Novel Gear Transmission Mechanism With Twice Unequal Amplitude Transmission Ratio

The operation effectiveness of multi-bar transplanting mechanisms is low, and the specific changing law of the transmission ratio (the curve of the transmission ratio has twice unequal amplitude [TUA] fluctuation.), which is needed in vegetable pot seedling transplanting, is difficult to fulfill using a planetary gear train with noncircular gears and a single-planet carrier. To address this problem, we propose a noncircular gear pair that comprises an incomplete noncircular gear, rack, partial noncircular gear, and elliptical gear. The structural characteristics and the working principle of the TUA gear pair were analyzed. The pitch curve equation of the noncircular TUA gears was derived from the relationship of the angular displacement of the corresponding pitch curves. The influence of central angle α and eccentricity k on the shape of the pitch curve, angular displacement, and transmission ratio of the TUA gear pair was analyzed. The TUA gear pair was applied to a proposed vegetable seedling pickup mechanism (SPM) considering the design requirements. Finally, the feasibility of the new noncircular TUA gear transmission mechanism was verified by an SPM test.