Potato Planter Storage Container Positioning for Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing potato planting machines face stability issues and reduced capacity when the storage container is filled with a large quantity of tubers, leading to inefficient weight distribution and positioning accuracy problems, especially when the container is located at the rear of the machine.

Innovation Solution

A potato planting device with a support frame that positions the storage container forward of the planting units, allowing for optimal weight distribution and shifting the center of gravity, enabling indirect filling of tubers into a rear transfer space via a conveyor system, which improves stability and positioning accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the storage container is located at the rear of the planting machine, then the planting capacity is increased, but the stability and weight distribution deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplanting capacityVSAvoidmachine stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the storage container from a purely rearward location to an elevated position above the planting units, utilizing the vertical dimension. This spatial reconfiguration allows the container to be positioned directly over the planting mechanism, improving weight distribution and stability while maintaining access to a large storage capacity. The container is supported on extensions of the support frame that position it above rather than behind the planting units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Duration of action of moving object

If the storage container is filled with a large quantity of tubers, then the planting duration is extended, but the weight distribution and stability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplanting durationVSAvoidweight distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the support frame structure to counterbalance the weight of the filled storage container. The frame extensions that support the container are designed to distribute the weight load to the tractor's towing mechanism and the machine's own support structure, creating a balanced weight distribution system that maintains stability even when the container is fully loaded with tubers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Quantity of substance

If the storage container is positioned far to the rear, then the capacity is increased, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By moving the storage container into the vertical dimension (elevating it above the planting units), the patent eliminates the trade-off between rearward positioning for capacity and forward positioning for accuracy. The container can now be positioned directly over the planting mechanism in the horizontal plane while maintaining large storage capacity through vertical elevation, thereby achieving both high capacity and high positioning accuracy simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2449871B1Potato positioning device
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 GRIMME LANDMASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2449871B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2449871B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2449871B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device (1) comprises a support frame that is equipped with a potato storage container (6) that stores tubers for planting on a seedbed (9). The planting units (7) are equipped with rounded belt or separating structures (8). The potato storage container is equipped with a filling region that is extended along the direction of travel (F) of the tractor (4). The tubers are planted by using the separating structures that are arranged at the rear side of the planting units.