Wedge-Shaped Seed Pan for Reducing Crop Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional harvesting equipment struggles to effectively cut and collect short or downed crops, particularly leading to seed pod shattering and loss due to narrow lifting fingers and rapid knife movement, resulting in significant seed loss during the harvesting of crops like dry beans, peas, and lentils.
Innovation Solution
A seed pan apparatus is designed to attach to the cutting header, featuring a wide, wedge-shaped structure that extends over the knife and guard fingers, catching falling seeds and lifting pods higher to ensure they are above the cutting level, allowing for improved seed retention and reduced loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If narrow lifting fingers are used to lift stalks above the knife, then the knife can cut the stalks effectively, but seed pods hang down on each side of the rod and fall below the knife causing seed loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from narrow lifting fingers (one-dimensional rod structure) to wide seed pans (two-dimensional planar structure). This dimensional change allows the seed pans to provide both lifting capability and lateral coverage, preventing pods from hanging down on sides while maintaining effective cutting contact with the knife.
Solution Approach 2:
The seed pan is divided into multiple segments or sections that can independently contact and lift different parts of the crop. This segmentation allows the pan to adapt to varying crop positions and orientations, ensuring comprehensive pod support while maintaining cutting effectiveness across the entire width of the pan.
2Speed
If the knife moves rapidly back and forth to cut crops quickly, then cutting speed increases, but seed pods shatter upon contact with the rapidly moving knife causing seed loss
Solution Approach 1:
The seed pan performs preliminary action by lifting and supporting the crop and pods before they reach the knife. This preliminary support stabilizes the pods in an upright position and prevents them from being knocked over or shattered by the rapid knife movement, thereby reducing seed loss while maintaining high cutting speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The seed pan provides a cushioning effect by creating a supportive surface that absorbs and distributes the impact forces before they reach the pods. This beforehand cushioning protects vulnerable seed pods from the shock of rapid knife contact, preventing shattering and seed loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional crop lifters are used to lift downed crop, then short crops can be cut, but pods below the cutter bar or hanging below the knife are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The wide seed pan extends laterally beyond the knife width, creating a two-dimensional collection surface that captures pods from a broader area. This dimensional extension allows the pan to lift and support pods that would otherwise be below the cutting level or hanging below the knife, preventing their loss while maintaining adaptability to short and downed crop conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A seed pan apparatus for attachment to a cutting header having a knife and cooperating knife guards mounted along a lower front edge thereof includes a seed pan adapted at a front portion thereof for attachment to a guard finger such that when attached, the seed pan extends upward and rearward from a front portion of the seed pan forward of the guard finger over the guard finger and knife to a rear end thereof located rearward of the knife. Side walls extend upward from side edges of the seed pan, and side edges of the seed pan diverge from a front end to the rear end. The seed pan is configured such that when the seed pan is attached to the guard finger, side edges of the seed pan are located between the attached guard finger and an adjacent guard finger on each side.