Rotary Crop Separator With Stationary Blade
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crop separation devices face issues with clogging due to small particles and saps, which restrict the movability of cutting blades over time, and require frequent cleaning, and they are not robust enough for efficient operation with small motors.
Innovation Solution
A device with rotatable gripping elements in the form of elongated rotors having screw profiles with capturing, gripping, cutting, and releasing zones, where the rotors rotate in opposite directions to move the crop part through a passage opening, and a stationary cutting blade positioned adjacent to the cutting zone, allowing for effective separation and reduced risk of blockage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cutting blade is moved along the extension of the nip during cutting, then the crop part can be cut effectively, but small particles and saps collect on the cutting blade and restrict its movability over time
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional zones: a gripping zone with rotatable elements for uptake, a cutting zone with a stationary cutting blade, and a releasing zone. This segmentation allows the cutting blade to remain stationary while the crop part is moved through it, preventing particle accumulation on the blade while maintaining cutting effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the cutting blade along the crop part (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the cutting blade stationary and moving the crop part through the stationary blade using the rotatable gripping elements. This reversal prevents particles from accumulating on the moving blade.
2Device complexity
If the cutting blade is positioned close to the gripping means, then the structure is compact, but the cutting means is blocked by crop part or debris
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the gripping means and cutting means into distinct spatial zones with a passage opening between them. The rotatable elements in the gripping zone move the crop part through the passage opening to the cutting zone, eliminating direct contact between the cutting blade and crop debris while maintaining a compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage opening acts as an intermediary channel that transports the crop part from the gripping zone to the cutting zone. This intermediate passage prevents direct blockage of the cutting means by crop parts or debris, allowing the cutting blade to operate cleanly while maintaining structural compactness.
3Device complexity
If small motors are used to rotate the gripping elements, then the device is more compact and easier to control, but the motors lack robustness for continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable elements are designed with varying surface properties along their length: a gripping zone with high friction for uptake, a cutting zone with a stationary blade, and a releasing zone. This dynamic design allows small motors to efficiently rotate the elements through limited angular ranges rather than continuous full rotations, reducing motor size requirements while maintaining operational robustness.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable elements perform periodic rotational movements to advance the crop part through the gripping and cutting zones rather than continuous rotation. This periodic action reduces the cumulative wear and thermal generation on the motors, allowing small motors to operate robustly for extended periods without overheating or mechanical failure.
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 provides improved robustness and reduced risk of clogging, allowing for efficient separation of crop parts with minimal motor power, ensuring effective handling and ejection of cut crop parts while maintaining device functionality.
Implementation Method 1
each rotor is provided with a screw profile along the length of the rotor, the rotors coupled at a first longitudinal end thereof to a drive for rotating the rotors when in operation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for separating crop parts from crop (11), the device comprising a carrier (10) with gripping and cutting means (100). The gripping means comprise rotatable elements disposed opposite one another, between which a passage (P) is delimited for receiving the crop part. The rotatable elements comprise a pair of elongated rotors (3a, 3b) parallel to one another. Each rotor is provided with a screw profile (39) along its length and is coupled at a first longitudinal end (31) to a drive (27) for rotating the rotors when in operation. A capturing opening in the direction parallel to the rotation axes (A1, A2) at a second end (32) of the rotors. The screw profiles comprise a capturing zone portion (37) and a cutting zone portion (35). The cutting means (9) are arranged stationary adjacent to the cutting zone portion (35).