# Design of a portable machine for picking chamomile flowers

## TL;DR

This paper presents a portable machine designed to efficiently harvest chamomile flowers, achieving a productivity of 31.74 kg/h under optimal conditions.

## Contribution

The novel portable machine with a variable-length comb and optimized operational parameters for chamomile harvesting is introduced.

## Key findings

- The machine achieved a productivity of 31.74 kg/h under optimal conditions.
- Optimal parameters included a 100 mm comb length, 5 mm comb gap, and 5.15 m/min blade speed.
- The design facilitates efficient and portable chamomile harvesting in the field.

## Abstract

This research details the design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of a novel, portable machine for mechanized harvesting of chamomile flowers. The machine incorporates a specialized picking mechanism with a variable-length comb, a reciprocating cutting blade, and a collecting brush, powered by independent lithium-ion battery units for field portability. A systematic experimental investigation was conducted to determine the effects of key operational parameters on productivity, including comb length, comb gap width, and cutting blade speed. The study identified optimal conditions that yielded the highest productivity of 31.74 kg/h. This was achieved with a 100 mm comb length, a 5 mm comb gap, a 5.15 m/min blade speed, and a 200 rpm brush rotation. These findings provide crucial insights for the optimal design and operational parameters of chamomile harvesting machinery, facilitating efficient mechanization.