Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.1 Introduction
Agriculture plays an important source of livelihood in most parts of the world. It plays an
important role in the entire life of an economy. It is the backbone of the economic system of one
country. Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising
livestock and it is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired products.
Agriculture provides most of the world’s needed materials from food and fabrics and it also
provides wood for construction and paper products. The products that agriculture provides, as
well as the agricultural methods used, may vary from one part of the world to another. In
addition to providing food and raw material, agriculture also provides employment opportunities
to a very large percentage of the population.
The practice of agriculture is also known as farming. Farming is the practice of cultivating
the land or raising stock. It is one of the primary sources of livelihood in most rural households
in the country. It provides the needs of the people, especially the food they eat. The rapid growth
of the population in the world means the food consumption worldwide grows rapidly and the
demands of the food are growing. Smart farming is the solution to address the issues of
population growth, climate change and labor of the farmers from planting and watering of crops
to health and harvesting. The innovation of technology leads other farmers to rely on advanced
technology for their farming. The main reason for using technology in the process of farming is
to save time and energy required for performing repetitive farming tasks and to increase the
productivity of yield by treating every crop individually using precision farming concept. One of
the equipment used for smart farming is the conveyor.
Transportation is perhaps one of the best elements for the business to succeed,
including in agriculture. People are always in search of better, faster and cost effective
techniques of transporting, tracking and processing their goods.
Conveyor system has emerged as one of the best ways of transporting products. This
system consists of two or more drums that are also referred to as pulleys with a conveyor belt;
the carrying medium rotates around the drums. The conveyor is categorized into two classes,
one that transports general material and the other that is responsible for taking agricultural
material such as sand, ore, coal, salt, grain and much more from one place to another.
Conveyors play an important role in the handling of agricultural materials. Conveyor is a
necessary equipment to collect, store and process crop straws. The high productive capacity of
modern farms has created a real need for handling agricultural products in a rapid and efficient
manner. Another smart farming equipment that is being used in agriculture is the Sprinkler.
Sprinkler irrigation is water applied using perforated pipes or nozzles operated under pressure,
and micro-irrigation uses low pressure to wet a discrete portion of the soil.
Sprinkler irrigation is suited for most row, field and tree crops and water can be sprayed
over or under the crop canopy. However, large sprinklers are not recommended for irrigation of
delicate crops such as lettuce because the large water drops produced by the sprinklers may
damage the crop. Chemical fertilizers are the immediate source of nutrients in soils. It provides
a vital input for the growth of agriculture and is an inevitable factor that has to be reckoned with
the attainment of a self-sufficiency goal in production of food grains.
Apart from the primary nutrients (‘N’, ‘P’, and ‘K’), the secondary and micronutrients are
also required for plant growth. Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur are termed as secondary
nutrients and deficiencies in supply of these nutrients reduce the efficiency of primary nutrients
by restricting the yield to a lower level. Crops have to be supplied with secondary nutrients in
addition to primary nutrients. Micro-nutrients are a group of nutrients which are essential for
plant growth in minute quantities. Intensive cropping depletes all nutrients, including
micro-nutrients, from the soil. Therefore, selective use of micro-nutrients is necessary for
increasing agricultural production.
Farming is the primary source of livelihood in most rural households in the country. It
gives every person their needs, especially the food they eat. But too much workload and manual
farming gives a big impact on the agricultural production and farming system. Farming includes
the plowing of the soil, planting seeds, watering the plants and harvesting. And these things
cause a lot of work to do.
Manual harvesting is a commonly practiced method of crops harvesting in many parts of
the world. This method involves harvesting of crops by hand, using fruit clippers and knives and
other tools. It needs properly trained workers that will harvest and handle the crops.
In relation to these, farmers needed a system that can help them to seize the fields from
water access or irrigation, and also an easier or fastest way of putting fertilizers and other
agricultural input in plants. And also transporting harvested crops and transporting it to the
specific place with care to cause only a minimum damage also to make the production faster
and easier.
The aim of this project is to automate farming operations in order to make work simpler,
more effective, and faster. The project's focus area for activity would be the outdoor and indoor
farming parts, since it can be used by both small and large-scale farmers.
