Foldable Sack Mechanism for Straddle Harvesters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fruit harvesting machines with storage systems require significant width increases, affecting maneuverability and turning radius, and often necessitate auxiliary transport means, especially in small planting patterns.
Innovation Solution
A continuous storage system using reusable sacks on both sides of a straddle harvesting machine, with adjustable height and foldable components to minimize space and turning radius, incorporating hydraulic systems for stable fruit distribution and sack deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If fruit storage hoppers are installed on the sides of the machine, then fruit storage capacity is improved, but the width of the machine increases and maneuverability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper is designed to be foldable, allowing it to change its spatial configuration dynamically. During harvesting, the hopper is deployed to provide storage capacity, and during transport or maneuvering, it can be folded back to reduce the machine's width and improve maneuverability. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between storage capacity and ease of operation.
2Productivity
If fixed storage hoppers are installed on the machine, then fruit collection efficiency is improved, but the turning radius increases and maneuverability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable hopper design allows the machine to optimize its dimensions for different operational phases. During fruit collection, the hopper is extended to maximize storage and collection efficiency. When turning or navigating tight spaces, the hopper is folded back, reducing the turning radius and improving maneuverability. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between productivity and ease of operation.
3Productivity
If lateral storage structures are added to the machine, then continuous harvesting capability is improved, but the machine width increases and negatively affects maneuverability in small planting patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable hopper enables the machine to provide continuous harvesting capability when deployed, while minimizing its lateral footprint when folded. This allows the machine to operate efficiently in small planting patterns by reducing its effective width during critical maneuvers, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous harvesting capability and machine width.
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
Enables efficient fruit transport and storage without ground deposition, maintaining maneuverability and reducing the turning radius of the machine, facilitating continuous harvesting and easy transport to processing plants.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic system is able to leave them resting on the ground
Implementation Method 2
a certain impact against the ground is necessary for the fruit to spread inside the sack
Data Source
AI summary
A fruit transport and storage device for tree cultivation machines, of the straddle type or travelling above a row of trees, from which make the fruit thereof fall, by vibrating the trunk, onto respective belts located below the vibrating clamps on both sides of the row of trees to be harvested, which belts transport the fruit horizontally towards the rear portion of the machine, from where it is lifted by respective vertical belts and poured into respective sacks hung on the rear portion of the machine on both sides thereof. These sacks are supported by a mechanism that keeps them open in the loading position and has lowering device/unit/machine/apparatus/node or the like that deposits them on the ground once they are full of harvested fruit.