Agricultural Mulch Recovery Machine with Integrated Shredding and Compaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for removing plastic mulch and irrigation tubing from agricultural fields are labor-intensive and inefficient, often requiring multiple passes and not capable of handling debris and tubing simultaneously, leading to complex manual processes and disposal issues.

Innovation Solution

A mobile agricultural processing apparatus that integrates mower heads, plastic mulch lifting and cleaning mechanisms, shredding, and compaction systems to collect, shred, and bag plastic mulch, while also handling irrigation tubing in a single pass, facilitating efficient soil preparation for the next crop.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual removal methods are used, then flexibility in handling different field conditions is maintained, but labor intensity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual flexibilityVSAvoidrecovery speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple recovery functions (cutting, lifting, shredding, bagging) into a single integrated machine that operates in one pass, eliminating the need for multiple separate operations and significantly reducing labor intensity while maintaining adaptability to different field conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The recovery machine is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle various recovery tasks including vegetation cutting, plastic mulch lifting, shredding, and bagging, allowing it to adapt to different field conditions and crop types while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If vegetation is removed before plastic mulch recovery, then the plastic mulch is easier to access, but an additional operation step is required

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The machine integrates a mower head and plastic mulch lifting apparatus that operate simultaneously in sequence, allowing vegetation removal and plastic mulch recovery to be performed in one continuous pass rather than as separate operations, thereby eliminating additional time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If plastic mulch is left in large bundles, then disposal is simpler, but transportation and storage efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisposal simplicityVSAvoidtransportation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The machine incorporates a shredding mechanism that divides the recovered plastic mulch into smaller segments, and a compaction system that compresses these segments into dense bundles, making them easier to transport and store while maintaining disposal simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The compaction mechanism changes the physical parameters of the plastic mulch by applying compressive force, reducing its volume and increasing its density, which significantly improves transportation and storage efficiency while keeping the material in a manageable bundle form

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10285330B1Agricultural implement for recovery of plastic mulch and processing of the same

Publication Date: 2019.05.14 KIMBALL JOSHUA

AI summary

A mobile plastic mulch processing apparatus recovers plastic mulch by first cutting away any vegetation growing above the plastic mulch with a mower head which depends from the frame of the apparatus. The plastic mulch is caught up by a plastic mulch lifting apparatus which pulls the plastic mulch upward from the field and disposes the plastic mulch with a plastic mulch receiving bin. The apparatus may have additional systems which clean the top surface of the plastic mulch before lifting and for shredding the plastic mulch for disposal.