FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been conceptualized to the development of Motorised hand held Pineapple harvesting technology on the sloppy hilly terrains. The machine consisting of a sharp cutting serrated blade, fruit holding clamps and clutch fitted on light weight steel pipe can cut the pineapple fruit in the field and lift up by holding it with a help of holding clamps. The rotation of the cutting blade is obtained by transmitting the power from the motor whose rotational speed is controlled with an accelerator button. It is conceptualized as a mechanized device to harvest the ripe pineapple fruit from the standing thorny plant eliminating drawbacks in terms of drudgery, safety and time saving compared to the conventional practices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The pineapple (Ananas comosus) is the most important horticultural produce of the family Bromeliaceae in Northeastern states. The plant develops to a cone-shaped juicy and fleshy fruit with crown at the top growing up to a height of 75-150 cm. The two most important varieties of Pineapple, viz. Kew (big size) and Queen (small size) are produced on commercial scale. Harvesting of pineapple is usually done 7 to 14 days after yellowing. It is labour intensive because workers have to walk in the space between ridges to pick the fruit by hand, loading it into baskets. Harvesting at half to full colour for fresh fruit market is practiced and however, bruising of fruit may be avoided that can result in post harvest rots.
Various scientific and academician have much attention towards the exploration of processing and preservation of such an important produce of this region keeping emphasis on the role of mechanical tools for pineapple harvesting procedure. The conventional method of pineapple harvesting is not only time consuming and laborious but also causes backache as harvesters have to stoop while harvestingr The fruits are often dropped / dumped upon the ground, which is often in a muddy condition, necessitating the extra cost of the services of other workmen in cleaning/washing the fruits. Although there are inventions of large size conveyor type of harvesting machineries in which men pick the pineapple from the plant and introduce it into the machine, whereupon the latter acts to trim and grade the fruit and to supply the boxes

into which said fruit is then packed by workmen transported upon the machine. However, such machineries are not suitable in sloppy hilly terrains or terrace cultivation method.
Owing to these issues a prototype motorised pineapple harvester which can replace the conventional chopping method without many damages to the fruit and injures the harvester is need of hour. The motorized pineapple harvester cuts the stalks of the ripe fruits from the plants and pick them, drop in baskets/ bags therewith and carry the loaded baskets / bags to the ends of the lines or rows of pineapples on the backs of the workmen. After the fruit is cut picking up of the thorny pineapple fruit is easily done with the help of holding clamps provided near the cutting blade of the machine. As the fruits are picked from the plants directly, the percentage of spoilage/bruising during harvesting is minimal. Harvesters will not suffer from sharp pricks of the pines or back pain because they need not bend to harvest. A single operator can harvest about 250-280 fruits per hour (field capacity) without much drudgery and fatigue,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES:
The present invention is directed to the development of Motorised hand held Pineapple harvesting technology in sloppy hilly terrains as well as in plain fields. The subject invention comprises of a serrated sharp cutting blade and fruit holding clamps fixed on light weight steel pipe. A one HP motor carried at the back of the operator transmits the rotational power of the cutting blade provide at the other end of the pipe. The speed of the blade is controlled by an accelerator button provided near to the handle. The rotating cutting blade cuts the stalk below the fruit and is lifted from the plant by holding the fruit with help of aluminum clamps provided in proximity the blade. In this way the operator will not suffer from the thorny leaves and spiky skin fruits, thereby reduces the drudgery to the operator. The machine is capable of harvesting 250-280 pineapple fruits in one hour which is almost 50-60% higher capacity as compared to the conventional method of harvesting. The machine also eliminates drawback such as drudgery, energy and time wastage of the operator. The technology developed will serve as a strong platform for translating scientific information to industries, academia and progressing farmers for progressing research on pineapple processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
The described invention has the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein,
Figure 1. SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM OF PINEAPPLE HARVESTER (COMPLETE VIEW)
Figure 2. HOLDING CLAMP (SIDE AND ISOMETRIC VEIW)
Figure 3. CUTTING BLADE AND POWER TRANSMITING ASSEMBLY
Figure 4. HANDLE WITH CLUTCH LEVER Figure 5. STEEL PIPE

