Fiber Plant Processing Machine with Integrated Deseeding Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processing machines for fibre plants often result in seed loss during retting, as they either pick the entire plant without separating seeds or place seeds on the ground, making other components less useful. Additionally, separate machines are needed for different fibre plants like flax and hemp, increasing costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelling processing machine with a conveyor system, seed part removing unit, and picking unit that allows for simultaneous deseeding and picking, followed by placing fibre plants on the ground for retting, while being adaptable for different fibre lengths and types, such as flax and hemp.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If picking machines place fibre plants flat on the ground for retting, then the fibre plants can undergo retting process, but the seed on the fibre plants is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The picking machine performs deseeding as a preliminary action before placing the fibre plants on the ground for retting. The seed removing unit extracts seeds from the fibre plants during the picking process, so that when plants are deposited on the ground, they are already freed of seeds, preventing seed loss while maintaining retting effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the functions of picking, deseeding, and placing on ground into a single integrated machine. The seed removing unit is mounted on the picking machine, allowing simultaneous extraction of seeds and handling of fibre plants, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining retting process and preventing seed loss
2Reliability
If separate processing machines are used for different fibre plants, then each machine can be optimized for specific fibre plant properties, but the cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The picking machine is designed with universal components that can handle different fibre plant types. The seed removing unit and picking mechanism are configured to accommodate variations in plant length and structure, allowing a single machine design to serve multiple fibre plant processing needs rather than requiring separate specialized machines
Solution Approach 2:
The machine incorporates adjustable and adaptable components that can be modified or reconfigured for different fibre plant types. The picking mechanism and seed removing unit can adapt their operation parameters and configuration to match the specific properties of the fibre plants being processed, providing optimization without requiring completely separate machines
3Productivity
If the picking unit picks fibre plants with seed parts, then the entire plant is processed, but the seed parts interfere with the retting process of other components
Solution Approach 1:
The seed removing unit extracts seed parts from the fibre plants during the picking process. This extraction occurs before the plants are placed on the ground for retting, ensuring that the retting process acts only on the desired fibre and woody components without interference from seed parts, thereby maintaining high retting quality while preserving processing efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a processing machine for processing fibre plants, such as hemp or flax. The processing machine can comprise:—a self-propelling vehicle;—a seed part removing unit which is mounted on the self-propelling vehicle and is configured to remove seed parts (such as bolls) from the fibre plants to be picked;—a picking unit which is mounted on the vehicle and is configured to pick fibre plants from which seed parts have been removed, wherein the picking unit is further configured to transport the picked fibre plants to the conveyor of the self-propelling vehicle. The seed part removing unit can for instance be a stripper for stripping the seed parts from the fibre plants.