Automated Vine Branch Removal Machine with Gripping and Detaching Mechanisms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manual removal of cut-off vine branches after pruning is labor-intensive and costly, necessitating an automated solution to streamline the vine cultivation process.
Innovation Solution
A machine designed to automatically pull out cut-off vine branches from tying wires, featuring a gripping mechanism with rotating disks, a transfer device with notches, and a detaching system capable of exerting a traction force greater than the resistance of the tendrils, ensuring the long fruit-bearing branch remains intact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual removal of cut-off vine branches is used, then labor flexibility is maintained, but labor cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is divided into three functional modules: gripping device with rotating element, transfer device with transfer element, and detaching device. Each module performs a specific function in the branch removal process, enabling automated operation while maintaining manageable structural complexity through functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer element acts as an intermediary between the gripping notches and the detaching means. It receives branches from the gripping device and transports them to the detaching device, facilitating the transition from manual to automated operation without requiring direct complex interaction between all components.
2Extent of automation
If automated gripping mechanism is used, then labor cost is reduced, but risk of damaging fruit-bearing branches increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping notches and transfer notches are specifically designed with local geometric features that selectively engage only the cut-off branches. The notches have dimensions and shapes that match the characteristics of cut-off branches while being too small or improperly oriented to engage the longer fruit-bearing branches, ensuring selective gripping without damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine performs preliminary separation by gripping only the cut-off branches that are already detached from the main vine structure. The gripping element is positioned to engage branches that have been previously cut, ensuring that the automated mechanism only handles loose cut-off branches and never exerts force on attached fruit-bearing branches.
3Force
If detaching means exerts high traction force, then branch removal is effective, but fruit-bearing branches may be pulled off the vine
Solution Approach 1:
The detaching means is positioned and configured to exert force only on branches that have been transported by the transfer element. The geometric arrangement ensures that the traction force is applied to cut-off branches that are already separated from the vine, while the fruit-bearing branches remain outside the force application zone due to their length and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer element extracts the cut-off branches from the gripping notches and delivers them to the detaching means. This extraction process separates the cut-off branches from the fruit-bearing branches before the high-force detaching action, ensuring that only the intended branches are subjected to high traction forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for pulling out the cut-off vine branches (S) that are hanging on a tying wire (F), including a supporting frame (1), a gantry (2) comprising an arm set mounting so as to swivel and having an overhanging end, a gripping device (3) for the cut branches (S) including at least one gripping disk (23) connected to the overhanging end and showing notches (24) for gripping and dragging along the cut branches (S), a transfer device (4) comprising a transfer element (28) showing notches for gripping and dragging along the cut branches (S) gripped by gripping disk (23), and a detaching device (5) for the cut branches (S) arranged at the outlet of transfer device (4) and including a device for capturing the cut branches (S) and pulling them in the direction opposite to transfer device (4).