Toward mechanized saffron farms by a full-hydraulically mounted saffron corm sorter

Abstract

In this research, a saffron corm sorter was designed and manufactured. Inside the drum screen, a rubber blade impeller with three vanes was installed. The speed and direction of rotation of this impeller is the same as the drum screen. The saffron corms are poured into the sorter through inlet by the worker, and while moving forward, the different size of corms are separated from each other. Therefore, the lumpy soil and small corms fall to the ground from the distance between the bars of the drum screen. Also, large corms are also discharged from the end of the drum screen. The excess peel of saffron corms is discharged from the end of the drum with the help of fan air flow. In order to evaluate the sorter, the effect of feeding rate at three levels (300, 400 and 500 ), drum rotation speed at three levels (5, 8 and 12 rpm) and the speed of rubber impeller in two level (50 and 75 rpm) was studied. Therefore, the amount of damaged corms and grading accuracy were evaluated. The optimum performance of corm sorter was obtained in the feeding rate of 400  and the rotational speed of 8 rpm. In this condition the maximum grading accuracy and minimum level of damage can be reached. The rubber blade impeller has a better performance at the rotational speed of 50 rpm than the rotational speed of 75 rpm.