novel approaches to bin filling
DESCRIPTION
Presented at ASABE 2010 annual meetingTRANSCRIPT
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 1
Novel Approaches to Passive Bin Filling for Apples
Brian Kliethermes1, Alexander Leslie2, Russel Rohrbaugh2
Jacob Koan2, Scott Wolford3, Michael Glenn3, Karen Lewis4, Tara Baugher2, William Messner1
1Carnegie Mellon University2Penn State3USDA-ARS4Washington State University
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 2
Introduction
• Bin filling remains among the most challenging operations of apple harvest.
• There is a need for effective and inexpensive alternatives to mechanized approaches currently under development.
• We describe two alternative passive dry bin filling approaches under development at Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, and ARS.
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 3
Augmented Harvesting: Bin filling concepts
Net-based Passive Apple Distributor
Active Roller Apple Distributor
Pneumatic Self-Adjusting Apple Distributor
Energy Absorbing Grate for Apple Distribution
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 4
Pneumatic Self-Adjusting Apple Distributor for Bin Filling
Advantages: self-adjusting height, less damage, faster bag dumpingDisadvantages: must be moved from bin to bin, heavier, power required
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 5
Augmented Harvesting: Energy absorbing grate tests
Soft foam ballson rubber bands
Rubber bands alone
Hard foam ballson rubber bands
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 6
Augmented Harvesting: Bin Filling Results
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 7
Prototype Energy Absorbing Grate Prototype
Bungee cords
Padded ramp
Frame for confining apples
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 8
Pneumatic self-adjusting bin filler
Inflatable cylinders
Padded ramp
Frame for confining apples
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 9
Bruise data
control
pneumaticself-adjusting
energy absorbinggrate
singulated
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 10
control
pneumatic self-adjusting singulated
energy absorbinggrate
Energy absorbing grate singulated
Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops 11
Conclusions
• Two passive dry bin filling concepts were investigated.• Laboratory tests provided overly optimistic results for
the energy absorbing grate• Performance of the full-scale prototypes was much
better with singulation of the fruit was much better than without it.
• Transport from the tree to the bin filler will be key to the success of these approaches.