DESC:Technical field of the invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of tea harvesting systems and more particularly to the harvesting of a particular tea pod which will be chosen by an assist system.
Background of the invention:
[0002] In the process of tea harvesting, the tender tea shoots are picked, which is commonly termed as “plucking”. A tea shoot which is completely matured for the production of high quality tea, comprises of an unfurled bud with two or three tender leaves. The tea shoots with accurate maturity is very essential, as it determines the quality of the tea and hence, the profitability of the tea plantations.
[0003] Currently, the manual harvesting is practiced by most of the tea farmers, in which the tea shoots are picked manually. This is considered to be the most labour intensive practice consuming approximately 50%-60% of the total labour requirement in tea field operations wherein harvesting contributes about 25%-30% of the cost of production in some countries.
[0004] Mechanical harvesting is employed when the labour scarcity is encountered. Even though the labour productivity is enormously increasing, the productivity of the tea bushes and quality of the tea is highly affected. This is due to the non-selective plucking of tea shoots.
[0005] Various types of tea harvesting devices are known in the prior art, wherein the devices are operated manually or automatically. The manually operated devices are bulky and do not offer selective plucking. The existing automated systems do not work on various types of terrains and require only flat terrains, which are difficult to find in major tea growing regions.
[0006] Hence, considering the problems associated with the existing technologies in the state of the art, there is a need of a compact tea harvesting device in which selective harvesting of tea shoots is carried out efficiently irrespective of the nature of the terrain of the plantation. Moreover, there is a need of a device which harvests the tea shoots without affecting the quality of the tea.
Summary of the Invention:
[0007] An intelligent micro pod harvester comprises a plucking window cover bottom (108) with a circular opening at the middle, a poly edge cutter blade (103) with a hole in the middle is placed onto the plucking window cover bottom (108), a plucking window cover (106) at the top of the poly edge cutter blade (103); wherein the plucking window cover bottom (108) and the plucking window cover (106) constitute a housing, a plucking window controller gate (110) is fixed onto the plucking window cover (106), a clamp (104) is mounted onto the plucking window cover (106), a gear mechanism (102) is fitted through the center hole, a reservoir (109) having disinfectant/anti-microbial/healing/protection agents is mounted on to the harvester, a pod basket (501) is fixed to the harvester and a microcontroller with a high speed image processing device, wherein the microcontroller provides complete automation to the harvester.
Brief description of the drawings:
[0008] The foregoing and other features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
[0009] FIGURE 1 illustrates an exploded view of the multi-functional vision based intelligent micro pod harvester, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0010] FIGURE 2 illustrates a perspective view of the plucking window cover and plucking window controller gate of the harvester, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0011] FIGURE 3 illustrates another perspective view of plucking window cover and plucking window controller gate of the harvester, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0012] FIGURE 4 illustrates a top view of the cutting zone in the plucking window of the harvester, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0013] FIGURE 5 illustrates a perspective view of the pod basket rotation, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention.
Detailed description of the invention:
[0014] Reference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not a limitation. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention.
[0015] The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the technology models available in the state of the art by providing a multi-functional vision based intelligent micro pod harvester, wherein the harvester identifies a specific qualified tea shoot and efficiently harvests the tea shoot. The present invention comprises a controlled window mechanism, wherein the controlled window mechanism allows only selected pods to be guided to the plucking zone after identifying the qualified tea pod. A dual mode pod basket is used in which the collection, segregation and grading, and delivery of pods to specific location on the fly is achieved. In the present invention the harvester automatically applies anti-bacterial liquid to the cut shoot on the plant to minimize the decay of the cut portion and to avoid immediate impact/damage. Hence, the present invention provides a compact and intelligent micro pod harvester, wherein the selective harvesting of tea pods is carried out efficiently irrespective of the nature of the terrain of the plantation.
[0016] The entire operation is executed with the help of a microcontroller with a high speed image processing device. The microprocessor provides complete automation to the harvester. The microcontroller with a high speed image processing device is used for identifying, selecting and providing decisions to the harvester. The pod basket and the plucking window, along with the guide path mechanism provide automatic bi-directional plucking to facilitate more productive operation.
[0017] FIGURE 1 illustrates an exploded view of the multi-functional vision based intelligent micro pod harvester, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention. The multi-functional vision based intelligent micro pod harvester comprises a plucking window cover bottom (108) with a circular opening at the middle of the cover bottom. A poly edge cutter blade (103) with a hole in the middle is placed onto the plucking window cover bottom (108) and at the top of the poly edge cutter blade (103), a plucking window cover (106) with a plucking window controller gate (110) is fixed onto the plucking window cover (106). The poly edge cutter blade (103) is completely covered by a housing which comprises of plucking window cover (106) and plucking window cover bottom (108) which ensures the safe operation. A clamp (104) is mounted onto the plucking window cover (106), wherein the clamp (104) is used to mount the harvester onto the guided frame system. The guided frame system may be aerial or ground level which eliminates the dependency of the terrain. The components are riveted together with a rim (105) through a center hole. A gear mechanism (102) is also fitted through the center hole. The gear mechanism (102) is controlled by a motor (101) fixed at the top of the housing. A solenoid motor (111) is also mounted at the top of the housing near the plucking window controller gate (110) to control the movement the plucking window controller gate (110). A reservoir (109) having disinfectant/anti-microbial/healing/protection agents is mounted on to the harvester.
