Inventions

Pneumatic type Precision Seeder for Cinnamon Nursery

Patent Number: LK/P/1/19519  |  Inventors: Mr. A A Madubasha; Mr. K M T S Bandara; Prof. P L A G Alwis; Dr. B M S Jinendra

The nursery plants that are planted in the field should embrace a good vigour from the beginning in Cinnamon cultivation to achieve best harvest. The main intention of maintaining good nursery of Cinnamon is to place plants with qualitative condition in the field. The qualitative condition of the plants, beginning from nursery to the field is an important factor that facilitates the maintenance of vigour of Cinnamon plant in the field. Seed spacing uniformity can affect cinnamon plant spacing within the polybag being subjected to both vegetative and reproductive growth, yield and establishing uniform crop stands in fields; this is the main goal of the growers. In order to observe this problem, a necessity for developing a Seeder had been risen. As a remedial measure for this problem, a pneumatic type seeder was developed. The pneumatic precision seed metering device is designed especially to meet the requirements of sowing cinnamon seeds with the recommended seed rate and even seed distribution to obtain good quality, low cost nursery cinnamon plants. Here, a low air pressure is made with the use of a blower fan fixed to a brush type motor with a high rpm rate. Sowing devices equipped with seed metering header are called precision seeder. This pneumatic Cinnamon seeder embraces some system such as, the system that develop negative pressured air flow, negative pressured air supply horses, seed and covering material – gathering and delivering header, air flow control valves and handle with operating cable system. Assembling the main systems mentioned above, the cinnamon seeder could be designed in two ways as Portable and stationary types; in the Portable type, the seeding should be done by carrying the seeder nearby the nursery. Moreover, the developed seeder was found to be accurate in maintaining even seed distribution within the polybag. Thus, the developed pneumatic type cinnamon poly bag seeder can be used as an appropriate tool to replace the existing process of manual seeding.

RUWEEKA – PG Cinnamon rubbing machine

Inventors: Emeritus Prof. K. D. N. Weerasinghe; Mr. Pushpitha Palliyaguru; Mr. C Gunasena; Dr. Karunarathne

RUWEEKA-PG device, is an improved design of RUWEEKA-CG device, which has a scaling that integrates the suitable mechanisms to insert the stick. This device is functioned in the same principle through which the sticks up to 5.6 cm diameter can be processed. It is noteworthy that a simple mechanism is unified with the device helping to insert sticks to the rubbing device without any complications. By pressing or pulling the handle of the mechanism, spring-loaded spindles can be increased simultaneously to insert the stick; then the shrinking occurs. The machine attached to a stand is rotatable around its horizontal axis that helps to change the rubbing ends of the sticks in an easy manner.

RUWEEKA-CG Cinnamon rubbing machine

Patent Number: LK11869  |  Inventors: Emeritus Prof. K. D. N. Weerasinghe; Mr. C Gunasena; Dr. Karunarathne

RUWEEKA-CG rubbing device is a great result after a series of experiments carried out by the University of Ruhuna to automate the cinnamon peeling. The weighty labour requirement is diminished and the efficiency is increased up to 59.7% by this device that consists of a casing, brass ended spindles, springs and nuts. Being fixed to the spring, the spindles are arranged in a circular way in three plans on the casing. The springs deliver the finest force evenly on the entire surface of the sticks for the rubbing process which reduces heavy labour participation. Prevention of muscle pain and fatigue can be achieved by the better working posture of the workers. The insertion of scraped sticks through the spring-loaded spindles and moving several strokes are included in the operation. In this manner, the whole sticks could be rubbed within 25 seconds.

Rotary Screw Type Circling Machine Head for Automatic Scrapping and Rubbing of Cinnamon Sticks

Patent Number: LK/P/1/19584  |  Inventors: Mr. K M T S Bandara; Prof. P L A G Alwis; Dr. B M S Jinendra; Dr. N K Hettiarachi

There are several shortcomings in mechanization of cinnamon processing steps due to biological variability of cinnamon sticks such as uneven stem sizes and shape, different sizes of knots, coarseness of outer corky layer and uneven bark thickness within and between sticks. Moreover, the mechanical force required is vary on seasonal basis within the sticks even within same plantation. When a cinnamon stick is applied an external force for automatic processing, a backward and forward reactive forces between the tool and the sticks are generated when the tool reach section irregularities. These reactive shock waves impose unnecessary damage to the economically important peel of cinnamon. Therefore, we constructed our new device to absorb these unnecessary reactive forces by its operating spindles allowing only the required amount of force being applied into the cinnamon peel when processing. Hence the mechanical damages are reduced significantly with this new design. Both cinnamon processing events, scrapping of outer corky layer and rubbing of inner bark can be performed automatically at one time by cycling the newly developed screw head (thread bar) processing spindle and spring head (rubber mounted spring) processing spindle around the cinnamon stick.

