Plant Cutting Unit with Independent Probe-Cutter Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting devices for plants, particularly for beets, face issues with inconsistent cutting heights and forces due to dynamic movements, leading to unintentional displacement of beets and inadequate contact with varying plant sizes, resulting in suboptimal cutting performance.
Innovation Solution
A cutting device with an adjustment device that allows independent adjustment of holding elements relative to the cutting device frame, enabling precise control of the height difference between the probe and cutting elements, and adjustable restoring elements to manage acting forces, independent of the device's position or movement, ensuring optimal cutting alignment and force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the holding elements are moved simultaneously relative to the cutting device frame to change the height difference between probe element and cutting element, then the adaptability to different plant sizes is improved, but the dynamics of the probe element change and the force with which the probe element acts on the plants is altered, causing unintentional displacement of plants or insufficient contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the adjustment function into two independent segments: (1) simultaneous movement of holding elements relative to the cutting device frame to adjust cutting height, and (2) independent adjustment of holding elements relative to each other to maintain constant probe force. This segmentation allows each function to be optimized separately without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and force consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capabilities where the holding elements can be independently adjusted relative to each other during operation. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the system to maintain optimal probe force on plants while adapting to different plant sizes, eliminating the harmful dynamic effects that previously occurred when holding elements were moved simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the holding elements are moved simultaneously relative to the cutting device frame, then the height difference between probe element and cutting element can be changed for different crop extents, but the position of beets to be cut is changed unintentionally and they may be knocked over
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the adjustment mechanism into independent components: the cutting device frame remains stable while holding elements can be independently adjusted relative to each other. This segmentation ensures that adjustment of cutting height does not cause unintended movement or displacement of the plants, maintaining cutting position accuracy while adapting to different crop extents.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the holding elements are moved simultaneously relative to the cutting device frame, then the size of crop part to be severed can be adjusted, but too low force prevents sufficient contact between probe element and consecutive beets of differing size, resulting in cutting at too great height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of holding elements relative to each other, allowing the system to maintain optimal contact force with plants of varying sizes. This dynamic capability ensures the probe element consistently contacts beets at the correct position, preventing cutting at too great a height while adapting to different beet sizes.
Data Source
AI summary
A cutting device for cutting plants is provided, and includes at least one cutting unit. The cutting unit has at least one probe element, which is fastened to a holding element and is intended for determining an extent of a plant. Furthermore, the cutting unit has at least one cutting element, which is fastened to a further holding element and is intended for cutting the plant depending on the extent. The cutting unit has at least two frame coupling elements. At least one of the holding elements is coupled to a cutting device frame by means of the frame coupling elements. The holding elements are arranged movably relative to one another.