Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a self-adjustable level sensing and following system. More particularly pertains to a system for automatically sensing the tender tea shoot level using soft sensing means and maintaining the blade of the harvesting chamber in the pre-set position independent of the vehicle’s variable height levels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tea harvesting is the operation in which the tender tea shoots are picked, which generally called as “plucking”. A tea shoot at the correct maturity is very essential for manufacturing high-quality tea. Generally, the bush is divided into two regions; one is a top and another one is a bottom region. The tender tea shoots appear in the top region and hard stem appears below the tender tea shoots. During the harvesting process, the tender tea shoots alone plucked from the tea bush.

Therefore, it is very essential to ensure the correct maturity of tea shoots as it determines the quality and the quantity of the made tea and hence, the profitability of the tea plantations. Now, the manual way of tea Leaves Harvesting has been carrying out in most places. It requires a huge number of Man Power throughout the year and the Plants also should be trimmed in a regular interval of time. From the above reasons, many of the tea plantations the tea harvesting process is suffered due to changes in the climatic conditions and manpower limitations.

To overcome these difficulties and to improve the Production, tea plucking machines are introduced.

For example: The prior art 759/KOL/2013 discloses about a manually operated tea plucking device, the prior art invention provides a mechanical tea plucker device which is operated simply by pushing like a trolley having well lubricated wheels that easily move with operative connection with a set of rotating helical cutting blades to pluck tea leaves from top of tea plants as it moves over the tea plantation field with specified height and spacing of plantation of tea bushes, making the system easy to be operable in the tea garden/field, even by a fragile tea-garden worker including a woman. Importantly, the movement of the trolley by an operator is the driving force that generates energy to rotate the blade mechanism at a fast rate, enough to pluck the tea shoots automatically and get collected in a bucket for transportation to processing unit ensuring improved productivity in a cost-effective manner. The prior art also suffered from some constraints, it needs manpower to move the trolley, requires skilled manpower to select the tender tea shoots and restrictions in transporting required quantities due to space constraints and manual pulling force.

So, there is a need for a device to automatically sense the level of the tender tea shoots and keeps the level until the end of the harvesting process irrespective of the movement of the vehicle.

The prior art 201941022763 (Applicant’s own patent) overcome the above drawbacks by providing an adaptable self-levelling device (1) to sense the tender tea shoot alone from the bush. The device includes a rollable soft sensing means (3) for accurately selecting the cutting level of tender tea shoots. This assembly attached prior to the harvesting chamber (6). The entire assembly is attached with the vehicle through stabilizing unit (4) which includes actuator (9), multiple joints and control units for maintaining the harvesting chamber (6) in the pre-set cutting level irrespective of terrain condition. Further, a counter weights provided in the stabilizing unit assists the above unit for controlling centre of gravity during the vehicle movement. A collection chamber (7) in the prime mover stores the harvested tender tea shoots. During the harvesting, once the mechanical rollable soft sensing means (3) set the cutting level, it has been maintained by the stabilizing unit (4) thereby tender tea shoots alone being plucked and stored.

But the above prior arts have encounter below drawbacks such as,
• The harvesting chamber needs to carry the mechanical rollable soft sensing machine with its corresponding components like bearing and rollable arrangements, it leads to additional weight and corresponding maintenance,
• Further, the device can control the displacement in only one direction, it should control atleast 3 axis for effective harvesting process. Thus automatically keeps the blade in the favorable cutting position.

From the above observation, there is a requirement for eliminating the mechanical rollable soft sensing means (3), accurately controlling the level in the variable height levels.

Therefore the proposed invention provides:
s.no Type of component Position Purpose Prior art
1. Force sensor Harvesting chamber Tender tea shoots level sensing Mechanical rollable soft sensing means
2. Variable height adjustment using mechanically smart arm structure Frame region To keep the blade angle within the favourable height level Not addressed

1. Force or Pressure sensor for sensing the level of tender tea shoots.
2. Smart arm based control mechanism for controlling the harvesting chamber in the accurate level of harvesting.

The above modification and the resultant effect, the tender tea shoots plucking process efficiency has been improved.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to sense the tender tea shoot's top surface level automatically through the force or pressure sensor based soft sensing means.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the overall weight of the harvesting chamber by implementing the force/pressure sensor based sensing units instead of rollable mechanical sensing assembly.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the maintenance requirements by eliminating the mechanical rollable soft sensing means (3).

Yet another object of the invention is to provide real time height adjusting option to the stabilizing unit which allows the blade to maintain the desired cutting level by means of a mechanically smart arm structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a force/pressure sensor based self-levelling mechanism for accurately sensing and maintaining the level of tender tea shoot's irrespective of the position of the Vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an auto-sensing and self-stabilizing mechanism for ensuring the safe plucking of the tender tea shoots alone from the tea bush.

Yet another object of the invention is to select the tender tea shoots via cost-
effective force or pressure sensor assembly.