Cinnamon Processing Bench

Inventors: Emeritus Prof. K. D. N. Weerasinghe; Mr. Pushpitha Palliyaguru

With a precise reflection on comfort and health of peeler, cinnamon processing bench pays out for the modernization and improvement of the Cinnamon processing with improvement of the quality and quantity of production. At the moment, the facts relating to the tediousness of cinnamon processing, worker inclination towards wearing dirty clothes in unhygienic state, sitting on the ground in poor posture, dissatisfaction of young generation towards primitive technology are explicit. This newly designed bench involves the rotation of comfortable chair with half rounded table that can be adjustable with human body dimensions. The newly developed machinery and tools for cinnamon processing are suitable approaches to diminish social stigmas associated with cinnamon peeling and transfigure cinnamon processing in to a flow line operation drawing more people to contest against the labour shortage and expenditures on labour.

Cinnamon Quill Rolling Machine

Patent Number: LK/P/1/16930  |  Inventors: Mr. K M T S Bandara

The quill making process embraces different components. Removed, shade dried bark related to peeling process is fixed with each other until it reaches the standard quill length of 106.7 cm. Fixed barks bear a resemblance to hollow tube. The inside of the bark is filled with katta pieces (pieces of cinnamon bark). Nevertheless, the tube shape of whole quill is changed due to the filling of katta pieces. Quills are placed on a leveled surface; it should be rolled manually by forcing a pressure on quill to form a cylindrical shape. Many issues subsist with regard to manual rolling. They are the requirement of more force for quill rolling and since the rolling practicing persists at length, it causes painful hands. Moreover, the process of hand rolling is a time consuming due to which the efficiency of cinnamon processing is reduced. This particular machine of cinnamon quill rolling is designed for the purpose of solving the problems on quill rolling. The machine is consisted of two rolling plates, frame and rotating unit. The basic concept of this machine is to roll quills with the use of two plates by forcing a pressure on quill between two plates which are moved opposite directions facing each other. Quills could be fed into machine in sequence. Pressure is made on quills by pressing the pressure handle and the quills can be rolled by rotating the handle 1. Using this machine, cinnamon quills can be rolled in an easy manner and the force should be applied to quill which is minimized in relation to the manual rolling. The time spends for quill rolling is minimized and the efficiency of cinnamon processing is increased with the use of cinnamon quill rolling machine.

Hand Operated Smart Transplanting Machine

Patent Number: LK/P/ 19925  |  Inventors: Mr. H G C P Bandara

Transplanting is a method of planting that only requires the use of pre-grown plants, seedlings, vegetatively propagated clones for field planting. Transplanting method gives higher yield and operation is less time consuming, and the low number of seeds are needed. A hand operating type of smart transplanter was developed to address issues in existing transplanting machines. Newly developed transplanter consists of plant hole punching device/depositor and plant roots covering header. The Plant hole punching device is designed specially to fulfil the requirements of suitable for different hard soil conditions and soil covering header can cover the roots from the soil for better resting to obtain good quality. Seedlings and sprouts (potato) transplanting can be done as desired. It is operated mainly by a cable pulling system which connected with the depositor and soil covering handles. Two levers were used for attached cables and pull. There is a specified mechanism for increasing cables pulling length.

Mechanical Power Hoe

Patent Number: LK/P/ 20755  |  Inventors: Mr. H G C P Bandara

The mechanical power hoe is designed specially to meet the requirements to decrease the labour and time requirement by increasing the efficiency of hoe, used for different purposes from the change of cutting blades and it reduces the operation cost. Power hoe is developed by using steel drive straight shaft with gear case attachment, freewheel attachment for moving, two operation levers with axel hubs and cutting plates. Power hoe can be attached to the grass cutter and powered by a two-stroke petrol engine. The working principle is gear case-PTO axel rotating motion convert to reciprocating motion from the hoe operating levers. This power hoe labour requirement is reduced and can achieve time-saving and cost-saving in operation. A better solution for labour scarcity and no risk of injuries or human damages when used for a long-time period like back pains, arm pains, etc.

