Integrated mechanical equipment suitable for harvesting and defoliating asparagus lettuce

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of agricultural machinery, in particular to an integrated mechanical device suitable for harvesting and defoliating asparagus lettuce, which comprises a frame, a support, a cutting device, a conveying device, a defoliating device and a storage device. Through modular design and a self-adaptive adjusting structure, efficient harvesting, leaf removal and collection of asparagus lettuce are achieved. The equipment adopts a high-speed rotating willow leaf blade and a roller type spring leaf removing blade, so that high-efficiency operation in different field environments is ensured, and damage to the epidermis of asparagus lettuce is reduced. In addition, due to the open structure of a spring adjusting mechanism of the conveying device and the storage device, the adaptability and convenience of the equipment are further improved. The asparagus lettuce harvester effectively solves the problems that a traditional harvesting mode is low in efficiency, large in labor intensity and prone to damaging asparagus lettuces, and the harvesting efficiency and quality of the asparagus lettuces are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of agricultural machinery technology, specifically to an integrated mechanical device suitable for harvesting and defoliating lettuce. Background Technology

[0002] Lettuce is a common vegetable grown throughout my country. However, traditional harvesting methods are inefficient and labor-intensive, relying heavily on manual labor. Existing harvesters are limited in function, requiring manual defoliation after harvesting, a cumbersome process. Patent CN119183789A describes a lettuce harvester using a chain-type cutting device, but it lacks defoliation capabilities, and some areas are not thorough enough, easily damaging the lettuce skin and affecting quality. The literature "Research on Vegetable Harvesting Machinery" proposes a vibratory defoliation device, but it is not integrated with the harvesting module.

[0003] The lettuce harvester and defoliator improves upon these existing technologies, designing a device that integrates harvesting, defoliation, and collection. It not only harvests lettuce quickly and accurately but also automatically removes the leaves, significantly improving harvesting efficiency. Through a synergistic structure combining willow-leaf blades, roller-type spring defoliators, and a storage device, it solves the problems of low efficiency and high damage rates. Utility Model Content

[0004] This utility model provides an integrated mechanical device for harvesting and defoliating lettuce, including a frame, a support, a cutting device, a conveying device, a defoliating device, and a storage device. Wherein:

[0005] The frame serves as the main load-bearing structure of the overall equipment, used to install and fix other functional modules, and enables manual propulsion via handrails;

[0006] The support is located at the front end of the device and has an arc-shaped guide surface to guide the vertical lettuce to smoothly transition to a horizontal state, while limiting the positional deviation of the lettuce before entering the cutting device.

[0007] Furthermore, the cutting device is located behind the support and uses a high-speed rotating willow-leaf blade to cut the root of the lettuce. The shape and material of the blade have been optimized to reduce mechanical damage to the lettuce skin.

[0008] Specifically, the conveying device consists of a frame, a synchronous pulley, rollers, a compression spring, a synchronous belt, and a motor, and is equipped with a spring adjustment mechanism;

[0009] Furthermore, the leaf removal device includes a motor, a lock ring, a linear bearing baffle, a spring, a frame, and a roller-type spring leaf removal blade. The blade cooperates with the roller and adjusts the extension length and cutting angle in real time according to the size of the lettuce stem to accurately remove old leaves without damaging the lettuce body.

[0010] Finally, the storage device is located at the rear of the equipment and is used to receive harvested and defoliated lettuce. Its open structure facilitates subsequent transfer or processing.

[0011] Furthermore, the specific innovative points and implementation methods of this utility model are as follows:

[0012] S1. The support features an arc-shaped guide surface made of stainless steel, polished to reduce the coefficient of friction and improve the smoothness of the lettuce entering the cutting groove. Furthermore, a flexible clamp is embedded inside the support; when the lettuce contacts the support, the clamp uses slight elastic deformation to fix the lettuce in position, preventing it from slipping out of its intended path due to vibration.

[0013] The S2 cutting device uses high-carbon steel blades, which undergo heat treatment to improve hardness and wear resistance. The blades are mounted on a motor-driven shaft, and the motor speed is controlled to achieve a cutting speed of 3500 to 7000 revolutions per minute, meeting the operational needs of different field environments. Simultaneously, the blade edges are designed with micro-serrations to enhance cutting ability and reduce the risk of tearing the lettuce skin.

