his model illustrates a manually operated loose fruit collector featuring a rotary combed drum and integrated collection basket, specifically optimized for collecting fruits like oil palm, nuts, or similar items from ground surfaces.
Main Features
- The device has a robust frame with ergonomic dual handles for comfortable pushing and pulling during operation, enhancing user control and maneuverability.
- Central to the design is a rotating cylinder or drum equipped with evenly distributed spikes or flexible tines which can easily capture and lift fruits as the unit rolls over them.
- As the drum rotates with the forward motion, fruits are swept up off the ground and pushed toward a perforated collection basket mounted at the front of the device.
- The perforated basket allows dirt and small debris to pass through, ensuring that only the intended loose fruits are retained for collection.
How It Works
- The operator pushes the collector across the field surface, causing the spiked drum to turn.
- The flexible tines engage and lift loose fruits from the ground, transferring them into the basket as the drum rotates.
- Design geometry ensures that fruits are directed efficiently into the basket and prevents backflow or spillage.
Advantages
- Ergonomic handles and the rolling mechanism allow for efficient fruit collection with minimal bending or stooping, reducing worker fatigue especially over large areas.
- The drum’s spikes/tines are designed to prevent damage to fruits while enabling effective debris filtering through the basket’s perforations.
- The simple, mechanical system means low maintenance, no fuel dependence, and suitability for small-scale or experimental operations where more advanced equipment may be impractical.
Potential Applications and Modifications
- Ideal for small plantations, orchards, or gardens, particularly where manual labor is preferred or mechanized collection isn’t feasible.
- The spike/tine configuration and basket design can be customized to accommodate fruits of different sizes or shapes and varied ground conditions.
- Future adjustments might include motorizing the drum or integrating a quick-release mechanism for easier basket emptying.
This concept leverages a rotary sweeping mechanism and targeted collection system to provide an efficient, ergonomic, and low-tech solution for loose fruit gathering.