Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
[1] The present invention relates to a sensing system for top surface level, in particular relates to a harvest assisting real time mimic system for sensing a top surface level.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[2] 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.
[3] Plucking tea is similar to harvesting other crops. The tender apical portions of the shoots consisting of two to three tender leaves and the terminal buds are nipped off in plucking. This plucking process is the most expensive part of tea cultivation. Because, the quality of tea is largely determined by the quality of the green leaves plucked. To maintain the quality of green leaves, pluckers pick the leaves in tea gardens under strict supervision.
[4] For convenience of plucking, the tea bushes are tipped at a predetermined height and flat plucking tables are formed for convenience before plucking starts.
[5] The challenge is to keep the harvesting chamber corresponding to the the formed plucking tables, especially when automatic plucking machines are used involved in the plucking process constantly.
[6] Tea shoot plucking quality may also suffer if uneven-sized tea shoots were plucked. One such solution is automatic and continuos level monitoring during the harvesting process that saves times and ensure the quality of tea plucking.
[7] 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
[8] There is felt a need for an effective and accurate automatic level fixing mechanism to tea bush table for continuous operation.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[9] An object of the invention is to: shortcoming or problem for above prior art exists propose a kind of an automatic mmic system for sensing a top surace level of tea bush that can realize the accurate sensing of top surface and aiding for harvesting of right-sized/pre-set height tender tea shoots, thereby satisfy the needs of automatic top surface sensing of tea bush table.
[10] Another object of the present invention is to provide a horizontal mimic plate for performing the above said operation.
[11] Yet another object of the intention is to provide the horizontal mimic plate at the bottom side of the harvester frame by means of at least three independently moveable arms.
[12] Yet another object of the intention is to provide an encoder with each of the independently moveable arm configured to sense the rate of level of extension from a pre-set position.
[13] Yet another object of the invention is to independently move the above said moveable arms to sense the top flat surface level of the tea bush and assist the harvesting.
[14] Yet another object of the invention is to configure the harvesting chamber proportionally mimic the motion of the horizontal mimic plate.
[15] Yet another object of the invention provide an encoder also for a vertical swing plate that can be used to detect the absence of tea bush during harvesting by monitoring deflection rates.
[16] Yet another object of the invention, the top surface level sensing will be stopped by using the vertical swing plate upon detecting the absence of the tea bush and enabled as soon as a tea bush is detected using the horizontal swing plate.
[17] Yet another object of the invention is to provide an autonomous moving vehicle as a prime mover to performing harvesting operation.
[18] 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
[19] To achieve the above mentioned objects of the present invention, there is provided a harvest assisting real time mimic system for sensing a top surface level the mimic system can detect the top surface level of tea bush and aid in the harvesting of tender tea shoots of the right size/pre-set height. The above said horizontal mimic plate positioned at the bottom side of the harvester frame by means of at least three independently moveable arms. Each independently moveable arms having an encoder to sense the rate of level of extension from a pre-set position. Mainly the harvesting chamber is configured to proportionally mimic the motion of the horizontal mimic plate thereby performing the harvesting with respect to sensed preset surface level. The system also includes one more vertica swing plate which is position in front of the prime mover. During the operation, the top surface level sensing will be stopped by using the vertical swing plate upon detecting the absence of the tea bush and enabled as soon as a tea bush is detected using the horizontal swing plate.

[20] 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
[21] 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:
[22] FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional perspective view of an automatic selective harvester, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[23] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed close-up view of the harvester with trimming blades and Replaceable selector unit, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
[24] FIG. 3 illustrates a trimming level/plucking level of tender tea shoots.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
S.NO Components Reference numeral
1. Horizontal mimic plate 101
2. Vertical swing plate 102
3. Harvester frame 103
4. Harvesting chamber 104
5. Independently moveable arms of horizontal mimic plate 105
6. Encoder of horizontal plate 106
7. Control system 107
8. Harvesting chamber 108
9. Actuators of harvesting chamber 109
10. Independent arms of harvesting chamber 110
11. Encoder of swing plate 111
12. Control system 112
13. Prime mover 113
14. Motor 114
15. Arm frame 115
16. Sliding member 116
17. Gear box 117
18. Wheel 118

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[25] 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.
[26] 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.

[27] 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.

[28] 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.

