Description:FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present disclosure pertains to the field of mechanical systems for post-harvest handling and produce hygiene, and more specifically to a washing machine and a method for cleaning agricultural produce using a motor-driven spiked roller assembly enclosed within a protective housing.
BACKGROUND
Washing agricultural produce such as vegetables, fruits, plants to remove soil, agrochemical residues, and surface contaminants is a critical stage in post-harvest processing. Traditionally, this cleaning process is carried out manually in rural areas by scrubbing vegetables under flowing water or soaking them in tubs. While effective to some degree, this manual practice is time-consuming, inconsistent, and leads to health risks. Continuous hand contact with contaminated water and muddy produce often results in skin irritation, rashes, or fungal infections, particularly among agricultural workers and women engaged in sorting and cleaning tasks.
To address these issues, a variety of washing machines have been developed in the prior art. One common approach involves rotating brush roller systems, where cylindrical brushes are used to scrub vegetables as they pass through or rotate in a drum. Such machines are commercially available and used in food processing units for washing potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables. However, these systems suffer from multiple limitations when considered for rural or household settings. Firstly, the brushes are prone to wear and require frequent maintenance. Dirt and fibrous residues get entangled in the bristles, making cleaning difficult and affecting performance. Secondly, these machines are bulky and immobile, typically occupying large floor space and requiring industrial-scale water and power supply. Thirdly, many such systems rely on automatic spraying jets or bubble aeration systems, which add to the complexity and cost of the equipment.
Other prior art systems include tumbler-type washers that use rotating drums without brushes. These often require high-speed rotation to generate sufficient cleaning agitation, which may damage delicate vegetables or require expensive motor controllers. Some designs use ultrasonic cleaning baths, which are highly effective for surface decontamination but entirely unsuitable for large or rough produce and are economically unviable for small-scale farming operations.
Yet another known system includes vibration-based cleaning trays with perforated surfaces, where vegetables are shaken while water passes through. These are energy-intensive and ineffective in removing deeply embedded soil from root vegetables. In many of these systems, safety considerations are minimal—operators are exposed to rotating parts or open belts without protective housings, creating risk of injury.
The limitations of these prior art solutions—ranging from high cost, operational complexity, bulky form factor, lack of portability, and inadequate safety—render them unsuitable for rural or low-resource users. None of the known machines offer a compact, spiked-roller-based agitation mechanism enclosed within a protective cage, which can be safely powered using standard household electricity and manufactured using locally available materials.
Thus, there exists a need for an affordable, compact, low-maintenance, and user-safe washing machine for cleaning the agricultural produce that eliminates aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a washing machine for cleaning agricultural produce, intended to reduce manual effort and health risks associated with traditional hand-washing methods, particularly in low-resource and small-scale farming environments.
Another object of the disclosure is to provide a motor-operated cleaning mechanism that eliminates the need for conventional brush rollers, thereby minimizing clogging, maintenance, and wear associated with bristle-based systems.
A further object of the disclosure is to offer a washing machine that is compact, portable, and operable using standard household electrical supply, enabling use in rural, domestic, and small commercial contexts.
Yet another object of the disclosure is to incorporate a protective cage around the rotating components to physically prevent operator contact with moving parts during operation.
Still another object is to provide a method for cleaning agricultural produce by using a spiked roller enclosed in a washing chamber, where agitation dislodges dirt and surface contaminants without damaging the produce.
SUMMARY
In an aspect, the present disclosure discloses a washing machine (100) for cleaning agricultural produce. The washing machine (100) includes a housing (102) defining an internal space that functions as a washing chamber. A motor (104) is mounted within the housing (102) and is connected to a horizontally extending shaft (106). A roller (108) is fixed to the shaft (106), and the roller (108) includes a plurality of blunt spikes (110) configured to agitate the agricultural produce during rotation. A cylindrical protective cage (112), composed of parallel rods aligned along the shaft axis, encloses the roller (108) to prevent user access during operation. A lid (114) is provided on the housing (102) to facilitate loading and unloading of produce. In some embodiments, the lid (114) includes a slot, aperture, or flap for manually pouring or spraying water during operation. The housing (102) may optionally include one or more drain holes (116) for the outflow of wastewater.