[0014] S3. The core component of the conveyor is a double-sided toothed synchronous belt with a tooth pitch of 5 mm and a trapezoidal tooth shape. Made of polyurethane composite rubber, it combines flexibility and tensile strength. Straight guide rods are connected to both sides of the synchronous belt, each equipped with a ring lock and spring assembly. The spring compression dynamically adjusts according to the diameter of the lettuce, ensuring the positive pressure applied by the synchronous belt remains within a reasonable range. Furthermore, a baffle is installed above the conveyor; the gap between the baffle and the synchronous belt is adjustable to accommodate lettuce of different lengths.

[0015] S4. The leaf-removing device employs a roller-type spring-loaded blade structure. The outer ring of the roller is covered with a silicone layer, and the inner ring is connected to the blade holder via a bearing. A helical spring is installed at the bottom of the blade holder. When the lettuce enters the leaf-removing area, the roller first contacts the lettuce stem. The spring feedback adjusts the blade height, maintaining a constant distance between the blade and the lettuce surface. The blade's inclination angle is set to 30 degrees to quickly cut into the base of the leaves while avoiding accidental cutting of the lettuce stem.

[0016] S5. The storage device consists of a grid-like base plate and side baffles. A sliding rail is installed under the base plate, allowing the storage space to be adjusted manually by pushing and pulling. The side baffles are 150 mm high to prevent the lettuce from tipping over or scattering during transportation.

[0017] The technical effects of this utility model are reflected in the following aspects:

[0018] First, through integrated structural design, the traditional manual step-by-step operation is transformed into a mechanized continuous operation process, significantly shortening the processing time for a single lettuce plant. For example, under flat terrain conditions, the equipment can complete the harvesting and leaf removal of approximately 500 lettuce plants per hour, which is more than three times more efficient than manual operation.

[0019] Secondly, the spring adjustment mechanism of the conveyor and the adaptive blade structure of the leaf-removing device work together to achieve compatible processing of lettuce of different sizes, enabling it to handle various planting scenarios without frequent replacement of parts. Experimental data shows that the equipment can stably process lettuce with a diameter range of 20 to 50 mm and a length range of 300 to 600 mm, with a pass rate of over 95%.

[0020] Third, the key components of both the cutting and defoliation devices are made of wear-resistant materials and precision-machined to ensure dimensional accuracy, effectively extending the equipment's service life. Actual testing shows that the leaf blades maintain good sharpness after 100 hours of continuous operation, while the defoliation blades can be restored to their initial performance with only simple maintenance after processing 5,000 lettuce plants.

[0021] In summary, this utility model, through modular design and intelligent adjustment mechanism, solves many problems existing in the prior art and provides an efficient and reliable solution for agricultural production.

[0022] To make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the leaf removal device in this utility model;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission device in this utility model;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the storage device of this utility model.

[0028] Numbering on the map:

[0029] 1. Support device; 2. Cutting device; 3. Conveying device; 36. Support component; 37. Frame; 38. Spring; 39. Motor; 4. Leaf removal device; 5. Storage device; 6. Support device; 71. Frame 1; 72. Frame 2; 8. Synchronous pulley; 9. Roller; 10. Compression spring; 11. Synchronous belt; 12. Motor; 13. Lock ring; 14. Linear bearing; 15. Baffle; 16. Spring. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0031] This utility model provides a lettuce harvesting and leaf-removing integrated machine, combined with an attached... Figure 1 To be continued Figure 4 The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. The equipment is mainly supported by a frame, on which a support 1, a cutting device 2, a conveying device 3, a leaf-removing device 4, and a storage device 5 are mounted. The functional modules work together through mechanical connections and electrical control to complete the entire process of harvesting, leaf-removing, and collecting lettuce.

[0032] When the equipment is running, the trolley is first moved forward by manually pushing the handle, at which point the support device 1 at the front begins to work. The support device 1 features an arc-shaped guide surface, polished to reduce the coefficient of friction and ensure the lettuce can smoothly enter the cutting groove. The arc-shaped guide surface is made of stainless steel and has embedded flexible clamping components. When the lettuce contacts the support device, the clamping components undergo slight elastic deformation, fixing the lettuce's position and preventing it from deviating from the predetermined path. The support device is set at a height of 50.95 mm from the ground. This height ensures the lettuce can smoothly enter the cutting groove while avoiding the problem of soil interference if it is too low or slippage if it is too high.