Pneumatic Metering Type Precision Paddy Seeder

Patent Number: LK/P/20076  |  Inventors: Mr. H G C P Bandara; Prof. P L A G Alwis; Mr. K M T S Bandara

Developing a pneumatic seed metering-type precision paddy seeder to address issues are associated with existing row seeding machines such as uneven seed pattern within the row by reduced precision of seed metering, seed delivery tube blockage by mud and tiredness of operator due to lack of prime mover. Seed metering device consists of two-stroke engine-driven blower fan for developing airflow, air delivery tubes connected from air blower to parallelly connected 6 seed delivery tubes, 8kg capacity seed hopper for storing seeds, and six seed releasing tubes connected from seed hopper to middle of the seed delivery tube. The number of paddy seed release to the field by the seed delivery tubes depends on the rpm of the air blower. Seed releasing valves can regulate the variations due to different seed varieties, germination stage of seeds or moisture condition of seeds for continuous seed release. Seed spacing within the row can be adjusted with controlled seed releasing rate by changes of blower speed and prime mover speed or operator’s walking speed.

Rotary Type Power Weeder for Paddy Cultivation

Patent Number: LK/P/ 20755  |  Inventors: Mr. H G C P Bandara; Prof. P L A G Alwis; Mr. K M T S Bandara

Weed control is a significant operation in the rice cultivation that affects the yield and quality of rice. Traditional weed control methods require high work effort, high operation cost, high labour requirement. Chemical weeding has very adverse effects on both environments as well as human beings. To solve this particular problem, mechanical weed control can be selected; a mechanical powered rotary type precision paddy weeding machine was developed. The paddy weeder design consists Steel drive straight shaft (Handle) with gear case attachment for power transmit and handling purpose, Rotor weeding blades for weeding, Float for preventing sunk in mud and Safety guard for protecting crop plants and operator. Weeding mechanism is rotatory type. Weeds can be cut, uprooted, thoroughly mixed with the soil and bury weed residues in the soil by rotary cutter blades. This weeder can adjust the weeding length of rotary blades from 150mm to 300mm according to varied row spacing and can use as a multi-purpose machine for dry land weeder and tiller. New paddy weeder fulfils the requirements of simple operation, low weight, high working efficiency, less power requirement, achieve more weeding quality, low-cost operation and better solution for labour scarcity.

Disc Type Power Weeder for Paddy Cultivation

Patent Number: LK/P/ 21170  |  Inventors: Mr. H G C P Bandara; Prof. P L A G Alwis; Mr. K M T S Bandara

Weed control is one of the main inter cultivation practices in agriculture. The existing weeding machines do not achieve precision weeding process for small scale fields. Two-stroke engine powered disc type weeding machine has achieved the requirements such as simple operative, low weight, less power requirement, high working efficiency, quality weeding and low-cost operation. It consists of a steel drive straight shaft with gear head attachment, weeding blades attached with the disc and safety guard. The straight shaft is for handling purpose. The weeding blades with the disc are attached to gear head and powered by using grass cutter engine. The disc consists of three blades for weeds cutting and uprooting. Those blades are a shield with covering disc to enhance the safety of the user. Safety guard uses to prevent mechanical crop damages as well as it will protect the operator.

Non-stop Cultivator with Leaf Spring Safety Device

Folding Type Mud Wheels for Four Wheel Tractors

Multipurpose Mud Wheels for Four Wheel Tractors

Folding Type Cage Wheel for Two Wheel Tractors

Retractable Lugged Cage Wheel for Two Wheel Tractors

Retractable Lugged Mud Wheel for Four Wheel Tractor

Shearing jaw type fruit harvester

Patent Number: 7732  |  Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Bend tube fruit harvesting device

Patent Number: 7712  |  Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Fruit harvester for ; Mangoes, butter fruit, guavas

Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Papaya harvester

Patent Number: 10759  |  Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Serrated Knife type fruit harvester

Patent Number: 7731  |  Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Power tiller operated centrifugal manure spreader with slurry maker

Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Reversible latex knife and accessories

Patent Number: 15251  |  Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Wetland sludge core sampler

Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Coil pump (Water lifting device)

Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Implement mounting structure for two wheel tractor

Patent Number: 9008  |  Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis

Mini trailer / Box type carrier

Patent Number: 7710  |  Inventors: Prof. P L A G Alwis