Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a harvester for picking tender tea shoots, in particular relates to an automatic selective harvester for picking tender tea shoots at a pre-set height level.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Tea is a popular beverage consumed worldwide, and the demand for high-quality tea has been increasing in recent years. Tea production involves several processes, including harvesting, with the quality of the harvested tea leaves being a critical factor in determining the final product's quality. The traditional method of harvesting tea leaves involves manual picking, which is time-consuming and labour-intensive. In recent years, mechanical harvesting of tea leaves has been introduced to improve efficiency and productivity. However, existing tea harvester machines have limitations in terms of accuracy and efficiency in harvesting tea leaves.
[0003] The challenge is to keep the right-sized tender tea shoots, especially when automatic picking machines are used constantly. Tea shoot picking quality may also suffer if uneven-sized tea shoots were picked. One such solution is manual operation.
[0004] Further, some of the existing harvesting machines involve manual intervention to harvest right sized tender tea shoots. Further, this type of harvesting machine requires massive size to accommodate operator.
[0005] The prior art CN102487667B discloses about the tea-leaf pick-up robot, and belongs to the technical field of agricultural and forestry machinery. The robot comprises a vision system, a processing control circuit, an execution mechanism and a collection device, wherein the lower part of a substrate of the execution mechanism is hinged with an upper arm; the upper end of the upper arm is in transmission connection with a servo motor which is arranged on the substrate, and the lower end of the upper arm is hinged with the upper end of a front arm; the lower end of the front arm is hinged with a movable platform; an optical axis and a screw rod which is in thread engagement with left and right side cutting edges are supported against the lower side of the movable platform; and the screw rod is in transmission connection with a direct-current motor. After the tea-leaf pick-up robot in the invention is adopted, a spatial mechanical arm mechanism can be in position accurately, the left and the right side cutting edges can be used to ensure the completeness of blades, and the whole pick-up process is fully automated, so that the tea-leaf pick-up robot is suitable for pick-up of brand-name and high-quality tea. According to prior art, it is not feasible to harvest large quantities of tender tea shoots in a limited amount of time
[0006] Mother leaves nourish newly emerging shoots, thus they're called "mother leaves". When harvesting tender tea shoots, it is extremely important to avoid mother leaf. In spite of this, motorized harvesting methodologies present many practical difficulties.

[0007] There is felt a need for an effective automatic selective harvester capable of picking right size tender tea shoots and skip mother leaves from the tea bush without any manual intervention.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the invention is to: shortcoming or problem for above prior art exists propose a kind of an automatic selective harvester that can realize the accurate selection and harvesting of right-sized/pre-set height tender tea shoots alone from the tea bush, thereby satisfy the needs of automatic accurate selection and harvesting of right sized/pre-set height tender teas shoots.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to implement the selective harvester for gardening and trimming needs of diverse farming operations.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a replaceable selector unit capable to aid for trimming blades to pick right-sized or pre-set height yields or tender tea shoots alone from the tea bush without any manual intervention.
[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a control system for enabling automatic picking of pre-set height tender tea shoots.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to achieve the quality of tender tea shoots picking by controlling the operational parameters such as reciprocation speed of trimming blades and replaceable selector unit with respect to movement of prime mover, pitch gab and pre-set height levels.
[0013] Yet another object of the invention is to provide an autonomous moving vehicle as a prime mover to performing harvesting operation.
[0014] Another object of the invention is to achieve automatic level selection by transversely extended replaceable selector unit in front of the trimming blades to meet and select the right sized/pre-set-height tender tea shoots.
[0015] Yet another object of the invention is to skip the mother leaves, which cause nourishment of emerging shoots, and to overcome the practical difficulties associated with motorized harvesting.
[0016] Other object of the present application will be highly appreciated and be easily understood upon reading the detailed description taking into consideration the appended drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] To achieve the above mentioned objects of the present invention, there is provided an automatic selective harvester, and in particular relates to an automatic selective harvester for picking tender tea shoots, thereby always maintaining a pre-set height level without any manual intervention.
[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the automatic selective harvester comprises a harvester frame with trimming blades and Replaceable selector unit having a comb shaped selector configuration to select and cut tea leaves at a predetermined height level and size. The selective harvester that moves transversely across the tea garden and a cutting blade that moves horizontally to cut the tea leaves at the selected height level. The selective harvesting configuration ensures efficient and accurate harvesting of tea leaves, resulting in higher quality tea production.
[0019] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional perspective view of an automatic selective harvester, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a harvester frame with trimming blades and Replaceable selector unit, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of trimming blades and Replaceable selector unit along with gear and actuators, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 4a illustrates a trimming level/plucking level of tender tea shoots before harvesting and without selective harvester.
[0025] FIG. 4b illustrates trimming state using selective harvester, figure also shows skipped mother leaves.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
S.NO Components Reference numeral
1. Selective harvester 101
2. Harvester frame 102
3. Prime mover 103
4. Replaceable selector unit 104
5. Trimming blades 105
6. Actuators 106
7. Gears 107
8. Teeth 108
9. Pitch Gab 109
10. Control system 110
11. Protecting sleeve 111

