Harvesting Device Peduncle Cutting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting devices struggle to reliably separate the peduncle from the fruit, leading to difficulties in harvesting and potential damage to the fruit tree, with risks of fruit loss and reduced commercial value.
Innovation Solution
A harvesting device equipped with a cutting unit, a moving mechanism, a first detection unit, and a drive unit, which detects the presence of the peduncle within a cuttable range and moves the cutting unit to reliably cut the peduncle, ensuring effective fruit separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the holding unit rotates around the axis to separate the fruit from the branch, then the fruit can be harvested, but the peduncle cannot be reliably separated leading to fruit loss and potential damage to the fruit tree
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the harvesting function into two separate units: a holding unit for holding the fruit and a cutting unit for cutting the peduncle. This segmentation allows the cutting unit to reliably sever the peduncle before the holding unit rotates to separate the fruit, eliminating the risk of incomplete separation and fruit tree damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting unit performs the peduncle cutting action before the holding unit rotates to separate the fruit. This preliminary cutting action ensures the peduncle is already severed when separation occurs, guaranteeing reliable detachment without damaging the fruit tree or causing fruit loss.
2Productivity
If the holding unit rotates around the axis to separate the fruit, then fruit harvesting is achieved, but there is a risk that the calyx is separated from the fruit reducing commercial value
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the cutting function from the holding and rotation functions, the invention enables precise control over where the peduncle is cut. The cutting unit can be positioned to cut only the peduncle without affecting the calyx, while the holding unit subsequently rotates to separate the intact fruit from the branch.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting unit severs the peduncle in advance before the holding unit rotates the fruit away from the branch. This preliminary cutting prevents the need to apply excessive rotational force that could damage or separate the calyx from the fruit, preserving fruit quality and commercial value.
3Reliability
If the contact part presses the peduncle to separate it, then the fruit can be harvested, but it becomes difficult to separate the peduncle when the pressing portion is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical pressing action with a cutting action. Instead of relying on the contact part to press and break the peduncle through force, the cutting unit directly severs the peduncle with a cutting edge, making separation reliable regardless of peduncle strength or position.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the cutting function into a dedicated cutting unit with its own drive mechanism, the invention eliminates the inefficiency of using the holding unit's rotation mechanism for both holding and separation purposes. The cutting unit can apply focused cutting force independently, ensuring reliable peduncle separation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
[Problem] To provide a harvesting device that reliably separates a peduncle to harvest a fruit. [Solution] A harvesting device 100 includes a cutting unit 1, a moving mechanism 2, a first detection unit 3, and a drive unit 14. The cutting unit 1 is a component for cutting a peduncle Fs. The moving mechanism 2 moves a cutting unit 1 in such a front-rear direction D1 as to approach and separate the peduncle Fs. The first detection unit 3 is a component for detecting that the peduncle Fs is within a cuttable range P1. The drive unit 14 moves the cutting unit 1 toward the cuttable range P1 in a case where the first detection unit 3 detects that the peduncle Fs is within the cuttable range P1.