Berry Harvester Weighing System Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional berry harvesters rely on human judgment for determining fruit weight, leading to variability and inefficiency, with vibrations and container shaking affecting weighing accuracy, and requiring manual labor and potential overcapacity at processing plants.
Innovation Solution
An automated berry harvester and weighing system with load cells and vibration isolation, integrated with a Global Positioning System (GPS) for precise weight measurement and automated container filling, ensuring consistent filling levels and reducing labor costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a scale is added to weigh fruit containers, then measurement precision is improved, but the system becomes susceptible to vibrations from harvester operation and container shaking that introduce false readings
Solution Approach 1:
A pan support structure is introduced as an intermediary between the pan and the scale mechanism. This support structure includes vibration isolation elements that act as mediators to filter out harmful vibrations from the harvester operation and container shaking, allowing accurate weight measurements to be obtained despite the harsh operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful vibrations into a manageable parameter by using vibration isolation mechanisms that allow the scale to distinguish between operational vibrations and actual weight changes. The vibration isolation system transforms the harmful effect into a filtered signal that can be accurately measured.
2Device complexity
If workers manually estimate fruit weight, then the system remains simple and requires no additional equipment, but variability increases due to worker experience, skill, and fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service weighing where the scale automatically measures and displays the weight of each container without requiring worker estimation or judgment. The digital display provides immediate feedback to workers, eliminating human variability and allowing workers to simply respond to objective weight information rather than making subjective assessments.
Solution Approach 2:
A digital display provides real-time feedback to workers showing the actual weight of fruit in containers. This feedback mechanism replaces subjective worker estimation with objective numerical data, allowing workers to make informed decisions about when containers are full without relying on their experience or physical condition.
3Productivity
If processing plants operate at higher capacity to accommodate variable fruit volumes, then productivity increases, but capacity is wasted when containers contain less fruit
Solution Approach 1:
Weight measurements are obtained in advance at the harvester before containers are delivered to the processing plant. This preliminary weighing action provides advance information about actual fruit volumes, allowing processing plants to plan their operations more efficiently and operate at optimal capacity levels rather than preparing for maximum variable volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
Weight data collected at the harvester provides feedback to processing plants about actual fruit volumes being delivered. This feedback enables plants to optimize their operating capacity based on real-world data rather than planning for worst-case scenarios, improving both productivity and energy efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides accurate, consistent fruit weight measurements, reduces human error, automates loading and unloading, and allows for efficient operation of processing plants by minimizing variability and optimizing capacity utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a. load cells b. for measuring the weight of the containers
Implementation Method 2
The vibrations and shaking may introduce false readings into a filling and weighing system
Data Source
AI summary
A berry harvester includes a chassis, a berry removal system, a berry delivery system, an inspection station and a container filling station. The container filling station includes a berry delivery apparatus that conveys berries to containers on a container support. A container weighing system includes a container fill indicator generating a weighing signal. A processor is in communication with the weighing system and incorporates a filter for cancelling vibrations from the weighing signal. A method uses the container weighing system and the processor to indicate when a container is filled to contain a desired amount of berries and automatically reset when the filled container is removed.