Kinematic characteristics of cam-elliptical gear combined packaged vegetable labeling mechanism

Authors

  • Lei Zhang 1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China; 2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Equipment for Hilly and Mountainous Areas in Southeastern China (Co-construction by Ministry andProvince), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou 310018, China;
  • Heng Zhou 1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China;
  • Chuanyu Wu 3. School of Marine Engineering Equipment, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, Zhejiang, China
  • Jianneng Chen 1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China;
  • Xiaowei Zhang 1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China;

Keywords:

agricultural engineering?farm machine?farm produce processing

Abstract

To address the challenges in labeling long labels on curved surface vegetables, such as wrinkles and label detachment, a cam-elliptical gear (C&E) labeling mechanism that realizes an improved hypocycloid trajectory is proposed. Firstly, the influence of different parameters on the hypocycloid trajectory is studied, and the tricuspid hypocycloid is selected as the labeling trajectory. Secondly, the trajectory and kinematic equations of the C&E labeling mechanism with a tricuspid hypocycloid trajectory are established. Next, the influence of various parameters on the trajectory and kinematics of the C&E labeling mechanism is examined. A set of optimal parameters is obtained through a comparative study, and a 3D model of the C&E labeling mechanism is established and simulated. Finally, a prototype of the C&E labeling mechanism was built and experimented with. The experiment showed that the normal labeling completion rate is 94%, and the prototype’s efficiency is 56.3 pcs/min. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the design and optimization of a vegetable long-label curved-surface labeling mechanism.      

Keywords: hypocycloid, cam-elliptical gear combined mechanism, tricuspid hypocycloid trajectory, kinematics

DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20261903.9152

Citation: Zhang L, Zhou H, Wu C Y, Chen J N, Zhang X W. Kinematic characteristics of cam-elliptical gear combined packaged vegetable labeling mechanism. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2026; 19(3): 172–179.

 

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Published

2026-07-14

How to Cite

(1)
Zhang, L.; Zhou, H.; Wu, C.; Chen, J.; Zhang, X. Kinematic Characteristics of Cam-Elliptical Gear Combined Packaged Vegetable Labeling Mechanism. Int J Agric & Biol Eng 2026, 19, 172–179.

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 3 (2026): IJABE

Section

Power and Machinery Systems

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