Flexible Brush Strip Crop Pick-Up Drum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural crop pick-up devices for manually guided single-axle tractors are cumbersome and require significant effort to maneuver, especially on slopes, due to their heavy construction and design.
Innovation Solution
The use of curved brush strips with bundled bristles on a conveyor drum that can adjust in height and angle to effectively grip and collect crops, combined with sickle-shaped stripping elements to prevent crop re-deposition, allows for easier and more efficient crop collection with reduced manual effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional conveying devices with rigid structures are used, then robustness is maintained, but maneuverability and ease of operation deteriorate due to heavy weight and difficulty in handling on slopes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid conveying tines with flexible brush strips made of elastic material that can bend and adapt to terrain variations. The brush strips are mounted on a drum and can flexibly contact the ground and crop stalks, providing both robustness through the elastic material and improved maneuverability through the flexible design that reduces resistance on slopes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces adjustable parameters including the angle of the brush strips relative to the drum axis, the height of the drum above ground, and the spacing of brush strips. These adjustable parameters allow optimization of both robustness and ease of operation for different working conditions, enabling the device to adapt to varying terrain and crop types while maintaining structural integrity.
2Productivity
If curved brush strips with bundled bristles are used, then crop gripping capability and collection efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the brush strip into multiple bundled bristles arranged in segments around the drum circumference. Each bundle consists of multiple individual bristles that work together to grip crops, while the segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and replacement. This segmentation approach improves collection efficiency through multiple gripping points while keeping device complexity manageable through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved brush strips that follow the circumference of the drum, with bristles arranged in an arc rather than straight lines. This curvature allows the brush strips to better conform to the drum surface and provide continuous contact with crops during rotation, improving gripping capability and collection efficiency. The curved configuration is integrated into the drum structure, adding functionality without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If stripping elements are added to prevent crop re-deposition, then collection completeness is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the stripping function from the main conveyor mechanism by adding separate stripping elements that are positioned to remove crops from the brush strips. These stripping elements are discrete components that can be independently positioned and adjusted, providing reliable crop removal without requiring complete redesign of the conveyor system. The extraction of this function allows for targeted improvement of collection completeness with minimal impact on overall device complexity.
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
This design enhances the robustness and maneuverability of crop pick-up devices, enabling faster and less labor-intensive collection of mowed crops while adapting to uneven terrain and varying crop heights.
Implementation Method 1
the bristles of the brush strips can grip the crop in an offset manner along the shaft
Implementation Method 2
The long resp. elongate bristles of a brush strip made of a non-metallic, elastic material, such as plastic or a material with similar properties, so that they can adapt to uneven ground and the raised turf.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
The device (1) has a feed drum (5) that is mounted on the periphery of a driven shaft (10), and has distributed protruding handling tools that are driven in the direction of travel (F). A self-propelled chassis (8) is attached to a uniaxial tractor associated feed drum that is distributed along the axis (9) and is arranged on the driven shaft that protrudes from the bristles (11) that is formed with brush strips (12). The brush strips are secured parallel to the axis of the shaft.