Root Crop Crumbling Device for Uniform Sample Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing root crops are inefficient due to the need for manual sample preparation, contamination issues, and difficulty in achieving uniform sample size, leading to inaccurate measurements and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a main frame with a crumbling shaft and cutting rake that crumbles root crops into uniform pieces, a transport mechanism, and a measuring instrument for near-infrared spectroscopy, ensuring consistent sample size and minimizing moisture release, along with a cleaning rake and de-clogging mechanism to prevent contamination and clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If root crops are crumbled using conventional cutting methods, then sample preparation is achieved, but moisture is released and samples become non-uniform in size
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting rake is divided into multiple fingers with individual cutting edges, allowing sequential engagement with the root crop material. This segmentation enables progressive size reduction while maintaining uniformity, as each finger contributes to the crumbling process in a controlled manner rather than a single aggressive cut.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the crumbling process by using a non-rotating cutting rake that moves linearly through the material rather than rotating blades. This parameter change allows for controlled, gradual size reduction and prevents the moisture release associated with high-speed conventional cutting methods.
2Measurement precision
If manual sample preparation is used, then analysis can be performed, but labor costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be self-feeding, where the root crop material automatically moves through the crumbling mechanism without requiring manual intervention. The conveyor belt system and gravity-fed arrangement allow the system to service itself, eliminating labor-intensive sample preparation steps while maintaining consistent sample quality for analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary crumbling and size classification of root crops before they reach the analysis stage. By pre-processing the samples to uniform sizes in advance, the system eliminates the need for manual preparation during actual analysis, thereby improving both efficiency and consistency of measurement.
3Measurement precision
If conventional analysis methods are used, then ingredient determination is achieved, but contamination and measurement errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces an intermediary classification mechanism (the cutting rake with specific finger spacing and blade geometry) that acts as a mediator between the raw root crop material and the analysis system. This intermediary ensures uniform sample presentation and prevents contamination by controlling exactly how the material is divided and transported to the analysis point.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables efficient, accurate, and cost-effective analysis of root crops by producing uniformly sized, dry samples that reduce measurement errors and contamination, improving the efficiency of the analysis process.
Implementation Method 1
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has proven to be useful in the analysis of ingredients from crops tested in these analytical laboratories
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for crumbling root crops into substantially equal sized pieces and homogenizing the flow of crumbled pieces for analysis. The device can have a crumbling device with a main frame and at least one crumbling shaft rotatably supported in the main frame. The crumbling shaft can have a plurality of curved hooks for interlaced movement with recesses in at least one non-rotating cutting rake and at least one cleaning rake. A transport device can move the stream of crumbled root crops from the crumbling device where the stream can be leveled with a leveling rake and compressed into a substantially flat and uniform flow with a roller. The roller can have one or more scrapers positioned to clean the roller surface of residual root crop product and distribute the cleaned material in locations away from the stream to be analyzed to avoid contamination.