Roller Gap Crop Cleaning for Narrow Root and Stone Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices are inefficient in separating narrow root crops from soil and stones during the harvesting process.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising rotatable rollers with cleaning and transport spirals to separate narrow root crops from larger impurities, followed by a conveyor system to separate smaller impurities, ensuring efficient and space-saving cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional cleaning devices are used, then cleaning function is provided, but narrow root crops cannot be efficiently separated from soil and stones
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is divided into multiple functional sections: a roller device for breaking up clumps and separating coarse material, and a sieve conveyor for separating fine material. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in separating a specific size range of impurities, thereby improving both separation efficiency and accuracy for narrow root crops.
2Productivity
If roller device with separating track is used, then coarse material separation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The roller device and sieve conveyor are merged into a single integrated cleaning device that processes material in one continuous flow. The roller device with its separating track combines the functions of breaking up clumps and transporting material, while the sieve conveyor integrates fine material separation. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to using separate independent devices for each function.
3Area of stationary object
If space-saving design is implemented, then device footprint is reduced, but cleaning track length is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes vertical space by stacking functional components. The sieve conveyor is positioned above or alongside the roller device, allowing the cleaning track to extend in the vertical dimension rather than requiring excessive horizontal space. This dimensional reorganization maintains adequate cleaning track length while achieving a compact footprint suitable for mobile harvesting equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for cleaning narrow root crops including a roller device with two rotatable rollers forming a separating crop inlet, a separating track, a coarse material outlet, a fine material outlet, and a roller gap, and a conveyor downstream of the roller device. The separating track is formed by the top of the rollers and the fine material outlet is located below the roller gap. The coarse material outlet is at the end of the separating track opposite the separating material inlet. The roller gap is large enough to allow the narrow root crops to pass through to the fine crop outlet and small enough to retain coarse material that has a minimum dimension greater than the maximum root diameter, and transport it to the coarse material outlet. The conveyor is below the roller gap at the fine material outlet and receives all narrow root crops passing through the roller gap.