Self-Adapting Shaker Hook for Stable Branch Gripping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional shaker hooks fail to adapt to a wide range of branch sizes and shapes, causing damage or inefficient fruit detachment, while clamping jaws are expensive and heavy, exerting excessive strain on branches.
Innovation Solution
A hook with adjustable gripping expansions that can vary in size and shape to fit different branch dimensions, featuring centring means, adjustment means, and stabilization means to ensure stable gripping, using minimal parts and low mass design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fixed-size hooks are used, then the structure is simple and light, but the hook cannot adapt to branches of varying sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The hook incorporates adjustable gripping expansions that can dynamically change their dimensions to match different branch sizes. The gripping expansions are designed to be movable relative to the hook body, allowing the operator to adjust the gripping width to suit various branch diameters while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If clamping jaws are used to grip branches, then gripping stability is improved, but the device becomes expensive, heavy, and exerts excessive strain on branches
Solution Approach 1:
The hook is divided into distinct functional segments: a hook body and separate gripping expansions. This segmentation allows the gripping expansions to be adjusted independently to match branch dimensions, providing stable gripping without requiring heavy clamping jaws. The gripping expansions can be positioned at optimal distances from the branch to ensure reliable contact while minimizing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook design allows for parameter changes in the gripping expansions' position and dimension. By adjusting the distance between gripping expansions and their individual dimensions, the hook can adapt to different branch sizes and provide stable gripping. This parameter adjustability eliminates the need for heavy clamping mechanisms while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If clamping jaws are used to grip branches, then gripping stability is improved, but excessive strain is exerted on branches causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping expansions are designed with specific local characteristics that distribute the gripping force across a larger area of the branch. By adjusting the position and dimension of the gripping expansions, the force is applied in a way that prevents concentrated stress points that would cause branch damage. The local quality of the gripping surface ensures stable holding while protecting the branch from injury.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hooks are used, then the structure is simple, but branches that are too large or unfavourably oriented cannot be contained
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping expansions are designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the operator to modify their position and orientation to match the branch being handled. This dynamic capability enables the hook to accommodate branches of various orientations and sizes without requiring a complex multi-component gripping mechanism, maintaining structural simplicity while enhancing versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Hook (1) for shakers and similar machines, comprising a main body (2) connectable to a reaction rod (3) of a shaker or similar machine, a main gripping expansion (4) extending at least partially transversely from the main body (2) and engageable, under operating conditions, with at least one branch or similar object, and a complementary gripping expansion (5) defining, in cooperation with the main gripping expansion (4), a gripping space (P) adapted to accommodate the branch or similar object. These main and complementary gripping expansions (4, 5) are reciprocally movable so as to vary the gripping space (P). The hook (1) further comprises adjustment means (6) configured to move the main gripping expansion (4) and/or the complementary gripping expansion (5).