Pivoting Boom Gripper for Grapevine Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical equipment struggles to efficiently remove vines from vineyards without damaging neighboring vines or support structures, particularly in tight spaces, limiting the use of machines for vine clearance.
Innovation Solution
A digging device with a pivoting boom and gripper attachment to a vehicle, allowing for side access and removal of vines without damaging surrounding structures, utilizing a coupling device for quick attachment to tractors or harvesting equipment, and featuring adjustable gripping jaws for secure vine extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical equipment is used to remove vines, then productivity increases, but neighboring vines and support structures may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The boom is made pivotable about a vertical axis, allowing dynamic adjustment of the gripper's position and orientation. This enables the operator to precisely position the gripper to grasp vines while avoiding contact with neighboring vines and support structures, thus maintaining high productivity without causing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device separates the vine removal function from the vehicle body by using a detachable boom with a gripper. This segmentation allows the gripper to be positioned independently at the distal end of the boom, enabling precise targeting of individual vines without affecting surrounding structures.
2Ease of operation
If vehicles are maneuvered freely between rows to access vines, then ease of operation improves, but neighboring vines and support structures are at risk of damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable boom provides dynamic positioning capability, allowing the gripper to reach vines on both sides of the vehicle without requiring the vehicle to maneuver closely alongside each vine. This maintains ease of operation while preventing damage to surrounding structures.
3Productivity
If devices are mounted on vehicles for vine removal, then productivity increases, but lack of space prevents optimal placement
Solution Approach 1:
The boom extends the working reach of the vehicle in a lateral dimension, allowing the gripper to access vines that would otherwise be out of reach. This dimensional extension enables effective vine removal without requiring the device to be mounted close to the vines, thus resolving space constraints.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A harvesting device (10) for a vehicle (100) is proposed for harvesting woody vegetation, in particular grapevines (70). The harvesting device (10) has a coupling device (20) for mechanically attaching the harvesting device (10) to the vehicle (100) and a boom (40) that pivots about a vertical axis (2) relative to the coupling device (20). The harvesting device (10) has a boom (40) that pivots about a vertical axis (2) relative to the coupling device (20) and, at a distal end of the boom (40), a gripper (50) with two mutually movable gripping jaws (52, 54) for securing the grapevine (70). One of the two gripping jaws (52, 54) has a gripping contour (56, 58) that points towards a proximal end of the boom (40).