[0033] Guided by the support device 1, the lettuce enters the cutting groove of the cutting device 2. The core component of the cutting device 2 is a high-speed rotating willow-leaf blade, made of high-carbon steel and heat-treated to improve its hardness and wear resistance. The blade is mounted on a motor-driven shaft; the motor is an XD-3420 permanent magnet DC motor with a maximum torque of 2KGF.CM, a power of 30W, and a speed adjustable from 3500 to 7000 rpm. The willow-leaf blade has a micro-serrated edge, which enhances cutting ability while reducing the risk of tearing the lettuce skin. The cutting blade is positioned 40.21 mm above the ground, a height that allows for precise severing of the lettuce root without damaging the stem.

[0034] After cutting, the lettuce enters the conveyor device 3 for transport. The core component of the conveyor device 3 is a double-sided toothed synchronous belt 11 with a tooth pitch of 5 mm, trapezoidal tooth shape, and made of polyurethane composite rubber, combining flexibility and tensile strength. Straight rods are connected to both sides of the synchronous belt 11, and ring locks 13 and spring 16 assemblies are mounted on the rods. The compression of the spring 16 is dynamically adjusted according to the diameter of the lettuce, thereby applying appropriate positive pressure. For example, when the lettuce diameter is 20 mm, the compression of the spring 16 is smaller; when the lettuce diameter reaches 50 mm, the compression of the spring 16 increases, ensuring that the synchronous belt always applies appropriate pressure to the lettuce. In addition, a baffle 15 is installed above the conveyor device. The gap between the baffle and the synchronous belt is adjustable to accommodate lettuce of different lengths. The baffle's function is to intercept vertically oriented lettuce, causing its bottom to enter the conveyor belt first, and then gradually transforming it into a horizontal position under the drive of the synchronous belt 11.

[0035] After being conveyed into the leaf-removing device 4 by the conveyor 3, the lettuce first enters the roller 9 area. The outer ring of the roller 9 is covered with a silicone layer, and the inner ring is connected to the blade holder via a bearing. A helical spring 10 is installed at the bottom of the blade holder. When the lettuce enters the leaf-removing area, the roller 9 first contacts the lettuce stem. The spring 10 then adjusts the blade height, maintaining a constant distance between the blade and the lettuce surface. The blade's inclination angle is set to 30 degrees to quickly cut into the base of the leaves while avoiding accidental cutting of the lettuce stem. The silicone layer of the roller 9 has a certain degree of elasticity, allowing it to automatically adjust its position according to the thickness of the lettuce upon contact, thus achieving an adaptive adjustment function. The synchronous wheel 8 in the leaf-removing device 4 is driven by the motor 12, which in turn drives the roller 9 and the blade to move in tandem via the synchronous belt 11, completing the leaf-removing operation.

[0036] After the leaves are removed, the lettuce is pushed into storage device 5. Storage device 5 consists of a grid-like base plate and side baffles. A sliding rail is installed under the base plate, allowing for manual adjustment of the storage space. The side baffles are 150 mm high to prevent the lettuce from tipping over or scattering during transport. Storage device 5 is located at the rear of the equipment for easy subsequent transfer or processing. The open structure design of storage device 5 allows operators to observe the internal conditions at any time and intervene manually if necessary.

[0037] The equipment's overall dimensions have been optimized, with a total length of 1450 mm, a total width of 800 mm, and a total height of 977.56 mm. The handrail is also 977.56 mm above the ground. These parameters ensure excellent maneuverability and ease of operation in the field. For example, in flat terrain, the equipment can harvest and remove leaves from approximately 500 lettuce plants per hour, more than three times more efficient than traditional manual labor.

[0038] Key components of the equipment are all manufactured using wear-resistant materials and precision machining processes to ensure dimensional accuracy. For example, the T5 synchronous gear has 30 teeth, an outer diameter of 52 mm, and is made of aluminum alloy, possessing high strength and lightweight characteristics. The slider model is SCS12UU, used in conjunction with the linear bearing LM12UU, with a basic load rate of 510 for dynamic load and 784 for static load, and a weight of 102 kg / m, capable of meeting the needs of long-term high-intensity operation. Actual testing shows that the leaf blade maintains good sharpness after 100 hours of continuous operation, and the defoliating blade can be restored to its initial performance with only simple maintenance after processing 5000 lettuce plants.