The disclosure further provides a method (200) for cleaning agricultural produce using the washing machine (100). The method (200) comprises placing the agricultural produce into the internal space of the housing (102) through the lid (114), closing the lid (114), and activating the motor (104) to rotate the shaft (106) and the attached roller (108). As the roller (108) rotates, the blunt spikes (110) mechanically agitate the produce to dislodge dirt and surface contaminants. During this operation, the protective cage (112) restricts access to the roller (108), enhancing user safety. In some embodiments, water is manually added into the housing (102) through an opening in the lid (114) while the roller (108) is rotating. After cleaning, the motor (104) is deactivated, the roller (108) stops, and the cleaned produce is removed from the housing (102) by reopening the lid (114).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features, and advantages of the embodiment will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:
Referring to Figure 1A, shows a schematic view of washing machine (100) for cleaning agricultural produce, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of a present disclosure;
Referring to Figure 1B, shows an internal view of the washing machine (100) for cleaning agricultural produce, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;
Referring to Figure 1C, shows another internal view of the washing machine (100) for cleaning agricultural produce, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Referring to Figure 2, shows a flowchart depicting a method (200) for cleaning agricultural produce using the washing machine (100), in accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus, if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Further, the terms “like”, “as such”, “for example”, “including” are meant to introduce examples which further clarify more general subject matter, and should be contemplated for the persons skilled in the art to understand the subject matter.
The present disclosure relates to a washing machine (100) for cleaning agricultural produce and a method (200) for operating the same. The term “agricultural produce” as used herein includes but is not limited to vegetables, fruits, tubers, leafy greens, and similar plant-based materials that require surface cleaning before storage, sale, or consumption.
As shown in Figure 1A, the washing machine (100) includes a housing (102). The housing (102) is made up of stainless steel or other rust-resistant material. The housing (102) defines an internal space functioning as a washing chamber. The housing (102) is designed to be compact and portable for use in rural or small-scale environments. A lid (114) is mounted on top of the housing (102) and is configured to open and close, allowing the user to insert and remove agricultural produce before and after washing.
In one embodiment, the lid (114) further comprises a slot, aperture, or flap to permit manual pouring or spraying of water into the internal space during operation, as shown in Figure 1B.
Within the housing (102), a motor (104), preferably a single-phase AC motor operable on standard household supply (e.g., 220–240V, 50Hz), is securely mounted to the base. The motor (104) is connected to a horizontally aligned shaft (106) that extends along the width of the housing (102). Fixed onto the shaft (106) is a roller (108), made of stainless steel or aluminium. The roller (108) is configured to rotate with the shaft (106). The roller (108) includes multiple blunt spikes (110) uniformly distributed around cylindrical surface thereof. The spikes (110) are specifically designed to be non-cutting and non-damaging to the produce, while effectively agitating and dislodging dirt, soil, or contaminants adhered to the surface.
To ensure user safety, the roller (108) is enclosed within a cylindrical protective cage (112), which is formed by a series of parallel rods aligned along the shaft axis. The spacing between the rods is selected such that it prevents the entry of fingers or loose clothing during operation while allowing sufficient clearance for the movement of produce and flow of water. The protective cage (112) is fixed within the housing (102) and rotates with the roller (108) as the motor (104) operates.
In one embodiment, the housing (102) further includes one or more drain holes (116) at the bottom to allow the outflow of wastewater generated during the cleaning process. The drain holes (116) may be fitted with removable filters to collect debris and prevent clogging.
