Small-Fruit Harvesting Header With Counter-Rotating Strippers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting systems are not suitable for small fruits due to their physical characteristics, leading to damage and high labor costs, especially with the increasing regulations and costs associated with manual harvesting.
Innovation Solution
A field harvesting device with a harvesting header comprising worm screws, rotating separators, and conveyors that utilize counter-rotating paddles to strip fruits from plants, followed by U-shaped cups and conveyors to collect and transport the fruits efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional harvesting systems with fingers and worm screws are used, then they are suitable for plants with large stalks and hard grain, but they cause damage to small soft fruits
Solution Approach 1:
The harvesting system uses different gathering elements for different plant types: fingers and worm screws for large-stalked plants with hard grain, and soft bristles for small soft fruits. This local differentiation of gathering element properties resolves the contradiction by adapting the harvesting mechanism to the specific characteristics of each plant type, preventing damage to delicate fruits while maintaining effectiveness for robust crops.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual harvesting is used, then small fruits can be harvested without damage, but labor costs increase due to worker protection regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual harvesting with a mechanical system that uses soft bristles mounted on rotating reels to gather small soft fruits. The bristles gently engage with the fruits and stalks, mimicking the careful handling of manual harvesting while achieving the speed and efficiency of mechanical operation. This substitution resolves the contradiction by providing automated harvesting that maintains fruit integrity despite the increased productivity demands.
3Productivity
If aggressive reel operation with reduced diameter is used, then plants are properly engaged for cutting, but small soft fruits are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameters of the gathering elements by using soft bristles instead of hard fingers, and adjusts the reel operation to be less aggressive with larger diameter. The bristle softness and increased reel diameter reduce the mechanical stress on small fruits during engagement and gathering, resolving the contradiction between harvesting efficiency and fruit damage prevention by modifying the interaction parameters between the harvesting mechanism and the crop.
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 effectively strips small fruits from plants without damage, reducing labor costs and improving harvesting efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the stalks are conveyed by a pair of worm screws
Implementation Method 2
a rotating separator extending into the passageway formed by the pair of worm screws... each separator having a plurality of paddles... the paddles rotating in an upward direction
Implementation Method 3
the fruits fall onto U shaped cups located on the underneath supports, and roll off onto a primary conveyor
Data Source
AI summary
A field harvesting device for small fruits having a harvesting header, a hitching pole and framework on wheels so as to be pulled by a moving motorized machine and the harvesting header is a single assembly comprised of a frame, conveyor, dividing cones, and a plurality of assemblies formed at first by worm screws, from each of which individual worm screw extends a rotating separator from which extends a shaft extending into a sprocket wheel. Two of the assemblies working as a pair of axially parallel aligned assemblies such that when one rotating separator, forming part of the pair, rotates clockwise and faces the other rotating separator forming part of the same pair rotates counterclockwise. The counter rotating separator having paddles which are configured for stripping fruits off of fruit plants; the stripped fruits are projected upwards by the action of the paddles rotating in an upward direction; the fruits fall onto U shaped cups located on the underneath supports, and roll off onto a primary conveyor. The primary conveyor conveys the fruits to an elevator conveyor which directs the fruits into a container. The assemblies are linked together at the back of the harvesting header by way of a roller chain connected to the sprocket wheels which are rotationally connected to pillow bearings mounted to the harvesting header frame and covered by a back cover. The assemblies are hold at the front end of the device by supports brackets mounted on a header frame member, which are rotationally connected by way of bearings that allow rotational movements of the assemblies.