Olive Picker Telescopic Rod and Balanced Motor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing olive picking apparatuses have complex structures, large bulk dimensions, and weight imbalances, making them difficult to assemble, maintain, and use safely, which can damage trees and reduce fruit production.
Innovation Solution
A compact, ergonomic olive picking apparatus with a telescopic support rod, integrated motor, and comb sectors with radially arranged teeth, featuring a simple design and external actuation means for easy assembly and safe operation, reducing the risk of tree damage and improving balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If complex shaker members with multiple beating elements are used, then olive picking efficiency is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into modular components: a telescopic support rod that can be adjusted in length, a separate shaker unit with comb sectors, and an integrated motor unit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies assembly and maintenance while maintaining high picking efficiency through the coordinated action of multiple comb sectors
2Productivity
If shaker members with considerable bulk dimensions are used, then olive picking effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation and safety decrease due to weight imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is integrated directly into the shaker unit, creating a balanced weight distribution around the rotation axis. The comb sectors are arranged symmetrically on the support rod, and the telescopic design allows adjustment of the center of gravity. This counterbalancing eliminates harmful vibrations and makes the device easier to handle safely while maintaining effective olive picking
3Power
If heavy shaker members are used, then olive picking power is improved, but risk of tree damage increases due to uncontrolled vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses controlled mechanical vibration through an electric motor that rotates the comb sectors at optimized speeds. The symmetric arrangement of combs and the integrated motor create balanced vibrations that effectively detach olives without causing harmful oscillations. The telescopic support rod can be adjusted to position the combs at optimal distances from branches, preventing excessive force and tree damage while maintaining high picking power
Data Source
AI summary
The apparatus for picking olives and similar products comprises a support rod (2) suitable to be grasped, a shaker unit (3) comprising a containment box (7) suitable to be mounted at the top of the support rod (2); at least one comb sector (5, 6) shaping a crossbar (9) provided with a plurality of teeth (10), carried mobile by the containment box (7), a motor member (204) to actuate the comb sector (5, 6) in a substantially tilting motion, a drive shaft (14) arranged substantially aligned to the longitudinal axis of the support rod (2) and suitable to be actuated in a rotary motion by the motor member (204). The drive shaft (14) is associated with at least one respective driven shaft (18, 19) shaping an inclined end portion (23). Support means (25) for the crossbar (9) of the comb sector (5, 6) are suitable to be engaged rotatably on the inclined portion (23) of the driven shaft (18, 19) by means of the interposition of rolling means (28). Control means (13) for the motion of the comb sector (5, 6) are associated with the support means (25), the support means (25) being suitable to cooperate reciprocally abutting with the control means (13) at respective coupling portions (30, 31) externally to the containment box (7), to transform the rotary motion actuated by the motor member (204) into the tilting motion of the comb sector (5, 6).