GB2569570A

GB2569570A - Harvesting tea

Info

Publication number: GB2569570A
Application number: GB1721418.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Gibbs Simon; Magor Philip
Original assignee: George Williamson & Co Ltd
Current assignee: George Williamson & Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-20
Filing date: 2017-12-20
Publication date: 2019-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-20
Also published as: GB201721418D0; AU2018100645A4; GB2569570B; CN208874852U

Abstract

The harvesting of tea is disclosed, using equipment having a support-frame 1101 with an engine attached to the support-frame. A reciprocating-cutter is mounted to the support-frame and is configured to be operated by the engine. A blowing-device is located on the support-frame and is also activated by the engine. The support-frame is moulded from carbon-fibre in order to facilitate manual operation. The carbon-fibre moulding has a base-plate 1002 extending between a left-end-plate 1001 and a right-end-plate 901. A leading-upper-box-section 803 and a trailing upper-box-section 804 are located between the left-end-plate and the right end-plate. A longitudinal-platform 805 is supported between the leading upper-box-section and the trailing-upper-box-section. Skids may be attached to the support frame. Right and left handles are attached to a harvesting apparatus and the apparatus manually located above a row of cultivated plants

Description

(57) The harvesting of tea is disclosed, using equipment having a support-frame 1101 with an engine attached to the support-frame. A reciprocating-cutter is mounted to the support-frame and is configured to be operated by the engine. A blowing-device is located on the support-frame and is also activated by the engine. The support-frame is moulded from carbon-fibre in order to facilitate manual operation. The carbon-fibre moulding has a base-plate 1002 extending between a left-end-plate 1001and a right-end-plate 901.A leading-upper-box-section 803 and a trailing upper-box-section 804 are located between the left-end-plate and the right end-plate. A longitudinal-platform 805 is supported between the leading upper-box-section and the trailing-upper-box-section. Skids may be attached to the support frame. Right and left handles are attached to a harvesting apparatus and the apparatus manually located above a row of cultivated plants

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Harvesting Tea

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to harvesting leaves from the shrub Camellia Sinensis for the production of tea. Traditionally, leaves have been picked by hand but some automated machines have been introduced. Some designs are moved manually, by one or more operatives, and others are tractor-like with driven wheels. However, treaded machines arranged to support their own weight are less sympathetic to the terrains experienced on many plantations^ Manually operated machines are preferred but these are often cumbersome and regular resting periods are required by operatives.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of constructing an apparatus for harvesting tea, comprising the steps of: attaching an engine to a support-frame; mounting a reciprocating-cutter to said support-frame; configuring said engine to operate said reciprocatingcutter; locating a blowing-device on said support-frame; arranging said engine to activate said blowing-device; and characterized by the step of: moulding said support-frame from carbon-fibre-components, wherein: an upper-carbon-fibre-component includes a left-end-plate, a right-end-plate; a leading-upper-box-section, a trailing-upper-box-section and a longitudinalplatform supported between said leading-upper-box-section and said trailingupper-box-section; and a base-plate-component attached to base surfaces of said left-end-plate and said right-end-plate.

In an embodiment, said step of moulding said upper-carbon-fibrecomponents includes the steps of: placing sheets of resin impregnated sheets of a carbon-fibre over a mould; and heating said sheets.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for harvesting tea, comprising: a support-frame; an engine attached to said support-frame; a reciprocating-cutter mounted to said support-frame and configured to be operated by said engine; a blowingdevice located on said support-frame and activated by said engine; and characterized in that said support-frame is moulded from carbon-fibre and has: a base-plate extending between a left-end-plate and a right-end-plate; a leading-upper-box-section and a trailing-upper-box-section located between said left-end-plate and said right-end-plate; and a longitudinal-platform supported between said leading-upper-box-section and said trailing-upperbox-section.

