SEMI-AUTOMATED FRUIT HARVESTER

Description

/ 6 SEMI-AUTOMATED FRUIT HARVESTER Field of invention

[001] This patent application is focused on the agricultural field, more specifically on the fruit harvesting process. The innovation aims to improve traditional harvesting methods by introducing technological elements for greater precision and control, enabling remote and real-time monitoring of harvested fruits, allowing for the practical separation of good fruits from deteriorated fruits, thus optimizing agricultural management. Fundamentals of the invention and state of the art

[002] In the agricultural sector, particularly in fruit harvesting, traditional methods still prevail in many contexts. In general, harvesting is done manually, using ladders, baskets, and simple cutting tools. These methods present a number of limitations that directly impact productivity, worker safety, and the integrity of the harvested fruit.

[003] Using ladders on uneven terrain or in tall trees, for example, increases the risk of falls and accidents. Tall trees or trees with dense branches make it difficult to access fruits located at the tips or in elevated positions.

[004] Manual harvesting is a time-consuming process, limiting the amount of fruit harvested per day. In addition, manual handling can cause bruising, cuts, or other damage, reducing the quality of the product for consumption or sale.

[005] These conventional methods also do not allow for a detailed analysis of the state of the fruit and the plant during harvest. Petition 870250016107, dated 27 / 02 / 2025, page 6 / 15 / 6

[006] Some semi-mechanized and mechanized devices have emerged as alternatives to improve the harvesting process. These advances include manual collectors with telescopic handles that allow reaching fruit in tall trees, but lack features to monitor or assess fruit quality before harvesting.

[007] Other mechanized harvesting machines are mainly used in large plantations, but they have high costs and require a high volume of production to justify the investment. In addition, in many cases, they are unsuitable for sensitive or smaller crops.

[008] Referring to the state of the art regarding patent registrations, the following registrations can be cited: CN104686072A, CN118160507A, CN207491567U and US4226075A, which claim a device for collecting lychees at high altitudes, a harvesting device for collecting fruit in high positions, a type of fruit harvester and an apparatus for harvesting fruit, respectively.

[009] The first patent registration number CN104686072A describes a device consisting of a cart, telescopic loop bar, electric saw, fruit transport net, rotating operating rod and a steel wire, where a fruit storage box and a toolbox are arranged on the cart. Storage batteries are mounted in the toolbox. The device can efficiently saw thick stems, so that the efficiency of fruit collection is improved, the orientation of the electric saw can be regulated and fruits at different heights can be collected.

[010] The second registration number CN118160507A claims a device comprising a main rod, a cutting assembly disposed at one end of the main rod, a handle disposed at the other end of the main rod, a control assembly for controlling the cutting assembly and a fruit storage container, wherein the main rod is provided with a Petition 870250016107, dated 27 / 02 / 2025, page 7 / 15 / 6 handle. The invention aims to improve the problems of fruit being removed by the frequent retraction of a stem, influencing work efficiency, and similar issues when fruit in a high position is harvested using the previous technique.

[011] The third registration number CN207491567U discloses a fruit harvester that includes a support rod with a fixed link, a collection device, a cutting device, a lifting lever, a fixed lance end equipped with rotating handles, and a lower end of the lifting lever equipped with a guide screw, which is connected to the rotating handles. Fruit collection is carried out by the collection bucket and transport assembly, preventing damage to falling fruit.

[012] The latest patent application, number US4226075A, requires an apparatus for harvesting fruit from trees that takes the form of an elongated limb with a cutting blade arrangement at the upper end and a handle structure at the lower end to activate the cutting blade. Once the fruit stem has been cut, the fruit passes into a guide tube and thus into a flexible guide chute before being deposited into a container. The cutting blade assembly may take the form of a scissor-type arrangement or it may take the form of a rotating cylinder that passes over a fixed cutting blade with the fruit having initially been located inside the cylinder.