The conveyor capability and the sprinkler that will conduct the smart farming operation
are the subject of this project. For forward and backward operation of the conveyor where the
plants are located, the system will use push buttons and a sensor that detects the target area
and once it reaches the end point, it will be reversed and repeat the process. To balance
automation and manpower, the conveyor can be run and worked manually. Furthermore, it can
be extended and retracted using push buttons to direct it through the area. The approximate
extension length of the conveyor is around 8m for faster way of performing the operation. This
design is based on the possibility of the conveyor remaining in the field due to weather
conditions. This is also a space saver where it can be mounted on a warehouse and to have a
long life expectancy. When the conveyor is fully installed in the field, a sprinkler is installed on
top of it to water or fertilize the plant, depending on the load. Material handling is another
machine function that transports harvested plants from one location to another. The conveyor's
target weight is 20-50 kilograms, but it was not intended to restrict the machine's functionality.
When it comes to the sprinkler, it will be transported by conveyor to another plant where it will
be watered or fertilized using rolls. When the process is completed, the machine may be
retracted and stored in a warehouse to prevent damage to the machine.
The process of transferring the machine in the field, the use of remote control for the
motion of the machine, watering and fertilizing the plants, material handling, and the movement
of the sprinkler is excluded for being autonomous.
The machine must be correctly placed in the target direction before it can operate, and it
will be controlled on the ground. When the push button is pressed, the machine extends and
begins the process; when the operation is completed, the machine retracts by pressing the push
button a second time. The machine can be stopped at any time once the push button at the
controller is being pressed. As the process resumes, the spot where the system stopped
operating will be considered to be the new starting point.
To the agricultural business owners, the proposed study can support them in meeting
higher production profit, since as mentioned above, better quality of crops is to be expected
through the use of the proposed machine.
To the researchers, the study being conducted will give them the opportunity to apply
their acquired knowledge, then obtain more concepts from the experience at the same time.
To the future researchers, this study can serve as a basis for them when the thought of
further enhancing an existing agricultural system comes to mind.
To Batangas State University, the study will give credit to the university for being a part of
the study, thereby highlighting the ability of the university in producing competently-knowledged
students.
For a better understanding of the study, the following terms are defined in the context of this
research.
Agriculture. The process of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired products by
the cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals.
Farming. It is the practice of agriculture and cultivating the land or raising stock and it is the
act or process of working the ground, planting seeds, and growing edible plants.
Farming system. It involves the following kinds of work such as soil preparation, planting,
cultivation, weeding, crop treatment, harvesting, transportation and storage of produce.
Conveyors. It is a mechanical apparatus for moving articles or bulk material from place to
place. In this study, it will be used to transport harvested crops into the storage or basket.
Roller Conveyor. It is a series of rollers supported within a frame where objects can be
moved either manually, by gravity, or by power.
Transport. It is an action of carrying, moving and conveying from one place to another.
Manual Harvesting. This method involves harvesting by hand, using fruit clippers and
knives.
Scissors. It will serve as the support of the conveyor and it will be used to extend and
extract the conveyor.
Irrigation. It is the supply of water to land or crops to help growth, typically by means of
channels.
Sprinklers. It is a method of applying irrigation water which is similar to natural rainfall and
the water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping. It is then sprayed into the
air through sprinklers so that it breaks up into small water drops which fall to the ground.
Spraying. The standard methods of applying water, pest-control chemicals and other
compounds to the plants.
Crops. A plant or plant product that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or
subsistence.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED lITERATURE
This chapter provides important concepts and useful information to enrich the content of
the study. This includes conceptual literature and research literature that provide the
researchers with insights about the essential points of the study.
Rubber wheels have full floor safety as well as the ability to roll over a
variety of obstacles. It provides cushioning and shock absorption, making them
suitable for moving delicate loads over a variety of floor surfaces. They are well
suited for industrial and other applications.
2.1.13 Tubular
Elbows are used more often than any other pipe fitting. It allows you to adjust
the pipe's direction with ease. An elbow is a pipe fitting that allows a change of
direction between two lengths of pipe or tubing. To achieve leak-free links, the
three-way elbow pipe fittings can be chemically connected, threaded, welded, or
mechanically joined.
It can be used to spray a wide area and rapidly lower the temperature.
Sprinkler irrigation and industry; courtyard, greenhouse, kitchen garden, and
other small areas of agricultural spray irrigation; grass, green belts, gardens, and
other small areas of gardening sprinkler.
Figure 2.16. Three- Hole Brass Nozzle
2.1.17 Hose
Hoses are used to carry water for landscaping, farming, and lawn
maintenance. It's a water-carrying flexible tube that's been used to water a lawn
or garden.
Drums are an excellent way to store and transport a wide range of materials
and services. Drums are commonly used in a variety of sectors, such as waste
management, healthcare, and food service.