In an embodiment, the left-end-plate, the right-end-plate, the leadingupper-box-section, the trailing-upper-box-section and the longitudinalplatform are moulded as a singular component.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of harvesting tea, comprising the steps of, attaching a left-handle and a right-handle to a tea-harvesting-apparatus; manually locating said teaharvesting-apparatus above a row of cultivated plants defining a maturebase at substantially waist height, with flushes of new growth extending above said mature-base; locating said tea-harvesting-apparatus upon said mature-base; and manually pushing said tea-harvesting-machine, with an engine operational to drive a reciprocating-cutter and a blowing-device, thereby cutting, blowing and collecting cut flushes; wherein: said left-handle, said right-handle, said engine and said reciprocating-cutter are attached to a support-frame; and said support-frame is moulded from carbon-fibre.

The invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an apparatus for harvesting tea;

Figure 2 shows a portion of a main-mould;

Figure 3 shows the application of first-layer of a carbon-fibre fabric to the mould identified in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows the application of a second-layer;

Figure 5 shows the application of a third-layer, covering said first-layer and said second-layer;

Figure 6 shows the application of an additional-mould-plate;

Figure 7 is a moulded component after removal from the main-mould;

Figure 8 shows a moulded upper-component;

Figure 9 shows a right-end-plate;

Figure 10 shows the attachment of a base-plate-carbon-fibrecomponent to the upper-carbon-fibre-component;

Figure 11 shows a fully assembled support-frame;

Figure 12 shows the support-frame of Figure 11 with handles attached;

Figure 13 shows the application of an engine and a blowing-device;

Figure 14 shows a rotatable-sealing-device;

Figure 15 shows a skid; and

Figure 16 shows the application of a skid to an end-plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1

An apparatus 101 for harvesting tea is shown in Figure 1. The apparatus includes a support-frame, attached to which are an engine and a reciprocating-cutter, along with a blowing-device; described in detail with reference to Figure 13. Handles extend from the apparatus, as described with reference to Figure 12, allowing operatives to harvest the top one or two inches of recently grown buds and leaves, usually referred to as flushes. During a growing season, typical plants will grow a new flush over a period of one to two weeks. Many sub varieties of the shrub Camellia Sinensis are grown typically in rows, such as first-row 102, second-row 103 and third-row 104. To harvest the flushes, operatives gain access via channels between the rows, such as a first-channel 105 and a second-channel 106. During a first pass, as illustrated in Figure 1, operatives may cut a first side of a row, such as the first side of row 103 on the side of channel 105. The harvestingapparatus is then rotated to allow a harvesting operation to be performed i upon the other side of the row, such that, for row 103, the side closest to channel 106 is harvested with the operatives walking in the opposition direction.

If left uncultivated, the shrub can grow to a height in excess of ten metres but cultivated plants are usually pruned, to a height substantially equal to that of an operative’s waist, to facilitate flush picking. Thus, each row of cultivated plants defines a mature-base at substantially waist height, with flushes of new growth extending above this mature-base. After attaching handles, the harvesting-apparatus is located upon the mature-base. Harvesting is performed by manually pushing the harvesting-apparatus, with an engine operational to drive a reciprocating-cutter and the blowing-device, thereby cutting and blowing; and collecting the cut flushes in a bag 107 attached to the harvesting-apparatus 101.

The engine, along with its fuel tank, the reciprocating-cutter, the blowing-device and the trailing bag all contribute to the overall weight of the harvesting-apparatus. However, the present invention mitigates the weight problem by attaching these components to a support-frame that is moulded from carbon-fibre. Without deploying the present invention and when using conventional material such as mild steel, it would be necessary for operatives of such a harvesting-apparatus to rest regularly, at times when the apparatus itself remained fully functional.

Given the nature of the reciprocating-cutter, it is necessary to stop periodically to provide lubrication (using a non-toxic lubricating oil) and to refuel the apparatus. However, by using a support-frame constructed from carbon-fibre, thereby significantly reducing the weight of the apparatus, stopping to lubricate and stopping to refuel are still required; but it may not be necessary to include additional rest breaks due to operator fatigue, or at least fewer of them.

Figure 2

The harvesting-apparatus 101 is constructed by attaching an engine to a support-frame, mounting a reciprocating-cutter to the support-frame and configuring the engine to operate the reciprocating-cutter. In addition, a blowing-device is located on the support-frame and the engine is also arranged to activate this blowing-device. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the support-frame is moulded from carbon fibre components by moulding an upper-carbon-fibre-component and a baseplate-carbon-fibre-component. The upper-carbon-fibre-component includes a left-end-plate with a left-base-surface; a right-end-plate with a right-basesurface; a leading-upper-box-section; a trailing-upper-box-section; and a longitudinal-platform supported between the leading-upper-box-section and the trailing-upper-box-section. A base-plate-carbon-fibre-component is then attached to left-base-surface and the right-base-surface.

