Energy-Saving Beating Apparatus with Dynamic Speed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beating apparatuses for fruit harvesting often cause damage to branches due to friction or percussion and consume excessive battery energy, while also subjecting operators to unnecessary vibrations.

Innovation Solution

An energy-saving beating apparatus with an elongated handle and oscillating sectors connected to a motor, featuring an inverter for speed regulation, sensors for obstacle detection, a microcontroller for motor control, and an electrical bus for communication, which adjusts motor speed based on detected obstacles to minimize energy consumption and vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the motor runs at high speed to effectively shake branches, then fruit harvesting efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases and branch damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit harvesting efficiencyVSAvoidbattery energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the motor speed variable rather than constant. The inverter adjusts motor speed in real-time based on operational needs: high speed when branches are detected (for effective shaking), low speed when no branches are present (for energy saving). This dynamic speed adjustment resolves the contradiction between harvesting efficiency and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through sensors that detect the presence of branches and send signals to the microcontroller, which then adjusts motor speed via the inverter. This closed-loop feedback system ensures the motor operates at high speed only when necessary (when branches are detected), thereby improving energy efficiency while maintaining harvesting effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the motor runs continuously at high speed, then shaking effectiveness is improved, but vibrations transmitted to the operator increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaking effectivenessVSAvoidvibrations to operator

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by operating the motor at high speed only intermittently - specifically, only when sensors detect branches nearby. Between detection events, the motor runs at low speed or idle. This periodic high-speed operation maintains shaking effectiveness when needed while significantly reducing overall vibration exposure to the operator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic speed adjustment based on real-time branch detection allows the system to minimize vibration transmission to the operator by keeping the motor at low speed during non-operational periods, while still providing high-speed shaking when fruit harvesting is actually needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the motor runs at high speed, then beating effectiveness is improved, but damage to branches from friction and percussion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeating effectivenessVSAvoidbranch damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor-based feedback system detects branch presence and triggers high-speed motor operation only when branches are detected. When no branches are present, the motor runs at low speed, eliminating unnecessary friction and percussion that would cause branch damage. This selective operation maintains beating effectiveness while protecting branches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic speed control adjusts motor operation to match actual operational needs, applying high speed only when branches are present to minimize overall friction and percussion exposure to branches, thereby reducing damage while maintaining effectiveness when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Use of energy by moving object

If sensor control and speed regulation are added, then energy saving and branch protection are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy savingVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated electronic control system comprising sensors, microcontroller, and inverter. This substitution enables energy-saving automatic speed regulation and branch protection through sensor feedback, achieving these benefits while keeping the control logic relatively simple through dedicated microcontroller handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4417035A1Energy-saving beating apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.08.21 ZANON

Figure 1

AI summary

An energy-saving beating apparatus, comprising an elongated handle (11), provided, at a working end (12), with a supporting body (13) to which two laterally adjacent oscillating sectors (14) provided with beating rods (15) are articulated, said oscillating sectors (14) being connected to the supporting body (13) so as to allow oscillation, and being connected in a kinematic chain to motor means (16) powered by a battery (17), and further comprising: - an inverter (18) capable of starting and regulating the speed of the motor means (16), - at least one sensor (19), arranged adjacent to the rods (15), which is capable of determining the presence of an obstacle, - an activation button (20), connected to a microcontroller (21), for starting and stopping the motor means (16), and, - an electrical bus (22) for connection between the at least one sensor (19) and the microcontroller (21).