WO2018163135A2

WO2018163135A2 - Autonomous device for harvesting coffee using a colorimeter

Info

Publication number: WO2018163135A2
Application number: PCT/IB2018/053972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edwin Oldemar COLLADO VACA; Anibal FOSSATTI CARRILLO; Giancarlo Antonio RUIZ MORALES; Pablo MONTERO PRADO
Original assignee: Universidad Tecnológica De Panamá
Priority date: 2018-05-22
Filing date: 2018-06-04
Publication date: 2018-09-13
Also published as: WO2018163135A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an autonomous device for harvesting coffee which comprises a semicircular base, with handles for automatic operation of the device and a remote controller with an antenna for wireless communication for manual operation, the vertical and horizontal movement axes with a data processing unit acquired from the colorimeter sensor for the optimal collection of the coffee fruit. This is a harvesting machine which allows the fruits of the coffee crop to be quickly and easily collected, reducing the manual labor for harvesting and the plant being physically mishandled in agricultural areas with steep slopes and without the need to detach unripe fruits, flowers or leaves, due to the fact that the machine presented only detaches the ripe fruits, as shown in Fig. 1.

Description

AUTONOMOUS DEVICE FOR HARVESTING COFFEE USING A COLORIMETER

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an autonomous agricultural harvester, in particular harvesters of coffee fruits. More specifically, the object of the invention relates to an autonomous device for harvesting coffee using a colorimeter to collect coffee more efficiently from the ripe fruits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Coffee belongs to the family of Rubiaceae and to the Coffea genus. The more commercially significant species belonging to this genus are widely known.

The aerial morphology of the coffee plant has two types of shoots: orthotropic which grow vertically and comprise the main stem and the suckers, and plagiotropic or the second stems which grow horizontally and comprise the primary, secondary and tertiary branches. Here in the primary branches is where the flowering and the fruit is present in various groups, from 5 to 10 centimeters between fruits and with various primary branches loaded with fruits. The main difficulty when it is time to harvest is that on the same primary branch there may be ripe and unripe fruits, leaves and sometimes flowers, and coffee trees are commonly planted in regions with very pronounced slopes, thereby causing difficulty with harvesting.

Some current solutions as described by the patent US4538405 incorporate two spindles in one box which rotate and impact the fruits on the branches, thrust bearings and rotary vibrator units, which are not easy to use and may physiologically affect the coffee plant.

According various studies on colorimetry in coffee beans, some wavelengths makes it possible to significantly distinguish different states of fruit development that are related to the quality of the beverage and productivity.

Therefore, taking into account the previous documents, it is necessary to find alternatives which are aimed at quickly and easily locating and collecting coffee beans in states of ideal ripeness. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device which has a hand grip with a controller which allows the identification mechanism to be activated and optimal suction of the ripe fruit. Consequently, this autonomous device for harvesting coffee intends to replace manual labor which is increasingly scarce and provides a mechanism which does not mishandle the branches of the coffee tree and collects the fruits according to their quality in a receptacle, ensuring quicker and more precise collection for the person operating the device.

Therefore, a first aspect of the present invention relates to an autonomous device for harvesting coffee characterized by comprising:

- a first semicircular chute placed in a C-shape which comprises:

-vertical and horizontal movement axes and

-an image and data processing and analyzing unit which comprises a colorimeter sensor and an optimal suction mechanism of the selected ripe fruits by means of air where the processing unit is located on the movement axes, and

- a second semicircular chute placed as a collection base in contact with the first chute.

The processing unit further comprises a CPU with software which allows the fruits with better quality to be optimally selected according to the ripeness thereof by means of measuring the wavelength of the colorimeter sensor.

In a preferred embodiment, the movement of the axes is controlled automatically or manually. When the movement of the axes is controlled manually, it is carried out by means of a remote controller connected to the device by means of an antenna for wireless communication.

The device of the invention provides the following technical advantages:

- it allows the ripe fruits of the coffee tree to be selected and harvested simultaneously which accelerates the harvesting process, improves productivity and ensures a high quality product,

- it has a CPU with software which has the ability to determine the group of fruits with ideal ripeness and the optimal suction strength to detach the same,

- it has an end receptacle adhered to the base thereof which allows for the quick and convenient collection of the product. Furthermore, this receptacle prevents contact of the fruit with the ground which improves the quality of the final product,

- it may be used autonomously or manually depending on the needs of the farmer and

it is portable and can be easily used on any type of terrain.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the autonomous device for harvesting coffee using a colorimeter for the collection or harvesting of coffee and other fruit trees such as plum, cherry, olive, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, tomato, pepper and chilies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the complete view of the device of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the side view of the device of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the front view of the device of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention based on the figures presented will be described below.

Fig. 1 shows a semicircular base (1 ) with handles for manual operation of the device which supports the vertical movement axis (2) and horizontal movement axis (3); an antenna for wireless communication (4); a remote controller (5) for operating the device and viewing the fruit; a unit (6) with the components for the image processing and analysis of the fruit; a colorimeter sensor (7) for collecting data of the coffee fruit; a suction unit (8) which detaches only the ripe fruits selected by the image processing unit; and an end receptacle (9) for preventing contact with the ground.

Fig. 2 shows a semicircular base (1 ) which supports the vertical movement axis (2) and horizontal movement axis (3); an antenna for wireless communication (4); a remote controller (5) for operating the device and viewing the fruit; a unit (6) with the components for the image processing and analysis of the fruit; a colorimeter sensor (7) for collecting data of the coffee fruits; a suction unit (8) which detaches only the ripe fruits selected by the image processing unit; and an end receptacle (9) for storing the fruit such that it prevents contact with the ground; a handle (10) for manual operation of the device.

Fig. 3 shows the vertical axis (2) and the horizontal axis (3) which can be controlled automatically by the system or manually by the operator by way of the remote controller; a unit (6) with the components for the image processing and analysis of the fruit, a colorimeter sensor (7) for collecting data of the coffee fruit; a suction unit (8) which detaches only the ripe fruits selected by the image processing unit.

Claims

1 . An autonomous device for harvesting coffee using a colorimeter characterized by comprising:

- a first semicircular chute placed in a C-shape which comprises:

-vertical and horizontal movement axes and

-an image and data processing and analysis unit which comprises a colorimeter sensor and an optimal suction mechanism of the ripe fruits wherein the processing unit is located on the movement axes, and

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the movement of the axes is controlled automatically or manually.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the movement of the axes is controlled manually by means of a remote controller connected to the device by means of an antenna for wireless communication.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit further comprises a CPU with software which allows the fruits with better quality to be optimally selected according to the ripeness thereof by means of measuring the wavelength of the colorimeter sensor.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the suction mechanism detaches the selected ripe fruits using the optimal air pressure to guarantee only fruits with desired qualities.

6. A use of the device described in claim 1 , for the collection or harvesting of coffee and other fruit trees such as plum, cherry, olive, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, tomato, pepper and chilies.