[0039] The modular design of the equipment further enhances maintenance convenience. For example, the willow-leaf blade in the cutting device 2 can be quickly replaced by loosening the fixing bolts, and the roller 9 and blade in the leaf-removing device 4 can also be disassembled individually for cleaning or maintenance. This design not only reduces equipment maintenance costs but also improves overall reliability. Furthermore, the spring 16 and ring lock 13 in the conveying device 3 can be manually adjusted according to actual operational needs to accommodate lettuce of different sizes. Experimental data shows that the equipment can stably process lettuce with a diameter range of 20 to 50 mm and a length range of 300 to 600 mm, with a pass rate exceeding 95%.

[0040] In summary, this utility model, through its integrated structural design and intelligent adjustment mechanism, achieves integrated operations of lettuce harvesting, defoliation, and collection. The equipment demonstrates high efficiency and reliability in practical applications, providing a practical and feasible technical solution for agricultural production. (See attached...) Figure 1 To be continued Figure 4 The structure and operating principle shown herein enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and implement the technical solution of this invention.

[0041] The above are merely embodiments of this utility model and do not limit the patent scope of this utility model. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the description and drawings of this utility model, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An integrated mechanical device for harvesting and defoliating lettuce, comprising a frame, a support (1), a cutting device (2), a conveying device (3), a defoliating device (4), a storage device (5), and a support device (6), characterized in that: The frame serves as the main load-bearing component; the support (1) is located at the front of the equipment and has an arc-shaped guide surface; the cutting device (2) is located behind the support (1) and uses a high-speed rotating willow leaf blade to complete the cutting operation on the root of the lettuce. The conveying device (3) consists of a frame (72), a synchronous wheel (8), a first roller (9), a compression spring (10), a synchronous belt (11), and a motor (12), and is equipped with a spring adjustment mechanism; The de-leaf removal device (4) includes a motor (12), a lock ring (13), a linear bearing (14), a baffle (15), a first spring (16), a frame (71), and a roller-type spring de-leaf blade; The storage device (5) is located at the rear of the equipment and has a box structure.

2. The integrated mechanical equipment for harvesting and defoliating lettuce according to claim 1, characterized in that: The arc-shaped guide surface of the support (1) is made of stainless steel and the surface is polished. Flexible clamping components are embedded inside.

3. The integrated mechanical equipment for harvesting and defoliating lettuce according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flexible clamping component fixes the position of the lettuce by slight elastic deformation, preventing the lettuce from falling out of the predetermined path due to vibration.

4. The integrated mechanical equipment for harvesting and defoliating lettuce according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cutting device (2) uses a high-carbon steel blade, which is heat-treated to improve its hardness and wear resistance. The blade edge is designed with micro-serrations.

5. The integrated mechanical equipment for harvesting and defoliating lettuce according to claim 4, characterized in that: The willow-leaf blade is mounted on a motor-driven shaft. The motor is an XD-3420 permanent magnet DC motor with an adjustable speed ranging from 3,500 to 7,000 revolutions per minute.

6. The integrated mechanical equipment for harvesting and defoliating lettuce according to claim 1, characterized in that: The synchronous belt (11) of the transmission device (3) has a tooth pitch of 5 mm, a trapezoidal tooth shape, and is made of polyurethane composite rubber. Straight optical rods are connected to both sides of the synchronous belt, and a ring lock and a second spring assembly are mounted on the optical rods.

7. The integrated mechanical equipment for harvesting and defoliating lettuce according to claim 6, characterized in that: A baffle (15) is provided above the conveying device (3), and the gap between the baffle and the timing belt is adjustable to accommodate lettuce of different lengths.

8. The integrated mechanical equipment for harvesting and defoliating lettuce according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer ring of the second roller of the leaf removal device (4) is wrapped with a silicone layer, and the inner ring is connected to the blade support through a bearing. A helical spring is installed at the bottom of the blade support, and the blade edge tilt angle is set to 30 degrees.

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