To construct the upper-carbon-fibre-component and the base-platecarbon-fibre-component, sheets of a resin impregnated carbon-fibre textile are placed over a mould. A typical material is identified by commercial designation with a designation MTC510 and may have a weight per unit area of typically two hundred and forty-five grams per square metre. A mould is constructed from components and the overall assembly may be referred to as a mould-kit. In an embodiment, the upper-carbon-fibre-component includes substantially three-dimensional portions including the leading-upperbox-section and the trailing-upper-box-section. Thus, the mould-kit may include additional mould-plates to establish these three-dimensional structures.

A portion of a main-mould 201 is illustrated in Figure 2. This may be identified as a portion of the mould responsible for producing a box section and cooperates with an additional mould-plate, as described with reference to Figure 6.

An internal surface 202 of the main mould 201 defines an exterior surface for the moulded component. Consequently, the carbon-fibre fabric with impregnated resin is inserted and forced within the internal space 203 defined by the main-mould 201 and then solidified, as is known in the art, by the application of heat and pressure.

The required structure is built up in layers of the carbon-fibre fabric and over some portions, layers may be created using a greater thickness of material; possibly having a weight of four hundred grams per square metre. Typically, structures are built up to a thickness of between two millimetres and three millimetres.

Figure 3

The main-mould 201 is shown in Figure 3, in to which a first layer 301 of the carbon-fibre fabric has been inserted. This does not completely fill the mould, and a second layer will be required to cover a remaining-portion 302.

Figure 4

As illustrated in Figure 4, a second-layer 401 has been located within mould-region 302, abutting against the first-layer 301. A layer-joint 402 therefore exists between the first-layer 301 and the second-layer 401.

Figure 5

In Figure 5, the thickness of the component has been increased by the application of a third-layer 501. This covers the first-layer 301 and the second-layer 401. Furthermore, the shape of the layer is different, such that a discontinuity 402 created by the layer-joint 401 is covered by the third-layer 501. Furthermore, the layers are designed such that overlaps of this type do not occur along edges and corners.

Figure 6

An image is shown in Figure 6, looking in the direction of arrow 600 of Figure 5. Within the main-mould 201, second-layer 401 is shown with the third-layer 501 and an inner-layer 601. To establish the threedimensionality of the box section, an additional-mould-plate 602 is deployed in the direction of arrow 603 to establish the required shape within the mainmould 201.

Thus, after been fully assembled in this way, the textile material is surrounded by external enclosure material prior to being heated under pressure, thereby causing the resin to set.

Figure 7

After the setting procedure has been completed, the moulded component 701 is removed from the main-mould 201 and excess material 702 is cut away. Furthermore, the mould itself may include scoring lines, such that cut-lines 703 are defined on the component 701, showing where a cutting operation is to take place.

Figure 8

A moulded upper-carbon-fibre-component 801 is shown in Figure 8, produced using the procedure described with reference to Figures 2 to 7. The upper-carbon-fibre-component 801 includes a left-end-plate, with a base-surface upon which the component is testing in the configuration shown in Figure 8. Similarly, there is a right-end-place (further described with reference to Figure 9) again having a right-base-surface upon which the component is resting in the configuration of Figure 8.

When assembled as part of a harvesting-apparatus, the component is moved in the direction of arrow 802. It includes upper-box-sections, identified as a leading-box-section 803 and a trailing-box-section 804. A longitudinalplatform 805 is supported between the leading-upper-box-section 803 and the trailing-upper-box-section 804. The longitudinal-platform 805 is provided to support an engine, described further with reference to Figure 13. To provide further strength, the component also includes a central-brace 806.

Figure 9

A right-end-plate 901 is shown in Figure 9, as seen when viewed in the direction of arrow 900 of Figure 8. This includes a right-base-surface 902 to which is connected a base-plate-carbon-component; this also being attached to a similar left-base-surface, as described with reference to Figure

10.

