HAND-HELD COFFEE BEAN HARVESTER

Abstract

Coffee powder production is a multi-million-dollar industry worldwide, with harvesting taking place during specific months of the year. Coffee bean harvesting can be done manually or using fully automated machinery. However, large-scale machines are expensive, space-consuming, and not accessible to many small-scale farmers. To address this challenge, we propose developing an IoT device that integrates human effort with technology, performing the same tasks as large machines but on a smaller, more affordable scale. Our solution will merge a battery-powered beater with an Arduino-powered separation machine, designed to be lightweight and portable, so a single person can carry it around the farm. This device will help small farmers save time and money, offering an efficient alternative to costly machinery.

Specification

Description:HAND-HELD COFFEE BEAN HARVESTER
FIELD OF INVENTION
ENGINEERING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the history of techno-agricultural evolution, coffee bean harvesting has seen various innovations especially in the process of harvesting the ripe beans. These innovations range right from mechanical equipment for harvesting up to color sorting methods to identify ripe and unripe beans. Both the harvest phase as well as the post-harvest steps play a crucial role in the successful production line of coffee powders.
The following patents are available in this field of invention as on date:
Indian Patent IN202047050744: This patent describes a device for coffee cherry harvesting, which includes mechanisms to minimize damage to the coffee plant and the fruit during harvesting.
US Patent US4996881A: This patent describes a mechanical coffee harvester that uses a rotating drum to strip cherries from branches while minimizing harm to the plants.
Brazilian Patent BR102017017517A2: This patent pertains to a robotic coffee harvester with advanced sensors for determining the ripeness of coffee cherries.
The existing products in this domain is mainly focused on large scale harvesting with price range of 38,000 USD - 87,000 USD (Brastoft/Korvan).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The working process of the proposed system is shown in Fig 1.


Fig. 1. Working process of the system


Implementation:
The system is implemented by interfacing Arduino board with sensors in Arduino IDE. The working view of the project set up is shown in Fig 2 and Fig 3.

Fig. 2. Project View 1 - Hand-Held Harvester
Fig. 2 represents the three-dimensional view of the coffee berry picking unit. It consists of the coffee bean picking mechanism (101) and its storage unit (106), connected to the handle assembly (108 and 113) by means of a ball and socket joint (107 and 112). During operation, the user holds the handle (108) to harvest the beans. The coffee beans will then be collected in the storage unit. The handle, along with the ball and socket joint, ensures easy usage of the unit and enables the operators to harvest effectively, thus saving time and physical labor.


Fig 3. Project View 2 - Smart Bag

The Fig. 3 shows the smart bin view. The smart storage compartment is extended to create a storage unit (106) for the collected coffee. [0011] The covering plate of the smart bag (104) consists of multiple perforations or openings that are big enough for the collected coffee berry to pass through. They enable easy entry of the collected beans into the unit. This plate also prevents leaves and other debris from entering the unit, thus acting as a separation medium. Additionally, color segmentation capability involves identifying ripe and unripe beans. Thus, automatic segmentation leads to beans in the correct bins.
The valuation of the product to be launched is given below:
Item Description Estimated Cost (INR)
Concept Design & Research Simplified design and basic CAD modeling for the prototype 5,000
Prototype Materials Plates and rubber strips 10,000
Heating Element & Control System Off-the-shelf heating element, basic manual speed control 5,000
Assembly & Prototyping 3D printing for casing and parts, manual assembly for the prototype 7,000
Testing & Refinements Basic testing for functionality, consistency, minor refinements 3,000
Total 30,000

Budget Breakdown (INR 30,000)
1. Concept Design & Research (INR 5,000)
• Simplified Design: Focus on adapting the strip-harvesting concept into a simple mechanical comb that can glide through the coffee plant, separating and harvesting the beans as it passes through rubber fitted plates.
• Basic CAD Design: Designing the prototype and re-working on the usability tests.
2. Prototype Materials (INR 10,000)
• Comb Mechanism: A simple manual or semi-automatic rubber comb attachment.
• Handle and Casing: Use lightweight plastic to reduce costs.
• Basic Motor (Optional): If the budget allows, use a low-cost, small motor to simulate the comb movement.
3. Rubber Element & Control System (INR 5,000)
• Basic Speed Control: Use an off-the-shelf rubber element and a simple manual speed control (without digital displays to save cost).
4. Assembly & Prototyping (INR 7,000)
• 3D Printing for Initial Prototype: Use 3D printing for casing and parts, which is cost-effective for small quantities and initial prototypes.
• Assembly: Manually assemble the prototype to avoid manufacturing setup costs.
5. Testing & Refinements (INR 3,000)
• Basic Testing: Test the prototype for functionality, heat consistency, and combing effectiveness.
• Refinements: Make minor adjustments based on performance without extensive iterative prototyping to keep costs down.
By focusing on low-cost materials and manual assembly, and simplifying the design, this approach stays within the INR 30,000 budget. The focus is that it mimics the comb-like mechanism of a coffee strip harvester without advanced automation or high-end materials. Hence, this system is highly-promising in achieving a sustainable and economic solution for coffee bean harvesting.
, Claims:We claim:
1.a coffee bean harvesting device that comprises:
(a)a coffee bean harvester component
(b)a hand-held, hair straightener-like blades with rubber combs consisting of the handle and the rod.
(c)ball-and-socket joint between the handle assembly and the bean picking mechanism
2. The bean picking mechanism consists of a top plate (111), a bottom plate (104) and a multitude of rubber combs are available through which picked beans are detached from the plant (110).
3. The smart bag unit collects the beans in the assigned bin compartment

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