Pedicel-Angle Fruit Harvesting Device for Reliable Plucking or Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting devices struggle to reliably harvest fruits with large bending angles of the pedicel, often failing to apply adequate force at the abscission layer, leading to incomplete harvesting.
Innovation Solution
A harvesting device with an upper and lower harvest ring mechanism, controlled by a controller, that determines between plucking and cutting operations based on pedicel angle, ensuring fruits are separated at the abscission layer by applying precise forces through motors and gears to move the rings and a cutting blade.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional harvesting device uses a simple plucking mechanism, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot reliably harvest fruits with large pedicel bending angles
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting device dynamically adjusts its operation mode between plucking and cutting based on the detected pedicel angle. The system transitions from a static simple plucking mechanism to a dynamic system that adapts its harvesting method according to real-time conditions, thereby improving harvesting reliability for fruits with large pedicel bending angles while maintaining operational simplicity through automated decision-making
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses image recognition to create a digital model of the pedicel angle, then uses this information to determine the appropriate harvesting operation. By copying the visual information into a controllable parameter (operation mode selection), the system achieves reliable harvesting without requiring complex mechanical structures to physically sense and adapt to each fruit's orientation
2Reliability
If the device always uses plucking operation, then the operation is simple, but fruits with large pedicel angles cannot be properly separated at the abscission layer
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting operation dynamically switches between plucking and cutting modes based on the pedicel angle detection results. For fruits with small pedicel angles, the simple plucking operation is used; for fruits with large pedicel angles, the system automatically transitions to cutting operation, ensuring reliable separation at the abscission layer while adapting the operation complexity to the actual harvesting needs
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (harvesting method) based on the detected pedicel angle parameter. When the angle exceeds a threshold, the operation transitions from plucking to cutting, optimizing the separation reliability for different fruit orientations without requiring manual intervention to adjust the operation mode
3Measurement precision
If the device adds image recognition and control mechanisms, then harvesting accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses image recognition to create a digital representation of the pedicel angle, then uses this copied information to control the harvesting operation. This approach achieves precise measurement without requiring complex physical sensing mechanisms, as the visual information is transformed into actionable control parameters through software processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing and adjustment mechanisms with an image recognition-based system. Instead of using multiple physical sensors and mechanical adjustment components to detect and respond to pedicel angles, the system uses visual information processing to achieve the same control function with fewer mechanical parts
Data Source
AI summary
A harvesting device includes: an upper harvest ring that an object grown on a plant is to be inserted into; a lower harvest ring that is disposed below the upper harvest ring and that the object is to be inserted into; a first drive mechanism that moves at least one of the upper harvest ring and the lower harvest ring; and a controller. The controller determines one of a first harvest operation and a second harvest operation, and controls the first drive mechanism, based on the one of the first harvest operation and the second harvest operation.