Stripper Header for Hemp Seed Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combine headers face challenges in efficiently harvesting hemp seeds due to the tall and fragile nature of hemp plants, leading to significant losses and machinery wear from tough fibers, which results in high maintenance costs and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A combine header apparatus featuring a header table with seed pans having pointed front ends and sloping stripping plates that strip seeds from the stalks, reducing the amount of plant material entering the combine by catching seeds on the pans and sweeping them into the harvester, while a rotating reel moves material rearward onto the header table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional headers are used to harvest hemp seeds, then the harvesting process can be completed, but significant seed losses occur and machinery wear increases due to tough fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful element (tough hemp fibers) from the system by using a stripper header that selectively removes only the seed heads from the stalks before they enter the combine. The stripper drum with stripping elements separates the seed-bearing portions from the fibrous stalks, allowing the fibers to be left behind while only the valuable seed heads proceed to the threshing mechanism, thereby reducing machinery wear and improving harvesting efficiency
2Productivity
If conventional headers cut and convey all plant portions into the threshing mechanism, then complete plant processing is achieved, but the volume of material passing through the threshing mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stripper header extracts and removes the non-essential fibrous stalk portions from the plant material before it enters the combine's threshing mechanism. By selectively stripping only the seed heads from the stalks and leaving the fibrous material behind, the system significantly reduces the volume of material that needs to be processed through the threshing mechanism, thereby increasing the effective capacity of the combine for harvesting seeds
3Productivity
If the header operates low enough to cut shorter stalks, then all seeds can be harvested, but tall variety plants are not properly processed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a stripper drum that rotates and dynamically adjusts its stripping action to handle plants of varying heights. The rotating drum with its stripping elements creates a dynamic stripping action that effectively processes both short and tall hemp plants without requiring the header to be operated at fixed low heights, thereby maintaining adaptability across different plant varieties while ensuring complete seed recovery
Data Source
AI summary
A combine header comprising a header table with a knife extending along the front lower edge thereof. Seed pans are evenly spaced and extend forward from the front lower edge of the header table and slot is formed between them. At a middle portion of each slot a stripping plate slopes upward, outward, and rearward from a middle first point on a first one of the sidewalls forming the slot to an upper stripping edge of the stripping plate. The upper stripping edge is located above a top rear edge of a second one of the sidewalls forming the slot and aligned with same such that a vertically oriented stripping gap is formed between the upper stripping edge of the stripping plate and the top rear edge of the second one of the sidewalls. A rotating reel moves material from the seed pans rearward onto the header table.