Dandelion Harvester, Spring Willow Farms

The farmer's harvester couldn't remove the dandelion roots from the ground without excessive dirt and soil residue, and without damaging the roots. The farmer was using a carrot harvester and faced many problems, such that the dandelions would come up as a sod instead of individuals, like carrots. The main problem faced with this sod is that the tops of the dandelions cannot support the weight of the sod causing it to snap, thus losing the valuable part of the dandelion. The carrot harvest has an ideal set up; being capable of unloading at a height of 3m as well as the capability of de-topping the dandelions, however the client has yet been able to get the dandelion to the de-topper.

Engineering students were tasked with improving the process to a) move more quickly, and b) increase profits over their existing manual extraction method. 

The students conducted a profit analysis calculating losses and productions yields to suggest an investment of money into a modified harvester, while expecting a profitable return.

The proposed design included the addition of an extension of the cutting head to the existing cutter bar. This allowed the dandelions to be elevated higher out of the ground and onto an awaiting conveyor belt. In addition to the extension on the cutting head, a conveyor belt with shaking capabilities was added. This conveyor belt carries the product to either the de-topper or to a preexisting conveyor belt that trasnport the dandelion roots off to waiting trucks.

Read more about the project:

  • Meet Lance MacNeill, a UPEI engineering student who worked on the project
Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering

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