Fruit Harvesting Machine Suspension Frame Dynamics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fruit harvesting machines face inefficiencies due to mechanical stress caused by misalignment of fruit stocks, as the harvesting space's fixed orientation does not accommodate varying transverse dimensions of plant stocks, leading to reduced shaking efficiency and increased mechanical load on shaker devices.

Innovation Solution

A fruit harvesting machine with a suspension frame that allows transverse movement and pivoting of the harvesting assembly, enabling the harvesting space to adjust its orientation relative to the plant stocks, thereby reducing mechanical stress and improving efficiency by accommodating misaligned stocks through a system of pivots and links that allow the harvesting space to adapt its angle and position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the harvesting space is designed to receive multiple plant stocks with increased longitudinal dimension, then the capability to shake multiple stocks is improved, but the transverse dimension becomes insufficient to accommodate stocks with greater aggregate transverse dimension, causing misalignment issues and mechanical stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to shake multiple stocksVSAvoidaccommodation of varying transverse dimensions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The harvesting assembly is mounted on the support structure by means of a suspension frame that allows dynamic adjustment of the harvesting space orientation. The suspension frame comprises pivots and links enabling the harvesting assembly to pivot about a longitudinal axis, changing its angle relative to the support structure to adapt to misaligned plant stocks while maintaining the capability to shake multiple stocks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the harvesting assembly is fixed in orientation to maintain stable structure, then structural stability is improved, but misalignment of plant stocks causes undue mechanical stress and reduced shaking efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidmechanical stress from misalignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension frame transforms the fixed harvesting assembly into a dynamic system that can pivot and adjust its orientation. This allows the harvesting assembly to maintain structural stability through its supported mounting while simultaneously adapting its angle to accommodate misaligned plant stocks, reducing mechanical stress without sacrificing structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the orientation parameter of the harvesting assembly by allowing it to pivot about a longitudinal axis. This parameter change enables the harvesting space to align properly with misaligned plant stocks, reducing the harmful mechanical stress while maintaining the assembly's structural stability through its suspension mounting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 suspension frame system reduces mechanical load on shaker devices and enhances harvesting efficiency by allowing the harvesting space to adjust to misaligned fruit stocks, ensuring effective detachment and collection without undue stress, even when stocks exceed the space's transverse dimension.

Implementation Method 1

the first longitudinal end part is mounted on the support structure via two longitudinal axis pivots, said pivots being superposed and fastened to the support structure and the first longitudinal end part, respectively, said pivots being connected by a link

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical linkage and pivoting: Lever

Data Source

PatentEP2373149B1Fruit harvesting machine
Publication Date: 2016.12.14 CNH IND FRANCE
  • EP2373149B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP2373149B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2373149B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a fruit-harvesting machine comprising a motorised support structure (1) and a harvesting assembly mounted on said structure by means of a suspension frame (2), said harvesting assembly comprising two shaker devices adapted to detach the harvest from the plant stocks and a system for recovering the detached harvest, said shaker devices delimiting transversely between them a harvesting space into which the stocks to be shaken are introduced successively to move in said space between a front opening and a rear opening of said space, characterised in that the suspension frame (2) comprises a rear part (6a) that is mounted on the support structure (1) with at least one degree of freedom in the transverse direction, a front part (5a) of said frame being mounted on the support structure (1) enabling transverse displacement of said rear part relative to said front part.