Figure 10

The upper-carbon-fibre-component 801 is shown upside down in Figure 10, thereby displaying the underside ofthe leading-upper-box-section ( (

803 and the underside of the longitudinal-platform 805. Internal surfaces of the right-end-plate 901 and a similar left-end-plate 1001 are also visible.

A base-plate-carbon-fibre-component 1002 is attached to a left-basesurface 1003 and the right-base-surface 902.

Figure 11

A fully assembled support-frame 1101 is illustrated in Figure 11, in its normal orientation. The support-frame has been moulded from carbonfibre as previously described and has a base-plate-component 1002 extending between the left-end-plate 1001 and a right-end-plate 901. The support-frame also includes a leading-upper-box-section 803 and a trailingupper-box-section 804 both located between the left-end-plate 1001 and the right-end-plate 901. In addition, the longitudinal-platform 805 is supported between the leading-upper-box-section 803 and the trailing-upper-boxsection 804. The support-frame 1101 also includes the central-brace 806.

Figure 12

The support-frame 1101 is shown in Figure 12, rotated, such that the leading-upper-box-section 803 is towards the front. As previously described with reference to Figure 1, when deployed, carrying handles are attached to the support-frame. In this embodiment, a left-handle 1201 has been attached to the left side of the support-frame, and a right-handle 1202 has been attached to the right side of the support-frame. In an embodiment, both the left-handle 1201 and the right-handle 1203 are also constructed by carbon-fibre moulding, using a similar technique to that described with reference to Figures 2 to 7.

During assembly and transportation, the left-handle 1201 and the right-handle 1202 are removed and are then attached, by the application of bolts 1203, when deployed, as described with reference to Figure 1.

Figure 13

The harvesting-apparatus 101 includes an engine 1301 that is attached to the support-frame 1101. The engine 1301 drives a reciprocating9 (

cutter 1302 mounted to the support-frame 1101. In addition, a blowingdevice 1303 is located on the support-frame and is also activated by the engine 1301.

The blowing-device 1303 includes a main pipe with an end that is closed by a rotatable-sealing-device 1304. The engine 1301 is supported by the longitudinal-platform 805 and includes a fuel-tank 1305.

Figure 14

As illustrated in Figure 14, the rotatable-sealing-device 1304 may be rotated, as indicated by arrow 1401, to provide access, as illustrated by arrow 1402, to the blowing-device 1303.

Figure 15

In an embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one skid 1501 that extends from the bottom of the support-frame 1101. In an embodiment, two skids are provided, with a first skid 1501 attached to the left-end-plate 1001, with a similar second skid attached to the right-end-plate 902.

For each skid, a support-bracket 1502, having a plurality of attachment holes 1503, allows for vertical adjustment, thereby allowing adjustments to be made to the cut height when the harvesting-apparatus has been located upon the mature-base.

Figure 16

The left-end-plate 1001 is illustrated in Figure 16. In this embodiment, a first-cooperating-bracket 1601 extends from the end-plate 1001, along with a second-cooperating-bracket 1602. The cooperatingbrackets are configured to engage with respective support-brackets, such that support-bracket 1502 engages within the first-cooperating-bracket 1601 and is secured therein, following adjustment to the required height, by the application of two bolts.

Claims

CLAIMS The invention claimed is:

1. A method of constructing an apparatus for harvesting tea,

5 comprising the steps of:

attaching an engine to a support-frame;

adding skids to said support-frame;

mounting a reciprocating-cutter to said support-frame; configuring said engine to operate said reciprocating-cutter;

10 locating a blowing-device on said support-frame;

arranging said engine to activate said blowing-device; and characterized by the step of:

,....2 moulding said support-frame from carbon-fibre components by moulding an upper-carbon-fibre-component and a base-plate-carbon-fibre• * ·* 15 component, wherein said upper-carbon-fibre-component includes:

a left-end-plate with a left-base-surface;

···· a right-end-plate with a right-base-surface;

··· ·

.....· a leading-upper-box-section;

• · a trailing-upper-box-section; and

20 a longitudinal-platform supported between said leading-upper-boxsection and said trailing-upper-box-section; and said base-plate-carbon-fibre-component is attached to left-basesurface and said right-base-surface.