Figure 2.18. Water Drum
2.1.19 Brushless DC Motor
The rotor of a brushless DC motor is made up of permanent magnets, and
the stator is made up of polyphase armature windings. It varies from traditional dc
motors in that it lacks brushes and commutation is accomplished electrically, with
the stator windings fed by an electronic drive. A BLDC motor can be built in one
of two ways: with the rotor outside the core and the windings inside the core, or
with the windings outside the core. The rotor magnets serve as an insulator in the
first arrangement, reducing the rate of heat dissipation from the motor and
allowing it to run at low current.
2.1.20 Rivet
These rivets were widely used in large structural projects that required a
lot of power. Large iron Snap Head Rivets were passed through the plates to be
joined and hammered over when red hot in typical boiler, ship, and bridge girder
construction, for example. This not only made hammering over easier, but it also
tightened the joint as the iron rivet cooled and contracted.
In this chapter, current ways of material handling that the industries are using will be
discussed and different studies which may be incorporated to the design of the portable
automated material handling equipment the researchers aim to do. First,appropriate
ergonomic design and the weight it must carry in order for it to be beneficial to the operators
health. Next would be the design itself, the specicationand dimensions needed to be
followed for a conveyor to be safe and efficient to operate. Lastly, how it could be portable
and easy to use by the operator.
According to the Basic Occupational Safety and Health Training Module provided by the
Department of Labor and Employment (2019) materials handling and storage is a
procedure that involves removing, positioning, holding, or moving materials using one's
physical strength or the necessary handling equipment. There are two types of materials
handling: manual materials handling and mechanical materials handling. Manual materials
handling (MMH) is the process of transporting or handling objects by using one's physical
power to raise, lower, drive, drag, handle, catch, or restrain them.It includes pushing or
pulling and lifting or lowering of the materials. Mechanical material handling refers to the use
of xed, manually or mechanically driven machinery for carrying bulky and heavy objects.
Material handling equipment reduces physical effort, making it simpler and cleaner to handle
materials. It includes rolling platforms, hand trucks, shelf trucks, platform trucks, semi-live
skid, rack or bin, stair climbing trucks, frame hand trucks, and pump trucks. There are two
types of mechanically driven materials handling machinery: lifting equipment and transport
equipment. Moving equipment includes hoists and cranes, which are used to transport
heavy and bulky structures with limited human intervention. Forklifts, dump trucks, trailers,
and conveyors are examples of transportation equipment.
According to OSH answers provided by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health
and Safety or CCOHS, the weight of the load lifted, the lift's range, theload's position on the
body, the size and shape of the load, the distance and period the load is carried, and the
amount and frequency of lifts done are all work-related considerations. Excessive bending
and twisting can also lead to back injuries. Mostemployees experience an increase in the
number of cases and incidence of back injuries when carrying loads above 20 kg. The
weight of the load is considered as one of the determinants of the risk of injury.
According to Miloradović et al. (2018) in their study “Modeling and Calculation of the
Powered Roller Conveyor”, conveyor systems are mechanical handling devices that carry
materials from one position to another. They are very common in the material handling and
packaging industries because they provide fast and efficient transportation for a wide range
of materials. A roller conveyor has a set of fixed-spacing rollers mounted on bearings on two
fixed or mobile side frames. This study states that depending on the drive unit, one or more
motors drive all or a portion of the rollers of the powered roller conveyor. The driven roller
conveyors can be mounted in a slightly inclined position for changing the direction of the
roller conveyors. By changing the direction of rotation of the rollers, the load can be shifted
in both directions (reversing conveyors). According to this study, the design of the conveyor
starts with the calculation of the conveyor elements such as total length L, inclination angle
β, unit capacity Z, dimensions of unit load, load weight G, and the distance between unit
loads t. For example, in this study, the initial data of the conveyor elements are: L=20m,
β=3⁰, Z=180 unit/h, dimension a x b x h= 1500 x 500 x 500mm, G=25kN, and t=8.1m. The
force needed to resolve the loads' resistance to motion, and the angle of inclination should
be determined in the main design calculations. The total resistance to motion includes
resistance to rolling of the load on rollers due to friction, frictional resistance in the roller
bearings, and resistance due to sliding of the load on the rollers. The resistance to motion of
all pieces of load on the conveyor is:
After the calculations of the roller conveyor element, the roller conveyor's components
were modeled, and the final assembly was completed. Using the “Autodesk Inventor”
program, a 3D model of the roller conveyor was developed. The main parts of the driven
rollers are shaft, bearings, and the rollers. They can be manufactured from heavy sections of
tubes and solid shafts, or they can be made from solid steel forgings or castings. The roller
cavity is traversed by a shaft with two regular bearings. In the driving unit of this roller
conveyor, all the driven rollers are driven by a single electric motor with a suitable
transmission arrangement. A roller shaft is driven by the motor by a gearbox. The power is
transmitted to one roller, and a series of sprockets and chains link the other driven rollers to
this driven roller. One of the most cost-effective and reliable conveying solutions is roller
conveyors.
