Modular Shell Segments for Fruit Collection Containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collection containers for fruits like apples are cumbersome to assemble and manufacture, requiring elaborate designs with multiple wire straps and hubs, making them laborious and costly to produce and use.
Innovation Solution
A collection container composed of structurally identical shell segments that can be assembled to form a full shell, allowing for simplified and cost-effective manufacturing and operation, with a pivotable design that uses elastic deformation to collect objects by rolling over them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a collection container is made from multiple wire straps and hubs, then the container can collect fruits by elastic deformation, but the manufacture and assembly become elaborate and laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The collection container is divided into multiple identical shell segments (e.g., 4 segments for a full shell), each defining a specific dihedral angle. Each segment is a self-contained unit that can be manufactured independently and then assembled by connecting corresponding connector interfaces, greatly simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining the elastic deformation function for fruit collection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters from traditional wire strap assemblies to molded shell segments with integrated connector interfaces. This parameter change allows the container to maintain its functional properties (elastic deformation for collecting) while dramatically simplifying manufacturing through molding processes and assembly through interface coupling
2Ease of operation
If a collection container uses a traditional wire strap design, then it can achieve the necessary flexibility for collecting fruits, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the shell segment structure: the segment itself provides the elastic deformation capability for fruit collection, while integrated connector interfaces enable simple assembly. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating separate wire straps, hubs, and multiple fastening components that would otherwise be needed
Solution Approach 2:
Each shell segment is designed as a universal component that can be used in different configurations (e.g., 4 segments for a full shell, 2 segments for a half shell). The segments maintain the flexibility needed for fruit collection while their standardized interfaces allow them to serve multiple assembly configurations, reducing overall device complexity
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 modular design significantly reduces assembly effort and manufacturing costs, enabling easy and efficient collection of objects like fruits by rolling the container over them, while maintaining flexibility for different designs and adaptations.
Implementation Method 1
By rolling the collection container over a fruit lying on the ground, the wires where the fruit touches the basket are spread apart by the fruit such that the fruit can enter the container through the basket envelope
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present application in particular is directed to a collection container (3) configured to be pivotable around a pivot axis (P) and operable to pick up objects (23), such as fruits, by rolling it over the objects (23) in a pivoting movement to thereby pass the objects (23) through the outer shell into the collection container (3), wherein, the collection container (3) comprises an outer shell that is assembled from a predefined number of collection container shell segments (10), each shell segment defining a predefined angular sector of the outer shell.