Variable Speed Conveyor for Uniform Crop Layer Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-yield berry harvesting conditions, the discharge of harvested crop from an upstream conveyor to a downstream conveyor often results in a thick, uneven layer that exceeds the destemming capacity of the destemming unit, affecting the quality of the destemming process and leading to local saturation.
Innovation Solution
The first conveyor operates at a variable speed with a cycle of acceleration and deceleration to ensure a spatial repartition of the flow onto the second conveyor, adjusting the discharge location and trajectory to maintain a homogeneous thickness and prevent local saturation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the first conveyor operates at constant speed, then the conveying process is simple, but the discharged crop forms a thick, uneven layer that exceeds destemming capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The first conveyor operates at variable speed instead of constant speed, with the speed being dynamically adjusted during operation. The conveyor speed varies periodically to modulate the discharge rate and distribution of harvested crop onto the second conveyor, preventing local saturation and maintaining uniform layer thickness that matches destemming capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor speed follows a periodic cycle of acceleration and deceleration. During acceleration phases, the conveyor increases discharge rate to handle high yield conditions, while during deceleration phases, it reduces the discharge rate to allow proper distribution. This periodic modulation ensures the crop layer thickness remains within destemming capacity throughout the harvesting cycle.
2Productivity
If the first conveyor discharges crop at high rate, then productivity is improved, but the crop layer thickness becomes excessive and causes local saturation
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor operating parameters, specifically speed, are changed dynamically during operation. By adjusting the speed parameter within a controlled range and following a defined cycle, the system maintains high overall throughput while ensuring the discharged crop forms a uniform layer of appropriate thickness that prevents local saturation and optimizes destemming quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A process for conveying a flow of harvested crop along a first conveyor, which is configured to convey the flow along a first direction, and a second conveyor arranged downstream of the first conveyor and which is configured to convey the flow along a second direction different from the first direction. The process includes operating the first conveyor at a variable conveyor speed presenting a cycle of acceleration and deceleration, the cycle being operable to ensure a spatial repartition of the flow of harvested crop on the second conveyor, which receives the flow at a location that is variable according to the first direction.