[013] Although theoretically functional, the aforementioned prior art has some shortcomings, such as high cost, making it inaccessible to small farmers due to the high initial investment and maintenance costs; many tools offer only one functionality (such as cutting or harvesting), without integrating features that optimize the operation; even in more modern devices, visual monitoring and analysis of the state of the fruit during harvesting are not widely available; large machines or complex systems generally require specialized infrastructure, such as flat and wide areas, which limits their applicability in smaller orchards or on uneven terrain. Petition 870250016107, dated 27 / 02 / 2025, page 8 / 15 / 6

[014] The present invention relates to the development of a semi-automated fruit harvester, designed to modernize fruit harvesting, making it more efficient, safe and practical. The device also allows real-time monitoring of the weight and quantity of fruit harvested, as well as enabling the selection of good fruit and the disposal of spoiled fruit. The semi-automated fruit harvester emerges as an innovative solution that combines essential harvesting functionalities with advanced technological features, while maintaining an affordable cost. Description of the figures

[015] The present inventive activity will be described in greater detail below, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings below, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of the semi-automatic fruit harvester and its main components. Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the holes and the screen located at the bottom of the collection basket. Figure 3 shows a side view and partial cross-section of the collection basket, highlighting the main components of the semi-automatic fruit collector. Detailed description of the invention

[016] According to Figure 1, the semi-automated fruit collector (1) consists of a simple or adjustable telescopic handle (2), allowing it to reach fruit in tall trees, and also has a scissor-type blade (3) that performs the precise cutting of the fruit stem, preserving its integrity. The collector also has a lightweight collection basket (4) equipped with two holes (4.1) and (4.2), one for collecting the fruit and the other for discarding. The collection hole (4.1) has a screen (5) suitable for guiding the fruit to a basket below. Petition 870250016107, dated 27 / 02 / 2025, page 9 / 15 / 6

[017] The novelty of the collector (1) (Figures 1 and 3) lies in the way of selecting the fruits, with a platform or plate (6) inside the collector basket (4) suspended by an axis (7) moved 90° to the left or right by a servo motor (8) fixed to the handle (2), the servo motor (8) being activated and deactivated by buttons (9) on the lower part of said handle. The platform (6) can be equipped with load cells, with a wireless camera (10) positioned on the upper part, above the scissors.

[018] The platform load cells (6) and the wireless camera (10) are connected to an electronic control unit - Arduino (11) which communicates with a smartphone, computer or display panel (12) via electrical wires, Bluetooth, Zigbee or any other forms of communication. The electronic control unit (11) is powered by batteries and its function is to process the data and control the electronic components.

[019] After the scissor-type blade (3) is activated, the fruit falls onto the platform (6) and the data collected by the load cells and wireless camera (10) are shown on a dedicated application on the smartphone, computer or display panel (12), allowing the user to classify the fruit and direct it to the collection hole (4.1) with screen (5) or discard it in the subsequent hole (4.2).

[020] The collected data can be stored and transferred to a spreadsheet that can generate graphs, thus facilitating information control and producing data for statistical studies.

[021] The basket is presented in a circular shape, but it can be rectangular and movable in order to slide along the rod for easier handling. Its structure can be made of aluminum covered with nylon mesh, and the structure can be adjustable to the size of the fruit.

[022] The invention seeks to solve recurring problems in traditional harvesting methods, such as optimizing operator time and effort through the use of technology; providing real-time control over weight and Petition 870250016107, dated 27 / 02 / 2025, page 10 / 15 / 6 quantity of fruits harvested or discarded, allowing for the easy separation of good and deteriorated fruits; provides data on weight and quantity, optimizing agricultural management.

[023] The proposed semi-automated fruit harvester pattern also aims to meet the growing demands for accessible and safe technologies in the agricultural sector. With the increasing mechanization and modernization of agriculture, this invention represents a practical solution to improve the productivity and safety of small and large producers.

[024] In this way, the collector combines the benefits of modern technologies with the simplicity and accessibility needed for small and medium-sized farmers, creating a unique piece of equipment on the market.

[025] It is worth noting that the inventive activity in question should be understood as representative and not limiting, and may be subject to convenient modifications and updates, provided that such modifications do not deviate from the essence of the proposal. Petition 870250016107, dated 27 / 02 / 2025, page 11 / 15

Claims

CLAIMS 1. SEMI-AUTOMATED FRUIT COLLECTOR, CHARACTERIZED by the collector (1) having inside its collection basket (4) a platform or plate (6) suspended by an axis (7) moved 90° to the left or right by servo motor (8) fixed to the handle (2), the servo motor (8) being activated and deactivated by buttons (9) on the lower part of said handle.

2. SEMI-AUTOMATED FRUIT HARVESTER, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the platform (6) is equipped with load cells, with a wireless camera (10) positioned at the top, above the scissors (3).

3. SEMI-AUTOMATED FRUIT HARVESTER, according to claims 1 and 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the platform load cells (6) and the wireless camera (10) are connected to an electronic control unit - Arduino (11) that communicates with a smartphone, computer or display panel (12) via electrical wires, Bluetooth, Zigbee. Petition 870250016107, dated 27 / 02 / 2025, page 12 / 15

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