DESCRIPTION
The brief description of the machine is elaborated below: 1. Motorized Hand Held Pineapple Harvester (complete assembly)
The motorized hand held pineapple harvester (Fig.l) consists of one HP petrol engines (11) which is carried at the back of the operator with the help of cloth belt (12). The weight of engine (11) is 4.5 kgs and it is connected to the flexible rubber pipe (13) having overall length of 870 mm and 25 mm in diameter. A spring metallic rod runs through rubber pipe which transmit the power from engine to the cutting blade (20). The other end of rubber pipe (13) is coupled with the light weight steel pipe (Fig.5) having length of 1420 mm and outer diameter of 30 mm. A metallic rod of 10 mm diameter (51) runs through the steel pipe (52) which further transmits the power from the high tensile spring metallic rod to the cutting blade (20). The speed of the engine can be controlled by an accelerator button (14) fitted on the steel pipe. A high strength rubber handle (15) is mounted on the steel pipe which is used to take the weight of steel pipe and cut pineapple fruit with one hand. A high strength fibre clutch lever (16) is provided on the handle which is used to pull the fingers of fruit holding clamps (19). A spring clutch wire (17) is provided to connect the clutch lever (16) and holding clamp (18). When the clutch lever is pulled, the holding clamp fingers close and hold the fruit tightly. A bevel gear (Fig.3) has conical gears (33) and (31) fixed at 120 finally transmits the power from the engine to the cutting blade (20).
2. Fruit Holding Clamp
The pineapple harvester (Fig.l) is provided with a curved shape fruit holding clamp (Fig.2) fixed close to the cutting blade assembly (Fig.3). The clamp has overall length of 400 mm made off 25 mm wide high tensile aluminum patty of 3 mm thick (23). The two fingers (22) of the holding clamp are pivoted loosely on a 5 mm steel pin which is mounted on steel clamp (21). When the clutch wire is pulled, the curved clamp fingers (22) and (23) moves loosely on the pin and close. The holding clamp (Fig.2) is mounted on the steel pipe with the help of small round clips.
3. Cutting Blade Assembly
The cutting blade assembly (Fig.3) made of cast iron consists of two conical shaped bevel gears (33) and (32) which are messed at an angle of 120° and transmit the power from engine to the stainless steel cutting blade of 3 mm thickness having outer diameter of 125 mm and inner diameter of 30 mm hole at the centre (31). The blade having fine serration at the periphery is fitted on the driven shaft of a bevel gear (32) with washer, nut and bolt on both sides.

4. Handle and Clutch Lever
A light weight clutch lever (41) made of high strength plastic fibre having total length of 160 mm is fitted on the rigid rubber handle (42) having overall length of 80 mm with nut and bolt (Fig.4). The handle is fitted on steel pipe having diameter of 30 mm with help of round clips (Fig.43). A spring wire (17) is provided to the clutch lever and fruit holding clamp which controls the movement of clamp fingers.
5. Steel Pipe
The light weight steel pipe (Fig.5) has 1420 mm length and 30 mm outer diameter on which the accelerator button (14), handle (16), tensile spring wire (17) and fruit holding clamps (18) are fitted. A spring loaded metallic rod of 5 mm diameter (51) is provided inside the hollow rubber pipe which connects the engine.
CLAIMS
We claim that, Motorised hand held Pineapple harvester as shown and described herein has been designed and developed by the undersigned comprising following details:

Independent claims
1. A Motorised Hand Held Pineapple harvesting technology harvester
Dependent Claims


1. The apparatus of claim 1, Motorised Hand held Pineapple Harvester.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, is provided with serrated cutting blade having diameter of 125 mm and thickness of 2 mm cuts the pineapple fruit stalk.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, the rotation of blade is driven by one HP engine.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, the power transmission to the cutting blade from engine is with help of spring type rod.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, consists of curved shape fruit holding clamps of 400 mm length and 25 mm wide flat aluminum patty of 3 mm thickness which is used to hold the fruit after cutting.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, consists of clutch lever with 200 mm in length and 22 mm in diameter fitted on handle.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, consists of clutch wire connected with holding clamps used to hold fruit tight by pulling the clutch lever.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, consists of one light weight steel pipe of 1420 mm length, 30 mm diameter, flexible rubber pipe of 870 mm length and 25 mm diameter. The two pipes are connected with help of hook and hold mechanism.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, consists of clutch wire connected with holding clamps used to hold fruit tight by pulling the clutch lever.