[29] 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.

[30] 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.

[31] One of the preferred embodiment of the invention discloses about a harvest assisting real time mimic system for sensing a top surface level comprises of a harvester frame (103) attached to a prime mover (113). The harvester frame (103) being moved transversely by the prime mover (113). The system mainly characterized to have the harvester chamber (104) being actuated through at least three independently actuatable arms (105). A vertical swing plate (102) positioned in front of the harvester chamber (104) includes an encoder (106) configured to sense the rate of level of deflection from a pre-set position. A horizontal mimic plate (101) positioned at the bottom side of the harvester chamber (104) by means of at least three independently moveable arms (105). Each of the independently moveable arm (105) includes an encoder (106) configured to sense the rate of level of extension from a pre-set position. A control system (112) configured to control the movement of the harvester chamber (104) in response to the horizontal mimic plate (101) and its corresponding encoder inputs (106) interacting with the top surface of the tea bush through the harvesting chamber (104). Wherein the control system further configured to controls the operation of the harvester chamber (104) in response to the vertical swing plate (102) which detects the absence of tea bush and maintains the horizontal mimic plate (101) in the last set position thereby avoiding further level sensing operations in the tea bush absence regions. Wherein during the movement of the prime mover (113), the control system (112) continuously senses the top level by means of a horizontal mimic plate (101) and determine the retention of horizontal mimic plate (101) by means of encoder input (111) of the vertical swing plate (102) to determine the corresponding harvesting bush level and operate the harvester only at the time of interacting with bush thereby assisting real time mimic system for sensing a top surface level.

[32] Another preferred embodiment of the invention discloses the horizontal mimic plate capable to sense 3 different axis.

[33] Yet another preferred embodiment of the invention discloses about the prime mover (113) is an autonomous moving vehicle.

[34] Yet another preferred embodiment of the invention discloses about the arms (105,110) of independently actuatable harvester chamber (104) and horizontal mimic plate (101) forms a mimic system.

[35] Further embodiment of the invention discloses about the harvester frame (103) includes motor (114), arm frame (115), sliding member (116) and gear box (117).

[36] FIG.1 illustrates a rear view of harvest assisting real time mimic system especially.

[37] FIG.2 illustrates a side view of the harvest assisting real time mimic system.

[38] 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.
[39] 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 harvest assisting real time mimic system for sensing a top surface level comprises of;
a. a harvester frame (103) attached to a prime mover (113);
b. the harvester frame (103) being moved transversely by the prime mover (113),
characterized in that
c. the harvester chamber (104) being actuated through at least three independently actuatable arms (105),
d. a vertical swing plate (102) positioned in front of the harvester chamber (104) includes an encoder (106) configured to sense the rate of level of deflection from a pre-set position,
e. a horizontal mimic plate (101) positioned at the bottom side of the harvester chamber (104) by means of at least three independently moveable arms (105),
f. each of the independently moveable arm (105) includes an encoder (106) configured to sense the rate of level of extension from a pre-set position,
g. a control system (112) configured to control the movement of the harvester chamber (104) in response to the horizontal mimic plate (101) and its corresponding encoder inputs (106) interacting with the top surface of the tea bush through the harvesting chamber (104),
h. wherein the control system further configured to controls the operation of the harvester chamber (104) in response to the vertical swing plate (102) which detects the absence of tea bush and maintains the horizontal mimic plate (101) in the last set position thereby avoiding further level sensing operations in the tea bush absence regions,
i. wherein during the movement of the prime mover (113), the control system (112) continuously senses the top level by means of a horizontal mimic plate (101) and determine the retention of horizontal mimic plate (101) by means of encoder input (111) of the vertical swing plate (102) to determine the corresponding harvesting bush level and operate the harvester only at the time of interacting with bush thereby assisting real time mimic system for sensing a top surface level.
2. The harvest assisting real time mimic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said horizontal mimic plate capable to sense 3 different axis.

3. The harvest assisting real time mimic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prime mover (113) is an autonomous moving vehicle.

4. The harvest assisting real time mimic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arms (105,110) of independently actuatable harvester chamber (104) and horizontal mimic plate (101) forms a mimic system.

5. The harvest assisting real time mimic system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said harvester frame (103) includes motor (114), arm frame (115), sliding member (116) and gear box (117).