Fruit Transfer Hopper With Lift and Conveyor for Continuous Harvesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fruit harvesting and transportation processes require multiple machines and labor, leading to inefficiencies and environmental impacts due to the need for additional machinery and manual labor for fruit unloading.

Innovation Solution

A self-propelled machine designed to operate with a single operator, capable of collecting fruits from a harvesting machine and transferring them directly to a trailer or tanker truck, eliminating the need for additional machinery like elevator belts and allowing unloading at any point in the field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple machines (harvesting machine + elevator belts + trailer) are used for fruit collection and transport, then the fruit can be harvested and transported, but the process complexity increases and environmental pollution from multiple internal combustion engines worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit collection and transport efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of machines and operators required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the harvesting machine and transport vehicle into a single integrated unit. The harvesting machine's hopper is directly coupled to a transport vehicle, eliminating the need for separate elevator belts and intermediate transfer equipment. This merging of functions reduces the total number of machines from multiple separate units to one integrated system, directly addressing the contradiction between productivity and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated machine performs multiple functions: harvesting, temporary storage in hopper, and direct transport to trailer. The vehicle serves both as the harvesting platform and the transport vehicle, making it a multi-functional system that replaces several specialized machines, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If multiple machines and workers are used for fruit unloading, then complete unloading can be achieved, but labor requirements and operational time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit unloading completenessVSAvoidtime for unloading operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated machine enables self-service unloading where the system automatically transfers fruit from the harvesting hopper to the transport trailer without requiring external elevator belts or multiple workers. The direct coupling allows the machine to service itself during unloading operations, reducing both labor requirements and operational time while maintaining complete unloading.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional elevator belts are used for fruit transfer, then fruit can be lifted to the trailer, but additional polluting machinery and manual labor are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit transfer capabilityVSAvoidpolluting gas emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the elevator belt system from the fruit transfer process. By directly coupling the harvesting hopper to the transport vehicle, the system removes the intermediate elevator belts that generate pollution and require manual operation, achieving fruit transfer capability without the harmful auxiliary machinery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If the harvesting machine stops to empty its hopper, then the hopper capacity is reset, but the harvesting process is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehopper utilization efficiencyVSAvoidharvesting process continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated system enables continuous harvesting by allowing the hopper to be emptied directly into the transport vehicle without interrupting the harvesting process. The direct coupling maintains continuous material flow from harvesting to transport, eliminating stopping and starting operations while maintaining full hopper utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20250185545A1Machine for transferring fruit from a fruit harvester to a tank truck or trailer for transporting and storing the fruit

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 TENIAS HARVESTER SL

AI summary

A self-propelled machine with a cabin (6) capable of tilting for a better maneuverability of the same, and which has a hopper (2) on which the harvesting machine unloads, which has augers (7) that homogeneously distribute the product within the hopper, a hopper (2) that is linked to the frame (1) of the machine by means of a scissor-type lifting mechanism (9) controllable from the cabin (6). The hopper (2) has an unloading flap (8), including on its bottom a longitudinal conveyor belt (10) operable from inside the cabin (6). This allows the harvester to continue working and unload at the point (place) where it is located without affecting the harvesting process in addition to avoiding the use of additional machinery in the process.