Mulching Machine Roller with Teeth for Automated Cloth Burial
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mulching machines require manual intervention for cutting and burying the initial and final ends of the covering cloth, lack precision in cutting the final end, and cannot vary the quantity of ground buried, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage to irrigation channels.
Innovation Solution
A mulching machine equipped with a roller having teeth that can rotate in opposite directions to precisely cut and bury the ends of the covering cloth, with adjustable teeth to avoid damaging irrigation channels, and a logic control unit to manage the earthing up process automatically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual intervention is used for cutting and burying cloth ends, then operator control is maintained, but working time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine performs cutting and burying operations automatically without requiring operator intervention. The roller with teeth autonomously cuts the cloth ends and the earthing up means automatically bury them, transforming manual operations into self-executing machine functions
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting and burying operations are performed as preliminary actions integrated into the laying process. The roller is positioned to cut the cloth end before burial, and the earthing up means are pre-configured to bury the cut ends, eliminating the need for separate manual operations
2Extent of automation
If a transverse bar is used for automatic earthing up, then automation is improved, but precision in cutting and control over burial quantity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The earthing up function is segmented into two independent components: a roller with teeth for cutting and a separate earthing up means for burying. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the roller providing precise cutting control and the earthing up means providing automated burial
Solution Approach 2:
The roller is made dynamically controllable, able to rotate in opposite directions and be positioned at different heights. This dynamic control enables precise adjustment of cutting depth and position, as well as control over the quantity of ground buried, overcoming the static limitations of a transverse bar
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed earthing up configuration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different terrain conditions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The roller and earthing up means are equipped with adjustable mechanisms that allow dynamic adaptation to different terrain conditions. The roller can be positioned at different heights and rotated in opposite directions, while the earthing up means can adjust burial depth, providing versatility without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows change of key parameters including roller height position, roller rotation direction, and earthing up depth. These parameter changes enable adaptation to various terrain conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure
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
Enables fully automated mulching operations without operator intervention, precise cutting and burying of cloth ends, and adjustable earthing depth to accommodate different terrain conditions, reducing operational time and minimizing damage to irrigation systems.
Implementation Method 1
a roller (9), rotatably associated with the support frame (2)... provided with a plurality of teeth (10)... susceptible of rotating, alternately, around its rotation axis (Z) in a first rotation sense (V1) and in a second rotation sense (V2)... the teeth (10)... adapted to intercept and break down the covering cloth (4)
Implementation Method 2
earthing up means (8)... adapted to at least partially bury the ends of the covering cloth (4) laid on the ground... the teeth (10)... adapted to turn over the ground and to bury the ends of the covering cloth (4)
Implementation Method 3
laying means (6)... comprising a pair of idle wheels (26)... each idle wheel (26) is susceptible of rotating, driven by the ground via rolling friction and consequently also rotating the reel (3), which is thus unrolled
Data Source
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AI summary
Mulching machine for laying a covering cloth over a ground, which comprises a reel (3) of a covering cloth (4), laying means (6) adapted to lay on the ground a strip (7) of the covering cloth (4) and earthing up means (8) adapted to at least partially bury the strip (7) of covering cloth (4), such earthing up means (8) comprising a roller (9) and a plurality of teeth (10) removably fixed to the roller (9) and radially projecting outside the latter. The mulching machine also comprises first movement means (13) and second movement means (14), which are respectively adapted to move the roller (9) between an interference position, in which the teeth (10) plunge into the ground, and a non-interference position, in which the teeth (10) are lifted from the ground, and to rotate the roller (9) into a first or into a second rotation sense (V1, V2) in order to bring the teeth (10) to intercept the ground and to turn it over so as to bury the strip (7) of covering cloth (4). The mulching machine also comprises a logic control unit (15) configured for driving the first and the second movement means (13, 14) to execute earthing up operations.