Berry harvester with pneumatic pulse activator

Abstract

This utility model pertains to agricultural engineering, specifically to technical equipment for harvesting berry crops, such as blackcurrants. The berry harvester comprises a wheeled chassis with a cab, a harvesting module with an activator, a former, catchers, conveyors, cleaning fans, and an unloading device. The activator is designed as a pneumatic pulse system comprising a high-pressure compressor, a receiver, a discharge air duct, and pneumatic nozzles mounted in three pairs on either side of the harvesting module, aimed at the fruiting branches. Each nozzle is pivotally mounted to allow for adjustable vertical and horizontal tilt angles and is equipped with a high-speed electromagnetic valve connected to a controller, capable of adjusting the duration and frequency of its opening.The device will enable the use of a useful berry harvester with a pneumatic pulse activator, increasing the efficiency of berry harvesting and ensuring a gentle harvesting mode without damaging branches and buds.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to agricultural engineering, namely to technical means for harvesting shrub berry crops, such as black currants, gooseberries, and chokeberries, using pulsed air exposure.

[0002] The utility model relates to agricultural engineering, namely to technical means for harvesting berry crops, for example, black currants.

[0003] A berry-picker shaker is known under Author's Certificate SU 1692356 A1 (IPC A01D 46 / 26, 1991). It comprises a frame on which the working element (activator) is mounted in bearing assemblies in the form of two pairs of kinematically linked shafts. On each shaft, rows of primary rasp bars and additional rasp bars are secured in holders, with the additional rasp bars being 0.4-0.6 times the length of the primary rasp bars. The primary rasp bars form a channel tapering toward the ends, while the additional rasp bars form an internal channel located within the channel of the primary rasp bars and symmetrical relative to its axis.

[0004] A disadvantage of the known device is that the flails (both main and additional) make mechanical contact with the branches, damaging the bark, leaves, and fruit buds. This impact damages the plants, reducing their productivity in subsequent seasons, and also leads to increased shedding of unripe berries and foliage, which contaminates the harvest and reduces the productive life of the berry plantation.

[0005] The closest in technical essence to the claimed utility model is the KSM-5 combine harvester (https: / / elibrary.ru / item.asp?id=20959546), which includes a wheeled chassis, a frame for the harvesting module, a former, a divider, an activator, catchers, conveyors, cleaning fans, and an unloading device.

[0006] A disadvantage of the well-known KSM-5 combine harvester is that the working element in the form of a mechanical impact activator of the whip type causes uneven shaking of berries, increased damage to branches and bark during the harvesting process.

[0007] The technical problem that the utility model is aimed at solving is to increase the completeness of berry harvesting and reduce plant damage.

[0008] The technical result of the utility model is to reduce the damage to bush branches by eliminating physical contact between fruit-bearing branches and the working parts of the combine, as well as due to contactless metered pulsed air action; complete removal is ensured by the ability to adapt the shaking mode to different varieties and conditions of bushes.

[0009] The stated task is achieved in that a berry harvester with a pneumatic pulse activator, including a portal wheeled chassis with a cabin, a divider, a former, a harvesting module with an activator, catchers, conveyors, cleaning fans and an unloading device, according to the utility model, the activator is made in the form of a pneumatic pulse system containing a high-pressure compressor, a receiver, a discharge air duct and pneumatic nozzles installed in three pairs on both sides of the harvesting module, directed at fruit-bearing branches, each nozzle is mounted pivotally with the ability to change the angle of inclination in the vertical and horizontal planes and is equipped with a high-speed electromagnetic valve connected to the control controller, made with the ability to adjust the duration and frequency of its opening.

[0010] By using a pneumatic activator with adjustable pulse action, mechanical contact with branches is eliminated, damage to plants is reduced, and uniform shaking of berries is achieved by selecting the resonant frequency of oscillations.

[0011] The utility model is illustrated by drawings.

[0012] Fig. 1 schematically shows a berry harvester with a pneumatic pulse activator, side view; Fig. 2 is also a front view.

[0013] The berry harvester consists of a portal wheeled chassis 1 with a cabin, a former 2, a divider 3, a harvesting module 4, a pneumatic activator 5, catchers 6, longitudinal conveyors 7, cleaning fans 8 and an unloading device 9.

[0014] Pneumatic activator 5 is a pneumatic pulse system that includes a high-pressure compressor 10, a receiver 11, a discharge air duct (not shown in the figures), and a system of nozzles 12, for example, three pairs of nozzles located on the frame on both sides of the cleaning module 4. Each nozzle 12 is equipped with a quick-acting electromagnetic valve (not shown in the figures). Nozzles 12 are mounted on a hinge and allow for adjustable tilt angles in the vertical and horizontal planes for precise targeting of branches 13.

[0015] The valves are controlled by controller 14, which is connected to the crop parameter input interface (the operator sets the variety, bush height, and approximate density). A pressure sensor (not shown in the figures) is installed in receiver 10.

[0016] The device operates as follows.

[0017] Before harvesting, the operator enters information about the crop type and variety into controller 14, which determines the system's operating parameters (frequency, pressure, pulse duration). As the combine moves along the row, former 2 lifts low-lying branches 13. Compressor 10 pumps air into receiver 11 to a preset pressure. Controller 14, receiving a signal from the pressure sensor, maintains the pressure in receiver 11 within the operating range. When a bush enters the working zone between nozzles 12, controller 14 commands the high-speed electromagnetic valves, opening them alternately. The left and right pairs of nozzles 12 operate synchronously or with a phase shift to create a rocking effect. The duration of each valve opening is 20-50 ms, which provides an air discharge of approximately 0.5-1.5 liters at a pressure of 1.5-5 kPa. Air pulses are directed directly at the fruit-bearing branches 13, causing them to vibrate at a resonant frequency.

[0018] The berries are separated from the stalks and fall onto catchers 6. Then the berries are fed onto longitudinal conveyors 7, fans 8 clean them from leaves and debris and direct them to the unloading device 9.

[0019] Pulsed pneumatic action eliminates mechanical contact with branches and bark, ensuring uniform shaking of the berries by tailoring the frequency and pressure to the specific crop. Adjustable nozzle angles (12) allow the blowing area to be tailored to the height and density of the bush. Compressed air from a receiver provides high peak pulse power with relatively low energy consumption.

[0020] The use of the declared utility model of a berry harvester with a pneumatic pulse activator will increase the efficiency of harvesting berry crops and ensure a gentle harvesting mode without damaging branches and buds.

Claims

A berry harvester with a pneumatic pulse activator, including a portal wheeled chassis (1) with a cabin, a divider (3), a former (2), a harvesting module (4) with a pneumatic activator (5), catchers (6), longitudinal conveyors (7), cleaning fans (8) and an unloading device (9), characterized in that it contains a control controller (14), wherein the pneumatic activator (5) is made in the form of a pneumatic pulse system containing a high-pressure compressor (10), a receiver (11), a discharge air duct and pneumatic nozzles (12) installed in three pairs on both sides of the harvesting module (4), directed at fruit-bearing branches, each nozzle (12) is mounted pivotally with the possibility of changing the angle of inclination in the vertical and horizontal planes and is provided with a high-speed electromagnetic valve connected to the control controller (14), made with the possibility of adjusting the duration and frequency of its opening.

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