RESEARCH OF PASSIVE TYPE POTATO PLANTER

The design of passive type potato planter is proposed in the article. Also, the results of theoretical studies of the potato seeds movement on planter trays with straight and curved sections are presented in the article. The conditions of dispersal and deceleration of individual potatoes taking into account the gravitational forces are determined. Planting machines are the main elements of the potato planter. Using of gravity forces during the movement of potatoes in the planting machine can simplify the planter design. Proposed planter design will abandon the traditional drive devices, which in most cases injure potatoes and significantly simplify their design. Therefore, ensuring the accuracy of potato seed supply to the field surface depends on the conditions of separation of individual potatoes in the process of moving from the hopper to the cutter, which connected to the support wheels of the potato planter as a drive mechanism of all elements of the planter. The geometric shape and weight of the potato seeds must be taken into account when the parameters of the potato planter are determined. Because the potato travel time from the planter hopper to the soil surface depends on the speed and acceleration of the potato seed. Implementation of research results will ensure the high quality of the potato seeds planting process.