potatoes from the bed using a share. Soil and crop are
transferred onto a series of webs where the loose soil is sieved out.
The potatoes are moved towards the back of the harvester on to a
separation unit and then (on manned machines) to a picking table
where people pick out the stones, clods, and haulms (stems or
stalks) by hand. The potatoes then go on to a side elevator and into
a trailer or a potato box.
 Power flow
 The power is taken from the tractor to the harvester through
universal joint.
 Then the power is transmitted to the chain drive through
differential after changing the direction.
 Finally the power delivered to conveyor via shaft
Cont….

Material flow
 The potatoes scoops up by the blade and lifted to separator
 Separator isolates the potato from soil using agitator
 The potatoes will pass through the conveyor to hopper
 The hopper holds it temporarily
 Part design
special purpose
Standard design
part
- Universal joint
- Shaft
- digger (blade)
-bevel gear
- disc
- chain - sprocket - rod
- bearing - wheel (tires)

- key - piston -Body structure

- - support
- hopper
 Selection of tractor

 Two-Wheel Drive Tractors (2WD) are most commonly used in

dry or upland farming.
 The range in size from 5 HP - 200 HP and need 80% of the
weight distributed over the rear axle to maximize traction.
 The biggest advantages of this type of tractor over other 4-wheel
tractors are smaller turning circle, simplicity of design, fewer
mechanical parts and lower purchase price.
Con…
 We selected tractor which has capacity to harvest 16 acres (7
hectare) per week (40 hr).
 The power required to perform this action is 32.7 brake horse
power. And select model F
Analysis of digger
The blade subjected to:-
- Weight of soil and potato
𝑊𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 = 𝑀𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 ∗ 𝑔 =𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 ∗ 𝑉𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 ∗ 𝑔=800.625𝑚𝑔/𝑠2
𝑊𝑝 = 𝑚𝑔 ∗ 𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑜 = 41𝑁
𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑑𝑒
𝑊𝑡 = 𝑊𝑠 + 𝑊𝑝= 841.625𝑁

 What have considered ?

- type of soil (Previously tilled)
 What have determined ?
-Size of the blade (H,L)
-Max. deflection and slope
-Stress developed
Analysis of rod
 It is subjected to
- weight of potato and soil
- fatigue load
 what have considered ?
- loading condition
- average size of potato
 What have determined ?
- size 𝑑 = 2.25𝑚𝑚
- speed of conveying f=4hz
- suitable material
- clearance
Analysis of frame
 It is subjected to
- weight of entire system
- fatigue load
 What have considered ?
- width of implement
- centre distance of conveyor
- working condition
 What have determined ?
- necessary size ( 𝑡 = 4𝑚𝑚 𝑏 = 12𝑚𝑚 A=48𝑚𝑚2)
- stress developed
Analysis of hopper
 It is subjected to
- total weight of potato and some
impurities
 What have considered ?
- length of potato row (0.7m x 0.39m wide)
- feed rate of separator
- speed of tractor
 What have determined ?
- holding capacity (𝑊 = 𝑚 ∗ 𝑔 = 𝜌 ∗ 𝑣 ∗ 𝑔 = 4059.13 𝑁),
A=0.84 m2,
Overall results
 Auxiliary analysis
 Manufacturing process
 Con….
 Cost analysis
Con….

Total cost = 63764.625 ETB

 Conclusion
We have tried
- To investigate the problem subjected to our farmers that make
unable to get sufficient crop product even if they work hard on
the basis of the way how they harvest and
- To solve (minimize) difficulties or troubles using scientific
methods.
- We are extremely sure on our project in which it can satisfactorily
meet customer’s requirement.
- Our machine can harvest seven hector with in forty hours, it can
work on every type of soil
 Recommendation
We would like to recommend everyone who is responsible for this
section (agricultural industries) to look at and give attention on our
design due to its simplicity and genuine application. In addition to
this anyone who has modification idea can meet us and we will
work together for better solution.
.
Thank you!