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0027] All referenced methods are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Furthermore, where a definition or use of a term in a reference, which is incorporated by reference herein, is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
[0028] While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate disclosure of the invention, Applicants in no way disclaim these technical aspects, and it is contemplated that the claimed invention may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.
[0029] The present invention may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the invention may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claimed invention should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed herein.
[0030] In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge, or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.
[0031] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0032] The present invention aims to provide an automatic selective harvester that uses a proposed selective harvesting technology to cut tea leaves at a predetermined height level. The machine comprises a vehicle that moves transversely across the tea garden and a Replaceable selector unit having a comb shaped selector and cutting blade that moves horizontal reciprocation motion to select and cut the tea leaves at the selected height level. The selective harvesting configuration ensures efficient and accurate harvesting of tea leaves, resulting in higher quality tea production.

[0033] One of the preferred embodiment of the invention discloses about a selective harvester (101) for harvesting tender tea shoots from the tea bush comprises of a harvester frame (102) attached to a prime mover. The harvester frame being moved transversely by the prime mover (103). The present invention mainly characterized to have the harvester frame (102) includes a replaceable selector unit (104), a set of trimming blades (105), plurality of actuators (106) and gears (107). The replaceable selector unit (104) includes a plurality of teeth (108), separated from each other by one of pitch gap (109), disposed in series over the replaceable selector unit (104) from a first end to a second end. Wherein the replaceable selector unit (104) transversely extended from the harvester frame (102) and a set of trimming blades (105) arranged subsequent to the replaceable selector unit (104). Wherein plurality of actuator (106) and gear (107) drives the replaceable selector unit (104) in horizontal reciprocation motion. Wherein plurality of actuators (106) drives the set of trimming blades (105) configured to move in the horizontal reciprocation motion to trim the selected tender tea shoots. A control system (110) configured to control the speed of the above said actuators (106) with respect to pre-set height, pitch gap and speed of the prime mover (103). Wherein during the movement of the prime mover(103), the replaceable selector unit (104) configured to first meet the pre-set tender tea shoots via plurality of teeth (108) to disallow mother leaf and, bend and allow only pre-set sized tea shoots via plurality of pitch gap(109) for trimming thereby harvesting only the pre-set height tender tea shoots.
[0034] Another embodiment of the invention discloses about the selective harvester (101) capable of trimming any pre-set height leafy vegetables or crotons.
[0035] Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about the type of replaceable selector unit (104) is replaced with respect to type of the said leafy vegetables/leaf plants.
[0036] Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about the teeth (108). Each extended teeth of the replaceable selector unit (104) protected by a protecting sleeve (111).
[0037] Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about input parameters of the control system (110). The selected or all of input parameters of pre-set height, pitch gap and speed of the prime mover (103) are sensed automatically.
[0038] Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about the prime mover is an autonomous moving vehicle.
[0039] Further embodiment of the invention discloses about the trimming blade (105) arrangements are parallel, serial, or a combination of both.
[0040] FIG.1 illustrates a sectional perspective view of an automatic
[0041] The advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0042] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.
, Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A selective harvester (101) for harvesting tender tea shoots from the tea bush comprises of;
a. a harvester frame (102) attached to a prime mover;
b. the harvester frame being moved transversely by the prime mover (103),
characterized in that
c. the harvester frame (102) includes a replaceable selector unit (104), a set of trimming blades (105), plurality of actuators (106) and gears (107),
d. the replaceable selector unit (104) includes a plurality of teeth (108), separated from each other by one of pitch gap (109), disposed in series over the replaceable selector unit (104) from a first end to a second end;
e. wherein the replaceable selector unit (104) transversely extended from the harvester frame (102) and a set of trimming blades (105) arranged subsequent to the replaceable selector unit (104),
f. wherein plurality of actuator (106) and gear (107) drives the replaceable selector unit (104) in horizontal reciprocation motion,
g. wherein plurality of actuators (106) drives the set of trimming blades (105) configured to move in the horizontal reciprocation motion to trim the selected tender tea shoots,
h. a control system (110) configured to control the speed of the above said actuators (106) with respect to pre-set height, pitch gap and speed of the prime mover (103),
i. wherein during the movement of the prime mover(103), the replaceable selector unit (104) configured to first meet the pre-set tender tea shoots via plurality of teeth (108) to disallow mother leaf and, bend and allow only pre-set sized tea shoots via plurality of pitch gap(109) for trimming thereby harvesting only the pre-set height tender tea shoots.

2. The selective harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said selective harvester (101) capable of trimming any pre-set height and size leafy vegetables or crotons.

3. The selective harvester as claimed in claim 1 and 2, wherein the said replaceable selector unit (104) is replaced with respect to type of the said leafy vegetables.

4. The selective harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said each extended teeth (108) protected by a protecting sleeve (111).

5. The selective harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selected or all of input parameters of pre-set height, pitch gap and speed of the prime mover (103) are sensed automatically.

6. The selective harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prime mover is an autonomous moving vehicle.

7. The selective harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trimming blade (105) arrangements are parallel, serial, or a combination of both.

8. The selective harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein the area of the pitch gap (109) is configured greater than the area of the mother leaf.