Collection Bin Elevator Floor for Harvested Fruit Impact Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fruit harvesting methods result in significant damage to fruits due to their impact with the hard bottom of collection bins, leading to reduced economic value and increased spoilage, and existing robotic solutions are complex, expensive, and inefficient in distributing fruits uniformly.
Innovation Solution
A fruit protection system featuring a movable elevator floor or floating floor within the collection bin that descends and ascends based on fruit weight, minimizing impact forces and preventing damage by allowing fruits to be placed on a pseudo-bottom that can be lifted up and down, maintaining a uniform distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fruits are thrown into the collection bin, then harvesting speed is improved, but fruit damage increases due to impact with the bin bottom
Solution Approach 1:
The bin bottom is transformed from a static hard surface to a dynamic movable floor that can descend and ascend. The movable floor moves downward to receive fruits and then ascends to distribute them uniformly, converting the harmful impact into a controlled dynamic process that maintains both harvesting speed and fruit integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The movable floor acts as an intermediary between the falling fruits and the bin bottom. It receives the impact force of falling fruits, preventing direct contact with the hard bin bottom, and then gently distributes the fruits to the actual bin bottom, eliminating damage while maintaining harvesting efficiency
2Strength
If a hard bottom is used in the collection bin, then structural strength is improved, but fruit damage increases due to impact forces
Solution Approach 1:
The bin bottom function is segmented into two parts: the hard bin bottom structure that provides structural strength, and the movable floor that provides a soft, dynamic receiving surface. This segmentation allows the bin to maintain structural integrity while eliminating fruit damage from impact
Solution Approach 2:
The static hard bin bottom is complemented by a dynamic movable floor that can move to absorb impact forces. The movable floor's ability to descend and ascend transforms the rigid bin structure into a system that can dynamically respond to fruit placement, maintaining strength while preventing damage
3Productivity
If fruits are distributed non-uniformly in the bin, then filling speed is improved, but harvesting efficiency decreases due to uneven weight distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The movable floor provides dynamic adjustment capability that allows rapid filling followed by uniform distribution. The floor can quickly descend to receive fruits at high speed, then ascend to redistribute them uniformly, maintaining both filling speed and weight distribution stability
Solution Approach 2:
The movable floor operates in periodic cycles of descending to receive fruits and ascending to distribute them. This periodic action enables the system to maintain high filling speeds while ensuring uniform weight distribution through repeated cycles of reception and redistribution
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 reduces fruit damage and extends shelf life by minimizing impact forces during harvesting, thereby increasing the overall value and quality of harvested fruits.
Implementation Method 1
The position of the elevator floor is determined according to the weight of the fruits placed thereon and the retraction force of the at least one retraction mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The present invention provides a fruit's protection system designed to be mounted onto a standard collection bin for safely placing harvested fruits inside the collection bin without harming same.