Plant Stem Cutting With Clamping Conveyors for Accurate Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting machines struggle with accurately cutting off tops and roots of plant stems, particularly hemp, due to their flexibility, leading to bending, incomplete cutting, contamination, and disruption during the production of natural fibers.
Innovation Solution
A device with a first cutting means and a pair of cutting conveyor belts or chains that clamp and support plant stems to prevent bending, combined with a discharge gate to separate cut-off tops and roots, ensuring precise cutting and separation from the stems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a cutting means is used to cut off tops during harvesting, then the tops can be separated from plant stems, but the flexible plant stems bend away from the cutting means causing incomplete cutting or dragging of entire stems
Solution Approach 1:
The plant stems are mown or pulled out and positioned on a support surface before the cutting operation. This preliminary positioning action restricts the stems to a defined area, preventing them from bending away during cutting. The support surface and clamping mechanism are prepared in advance to control stem movement during the subsequent cutting process.
Solution Approach 2:
A support surface acts as an intermediary between the plant stems and the cutting means. This intermediary surface provides a stable base that prevents the flexible stems from bending away. Additionally, clamping mechanisms serve as intermediaries to secure the stems in position, translating the flexible stems into a controlled, stationary state suitable for precise cutting.
2Manufacturing precision
If tops are cut off during harvesting with flexible stems, then separation is achieved, but the stems cannot be laid down in an orderly manner and contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting process is segmented into distinct operations: mowing/pulling, positioning on support surface, clamping, cutting, and separate deposition. The cut-off tops are deposited in a first swath while the plant stems are deposited in a second swath, spatially separating the materials. This segmentation allows each operation to be optimized independently, maintaining cutting accuracy while improving overall harvesting organization and reducing contamination.
3Power
If cutting means drags along plant stems from a bundle, then cutting action is maintained, but entire plant stems are lost and no natural fibers are produced
Solution Approach 1:
Clamping mechanisms serve as intermediaries that secure individual plant stems or small groups of stems during the cutting operation. These clamps prevent the stems from being dragged along by the cutting means while still allowing the cutting blade to effectively sever the tops. The support surface acts as another intermediary, providing friction and physical restraint to prevent stem movement during cutting.
Solution Approach 2:
The plant stems are positioned and secured on the support surface with clamping mechanisms before the cutting action begins. This preliminary securing action ensures that when the cutting means applies force, the stems remain stationary and are cut precisely at the intended location rather than being dragged along, thereby preventing loss of valuable plant material.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for cutting tops and/or roots of plant stems comprising a first horizontal support surface (7), for supporting mown or pulled-out plant stems, and a first group (6) of mowing conveyor belts and/or mowing conveyor chains, for parallel clamping and rotating of the mown or pulled-out plant stems from a standing to a lying position during transport to the first horizontal support surface, the device comprising a first cutting means (12) for cutting off tops and/or roots of plant stems, and a first pair of cutting conveyor belts or cutting conveyor chains (9) for clamping the mown plant stems during cutting off, the first pair of cutting conveyor belts or cutting conveyor chains extending in a longitudinal direction along the first support surface, and the first cutting means positioned in a width direction between the first support surface and the first pair of cutting conveyor belts or cutting conveyor chains.