In operation (method 200) as shown in Figure 2, agricultural produce is placed into the internal space of the housing (102) through the lid (114). The lid (114) is then closed to contain the produce within the washing chamber. The motor (104) is activated, causing the shaft (106) and the attached roller (108) to rotate. As the roller (108) spins, the blunt spikes (110) apply mechanical agitation to the produce, effectively dislodging dirt and other surface contaminants. Throughout the cleaning operation, the protective cage (112) prevents any accidental contact with the rotating roller (108). Water may be poured or sprayed manually through the slot or aperture in the lid (114) during rotation, enhancing the rinsing action. After a desired cleaning duration, the motor (104) is turned off, the roller (108) comes to a stop, and the cleaned agricultural produce is removed by opening the lid (114).
The disclosure provides a robust, low-maintenance, and electrically operable solution for hygienic cleaning of agricultural produce without relying on brush rollers, high-pressure water jets, or bulky mechanisms. The system (100) and method (200) thereof prioritize safety, portability, and affordability, making it suitable for deployment in rural households, small farms, and local produce markets.
, Claims:We Claim
1. A washing machine (100) for cleaning agricultural produce, the machine (100) comprising:
a housing (102) having an internal space to function as a washing chamber for containing the agricultural produce during operation of cleaning;
a motor (104) mounted within the housing (102);
a shaft (106) connected to the motor (104) and extending horizontally within the housing (102);
a roller (108) fixed to the shaft (106) and configured to rotate with the shaft (106);
a plurality of blunt spikes (110) mounted on the roller (108) for agitating vegetables during rotation;
a cylindrical protective cage (112) enclosing the roller (108), the cage (112) comprising parallel rods aligned along the shaft axis; and
a lid (114) mounted on the housing (102) to allow loading and unloading of the agricultural produce;
wherein the roller (108) with blunt spikes (110) to dislodge dirt and surface contaminants from the agricultural produce during rotation, and the protective cage (112) to restrict user access to the rotating roller (108).
2. The washing machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor (104) is a single-phase alternating current (AC) motor configured to operate using a standard household power supply.
3. The washing machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blunt spikes (110) are uniformly distributed around the circumference of the roller (108).
4. The washing machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective cage (112) comprising stainless steel rods arranged parallel to the shaft axis and spaced to prevent the insertion of fingers or clothing.
5. The washing machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (102) comprises one or more drain holes (116) at bottom surface thereof to allow removal of wastewater during or after cleaning.
6. The washing machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (102) is to permit manual pouring or spraying of water into internal space of the housing (102) during operation of cleaning.
7. The washing machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (114) comprising a slot, aperture, or flap configured to allow manual pouring or spraying of water into the washing chamber without interrupting the operation of the roller (108).
8. The washing machine (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the slot or aperture is covered by a flexible cover or hinged flap to prevent splashing during the operation of cleaning.
9. A method (200) for cleaning agricultural produce using a washing machine (100), the method (200) comprising:
placing the agricultural produce into an internal space of a housing (102) through a lid (114);
closing the lid (114) to enclose the produce within the housing (102);
activating a motor (104) mounted within the housing (102) to rotate a shaft (106);
rotating a roller (108) fixed to the shaft (106), the roller (108) having a plurality of blunt spikes (110) for agitating the agricultural produce;
dislodging dirt and surface contaminants from the agricultural produce by agitating the produce with the rotating blunt spikes (110);
preventing user access to the roller (108) during operation using a cylindrical protective cage (112) surrounding the roller (108); and
removing the cleaned agricultural produce after stopping the roller (108) and opening the lid (114).
wherein the rotating roller (108) and blunt spikes (110) apply mechanical agitation to the agricultural produce within the internal space of the housing (102), and the protective cage (112) enclosing the roller (108) restricts user access to the roller (108) during the cleaning operation.
10. The method (200) as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of manually pouring or spraying water into the internal space of the housing (102) through a slot, aperture, or flap in the lid (114) while the roller (108) is rotating.