[0018] A pod basket (501, Figure 5) is fixed to the harvester which is used in two modes of operation i.e. passive mode and active mode. In passive mode collection of pods is achieved and in the active mode segregation and grading along with the collection and delivery of pods is achieved. Hence the segregation, grading, collection and delivery of pods to specific location on the fly are achieved.
[0019] In the present invention, the access to the selected pod by the harvester is controlled through a variable window mechanism, wherein the variable window mechanism allows only the selected pod to be guided to the plucking zone.
[0020] Further, the present invention uses a spatial and logical control through a controlled plucking window for the execution of tasks in tea farm. The spatial control provides the control over the positioning of the plucking point in horizontal and vertical axes, which in turn controls the height at which tea shoot is cut and the width of the window opening having direct effect on the coverage area. The logical control enables the execution of decisions provided by the assist system to cut or not to cut a pod. Hence, these controls provide flexibility in plucking coverage and safety protection.
[0021] The entire operation is executed with the help of the imaging device for identifying, selecting and providing decisions to the harvester. The pod basket (501, Figure 5) and the plucking window along with the guide path mechanism provide automatic bi-directional plucking to facilitate more productive operation.
[0022] FIGURE 2 illustrates a perspective view of the cover and cap of the harvester, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention. The plucking window controller gate (106) avoids the harvesting of unwanted pods, wherein the gate mechanism opens and closes during the process of harvesting of the selected pods needs to be harvested. The plucking window cover (106) and the plucking window controller gate (110) provide the harvester with a variable opening with controlled window mechanism, which eliminates harvesting of unwanted shoot. The controlled window mechanism also provides the control over the coverage area to accommodate more than one pod in single plucking action and also plucking the pods which are vertically erect and slanted.
[0023] FIGURE 3 illustrates another perspective view of the plucking window cover and plucking window controller gate of the harvester, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention.
[0024] FIGURE 4 illustrates a top view of the harvester, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention. The profile of the blade guides the shoot in the precise cutting zone, wherein the harvesting happens by shear action and guides the pod in the specific zone as required for segregation or storage.
[0025] Further, in the present invention, a disinfectant/anti-microbial/healing/protection agent’s reservoir (109) is used, wherein the poly edge cutter blade (103) is in contact with the reservoir (109). This substance is automatically applied to the cut shoots stem on the plant in-situ, which allows productive growth of the new pod for the next harvest and also maintains plants health. The poly edge cutter blade (103) is completely covered by a housing which comprises of plucking window cover (106) and plucking window cover bottom (108) which ensures the safe operation.
[0026] FIGURE 5 illustrates a perspective view of the pod basket rotation, in accordance to one or more embodiments of the invention. The pod basket (501) is mounted on the harvester, wherein the pod basket (501) is used to collect the harvested pod and dump the collected pod at required location.
[0027] The pod basket (501) and the plucking window along with the guide path mechanism provide automatic bi-directional plucking to facilitate more productive operation.
[0028] In the present invention a dual mode pod basket is employed i.e., passive mode and active mode. In the passive mode the pod basket is used for collection of pods and in active mode the pod basket is used for segregation and grading along with collection and delivery of pods to specific location on the fly.
[0029] The highly compact and low form factor design of the multi-functional vision based intelligent micro pod harvester enables the efficient harvesting of tea leaves irrespective of the nature of the terrain of the plantation. The present invention cuts down the overall labour cost of the tea harvesting and eliminates the harvesting of unwanted pods that causes decreases the quality of the tea. The present invention is very cost effective, thereby increasing profit margin of the user.
,CLAIMS:We Claim,
1. An micro pod harvester comprising:
a plucking window cover bottom (108) with a circular opening at the middle;
a poly edge cutter blade (103) with a hole in the middle is placed onto the plucking window cover bottom (108);
a plucking window cover (106) at the top of the poly edge cutter blade (103), wherein the plucking window cover bottom (108) and the plucking window cover (106) constitute a housing;
a plucking window controller gate (110) is fixed onto the plucking window cover (106).
a clamp (104) is mounted onto the plucking window cover (106);
a gear mechanism (102) is fitted through a center hole in the clamp (104);
a pod basket (501) connected to the micro pod harvester wherein the pod basket (501) is further fixed on a harvester
a reservoir (109) connected to the pod basket and mounted on to the harvester, wherein the reservoir (109) contains disinfectant/anti-microbial/healing/protection agents; and
a microcontroller with a high speed image processing device connected to the micro pod, wherein the microcontroller provides complete automation to the harvester.

2. The micro pod harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein said poly edge cutter blade (103) is covered by the housing comprising the plucking window cover (106) and the plucking window cover bottom (108).

3. The micro pod harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp (104) is used to mount the micro pod onto a guided frame system.

4. The micro pod harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gear mechanism (102) is controlled by a motor (101) fixed at the top of the housing.
5. The micro pod harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein a solenoid motor (111) is also mounted at the top of the housing near the plucking window controller gate (110) to control the movement the plucking window controller gate (110).

6. The micro pod harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein components are riveted together with a rim (105) through the center hole.

7. The micro pod harvester as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is configured to enable micro pod to identify, and select finished pod.