Potato farming places stringent requirements on machinery with regard to:
- Robustness
- Capability
- Durability
Planting elements and planting distances must be individually varied when optimising the crop and potato size. The machine's planting elements may be switched on and off individually. The mechanism for this system has been automated by means of two electric adjusting actuators from LINAK.
They are directly connected to the Miedema control system and can be operated from the tractor's touch panel in the cab.
Miedema engineers have made explicit use of electric adjusting actuators in developing row deactivation. Unlike a hydraulic system, integration in the electronic control unit is significantly easier and less expensive. In a hydraulic system, two connections must be made. In an electric actuator, only one is needed.
“The electric system operates with fewer components and is, for this reason, substantially less expensive,” explains Christiaan Poot, Technical Support Manager at Miedema. High-protection class LA12 adjusting actuators are used as a part of this system.
The actuators must not only be able to withstand vibrations, but dust and moisture as well. The compact dimensions also speak for the LA12 actuator.
“Wherever possible, we try to replace hydraulic systems with electric systems. Electric actuators do not leak. Maintenance is also much simpler,” says Christiaan Poot.
Precise roller adjustment for cleaning
Once harvested, the potatoes are subjected to an initial cleaning stage. Miedema also produces bulk-receiving hoppers with cleaning and sizing units that use different types of roller, depending on the execution of the machine. The bulk receiving hopper is equipped with one set of cleaning rollers as standard.
Potatoes can also be sorted by size, requiring a second unit of rollers to be added to the machine. Until now, the farmer had to adjust roller spacing by hand using a crank. By turning a crank, he moved to bars, which adjusted the six, seven or eight rollers in parallel. However, falling dirt constantly blocked the mechanics of the leverage bars. Spacing exceeding maximum distances also resulted in damage to the bars.
Miedema now offers the option of electric roller adjustment for a small additional charge.
Precise rollers with the LA35
Two LINAK electric actuators adjust the roller technology precisely to set measurements between 5 and 65 millimetres. The entire mechanism is protected by precise positioning and not strained beyond the recommended limit.
Because the two LINAK electric actuators communicate with each other, a parallel displacement is guaranteed and is recognised as a big plus for an even grading over the 2.40 metre width of the cleaning and sizing rollers.
Electric adjustment also affords increased comfort.
“In our experience, electrically operated settings save a great deal of time. Adjustment is convenient and fast, and cleaning is easy,” explains Dutch farmer Henry van der Woerd.
The bulk-receiving hopper MH 241 makes use of LINAK actuators from the LA35 range. With a force of up to 6,000 Newton, they deliver sufficient power to adjust the entire roller mechanism. The robust aluminium housing makes this actuator ideal for use in rough and dusty environments.
For Miedema, the option of electrically operated roller adjustment affords users significant additional benefit. Such innovations have enabled Miedema to expand its position in the potato cultivation market.
*In October 2017 Miedema changed its name to Dewulf.
