Weeding Device Auger and Grasping Fingers for Complete Root Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional weeding devices often fail to completely remove weeds due to insufficient grabbing and pulling actions, leading to regrowth, and create aesthetically unpleasing holes in lawns or gardens, with issues in ejecting weeds from devices.
Innovation Solution
A weeding device with a drive shaft, auger, and weed engagement member that rotates to engage and remove weeds, featuring bi-directional grasping fingers and an ejector mechanism with a cutting blade for efficient weed removal and ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional grabbing and pulling action is used to remove weeds, then the device structure is simple, but the weed removal is incomplete and regrowth occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The weeding device segments the weed removal process into distinct functional components: the auger for engaging and extracting the weed, the cutting blade for severing the root, and the grasping fingers for securing the weed during extraction. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively, ensuring complete weed removal while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional grabbing and pulling action is used, then the device is simple to operate, but large holes are created on the lawn surface
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs dynamic rotational motion of the auger to extract weeds with minimal surface disruption. The rotating auger engages the weed and pulls it upward through a controlled path, allowing the hole to be minimized and the surrounding lawn to remain undisturbed. This dynamic extraction method maintains operational simplicity while significantly reducing harmful effects on the lawn surface.
3Ease of operation
If ejectors are added to remove weeds, then weed ejection capability is improved, but the positioning and operation of the ejector becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade and ejection function are merged into a single integrated component. The cutting blade is positioned to cut the weed root as the auger extracts the weed, and the same blade structure facilitates ejection by severing the weed from the ground. This merging eliminates the need for separate ejector mechanisms, simplifying positioning and operation while maintaining effective weed removal and ejection capabilities.
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 removes weeds with their roots, reducing regrowth and minimizing damage to the lawn or garden surface, while allowing for easy ejection of weeds without manual removal.
Implementation Method 1
the auger is driven into engagement with at least a portion of a weed and the weed engagement member is drawn towards the lawn or garden surface and into engagement with the at least a portion of the weed
Implementation Method 2
a cutting blade coupled to the platform member of the second end of the arm and oriented to cut at least a portion of a weed held by the weed engagement member
Data Source
AI summary
A device for removing weeds from a lawn or garden surface comprising: a drive shaft having a first end configured to operatively couple to a power unit for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and a second, free distal end; coupled to the second end, an auger having one or more flights and a boring member; and a weed engagement member axially coupled to the drive shaft at a longitudinal position intermediate the auger and the first end. A base member of the weed engagement member has at least one grasping finger depending therefrom towards the auger and axially offset from the longitudinal axis. Rotation of the drive shaft in a first direction when the boring member is in contact with the surface moves the auger into engagement with the weed and the weed engagement member is drawn towards and into engagement with the weed and vice-versa.