Further object of the invention is to provide a real time height control option in the frame assembly for enabling accurate harvesting process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an aid for tender tea shoots plucking vehicle. The present invention mainly introduces the force/pressure sensor based soft sensing means instead of mechanical rollable soft sensing means for sensing the accurate level of tender tea shoots. The soft sensing means calculates and transmits the force/pressure taking into account to provide accurate pressure measurements to the control unit for finding the plucking level of tender tea shoot. The mechanically smart arm structure maintains accurate cutting level of the blade provided in the harvesting chamber during the vehicle movement in the variable terrain condition therefore the resultant effect improves the efficiency of tender tea shoot plucking process.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
S.NO
PART NAME
PART NO

1. Force sensor based soft sensing means
1
2. Vehicle/Prime mover/Implements carrier 2
3. Smart arm based self-levelling unit 3
4. Harvesting chamber
4
5. Mounting frame
5
6. Tender tea shoot’s level 6
7. Extension control unit 7
8. Extension control arm 8
9. Floating hinge 9
10. Extension aid 10
11. Implements sensor 11
12. Plate for soft sensing means 12
13. Spring for soft sensing means 13
14. Sensor for soft sensing means 14
15. Control unit for soft sensing means 15
16. Blades of the harvesting chamber 16

Figure 1A, 1B and 2A illustrates the prior art configuration.
Figure 2B illustrates the proposed invention’s unique configurations.
Figure 3A and 3B illustrates the retracted and contracted position of mechanical smart arm
Figure 4 illustrates the soft sensing means configuration in the prime mover/vehicle during the working condition.
Figure 5 illustrates the configuration of Smart arm based self-levelling unit.

The above drawing illustrates the details given and will be provided with respect to certain specific embodiments. It is to be understood that the scope of the disclosure should not be limited to such embodiments but that the same is provided simply for enablement and best mode purposes. The breadth and spirit of the present disclosure are broader than the embodiments specifically disclosed and encompassed within the claims eventually appended hereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One of the preferred embodiment of the invention A self-adjustable level sensing and following system for automatic tender tea shoots harvesting vehicle consisting of self-adjustable mechanically smart arm (3), an extension control unit(7), harvesting chamber (4), soft sensing means (1). The harvesting chamber (4) being configured with an implements carrier (2) by means of a motor arm members. The extension control unit (7) being formed with an extension control arm (8), floating hinge (9) and extension aid (10). The primary and secondary arm members being controlled via an extension control unit (7) to attain maximum vertical displacement with minimum leverage of the extension aid (10). A soft sensing means (1) being formed with the plate (12), spring (13), sensor (14) and control unit (15). The soft sensing means (1) being attached with the harvesting chamber (4) to set the accurate harvesting level of tender tea shoots (6). The self-adjustable mechanically smart arm (3) enables real time level adjustment which allows the blade of the harvesting chamber to maintain the desired cutting level (6). Wherein the system enables the harvesting of the tender tea shoots by means of the soft sensing means (3), self-adjustable mechanically smart arm and harvesting chamber (4), and the accurate fixed cutting level (6)being maintained by the self-adjustable mechanically smart arm (3) irrespective of terrain condition thereby tender tea shoots alone being plucked effectively.

Another embodiment of the invention discloses about the vehicle/prime mover/implements carrier (2) capable of being an all-terrain manual driven or autonomous vehicle.

Further embodiment of the invention discloses about the soft sensing means (1) capable of being a force sensor.

ADVANTAGES:
1. The proposed electronic force sensing mechanism can eliminate the requirement of mechanical rollable soft sensing means.
2. The system needs a circuit assembly for sensing the preset level set by the rollable soft sensing means, the same can be utilized for accommodating entire sensing assembly for sensing the level of the tender tea shoot by means of the force/pressure sensor units thereby achieving technical advancement and economic significance.
3. The proposed system is having a extension control unit which enable the arm to attain maximum vertical displacement with minimum leverage.
Other advantages:
• Sensing the tender tea shoot’s level automatically.
• Providing an adaptable configuration for mounting the device on the vehicle/autonomous vehicle.
• Providing a self-levelling mechanism for accurately sensing and maintaining the level of tender tea shoot irrespective of the position of the vehicle.
• Providing an auto-sensing and adjusting mechanism for ensuring the safe plucking of the tender tea shoots alone from the tea bush.
• Self-leveling unit can maintain the favorable cutting level to improve the plucking efficiency of the harvesting chamber.
• Setting the level of the tender tea shoots via cost-effective electronic sensing assembly.
• Providing a stabilization device for automatically adjusting the level of shoots during the static and movable condition.
• Keeping the position of the harvesting chamber irrespective of the terrain condition as well as the position of the prime mover.

So that the manner in which the features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, may be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only a preferred embodiment of the invention and is therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention’s scope as it may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
, Claims:WE CLAIM
1. A self-adjustable level sensing and following system for automatic tender tea shoots harvesting vehicle consisting of self-adjustable mechanically smart arm (3), an extension control unit(7), harvesting chamber (4), soft sensing means (1),
• the harvesting chamber (4) being configured with an implements carrier (2) by means of a motor arm members,
characterized in that
• extension control unit (7) being formed with an extension control arm (8), floating hinge (9) and extension aid (10),
• the primary and secondary arm members being controlled via an extension control unit (7) to attain maximum vertical displacement with minimum leverage of the extension aid (10),
• a soft sensing means (1) being formed with the plate (12), spring (13), sensor (14) and control unit (15),
• the soft sensing means (1) being attached with the harvesting chamber (4) to set the accurate harvesting level of tender tea shoots (6),
• self-adjustable mechanically smart arm (3) enables real time level adjustment which allows the blade of the harvesting chamber to maintain the desired cutting level (6),
• wherein the system enables the harvesting of the tender tea shoots by means of the soft sensing means (3), self-adjustable mechanically smart arm and harvesting chamber (4), and the accurate fixed cutting level (6)being maintained by the self-adjustable mechanically smart arm (3) irrespective of terrain condition thereby tender tea shoots alone being plucked effectively.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle/prime mover/implements carrier (2) capable of being an all-terrain manual driven or autonomous vehicle.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor (14) of the soft sensing means (1) capable of being a force sensor.