Electric Trimmer With Oscillating Blades For Cannabis Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual and labor-intensive process of harvesting buds and flowers from cannabis plants is tedious, costly, and prone to worker strain and injury, as it requires manual snipping and handling of branches.
Innovation Solution
An electric trimmer with oscillating blade plates and guard plates, powered by a rechargeable battery or plug-in cord, designed to quickly and efficiently separate buds and flowers from plant branches without deforming them, featuring interchangeable guard plates and a safety shield for operator protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual snipping tools are used to harvest buds and flowers, then the process allows precise control and flexibility, but the process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the harvesting function into multiple independent cutting blades arranged in a circular pattern, each capable of operating autonomously. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple buds/flowers simultaneously, dramatically increasing productivity while maintaining the precision of individual cutting actions through each blade's independent operation
Solution Approach 2:
The circular blade assembly serves multiple functions: it can harvest buds and flowers from different positions on branches, adjust cutting depth through the adjustable support plate, and process various branch sizes. This multi-functionality replaces multiple manual snipping operations with a single device that maintains operational flexibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual snipping is performed by workers, then the process can be adapted to different plant sizes and configurations, but it requires significant human labor and causes worker strain
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates an adjustable support plate that can be dynamically positioned to accommodate different branch sizes and angles. The circular blade assembly can also be adjusted in radius and orientation, allowing the system to adapt to various plant configurations while eliminating the need for manual adaptation by workers
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs the harvesting action automatically through the rotating blade assembly that contacts branches directly. The system serves itself by using the plant's own structure (branches extending from stalks) as the interface for cutting, eliminating the need for workers to manually position and operate snipping tools on each bud
3Manufacturing precision
If hand-operated clippers are used to snip off each bud individually, then the form and structure of buds can be maintained, but the process is extremely tedious and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The rapid rotation of the circular blade assembly creates a vibrating cutting action that severs buds and flowers cleanly from branches. This vibrational cutting mechanism maintains bud form and structure by minimizing mechanical distortion and crushing that would occur with slower, manual snipping motions
Solution Approach 2:
The continuously rotating blade assembly maintains constant cutting action as it passes through multiple buds and flowers on a branch. This continuous operation eliminates the repeated stopping and starting inherent in manual snipping, dramatically reducing harvesting time while maintaining cut quality through consistent blade speed and motion
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 electric trimmer significantly reduces manual labor and costs by automating the harvesting process, minimizing worker strain, and ensuring the buds and flowers are collected intact and efficiently, allowing multiple workers to share the device.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of which is connected to an oscillator mechanism in the electric motor, and a pair of guard plates disposed one on each side of the at least one of the pair of blade plates
Data Source
AI summary
An electric trimmer has an electric motor and power source, a pair of blade plates, at least one of which is connected to an oscillator mechanism in the electric motor, and a pair of guard plates disposed one on each side of the at least one of the pair of blade plates, the guard plates hosting a matching radial or linear pattern of slots having a uniform spacing, a uniform slot width, the slots breaking out past at least one edge of the guard plates, the guard plates, in assembly, creating a gap space there between. One or more operators may insert branches having buds or flowers thereon through any one of the matching slots in the slot pattern, the branch oriented orthogonal to the blade set with the blade plates oscillating to harvest the buds or flowers within the gap space.