Probabilistic Model of the Kinematics of the Device for Reducing Elongation of Flax Fiber Stems in the Tape

Abstract

Introduction. The main reason for the crisis state of flax growing is the losses of the flax fiber portions when it is extracted from the crop. This is due to excessive elongation of the stems in the layer. It was found that the most convenient way to reduce elongation in the field conditions when turning over flax strips by striking the butt portions in the direction of the stems. The authors propose to use for this purpose a pickup flax turner with a conveyor-type inclined flax butting machine. The purpose of the research is to increase the efficiency of flax tapes leveling process by butting flax stems. Materials and Methods. It is noted that the maximum effect will be provided by a counterimpact in the direction of the flax stems. For this purpose, the speed of motion of the butting surface relative to the retted straw transversely to the flax stems should have a constant zero value. The specified mode can be realized by a conveyor with roller activators. In the article, the random nature of the working conditions of machine units in the field was noted that is an additional obstacle for processing the flax tapes by the suggested method. Therefore, it is recommended to use probabilistic and graph-analytical methods of calculation when designing flax butting machines. Results. Using the graph-analytical method, a probabilistic model linking the kinematics of the proposed device with the probability of causing counter-strikes on the flax butts was obtained. It was found that two-roller activators in combination with inclination of butting surface will provide pronounced impacts, increase speed and probability of their application. Parameters and operating modes of inclined conveyor-type butting machine were substantiated experimentally. Discussion and Conclusion. Application of the proposed method, taking into account the results obtained, will reduce the elongation of flax stems in strips by 5.6% for one turning over and the yield of long fiber by 2.5–3.0%.