Segmented Tine Roller Structure for Lightweight Crop Turning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural tine rollers are heavy, complex, and costly due to numerous individual parts, and they harshly treat straw and leaves during rotation.

Innovation Solution

A tine roller design featuring longitudinally extending panels connected via legs parallel to the longitudinal axis, forming a cylindrical shape with tines arranged in sections, using light metal sheets and plastic connectors for easy assembly and reduced weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional tine rollers are designed with numerous individual parts to achieve reliable function, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual parts into a single integrated panel structure. The panel comprises a curved sheet metal body with integrated bends forming support surfaces, where previously separate components (support surfaces, connecting elements, reinforcement elements) are now unified into one monolithic structure that is pressed and bent from a single sheet, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated panel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the curved support surface for tines, acts as the connecting element between rollers through its bends, provides structural reinforcement through its geometric design, and serves as the mounting structure for tines. This multi-functionality reduces the number of parts needed while maintaining all necessary structural and functional requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Strength

If traditional tine rollers use numerous individual parts to ensure structural strength, then strength is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestrengthVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses thin sheet metal (0.5-2 mm thick) that is pressed and bent into a complex three-dimensional integrated structure. The thin sheet material provides strength through its geometric configuration (bends, curves, and rigid angles) rather than through mass, creating a lightweight yet strong panel that maintains structural integrity while significantly reducing weight compared to traditional thick-walled or multi-part constructions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The panel features a curved support surface with optimized radii of curvature (R1, R2, R3) that provide structural strength through geometric form. The curved bends and arcs distribute stresses efficiently throughout the thin sheet material, maintaining strength while using minimal material mass, thereby reducing overall weight of the moving object

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional tine rollers are designed with elaborate structures to handle material processing, then processing capability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing capabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The complex three-dimensional panel structure is manufactured by pressing and bending a flat sheet metal in a single stamping operation, creating segmented geometric features (bends, curves, rigid sections) that form the integrated structure. This segmentation of the manufacturing process into one forming operation simplifies production while achieving the complex geometry needed for processing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The panel's processing capability is achieved through geometric parameters (curvature radii, bend angles, thickness) rather than complex assembly structures. By optimizing these physical parameters of the pressed sheet metal, the design achieves versatile material processing functionality while maintaining simple manufacturing through standard press-brake or stamping processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4699436A1Tine roller

Publication Date: 2026.02.25 RAPID TECHNIC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

Tine roller for an agricultural machine, preferably for a device for lifting and then loosely depositing the cut material lying on the ground, wherein the tine roller having a longitudinal axis has a roller, connectors arranged at the end face and tines arranged distributed over the roller, wherein the roller includes at least one longitudinally extending panel arranged around the circumference and having flanges extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the panel has a curvature extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and is connected to form a cylindrical roller via its legs extending parallel to the longitudinal axis.