Asymmetric Conveyor Roller Set for Clogging-Free Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sugarcane and sweet sorghum harvesting machines are limited to in-line harvesting and face issues with material clogging and jamming due to the design of conveyor roller sets, which restrict their ability to handle crops planted in random patterns and lead to inefficiencies and equipment wear.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor roller set with a larger diameter upper roller and smaller diameter lower roller, mounted through wedge-shaped apertures that provide a floating support, is designed to ensure smooth material flow and reduce the risk of clogging, allowing for efficient harvesting of crops with varying row spacings without interrupting the harvesting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional conveyor roller sets with equal diameter rollers are used, then the structure is simple, but material clogging and jamming occur due to material deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the conveyor roller set with rollers of different diameters. Specifically, the roller adjacent to the lift conveyor has a larger diameter than the other conveyor rollers. This asymmetric configuration prevents material deviation and eliminates the space where material could accumulate and cause clogging, thereby improving material flow stability without requiring complex additional components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed opening harvesting machines are used, then the structure is simple, but adaptability to different planting row spacings is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the harvesting machine's opening variable rather than fixed. The machine can adjust its aperture to accommodate different planting row spacings (0.9m or 1.5m), allowing it to adapt to various crop configurations. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the machine to harvest crops with different row spacings while maintaining operational efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If forage machines are used for biomass harvesting, then random planting patterns can be handled, but equipment wear is great and harvesting efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing specific components (conveyor roller set with varying roller diameters, lift conveyor, chopping rollers) that are optimized for handling tall stalk plants like sugarcane and sweet sorghum. These locally optimized components enable the machine to handle random planting patterns effectively while reducing overall equipment wear and maintaining high harvesting efficiency, avoiding the general-purpose design limitations of standard forage machines.
4Productivity
If conventional conveyor roller sets are used, then manufacturing is simple, but productivity is reduced due to material clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by configuring the conveyor roller set with rollers of different diameters. Specifically, the roller adjacent to the lift conveyor has a larger diameter than the other conveyor rollers. This asymmetric configuration prevents material deviation and eliminates the space where material could accumulate and cause clogging, thereby improving material flow stability without requiring complex additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
A set of conveyor rollers for use in agricultural machines, especially those of the stalk and tall plants harvester type, including front elements arranged in an independent front platform. The conveyor roller set includes a front aperture (6) for receiving the harvested material (MC) from a platform (P), the set including at least one upper roller (20a) and at least one lower roller (20b) disposed in the platform (A), wherein the upper conveyor roller (20a′) has a diameter (D) greater than the diameter (d) of the lower conveyor roller (20b).