In the study of Künne & Wieczorek (2010) entitled “Research to Optimize the
Embodiment Design of Modules and Components Used in Roller Conveyors”, it was clearly
specified that intralogistic systems largely depend on continuous conveyors. When a high
capacity is needed, the layout is identified, and the loading aids are standardised. Modules
make up continuous conveyors. Due to the extreme large number of recurrent modules and
components in continuous conveyors, oversizing individual components has a multiplicative
impact. Individual components that are designed to the complex mechanical load will have a
significant impact on material and energy conservation in the overall system. The conveying
rollers are driven by a belt or chain system. Conveying rollers are used to transport and
move the conveying container. The rollers are connected in a series. The conveying
container is subjected to vibration as it ascends a conveying roller. The conveying rollers are
also affected by this dynamic effect. Therefore, a static consideration of the mechanical load
on the conveying rollers is not sufficient. Three important parameters which are the
conveying roller pitch, the conveyed weight, and the conveyor speed affect the dynamic
mechanical load on the conveying rollers. As a result, they were selected as predictor
variables in the statistical model presented in this study. Conveying roller pitch, or simply
roller pitch, is the distance between the conveying rollers that is predetermined. The roller
pitch is determined by the length of the conveying container and the weight conveyed. To
avoid a tilting movement, the conveying container should always be carried by at least three
conveying rollers. This gives tmax = L/3 as the maximum allowable conveying roller pitch
(tmax = maximum allowable roller pitch, L = conveying container length). The statistical
model has been checked and has been validated.
According to Zuyao Yuet al. (2018) in their research entitled “Mechanical Characteristics
Analysis of Space Scissor-Like-Element manipulator”, the Scissor-Like-Element (SLE) bar is
the fundamental unit in the SLE manipulator. The Scissor-Like-Element or SLE unit is a SLE
structure made up of two SLE bars linked by a central pin shaft which is shown in the figure
1. The point A is a fixed point, while point B is restricted to shift along the Y-axis, and the
point D in the X-axis.
It was shown in figure 1 that when the value of α decreases, the distance between the
points A and D increases along the X-axis, and the distance between the points A and B
decreases in the Y-axis. This is the expansion process of the SLE mechanism. On the other
hand, it is the contraction process of the SLE mechanism.
R.P. Turner et al. (2017) stated that a supply of medium carbon boron steel rod has
been used industrially to produce the “rib-like” rod structures for mechanical conveyor
systems, used across a number of non-safety critical industries, such as agricultural
harvesting. Hr added that the steel rod is resistive-heated and subsequently mechanically
deformed such to produce a small region of flattened proportions, to allow for easier
mechanical attachment to a belt system to attach all rods to the conveyor system. (p. 22).
R.P. Turner et al. (2017) stated that a supply of medium carbon boron steel rod has
been used industrially to produce the “rib-like” rod structures for mechanical conveyor
systems, used across a number of non-safety critical industries, such as agricultural
harvesting. Hr added that the steel rod is resistive-heated and subsequently mechanically
deformed such to produce a small region of flattened proportions, to allow for easier
mechanical attachment to a belt system to attach all rods to the conveyor system. (p. 22).
2.3 Synthesis
There are several popular topics in the world that can be studied for a research
project today, and they all boil down to matters like whether or not the respondents will
choose to be helpful to the final product. Another issue of concern is the ability of the
research to assist the society in order to address the issues highlighted in this study.
Engineers have a big role to play in making technological improvements, and they are the
only ones that can do so. In most rural households in the country, farming is the primary
source of income. It satisfies everyone's needs, especially in terms of food. Overwork and
manual cultivation, on the other hand, have a significant effect on agricultural production and
farming systems.
In the current event, farmers needed a device to assist them in securing fields from
water access or irrigation, as well as a simpler or faster method of applying fertilizers and
other agricultural inputs to plants. Also, harvesting crops and transporting them to a specific
location with care to cause minimal damage and to speed up and simplify processing.
This project is about the conveyor capability and the sprinkler that will be used in the
smart farming process. The machine can use remote control to move the conveyor where
the plants are positioned forward and backward. The conveyor can be operated manually or
pre-set to balance automation and manpower. This is why it can be done by hand or with the
aid of a timer. It can also be extended and retracted using push buttons or operated
remotely to move around the room. Because of the likelihood of the conveyor remaining in
the field due to weather conditions, this design was developed. This is also a space saver
since it can be installed on a warehouse and has a long lifespan.
3.1.2 Details
3.1.3 Process
Figure 3.8 Motor, Pump, PL, Control Box and Power Supply Set up
Input
10.0 X0 Extend
10.1 X1 Retract
10.2 X2 Start Process
10.3 X3 Proximity Sensor Front
10.4 X4 Proximity Sensor Back
10.5 X5 Manual Forward Conveyor
10.6 X6 Manual Backward Conveyor
10.7 X7 Stop Conveyor
10.8 X8 End Process
10.9 X9 Reset Counter
Output
Wheels
Q0.0 Y0 ExtendM1
Q0.1 Y1 RetractM1
Conveyor
Q0.2 Y2 ForwardM2
Q0.3 Y3 ReverseM2
● When the “EXTEND” pushbutton is pressed the motor connected to the front wheel
through the chain would turn forward. The wheels turn forward pulling the conveyor
system extending it through the scissor links.
● When the “RETRACT” pushbutton is pressed the motor connected to the front wheel
through the chain would turn reverse. The wheels turn in reverse pushing the conveyor
system retracting it through the scissor links.
● When the “Start” push button is pressed the motor connected to the conveyor would
move forward making the conveyor also move forward because it is chained together.
After 10 sec the pump for the sprinkler would turn on (although on the simulation it is
only programmed for 3 sec for simulation purposes only).
● When the proximity sensor on the front of the conveyor sensed the sprinkler cart, it
would reverse the operation of the conveyor.
● On the other end, when the proximity sensor on the end of the conveyor sensed the
sprinkler cart, it would make the operation of the conveyor forward again.
● When “End” push button is pressed the sprinkler would turn off while the conveyor would
be in reverse and stop when the sprinkler cart is sensed by the proximity sensor at the
end of the conveyor.
Note:
● “STOP” push button could also halt the automatic sprinkler process but it would only
stop the operation of the conveyor only.
3.2.3. Electrical Circuit Using LiveWire
Presented in Figure 3.10 is the electrical circuit connections of the conveyor
system, which made it fully functional. In doing the said electrical circuit connections, the
software utilized is Livewire. As displayed in the above figure, it can be seen that the
conveyor system made use of a pump, proximity sensors, motor, relay, and several push
buttons. However, these components will not function unless a brain is added to the
whole system. Therefore, a PLC is employed. In particular, the said PLC used for the
system is simulated in a software named Do More Simulator.
1.1. Roller
a. Female Conveyor Roller
i. Roller Diameter: 50mm
ii. Roller Length: 600mm
iii. Inside Frame Width: 610mm
iv. Dynamic Load Capacity: 3000N
v. Spindle Shape: Round
vi. Spindle Size: 12mm
vii. Overall Length: 610mm
1.2. Sprocket
a. Standard Sprocket Type 40B
i. Mass (kg): 0.1
ii. Single / Double Strand: 1
iii. Shaft hole diameter (Φmm): 10~14
iv. Chain Pitch P (mm): 12.7
v. Dimension GD (mm): 18
vi. Hub Height BL (mm): 22
vii. Hub Diameter BD (mm): 24
viii. Pitch Diameter Dp (Φmm): 33.19
ix. Outer Diameter Do (Φmm): 39
x. Chain No.: 40
xi. Dimension S (mm): 5.2
xii. Tooth Width (mm): 7.2
xiii. Roller Outer Diameter Dr (mm): 7.92
xiv. Roller Link Inner Width W (mm): 7.95
xv. Number of Teeth: 8
xvi. Pilot Hole Diameter d (Φmm): 9
1.3. Chain
a. Simplex Roller Chain Type 08B-1
i. Length: 5m
ii. Pitch 12.7mm
iii. Plate Height: 11.8mm
iv. Roller Diameter: 8.51mm
v. Material: Steel
vi. Weight: 0.7kg/m
Figure 3.13. Labeled Front Conveyor Set up
3.1 PLC
a. 24V DC PLC
i. Number of Inputs: 14
ii. Input Type: Analog and Digital
iii. Output Type: Digital and Transistor
iv. Network Type: Ethernet
v. Program Capacity: 75kB
vi. Dimensions: 100mm x 110mm x 75mm
vii. Number of Communication Ports: 1
3.4 Wheels
a. Inflatable Wheel
i. Load Capacity: 250kg
ii. Diameter: 150mm
iii. Material: Rubber and Metal
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