25

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: said step of moulding said

1. A method of constructing an apparatus for harvesting tea, comprising the steps of:

attaching an engine to a support-frame;

mounting a reciprocating-cutter to said support-frame;

configuring said engine to operate said reciprocating-cutter;

locating a blowing-device on said support-frame;

moulding said support-frame from carbon-fibre components by moulding an upper-carbon-fibre-component and a base-plate-carbon-fibrecomponent, wherein said upper-carbon-fibre-component includes:

a left-end-plate with a left-base-surface;

a right-end-plate with a right-base-surface;

a leading-upper-box-section;

a trailing-upper-box-section; and a longitudinal-platform supported between said leading-upper-boxsection and said trailing-upper-box-section; and said base-plate-carbon-fibre-component is attached to left-basesurface and said right-base-surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: said step of moulding said upper carbon-fibre component includes the steps of:

placing sheets of a resin impregnated carbon-fibre textile over a mould; and heating said mould.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said mould is constructed from a mould-kit; and said mould-kit includes additional mould-plates to establish the threedimensional structures of said leading-upper-box-section and said trailingupper-box-section.

4. The method of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said placing step includes placing a plurality of layers over said mould.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said layers overlap, such that a textile-discontinuity in a first layer is covered in a second layer.

6. The method of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said plurality of layers build surfaces having a thickness greater than two millimetres.

7. The method of any of claims 2 to 6, wherein said heating step is performed under reduced atmospheric pressure, during an application of force thereby forcing said textile sheets into contact with said mould.

8. The method of any of claims 2 to 7, including the steps of: removing the support-frame from said mould; and cutting away excess material from said support-frame.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of scoring lines in said mould to produce cut-lines in said support-frame to indicate the presence of excess material.

10. The method of any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising the step of adding skids to said support-frame.

11. An apparatus for harvesting tea, comprising:

a support-frame;

an engine attached to said support-frame;

a reciprocating-cutter mounted to said support-frame and configured to be operated by said engine;

a blowing-device located on said support-frame and activated by said engine; and characterized in that said support-frame is moulded from carbon-fibre and has:

a base-plate extending between a left-end-plate and a right-end-plate;

a leading-upper-box-section and a trailing-upper-box-section located between said left-end-plate and said right-end-plate; and a longitudinal-platform supported between said leading-upper-boxsection and said trailing-upper-box-section.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said left-end-plate, said right end-plate, said leading-upper-box-section, said trailing-upper-boxsection and said longitudinal-platform are moulded as a singular component.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said engine is mounted upon said longitudinal-platform.

14. The apparatus of any of claims 11 to 13, including a pipesupport extending from the end-plate opposite the longitudinal-platform.

15. The apparatus of any of claims 11 to 14, including at least one skid extending from said support-frame.

16. A method of harvesting tea, comprising the steps of:

attaching a left-handle and a right-handle to a harvesting-apparatus;

manually locating said tea-harvesting-apparatus above a row of cultivated plants defining a mature-base at substantially waist height, with flushes of new growth extending above said mature-base;

locating said harvesting-apparatus upon said mature-base;

manually pushing said harvesting-apparatus, with an engine operational to drive a reciprocating-cutter and a blowing-device, thereby cutting, blowing and collecting said flushes; wherein:

said left-handle, said right-handle, said engine and said reciprocatingcutter are attached to a support-frame; and said support-frame is moulded from carbon-fibre.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said left-handle is a carbon-fibre moulding; and said right-handle is a carbon-fibre moulding.

18. The method of claim 15 or claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

harvesting a first side of said row; and harvesting the opposite side of said row.

19. The method of any of claims 15 to 17, further comprising the step of attaching a bag to a trailing side of the tea-harvesting apparatus to collect cut flushes.

20. The method of any of claims 15 to 18, further comprising the steps of:

stopping to lubricate said reciprocating-cutter when required; and stopping to re-fuel when required, without stopping for additional rest breaks due to the weight saving attributes of the carbon-fibre construction.

Amendment to Claims have been filed as follows

The invention claimed is: